The right kind of music serves as a complement to massage and helps clients relax more deeply, allows recipients to enjoy their bodywork more thoroughly, and ultimately makes your job easier too.

The wrong kind of music can ruin an otherwise perfect massage therapy session.

Here are a few tips for using music in your bodywork session:

1. Set music at a comfortable volume, and have it playing before your client comes in for their session.

2. Ensure that the music flows consistently so as not to jolt your client out of their relaxed state. Try to match the album length with the length of the massage session. Avoiding repetition when possible is important, as the body craves varying sounds.

3. Avoid music with lyrics or spoken word or instruments that are too stimulating or attention-grabbing. Clients’ attention should be inward, not outward.

4. Ask your client before they get settled if the volume is suitable and if they are happy with your choice of music.

We hardly rely on CDs or even our iTunes libraries anymore, as streaming music services have taken over as the easiest and most convenient way to access music libraries. Luckily, you’re not just limited to popular, one-size-fits-all music streaming sources like Spotify and Pandora. There are plenty of resources out there, specifically created with massage therapists in mind.

1. Spa Music Stream – Paid, 14-day free trial – Spa Music Stream features a diverse library of rights-inclusive music (music designed specifically to be played in a business environment). There is a huge range of genres to choose from, like smooth jazz, classical, and more to help you create the perfect ambience.

2. Google Play – $9.99/month first 30 days free. A variety of music for all genres. Several speciality massage albums and collections exist for massage and spa.

3. Spotify – Free and Paid – Although they have a huge library of music which you can use to build your own playlists (or use one of their curated playlists), unless you pay for premium, your playlists with be interrupted by annoying (and loud) commercials, which is not conducive to a relaxing experience.

4. Pandora for Business – Paid – Featuring the same music library you’ve come to expect from Pandora, Pandora for Business gives you the added benefit of being fully licensed and personalized and doesn’t require any equipment to set up.

Music is an important part of a deeply relaxing massage therapy experience, so make sure you give it serious thought and attention.  And remember: While having the perfect music will rarely be noticed, selecting a poor choice almost always will be.  You don’t want to be remembered for that.

A great massage experience is a collection of sensory stimuli that begin as soon as your client enters your office door and involve sound, sight, smell and touch.  Delight all four and your clients are bound to come back more often.