A massage should never hurt or tickle. A massage is meant to relieve chronic tension and muscle pain, improve circulation, increase joint flexibility, reduce mental & physical fatigue, and combat stress. A massage begins with the therapist asking some general health questions.

Then your therapist will leave you alone to undress and relax on a table especially designed for stability & comfort. You will cover yourself with a fresh sheet. The room will be warm & quiet, usually with soft music playing to set a relaxing mood. Most people undress completely, but you can choose to wear whatever you are most comfortable with, remembering that you are draped at all times, with only the area being worked on exposed.

For seated chair massages you remain clothed. For chair massages your therapist uses no lubrications, however for most table massages some kind of oil or lotion will probably be used.

Relaxation is a skill that can be learned. During a massage you experience the feeling of deep relaxation. As your body becomes accustomed to this state, you can consciously recreate this in your everyday life.

?In the last decade, massage has enjoyed a boom in popularity. Once thought of as a luxury for the pampered, it has become a hands-on favorite of stressed-out office workers, recreational athletes, and wellness enthusiasts?popping up in health clinics, shopping malls, and even corporate suites.?

--Better Homes and Gardens

--Muscle & Fitness

--Forbes FYI