Selecting an LMT

Last updated: 10/03/25

This page is also about how to select the right spa/venue, modalities, and addons for you too.

Pressure level: From the therapist perspective, it’s best for clients who want really deep pressure and intensity to look for Ashiatsu, Ashi-Thai, Table Thai with ashiatsu bars, Floor Thai, Cupping, Percussion Massage Gun, and Gua Sha. If you opt for Western massage, select a therapist with a strong upper body so usually this would be a tall heavy male therapist who lifts weights. The Eastern modalities allow an LMT to use more of their body weight, and tools reduce the mileage on their hands while still delivering pressure/results.

Communication: If you don’t like a certain technique, modality, essential oil, product, the music, etc. please let your therapist know so they can change it. If it gets to the point where your preferences don’t match up with a therapist’s style they might be able to refer you to a different therapist, or you can keep trying the work of others.

Try out multiple modalities and addons: Depending on your budget, I recommend trying out lots of different modalities (Traditional Thai, Table Thai, Ashi-Thai, Ashiatsu, Silicone Cupping, Neuromuscular, Medical/Orthopedic, Myofascial Release, Deep Tissue, Swedish, Lomi Lomi, Biofield tuning, Infrared sauna, Reiki) and venues to figure out which you enjoy the most and get the most results from. You can start with practitioners with lower rates then slowly increase your budget; there are lots of therapists who are skilled and charge below or at market. However, quantity can reduce quality so if their rates are particularly low they might be drained from a high volume of clients. Avoid “massage parlors” where often the bodyworkers are not licensed and trained; on Google Maps if the spa has photos of women in dresses with makeup that is a red flag for a sketchy business.