Table Posture & Comfort
Ever get fifteen minutes into your massage and realize the face cradle is digging into your face? Or your neck is aching while you’re face-down? Or your low back is starting to hurt?
Massage tables aren’t always comfortable for every individual. Sometimes there are adjustments that need to be made for your body. You can ALWAYS ask your massage therapist to help you make these adjustments. Please never be shy about this. We don’t want you to be uncomfortable and I guarantee we’ve got some tricks up our sleeve to help you out - like the following:
Face cradle positioning:
The face cradle is usually set up to align horizontally with the table, but it can fold down and also come up to help you find a better angle for your neck.
Positioning your face so that your eyebrows are sitting on the pillow will usually help you support most of the weight of your head forward onto the pillow rather than back on your neck. Watch that you don’t go too far forward though, because you may find it digs into the bridge of your nose.
Shoulders:
Shoulder support with towels or small bolsters can help your neck position. In addition, it can help roll your shoulders back into a more comfortable position - especially if you find you hunch forward a lot. This can also help take the pressure from breast tissue.
Some tables (like mine) come with arm support. This is sometimes on the side and sometimes in the front under the face cradle. However, if your massage therapist doesn’t have this, you can always ask for a chair or stool to be slid under to rest your arms there. This isn’t always great for people, but for some, it’s exactly what they need.
Please, never be shy to move your arms around as you need. If your massage therapist needs your arms in a certain position, they will move them or ask you to.
Low back/leg support:
If you’re one of the many folks who find that your low back hurts when you lie face-down - or when pressure is added as the massage begins - you can always ask for a pillow under your abdomen. This helps to level out the curve in your low back. This is especially great if you have degenerative disc disease, bulging disks, or persistent sciatic pain.
It’s pretty standard to have a pillow or bolster positioned under the ankles while you’re facing down. Ideally when your massage therapist re-enters the room before the massage begins, they ask you if this is in a comfortable place for you. If not - you can always ask! You want your ankles supported so your toes aren’t to squished into the table. It also helps to align your spine and low back.
This same ankle support is then used to support under your knees when you flip over on your back. Again, this helps to align your spine and take pressure off your low back. If you ever want more support - you can always ask for another pillow under your knees!
Other comfort options:
Please never let yourself get chilly! You can always ask for a blanket, or visa versa!
If you find that you’re needing a little more oil, or a little less - let your therapist know. Some techniques require less oil to increase drag (like myofascial work) but you can always ask!
Many people find their sinuses run when they are face down - this is nothing to be embarrassed about! A box of tissues should be pretty standard on-hand and I will often put one right by the face cradle for those clients I know will need one or a few.
Spa-like music is pretty standard in most massage therapy settings, but if there is a different kind of music you like - or you don’t want music on at all - sometimes this can be accommodated. Changing things up is nice sometimes.
First and foremost - always talk to your massage therapist if there is anything making you feel uncomfortable. This includes techniques, draping, lighting - anything! This is your time and we are working with your body. We want you to feel comfortable :)
