10/15/2026
THINGS WE MASSAGE THERAPISTS DO THAT WOULD PROBABLY SURPRISE YOU! 😳
Y’all have NO idea what goes on behind the scenes during your massage!
You’re lying there, relaxed, listening to peaceful music, probably halfway to falling asleep.
Meanwhile, your Massage Therapist has an entirely different conversation going on inside their head.
After 16 years in this profession, I figured it was time to let y’all in on a few things!
1. THE SINK BATH. 🤣
Between clients, we’re washing our hands and forearms, freshening up, and occasionally giving ourselves what can only be described as a miniature bath in the sink. Massage is physical work, folks! We get HOT! Especially when we are menopausal! 😩🤣
2. MASSAGE MATH.
Oh, we’re calculating! How many minutes do I have left? Did I spend more time on that right shoulder than the left? How much time do I need for the legs and feet? AND!…we keep time by how many massages we have left for the day. 🤣
All while looking perfectly peaceful and listening to music. It’s a skill. 🤣
3. BATHROOM BREAKS ARE A STRATEGIC OPERATION.
We don’t always have the luxury of going whenever we please. Sometimes those few minutes between appointments involve changing linens, sanitizing the room, washing up, drinking water, AND trying to make it to the bathroom.
It’s practically an Olympic event.
4. WE HAVE MASTERED THE SILENT YAWN AND SNEEZE.
Ever tried yawning with your mouth closed? Or suppressing a sneeze while you’re working inches from somebody’s head?
We have.
And let me tell ya, there’s nothing graceful about it! 🤣 (I, Haley), personally apologize for any of these 2 things, or a cough).
5. YES, WE’RE TRYING TO READ YOUR TATTOOS. 👀
Especially if there’s writing!
We’re over here squinting, trying to figure out what it says without looking like we’re inspecting you for evidence.
And if it’s upside down from where we’re standing? Forget it. 🤣
6. IF YOU FART, WE NOTICE. 💨🤣
And sometimes we laugh on the inside!
Listen, bodies are bodies. Muscles relax, digestion continues, and sometimes things happen.
You’re not the first person to pass gas on a massage table, and I can promise you won’t be the last.
We’re professionals. We carry on.
Although occasionally, maintaining a straight face deserves an award. 🤣
7. THAT ONE RANDOM HAIR ON YOUR BACK.
You know the one.
It somehow gets stuck to your skin, and we’re trying to discreetly remove it without interrupting your massage.
WHY is that one little hair sometimes harder to get rid of than a trigger point?! 🤣
8. OUR NOSE ALWAYS ITCHES AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME.
Both hands are occupied, we’re in the middle of some really good therapeutic work, and suddenly our nose decides it needs immediate attention.
Now we’re trying to figure out how to scratch it without contaminating our hands or interrupting your treatment.
The struggle is REAL.
9. WE STRETCH WHILE WE WORK ON YOU.
Yep! We’re shifting our stance, stretching our calves, adjusting our backs, and occasionally sneaking in a little stretch of our own.
Because after several massages, our muscles need some attention too!
10. SOMETIMES WE NEED A SHOWER AND SILENCE WHEN WE GET HOME.
This one is a little more serious.
Massage Therapists hear a LOT. Sometimes people share grief, stress, trauma, family struggles, and things they haven’t told anyone else.
We care about our clients, and we’re honored when they trust us.
But being present for people all day can take an emotional toll, too.
Sometimes that shower after work is about more than washing off massage lotion. It’s our way of washing the day away and resetting ourselves.
11. AND YES, WE HOLD OUR OWN GAS IN TOO! 😭🤣
Y’all think YOU have it rough trying not to fart during a massage?!
Try being the therapist who has three more appointments before going home!
There are moments when we’re standing there, maintaining our professional composure, thinking…
Dear ABBA, PLEASE don’t let my stomach embarrass me right now. 🙏🏼🤣
And somehow, we make it through!
HERE’S THE THING…
We love what we do. We take our work seriously, we respect our clients, and we’re paying attention to far more than you probably realize.
But we’re also human!
We get hot. We get tired. We have bodily functions. Our noses itch. And sometimes we’re doing mental gymnastics while you’re enjoying the most relaxing hour of your week.
And after 16 years, I can tell you that some of the funniest conversations I’ve ever had have been with other Massage Therapists comparing these exact experiences! 🤣
NOW, FELLOW LMTs…DON’T LEAVE ME HANGING!
What did I forget?! Because I KNOW some of y’all have stories! 😏🤣
And clients…which one surprised you the most?
Shared from Linda Welch Baird, LMT, MMT, CNA
