Experience 4: A Couple's Massage

For Christmas, Jay and I got a gift certificate for a couple’s massage from our friend Rose. So, now that school is over (and before Jay leaves for six months in Rhode Island, courtesy of the tourism department of the U.S. Navy), I figured it was time to indulge. This was actually a case of two first experiences: the first time I’ve had a couple’s massage and the first time I’ve had a male massage therapist. To be honest, I think I prefer my massages solo, but I may never go back to a female massage therapist.

We had a 3:30 appointment at Therapeutic Body Kneads in Ghent, so we had lunch at No Frill Bar and Grill, went for a walk around Ghent and then stopped at Starbucks. I’d probably skip the walk and the coffee next time. I was hot and sticky and buzzing on caffeine by the time we arrived for our appointment, things which aren’t conducive to lying on a massage table for an hour. It took a good thirty minutes of my massage time before I could feel myself relax, but those last thirty minutes were blissful—except for the fact that I was in desperate need of a bathroom by the time our hour was up.

I’m not one of those people who likes to talk to my massage therapist. I know some people prefer the conversation, but I want peace and quiet while I’m getting massaged. My massage therapist, Jeff, picked up on this pretty quick and other than asking me if I was too warm (I was) or if he was using too much pressure (he wasn’t), he stayed silent. This was the only problem with the couple’s massage: it is disconcerting to be drifting off into a Zen-like peace only to hear the other massage therapist talking to Jay. It didn’t happen often, but every time it did, it jolted me right out of my peaceful meditative state.

At the beginning, Jeff told me to let him know if he was using too much pressure and didn’t bat an eye when I said, without thinking, “You can’t do it too hard.” I carry a lot of tension in my neck and shoulders—both physical, from hauling around a messenger bag loaded down with a laptop and books, and emotional, though I’ve never understood the relationship between emotions and knots the size of Texas in my back. In any case, Jeff worked me over and at one point, for about thirty seconds, I reconsidered my comment that he couldn’t do it too hard. The moment passed. I would have been happy to have him work on my shoulders for the entire hour, but the full-body massage was pleasant enough and he made a second pass on my shoulders toward the end. I was impressed with his foot massage—I have ticklish feet and hate having anything cracked, but he spent some time on my feet and I never once giggled or winced.

This was a more therapeutic than relaxing massage, so I woke up with some (expected) pain in my shoulders the next day. It’s gone now, along with the painful knots and tension, and I’m seriously considering scheduling another appointment with Jeff in a month or two, when I know the effects of being a writer will have returned. As for the couple’s part—Jay didn’t seem to enjoy his massage quite as much as I did (possibly because he wasn’t having any pain at the time), but we both felt more relaxed when we left. Other than the fact we were both in the same room at the same time, it wasn’t a very interactive experience, so maybe I’m not fully understanding the purpose of the couple’s massage. Or maybe I just don’t like groups.



Do It Yourself

If you’re going to get a massage, couple’s or otherwise…

--Make sure you let your massage therapist know there is a particular area you would like them to focus on. They will likely ask, but think about it before you go. The all-over massage is lovely, but it’s so much better if you can get extra attention on those trouble spots.

--If you get a couple’s massage, make sure you know what your partner’s preference is regarding a male or female massage therapist. Neither of us had a preference, so I got Jeff and Jay got a female therapist.

--If you eat before you go, eat light. I’d also avoid walking around in 90+ temperatures and drinking a lot of caffeine.

--If you haven’t gotten a massage before because you think it’s too expensive, reconsider. A good massage can do wonders for your body and your mind and that’s priceless.

--Don’t forget to tip!