I just had the most wonderful massage.

Deep, unhurried strokes, working out the kinks at my shoulder blades and chest. Loosening up my back and cracking (ahhhhh) my bones. Tender but firm caressing of the face. All these at a very affordable price and done at home. Yes, I had a house-call masseur.

I often wonder – how many of us enjoy massages as much as yours truly but always, for some reasons, walk away from one feeling dissatisfied? I go for familiarity. Once I found a good one, I will stick with him for a period of time (until the quality deteriorate, at which point I will start looking again).

How do you know if you found the right one? Well, here are a list of ten-pointers of a good masseur:

1. The masseur arrives on time. Every time. Nothing irks me more than a masseur who doesn’t respect my time
2. The masseur knows that you need to be calm and serene to enter into the mood for a massage. Incessant small talk is a definite no-no
3. The masseur brought his own towels. A big one for the bed, a couple of smaller ones to cover you throughout the massage. You should not be feeling cold at any point of the massage.
4. The masseur uses actual massage oil. No… body lotion and baby oil are not for proper massage. Massage oil are usually fragant – lavender, jasmine etc. Smell it. You should feel calmed by the smell.
5. The masseur always start by stretching you. I loved it when mine starts by pressing on my shoulders and low back in turn, stretching the muscle, cracking my backbone… ahh…
6. The masseur always know the right spot to touch. How would you know? Well, if you are a gymmer like me, your masseur will feel your tense muscle. You should be feeling pain and relief at the same time as he work away your stiffness
7. The masseur always take his time, and be methodical in the way he massages. You can tell by how he does the left side of your body, and the right. The stroke, routine and strength should feel identical. If not, chances are he does not what he is doing.
8. The masseur often response to your breathing and sounds. If he sense you are uncomfortable and in pain, he will stop momentarily and ask if you are okay. God forbid if you get one that work away ignoring your scream of pain!
9. The masseur work your body thoroughly. Mine start from the shoulder, back, lower back, legs, pelvic, then turn me around for face, neck, chest, stomach, legs again, and finally feet. If he spent more time then he should at one part, he should not shortchange you by skipping any parts of your body.
10. Finally, a happy ending is not part of your massage! That goes without saying. Massage is not sex. If you want sex, go to the right places, like Geylang or Tanjong Pagar.

I am looking forward a good night sleep tonight. After a crappy day today, I deserve to be pampered… for once.

For you fellow massage-lovers, what would YOU add to this list?