Massage Therapy is both an Art and a Science. There is a long line connecting those two and therefore a wide variety of massage therapists exist – from hard-hitting medical and sports therapists to esoteric energy healers. Fortunately, the needs of individuals are just as varying.
The trick is to find the right therapist for you and your circumstances.
In New York State, massage therapists must be licensed by the same board that licenses doctors, nurses and physical therapists. You can check the status of any NY massage therapist by going to this link: http://www.op.nysed.gov/opsearches.htm
Because there are licensing standards, all NY therapists are trained in most massage modalities, including but not limited to: Swedish, Neuromuscular, Deep or Connective Tissue, Shiatsu, etc. Although trained in all regulated modalities, massage therapists in practice tend to gravitate toward those that work for them, usually integrating multiple styles. What matters is not the method, but the practitioner. Are they going to be attentive to your spoken needs and the needs of your specific body?
Licensed massage therapists have studied a variety of diseases because some are contraindicated for massage and others require from minor to major adjustments in how the therapist orchestrates your massage. For more information about the areas of study required for a massage license, visit: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/mt/
If you have any health condition or disability, be sure to inform your therapist so that you know whether they are equipped to help you or not.
Some therapists have a variety of clientele, some choose to specialize by working perhaps only with dancers or athletes, and some may choose to work with specific medical conditions or illnesses. There is nothing wrong with this: Massage therapy is very intimate and requires an intense amount of trust. Just as you would want to feel comfortable with your chosen therapist, you would want a therapist who is comfortable with your health or physical circumstances.
Massage therapists are required by law to respect both your privacy and modesty. Unless you will be fully clothed during the session, you must be given privacy while changing and you must be covered with a sheet or a towel for the entire session. Only the part of the body that is being worked on in the moment will be briefly uncovered.
Traditional massage therapists generally work with the client unclothed and under a sheet. This not only helps the therapist to better know what is going on within your musculoskeletal tissues, but allows them to work with oils and lotions. If a client is not comfortable being disrobed, the therapist should be able to accommodate you clothed. If for any reason this is a concern for you, please ask before you go. One of the most common questions is whether to leave underwear on or remove them: The choice is yours; your comfort is of the utmost importance.
If your intended massage therapist is not comfortable with any of your (legal) requests, then I advise that you find another therapist.
Massage therapists are not sex therapists. Sexual activity of any kind between a massage therapist and their client is illegal.
There are three national professional organizations that have trusted therapist locator services. Through them you should be able to find a qualified therapist wherever you are. Please note that licensing and certification requirements vary from state to state:
For a deeper exploration of massage therapy and the connection to health and scientific research, please visit: http://www.massagetherapyfoundation.org/