The most important thing is for you to be comfortable and able to relax. It's also important to remember that no matter you how much you disrobe, during a professional massage, you'll always be draped with a sheet or towel so only the area being worked on is uncovered.
If you tend to get sleepy from a massage, you should have it as late in the day as possible so that you can just go home afterwards. If you don't want massage to take time out of your day, you can get one early in the morning. It will help you to feel rejuvenated.
These are areas of the body where deep, sustained pressure should be avoided because of the structures that lie beneath. Those areas are the anterior and posterior triangles of the neck, suprasternal notch, sternum, axilla, spinal column, umbilical area, inguinal triangle, popliteal fossa, and the antecubital fossa.
You'll want to strip down to just your undies. Take off your bra—it'll get in the way of the back massage and who can relax with underwire poking you anyway? Also, if it's just an upper body massage, you can leave your socks on, otherwise, slip them off so the therapist can work on your soles.
Deciding to wear your hair up or down during a massage is up to you. The massage therapist can work around your hair with whatever option you choose. I find a lot of my clients with long hair wear it up while they are laying face down. After I turn them over, I request them to let it loose.
Remain Fully Clothed
You'll be happy to know that you can head to your massage fully clothed. If you opt for this route, consider the clothes you want to wear and what might or might not work. It's best to leave heavy fabrics, such as denim or wool, at home and choose lighter clothes that are thin and form-fitting.
That includes sexual touching, sexually explicit comments to or any sexual act whatsoever. Every well-trained massage therapist understands – or should understand – the guidelines that follow.
To get maximum benefits from your massage, schedule your massage when you are less busy. For instance, you can go for your massage in the morning before reporting to work, during your lunch break or in the evening, whichever works for you.
Wearing a normal bra that is easily unclipped will allow the therapist to access your back. You can keep your bra on, but ideally you'll allow the therapist to unclip it, or you'll unclip it for them. Therapists can work around bra's if kept on, but it's not ideal.
A deep tissue massage can involve your entire body or just one area. Once ready, you'll be asked to lie on your back or stomach, under a sheet. Your level of undress is based on your comfort, but the area being worked on will need to be exposed. The massage therapist will warm up your muscles using a lighter touch.
It is not important to shave before a massage. Your therapist doesn't care or even notice. The only exception to this rule is if you are having Kinesio Taping, then you must do it 24 hours in advance to avoid skin irritation. If less than 24 hours, use clippers only.
Realistically … dress however you want. Just be aware that if you wear really tight jeans, and plan to stay clothed, then you might start to feel a bit grippy.
For massages and body treatments, ideally you disrobe completely (that means underwear, too). Most spas offer paper panties to wear during body treatments (like scrubs, wraps, or self-tanning)—they don't cover much, but enough to provide a modicum of modesty.
Most forms of massage therapy do not include these areas. The massage therapist should not touch areas that you have explicitly requested that they avoid. Your breasts and groin area should not be exposed during the massage. Proper draping of the sheet over your body during the massage is very important.
Avoid the thyroid gland, which is located in the lower anterior neck. Use only light pressure over the hyoid bone. The hyoid bone is located more superiorly in the anterior neck and serves as an attachment site for many muscles.
Avoid alcohol or caffeine
We promise that abstaining from caffeine or alcohol for at least 12 hours or so after a massage will make you feel fab. Both are dehydrating and won't help your body eliminate the toxins that are on the move thanks to the massage.
Tell the therapist if you have these conditions
Contagious skin conditions (boils, warts, or herpes) Other skin conditions (burns, rashes, or sores) Circulatory system issues (high blood pressure, varicose veins, or stroke) Digestive system issues (ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, or colitis)
On average, the benefits of massage can last up to a month or as little as 1 day. On average, most people notice the benefits for about a week. This is one of the reasons it's recommended that you get a massage on a regular basis.
It's beneficial to drink water after your massage because as the massage therapist manipulates your muscles, substances are released. Drinking water post massage helps the body flush out any accumulated materials that were released during the massage.
Just like when you exercise, massage can dehydrate muscles and remove electrolytes. Water intake before and after your massage will prevent unnecessary soreness, possible nausea, and an overall sluggish feeling following your massage.
Everyone: Most people traditionally keep on underwear and take everything else off. However, if this thought is confronting for you, then you can keep on whatever you're comfortable with – in some cases I have even provided massage to people fully-clothed and still had great results.