Unwind, be kind

Book it
When you make the appointment, specify your preference for a male or female therapist or for certain type of massage (sports, prenatal, deep tissue, etc.). Arrive ten minutes early in case there’s paperwork to fill out.

Be light as a feather
Nix the burrito—or any heavy meal—before your treatment, says Trump Spa’s Royale Walker. “When your digestive system is relaxed, it helps the rest of you relax and enjoy the massage more,” she says.

Get naked
Go commando for body services; your therapist will keep your body draped modestly with a towel. With wet treatments like body scrubs and wraps, you might not be completely covered, but you can wear a swimsuit.

Be a great communicator
If you’re too cold, too warm, in pain from too much hand pressure, or just hate the trancy music being played—speak up. These easily remedied annoyances can ruin a treatment.

Everyone can hear you now
“Using your cell phone disrupts the other guests,” says Bliss Spa’s Fred Goudy. “If you need to have it with you, that’s fine, as long as it is turned to silent.”

Embrace grooming
Your aesthetician will have views of you that otherwise only a paramour would see, so make sure you’re well groomed. (This means you, guys who cut their toenails once a month.) “Come early and take a shower if you need to,” Goudy says. “Fresh breath is a good thing, too.”

Let it linger
Many spas offer a relaxation area with comfy couches and herbal tea, so allot time to veg out post-treatment.

Tipping is not optional
Unless the practitioner does a terrible job, such as injuring you, fork over a gratuity. According to Lisette Paez, head nail technician at Four Seasons Spa, “Tip 20 percent if the service was good, 15 percent for mediocre, 10 percent if it was poor.”

Drink up
Drink lots of water post-treatment. “Water acts as a carrier to help carry toxins released during the massage away,” Walker says. If you’re feeling light-headed from the pretreatment appetite restraint, now’s the time for burritos.