Does anybody NOT like massages???

[sunlver]

I posted last week I had my first one, and did NOT like it. The majority of people who I know who get them love it. I only come across a few people in real life who do not.

So do any of you NOT like a professional masage? The place I went to was a chain called "Massage Envy".. Everybody was very nice in there, and very helpful. The place was extremely clean and comfortable, I had no problems with the staff or anything. I am just not comfortable having a stranger touch me I could not relax, and feel like I wasted my money. Luckily though, I got the new client rate of $39.. I could not imagine going back.

Now a few years ago, I was at one of those heath and wellness things at a convention center and I had a 10 minute chair massage. Now, that I didnt mind because of being fully clothed and it didnt make me feel too odd/weird.

So tell me, anybody else not like them???

 

[Minnie_me]

ME!!!!! I hate the very idea of a stranger touching my unclothed body like that! I had a problem during my first pedicure last month when I discovered that the technician was a 20-year old man!

 

[design_mom]

I'm with you.

I've had a couple of professional massages. My mother loves them and has given me gift certificates. When I tell her I don't think it's "my thing'" she becomes convinced that I must have gotten a bad massage. I don't think that's the case, I just can't get comfortable having a stranger touching me.

Mom has started getting me gift cards for facials now, and I love those... But I don't thing massages are for me.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Add me to the list!

Now if only I could get my HUSBAND to give me a good massage, I wouldn't mind that~!!

 

[sunlver]

ME!!!!! I hate the very idea of a stranger touching my unclothed body like that! I had a problem during my first pedicure last month when I discovered that the technician was a 20-year old man!

Yes, the unclothed body thing..YUCK...I initially only went for the reflexology part of it, the hands and feet thing..but since it was a n hour long, they wanted to do everything. I told them upfront, I am not comfortable undressing. The receptionist and the massage lady said do what you are comfortable with. The massage lady did suggest, just to take t-shirt off and leave bra on , so at least she could do neck and upper back. I orginally went in there in hopes maybe they could relieve my chronic daily tension headaches..So I left my shorts on and took t-shirt off and left bra on..Even still.. I was so UNCOMFORTABLE...I could not relax and felt no relief. I can check that off my list now

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

Me and I am 16..
When I get my hair cut, they sometimes massage your scalp and shoulders and it HURTS for me and I am just so stiff during it from them touching me.
I don't like it..

Like, even when sort-of-friends give me hugs I am like "..don't touch me."

 

[Pembo]

The first time I had a massage it was full body and I had a woman...I was so uncomfortable the whole time.

I have neck troubles and my doctor and pt recommended massage therapy. I started going to a place for just my head and neck. I only had to take off my shirt and was much more comfortable...plus the massage really did help with my neck. The therapist is a male who is an ex-Olympic trainer...he is very fascinating to talk to. It took awhile of going to feel comfortable enough to get a full body massage.

For me it was a gradual process. I could never go anywhere else.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I can't even stand the thought of it. My mom loves them, gave me a gift certifcate to get one 5 years ago. I think the only thing I'd enjoy less would be a dentist appt, lol.

 

[emer95]

I do not like massages, and not because I don't like people touching me. Anyone who wants to can touch me. I love body wraps and scrubs and things like that. I hate when the massuse tries to get rid of the knots in my upper back. I like my knots where they are, thank you! It's really painful and I end up gripping the edge of the bed like I'm at the dentist, and then I think, "I'm paying over $100 for this?"

 

[Carly_Roach]

Highly Functioning Autistic here. Nope. No massages from strangers for me. It's all I can do to sit still when I have to go to the hair salon, although I've found that it gets better when I have the same person do my hair each time (like yesterday).

DH will give me a massage once in awhile, but I prefer giving than receiving. Those touches I can control. When it's my "turn" DH has to talk me into letting him give me one. Most of time it's OK because he's really good at keeping me informed about what he's about to do next before he does it. He learned early that there's really no relaxation on my part because it totally freaks me out when I can't see where he is or what he's doing and I suddenly get this unexpected touch on my back or bottom.

What can I say? We deal with it. It's a work in progress.

But massages from strangers? Oh HECK no. That's a hard limit for me.

 

[onelilspark]

Count me in. The idea of a stranger touches me totally gives me the willies. Even manicures & pedicures. I can't enjoy them, so there's no way I would ever spend my money on a massage. The only reason I get manis & pedis is so that my nails look nice for a special event. Otherwise forget it.

And as a PP mentioned, I don't like hugs either. I'm in an industry where everyone hugs and kisses each other on the cheek. Ugh. I hate it and I never initiate.

 

[Imzadi]

There are many different types of massages. There are vigorous, hard ones, soft, soothing relaxing ones, deep tissue, physical therapy, cranial- sacral, rolfing, swedish (unclothed,) and various Asian clothed massages like: shiatsu pressure points, reflexology, Polarity therapy, Chinese meridian therapy which incorporates Chi energy work.

I don't care for Swedish massages. All they do is knead the muscles like kneading bread.

I got a fantastic deep tissue massage once in the Virgin Islands. I was in heaven. She popped muscles back into place and I could feel them relax back into place.

I also like the various clothed Asian massages.

Also, different massueuses do different styles and different amounts of pressure and speeds. You should be able to tell them if you want it harder, softer or faster, slower, etc.

It can take some time to find a really great masseuse who does a style you like. I usually do not waste a full hour on a massage until I know the masseuse and like the way they work.

 

[ugadog99]

Me!!! I've never had one and never will. I can BARELY stand hugging and then only if I haven't seen the person in forever. There is no way I'm letting some stranger touch me!

 

[Muushka]

My first and last massage was on the DCL Magic. It was given to me by a masochistic woman who did not understand the words "ouch, that hurts".
I try not to complain when I am having a medical procedure (having had to listen to whiners for too long). But if I am having a massage, which is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable, and ends up painful, I complain.

Nope. No more massages for me.

 

[Pigeon]

I don't want strangers touching me.

When I was going through cancer treatment, several well meaning friends and relatives gave me gift cards for massage and spa treatments. That is the last thing I wanted in good times, let alone when feeling my most vulnerable, and most of them went unused. I found takers for a few but swore them to secrecy..

 

[heart4pooh]

Massage therapist here

I can usually tell when someone is uncomfortable and I do everything I can to respect that. I have asked a couple of people (over a 20 yr period) if they wanted to stop. There are just some people that just don't like to be touched. My son has Asperger's. I massage him a lot but I can't see him ever getting a massage by a stranger.

As a PSA If your therapist is going too deep and you don't like it tell them!! If they continue to go too deep ask them to stop! End the treatment. I check in often to make sure the pressure is what they want, not what I think they need. But I sometimes still here later that it was too deep and they thought it had to hurt to be beneficial. Like I have had to teach my son, advocate for yourself. I love a deep massage, but there are times and areas that I don't want it to be deep, so I speak up. Most massage therapists want to give a massage that the client wants, it just can be difficult to know what that is the first time without communicating.

 

[Muushka]

Massage therapist here

I can usually tell when someone is uncomfortable and I do everything I can to respect that. I have asked a couple of people (over a 20 yr period) if they wanted to stop. There are just some people that just don't like to be touched. My son has Asperger's. I massage him a lot but I can't see him ever getting a massage by a stranger.

As a PSA If your therapist is going too deep and you don't like it tell them!! If they continue to go too deep ask them to stop! End the treatment. I check in often to make sure the pressure is what they want, not what I think they need. But I sometimes still here later that it was too deep and they thought it had to hurt to be beneficial. Like I have had to teach my son, advocate for yourself. I love a deep massage, but there are times and areas that I don't want it to be deep, so I speak up. Most massage therapists want to give a massage that the client wants, it just can be difficult to know what that is the first time without communicating.

Good advice. I probably should have asked for the session to end. Hindsight 20/20 .
I guess I just gave up complaining. I told her at least 3 times that it was too painful, I just decided to suck it up and pray for an end soon!

I am sure you are a wonderful massage therapist. I wish I had had you on my cruise!

 

[DawnCt1]

I never had one. I couldn't imagine myself lying in one position unless I was sleeping. I have to be doing something, reading, etc.

 

[Becky2005]

I don't care for them either. I have never really had one other than in the hospital after my last was born & it was just basically shoulder done, etc... but she did keep telling me to relax. I know I kept tensing up because it just not my cup of tea.

 

[Twins]

I don't like massages or getting my hair done.