As the weather gets colder, your schedule gets busier and your muscles get tighter, you might find yourself looking for an Indianapolis massage therapist.  So, which therapist should you turn to when you need a well deserved massage.  How do you find the best?

What Do You Want?
First, you’ll need to decide what type of massage service you are interested in. There are many massage therapists in Indianapolis and each has their own skill set.  Do you want a traditional Swedish Massage or an intensive “Pfrimmer”?  Are you pregnant and seeking a Prenatal Massage?  

When you call your prospective therapists, be sure to ask and confirm that the massage therapist you choose has at least a year or two of experience in the massage therapy you are interested in.

Drive Time
Next, decide how far you are willing to drive for “the best”.  If possible, don’t limit your search to your zip code or your side of town.  Interview massage therapists in a 10-15 mile radius to increase your chances of finding the best one.

Is price your main concern?  If so, then it is even more important to expand the scope of your search.  Check surrounding towns and cities that are within a distance you’d be willing to drive.  Often times, massage therapists in towns surrounding big cities have better rates and offer specials for regular massage clients willing to drive a few minutes extra.  

Your Pampering Quotient
Now, your preference for how pampered you want your massage experience to be will now determine if you call Day Spas or dedicated massage therapy studios.  Just so you know, typically a day spa has less experienced therapists because they pay by the hour and few experienced massage therapist are willing to accept hourly pay.  However, that does not mean you won’t find an excellent therapist in a Day Spa.  In fact, some of the higher-end Day Spas offer the best of both worlds, top notch therapists in a beautifully pampered setting.  But, of course, all this comes at a price.

If you want an experienced professional at a reasonable rate, your best bet is to call a massage studio or an individual massage therapist.  Most massage studios in and around Indianapolis are listed in the yellow pages or pop up when you do a Google search for “Indianapolis massage therapy”.  

Finding an top-notch individual therapist can be a bit more difficult, especially if they work remotely or by appointment only.  Often times, this is where the “best of the best” reside –but they usually have a large client base and are booked for weeks.  These therapists have paid their dues and don’t need to spend much on marketing to stay busy.

Credentials to Look For
Massage therapy is soon to be sanctioned in Indiana so anyone offering massage services will have to be officially licensed, but this is not the case yet.  So, look for massage therapist with the following credentials.

Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) – means they have received formal training from an accredited school, not just a weekend crash course

ABMP or  AMTA Registration – these are professional trade organization that serious therapist pay to belong to  

Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapist (PDMT)  – a specific type of “advanced” massage therapy requiring specialized training and certification

Make Your Calls
So now that you have the preliminaries out of the way, it is time to call a few massage therapists.  Your objective is to not only get your questions answered, like “what do you specialize in?” and “do you have any specials?” but also determine if the therapist meets your personality preferences.

Every massage therapist has a different approach.  Therapeutic massage can be a very personal & powerful experience, both positive and, unfortunately, negative.  It is my belief that a truly skilled massage therapist can bring your body’s energy back into balance and leave you feeling centered and much stronger than you were before you arrived. An unskilled therapist does the opposite.  Often times, a massage therapist’s level of positive (or negative) energy is apparent on the initial call with a new client, you just have to be looking for it.

Although the steps above may take you an extra 30 minutes or so, they will help you avoid wasting time & money on a bad massage.  So, take the time and be sure to find the very best massage therapist Indianapolis has to offer.