Choosing Male or Female Massage Therapist

Other than the style of treatment you’d like, there’s one big thing you have to decide when making a massage appointment: male or female therapist? If therapists of both genders are available, most spas will ask for your preference. You should get the same treatment regardless of which you choose; it’s all about who will make you more comfortable. But if you want to get the best treatment available, don’t focus on gender. Instead, ask for recommendations and schedule with the person who gets the best reviews.

Male versus female: does it matter?

In terms of the level of professionalism involved in treatment, it does not make a difference whether you choose a man or a woman to perform your massage. However, there may be a few minor variations in the execution of the treatment. Male therapists tend to have more strength than their female counterparts, so they are able to give deeper, tension-busting massages. A male therapist may do a better job eliminating tough knots in a deep-tissue treatment. A woman, on the other hand, tends to have a more nurturing touch. She may be gentler with a massage than her male colleagues. This doesn’t mean that woman can’t be strong or that men can’t be nurturing; it’s just a general observation to take into account. The vast majority of spa patrons choose female therapists for their massages. This is in part due to the fact that there are many more women than men in the massage therapy field. But it’s also because most spa customers feel more comfortable around women than men. Female patrons are afraid that male masseurs will look at their bodies in a sexualized manner. Male customers have a similar fear--they think that male therapists could be gay and approach them sexually as well. Despite these fears, you should know that it is against the therapists’ professional code to sexualize a massage. Both male and female therapists have extensive experience with nude bodies, so they won’t judge you. But although all this is true, many first-time customers still feel more comfortable with female therapists. If this is the case for you, by all means, go ahead and choose a woman to perform your massage. The treatment is about you, and you should choose options that make it easiest for you to relax. Many more experienced spa goes actually prefer male therapists over females because they have more power and tend to remain silent during treatments. Men may be less likely to check often to see if everything is okay; they also could be less conscious of personal boundaries, which can lead to a less awkward treatment. Women therapists might be more concerned about your enjoyment of the massage, which is a nice gesture but can lead to an interruption in relaxation. Again, these statements are by no means rules--there are plenty of women who give strong, silent massages--but they are trends some patrons notice.

Beyond gender

The gender of a therapist actually matters a lot less than other factors when it comes to getting good results. If you want to find the best therapist, ask around. Get recommendations from your friends and family about which therapists are the best at spas. Then, you can request that person when you sign up for a treatment. Personal recommendations are by far the best way to ensure a good massage. Another way to find a quality therapist is to ask the spa about each staffer’s credentials. Find out how long the masseurs have been on staff and where they received their training. Go with the person who has been around the longest--he or she will probably be able to help with any problem. Also, there are some therapists more experienced in certain styles of massage than others. So if you have your heart set on getting a Thai treatment, ask the front desk which of their staff members performs this service most often. Then, schedule a massage with that person. If you find an experienced therapist, gender matters very little. All masseurs have received similar training and all will approach your treatment in a professional manner. If you have a problem with any therapist, however, speak up and tell the owner of the spa about your concerns. Don’t think that your problem will go unnoticed!

Things to remember when choosing a therapist

At a large spa, if you say you don’t care if you have a man or a woman, you’ll probably get a man. This is because most people choose women. Many patrons prefer male therapists for treatments that require deep muscular penetration, like sports massage or deep-tissue treatments Although many massage services require that you be nude, your therapist will never see your body entirely naked. You’ll lie on your stomach for the whole treatment in many cases. Also, draping techniques are used to ensure that only a small part of your body is exposed at any one time.