• Be as receptive and open to the process as possible.

• Do not eat just before a massage session.

• Be on time. If you arrive in a frenzied, rushed state, it will take longer to get to a relaxed state. Please let your massage therapist know in advance if you need to cancel.

• Give the massage therapist accurate health information if asked for.

• Don't be afraid to discuss any apprehensions or concerns. It is important that you be as comfortable as possible during your massage. Your massage therapist is a professional dedicated to do his or her best to help you feel at ease.

• Breathing helps to facilitate relaxation. People often stop or limit their breathing when they feel anxious or a sensitive area is massaged. If you realize you are stopping your breathing, let yourself breathe.

• Tightening up, i.e. contracting or hardening your muscles during the massage, is counterproductive. If you are able to, relax those muscles. Let your massage therapist know this is happening. They may need to adjust the massage technique being used. They may also be able to help you relax the affected area.

• If you find your thoughts are racing during the massage, one way to be more body-centered and to quiet the mind is to follow the hands of the massage therapist and focus on how the touch feels.

• If you are dizzy or light-headed after the massage, do not get off of the table too quickly.

• Drink extra water after a massage.

• Allow for some open, quiet time after your massage session if possible. Sometimes one needs a little time to integrate or absorb the results of the massage session or needs some "re-entry" time.

• Massage has its greatest benefits over time. The theraputic effects of massage are cumulative, so the more often a person gets a massage, the better he or she will feel and the more quickly one's body will respond. From one session to the next, relaxation deepens as the chronic patterns of stress in the body are affected and released. These changes are readily felt in day-to-day life as well, which adds another dimension of reinforcement. If you are using massage therapy to address chronic muscular tension or recovery from a soft tissue injury, more than one session is usually needed, so be prepared to schedule several sessions.

(excerpt from www.amtamassage.org)