There are a lot of options out there for massage therapists and knowing what to look for is key.  When calling if you ask specific questions about whatever you want worked on, the massage therapist should be familiar with how to treat your particular issue.  If they give a generic response or you think it is not on target, you may want to call somewhere else.  Once you have made your decision and show up for your appointment, here are some things to look out for: 1. Asking questions: Getting a massage is therapeutic. People normally have injuries or areas that they would like special attention paid to. If you go to a massage therapist and they don't ask you if you area coming in for anything in particular, you are probably going to get a pretty bad massage.  It is more than just rubbing and relaxing muscles. There is a method to each stroke and a goal to be reached. You will normally feel pretty good after any type of massage but when you have a highly trained experienced massage therapist working on you, there is a significant difference. 2. Pressure is everything: A great massage therapist understands how the body responds to pressure and will notice if your body is tensing up in a particular area or if she/he may need to get deeper to work out knots. There are different methods used to go deep without eliciting tons of pain and that is something not everyone knows. You don't have to take in large doses of pain to get a reward. A good therapist will also notice a change in your body when you visit next and may ask you if you have been working out or having difficulty sleeping. They will also be able to let you know how much work you may need to get to your health goals. 3. Post-Massage tips: A great massage therapist will let you know about possible stretches, Myofascial Release, icing or heat after massages. They may recommend nutritional tips as well. Teaching you what to do to help your body really get the most benefit from the massage and keep your joints moving properly is key to helping you move toward your health goals. Great therapists understand the body and what it needs. There is a big difference between going to a spa for a massage and going to a health facility. Spas tend to focus on pampering and relaxing the customer while a health facility is focused on healing and rehabilitation. Our massage therapists are highly trained and understand body physiology and kinesiology. This means they know how the body moves and functions allowing us to help you with any ailment you walk in our door with.