A massage is a great way to pamper yourself, but it can also be a healthy treat for your body. However, many people hesitate to schedule a massage because they are insecure with their body. Others have heard jokes about "happy endings" or worry about massage etiquette. Finding a skilled massage practitioner that you can trust is not always simple. For this month's "Salon, Spa, and Style," I visited Blades Day Spa for a massage.

Technically, a massage is the therapeutic application of pressure to body tissues. This is most often the muscles, but it also includes the tendons, ligaments and the lymphatic system. The Virginia Department of Health Professions requires anyone who provides professional massage services to become a Certified Massage Therapist. This requires 500 hours of training as well as successful completion of an examination administered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.

There are literally hundreds of styles of massage. One of the most commonly practiced and popular styles is Swedish Massage. Unless you specifically visit a practitioner of another style like Shiatsu, Thai Massage or Rolfing, most aspects of the massage will reflect the Swedish style. Light oils are used to reduce friction on the skin. While the client typically disrobes as much as he or she is comfortable, only the body part being worked on is exposed.

Massage therapists work in several different settings, including medical facilities, sports rehabilitation clinics, salons and spas. You can locate a massage therapist in your area at massagetherapy.com. A competent massage therapist will not be offended if you ask about certification or the styles that he or she practices.

Once you have found a massage therapist and scheduled an appointment, there are several more things to keep in mind. Before you go:

DO: Drink lots of water, both before and after the massage. Stimulating your lymphatic system and circulation is said to cause the body to shed toxins. Dehydrated muscles also can't respond as well to the therapeutic benefits.

DO: Shower and shave. I like to use an exfoliating glove instead of a sugar scrub because it doesn't leave any residue on my skin.

DON'T: Eat a big meal, or anything that might not agree with your stomach. Once, I scheduled a massage for the week before a friend's wedding. I hadn't eaten meat in several months, but enjoyed the prime rib at the rehearsal dinner without a thought. This was very bad timing for my massage the next morning.

DON'T: Apply scented lotions, perfume or spend a lot of time doing your hair. Let the oils and aromatherapy do their work. Likewise, your hair will probably be a bit rumpled and may have gotten a bit of oil in it, depending on the style and length.

DO: Be ready to communicate with the massage therapist. This includes not only your health history and general fitness level, but also any specific issues like aches and pains, lingering injuries or disabilities.

DO: Allow a bit of time before and after your massage. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment. Give yourself a window of at least an hour to enjoy the after-effects of a wonderful, relaxing experience.

I scheduled my massage at Blades Day Spa, a Willow Lawn destination since 1997. The spa has been recently remodeled and now includes salon, spa and laser skincare medi-spa services. It was a Saturday afternoon and the waiting area was populated by many women trying to schedule a walk-in appointment. Surprisingly, the person who welcomed me at the reception area, Angie, turned out to be my massage therapist. She offered me a glass of water, and I began to fill out the information form. This was my chance to communicate with the massage therapist about my preferences and health. I was offered a chance to use the restroom before I was shown to the room where I would receive my massage.

Your massage can and should be adapted to your level of comfort. I prefer a deep tissue massage, but the level of pressure should be adapted to your body. Speak up if at any time you feel pain or need the pressure of the massage changed.

There are three massage rooms at Blades. I was in an "Oasis" themed room. The massage table was furnished with an electric blanket, and I was covered by a sheet and another soft blanket. Most aspects of the massage were similar to others I have had, and the entire experience was very relaxing and positive.

My neck and facial area, right and left arm, and right and left leg were each worked on individually while I was facing upwards, and the second portion of the massage focused on the back. Each section involved gentle stretching followed by pressure that followed the length of the major muscles. Two aspects of this massage were new to me and very welcome.

After each body part was given its share of attention, a very warm, moist cloth with ylang-ylang essential oil was used to cleanse away the remaining massage oil. During the second half of the massage, Angie applied a sinus blend of aromatherapy oils to the linen cloth covering the headrest. It was quite pleasant and helped to alleviate the stuffy nose that results when laying face-down for an extended period of time.

I can only make two recommendations to improve the overall experience. Although the remodeling seems to be generally appropriate, the quality of the doors was such that they opened and closed loudly, and did not entirely block the sound from other parts of the spa. Secondly, the music was much different from the general type of relaxation music offered during other massages I've had, and included songs with lyrics (meaning I was actually listening to the words instead of the music acting as a backdrop). If the music had been overly annoying, I would not have hesitated to ask that it be changed or turned off. These are both issues that are easy to resolve and I include them here mostly to help improve the service level even more.

My 60-minute massage was $75. The services offered range from 30 to 90 minutes, and an aromatherapy or hot stone massage is also available. This is roughly the median price for a 60 minute massage in the Richmond metro area, although at some spas the price may be better if purchasing a series of massages at once. The location is convenient and I felt great afterward. A massage is not a weekly or even monthly indulgence in my budget, but I would return to Blades Day Spa.

Blades Day Spa
The Shops at Willow Lawn
1601 Willow Lawn Drive, Suites 314 & 315
Richmond, Virginia 23230
Phone: 804-285-2363 or 804-285-2365

w LAST TIME OUT: A visit to Le Visage.