​       Dallas Reflexology Hands & Feet

In Calls and Out Calls      

​​Near by: Crandall​​​ • ​Dallas • Fate Forney • Garland • Heath • Mesquite Rockwall • Sunnyvale & Terrell 

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At some point everybody needs a massage, but men don’t get massages as often as they should.

Here are some reasons why guys should get massages on a regular basis:

1. Take a shower beforehand. If you were therapist, would you want to be touching someone who had just come from the gym or was out running? Or from mowing the lawn and doing some landscaping work? No thank you. Get rid of the sweat and arrive clean and fresh.

2. Arrive about 15-20 minutes early for your first session. You have to fill out some health background paperwork, and also talk with the therapist for a few minutes about what the session will entail. Showing up right as your appointment starts means you’re actually shorting yourself on massage time. Ten to fifteen minutes early is perfect, especially if it’s your first time. If you become a regular, 5-10 minutes early will be just fine.

3. Turn off your phone or at least put on vibrate. Nobody wants their phone to be dinging during what’s supposed to be a relaxing 30-90 minutes. Even a vibration is often noticeable in a quiet room, so go nuclear, and shut the dang thing down. Probably needs a break anyway after being on for a few months straight.

4. Undress to your level of comfort. This is what the therapist will typically tell you before beginning the massage. They’ll leave the room, allow you to undress and get on the table, and place a sheet over your lower extremities. You’ll either undress to your underwear/thong or get nude. It’s really whatever you’re comfortable with. You’re not a prude if you keep your underwear on, and you’re not a perv if you remove it. But it is easier for the therapist to work without a cloth barrier to truncate their movements (especially true if you’re wearing big, baggy boxer shorts), so you really should remove your undies if possible.

Even if you decide to go nude, your family jewels are never actually exposed. Though you’ll be asked to turn over during the massage, therapists do some nifty sheet work to keep everything under wraps as you do so.

It’s normal not to feel comfortable removing your underwear the very first time you get a massage, but you’ll probably feel more comfortable in doing so on subsequent visits. Remember that you’re dealing with a professional who sees human flesh day in and day out, and won’t find small glimpses of your buttocks weird, sexual, or at all interesting.

5. Communicate. Do you feel uncomfortable with something? Let the massage therapist know. They’ll usually ask at the beginning what kind of pressure you want; if you don’t know, tell them that, then be sure to communicate whether you like what they’re doing or not. In this type of setting, it’s not at all personal.

You should also communicate at the beginning if you don’t want a certain part of your body massaged. For instance, I don’t like my feet being touched (because they’re ticklish, and I like soft pressure), so I always let the therapist know before we start.

That all said, do you need to make conversation? Feedback is okay as just mentioned, and some small talk is acceptable as well, but you certainly shouldn’t feel the need to chat. You can if you want, but it’s also totally fine to lay there in relaxing silence, close your eyes, and just enjoy the experience. In fact, falling asleep is common, and your therapist won’t be offended at all.

6. What about bodily functions? It’s not uncommon to pass gas during a massage. You’re super relaxed after all, and sometimes it just happens. Even though you’ll probably be embarrassed if it happens, no need to be, and the therapist will ignore it.

While your therapist won’t mind a few toots, they understandably don’t want a gas bomb going off in the typically small massage room. So if you’ve got a lot of gas or need to use the bathroom, it’s okay to pause the session and visit the restroom. Same thing goes for needing to pee, or simply blow your nose. It’s okay to take a mini break.

While not common, some men do get an erection during a massage. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about (again though, you probably will be). Know that it does happen, and that your therapist will just ignore it. I had read about this before I got my first massage, and was so scared of it happening that there was no way it was going to happen.

7. Don’t ask about sexual favors (or even joke about them). Duh. Just don’t do it and don’t even make a passing joke about it. At best, you’ll offend your therapist; at worst, you’ll be kicked out, and for good.

8. Leave a tip. It’s pretty much expected to tip 18-20% these days. You can give your therapist cash directly (or leave it at a designated place), or you typically have the option to add it on to your credit card bill 5% processing fee.

9 Mood booster – Men are less likely to seek help when they’re feeling blue. Keep in mind that a massage is not a substitute for more substantial mood therapies, the serotonin boost provided by massage can help lift the blues and improve mental outlook.

10. In-home convenience – Men avoid getting a massage because they don’t want to go to a traditional spa and sip cucumber water while listening to the airy vocalizations of Enya. Remember, not all massages are created equal some takes place at your home or hotel or in your own space and on your own time.

11. Fewer gray hairs – Massages can alleviate physical symptoms of stress, such as headache and high blood pressure, which can affect men as they age. A Swedish massage is good for reducing stress.

12. Cure desk stiffness – Men often suffer from back and neck pain, due to riding a desk all day. A quality massage can ease back and neck pain, plus it feels great.

13. Manage back pain – Men are prone to lower back pain. About 25% will experience lower back pain in any given three to four  month period. Massages are proven to loosen tense muscles and ease back pain in men.

14. Better sleep – About 20% of all men suffer from insomnia, an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. Insomnia is associated with a lack of the hormone called serotonin, the “feel good hormone,” which is released in the body after a massage.  The sense of relaxation and well-being you feel after a massage helps men fall asleep and spend more time in deep sleep.

15. Be comfortable in your own skin – Men avoid massage because they are afraid they’ll drool, pass gas or get an erection. These are all normal physical reactions, and your massage therapist understands.

16. Improved flexibility – Massage increases flexibility. Men are typically less flexible than women, which can make them more prone to injury and muscle pain.

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​​Full body massages are great for: Special Occasions • Just Because • Body relaxation from stress and anxiety, call or text