First Time

I had my first ever massage at the hands of a professional yesterday. I know many people make use of the services of a masseuse, but I never have. I have been having back and chest pain due to stress for the last 8 weeks or so, a friend suggested that I try a massage to see if it would help. The very idea of some stranger touching me has always put me off getting a proper massage, but my back has really been driving me crazy, so I thought why not?! and went for it and booked at 60 minute massage at the spa close to my house.

After I arrived and filled out the forms they make you fill out I was led to a little dark room where there was some new age mellow music playing. The masseuse (Mary) told me to strip down then get under the blanket on the table...I was like "Can I just take my shirt off?" and she said I could do whatever I am comfortable with, but she noted most people stripped to their underwear. This is very weird, getting practically naked so a woman I don't know can oil me down and rub me! Ug, I decided that I better put that thought out of my mind, and just try to relax and go with the flow. So I relented and stripped to my underpants (as my son loves to call them) and climbed on the table.

A minute or so passed and she returned and the massage began. I was still thinking how totally strange it was to have some woman I don't know touch me in such a familiar way. She managed to zero in on the exact spots on my back and shoulders where I hurt. I was literally amazed that she seemed to know exactly where my trouble areas were and work on them. I had to remind myself more than once to just relax and not stress about the experience.

This maybe silly, but I think the physical touch of another human being is something we all need and is something I was missing. My son is very physical with me, that is not only do we play fight all the time, but he likes to sit on me, and hug me, and cuddle with me. He hasn't been around for more than a week and I think I really missed the physical contact. Just being touched was something I guess I was missing, and I didn't realize how much until I was having the massage.

I found the whole thing to be a positive experience, it really helped my back which was the entire point, it pushed me outside of my comfort zone...which is another good thing. I still find the idea of a stranger touching you to be very weird, especially at how close she was, I could literally feel her breath on me a few times. I have booked another massage a week and a half from now, I think since I've been through it once and have an idea of what to expect I should be able to relax more. Overall this is something I would recommend, especially if you can turn off your own internal commentary!!