What to wear to a massage: clothes, towels and underwear

Almost nobody asks this out loud at the front desk, which is a shame, because it is the question that keeps people awake the night before a first booking. What do I wear to a massage? Do I wear anything? What about underwear? What if I get it wrong?

You cannot get it wrong, but the answer does change with the style. For Traditional Thai massage you wear loose, comfortable clothes. For an oil massage you undress to whatever level you are comfortable with and lie under a towel. In both cases the choice is yours, and your therapist will work around it.

What to wear to a Thai massage

Traditional Thai massage is done without oil, so you stay in clothes. Your therapist presses along your body and moves your arms and legs into yoga-style stretches, which means your clothes need to move with you. Think of what you would wear to a gentle yoga class or around the house on a Sunday.

• Wear: stretchy or loose trousers (leggings, track pants, soft shorts that reach mid-thigh) and a plain cotton or soft-fabric top that will not ride up.
• Avoid: jeans or anything stiff, belts, zips and buttons that will press into you when you lie on your back, and very short skirts.
• Layer up: the room can feel cool once you stop moving, and a light top you can pull on or off is better than one heavy jumper.

If you arrive in office clothes, tell the front desk. It is a common situation and the therapist can often work with what you have, though tight trousers will limit the stretches. If you are booking straight from work, packing a pair of leggings is the easy fix. More on the style itself in our guide to Thai massage in Auckland.

What happens with an oil massage

Swedish, aromatherapy, deep tissue, warm coconut oil, hot stone, herbal compress and candle therapy (Viaduct only) all use oil on the skin, so this is where the towel comes in. Your therapist explains what is about to happen, leaves the room, and you undress to your comfort level and lie on the table under a towel or sheet. They knock before coming back in.

From there only the part being worked on is uncovered: a back, an arm, a leg. Everything else stays covered, and the towel is moved as the therapist goes, so there is never a moment where you are left exposed while someone works elsewhere. This technique is called draping, and it is standard practice. The American Massage Therapy Association describes the same thing on its what to expect at your massage session page: you lie under a sheet or towel that covers everything except the area being worked on, and you take off only as much as you are comfortable removing.

The underwear question

It is entirely your choice. Some guests keep underwear on, some take everything off under the towel, some wear a swimsuit. All three are normal, and no one will think twice about any of them.

There is one practical point. Oil can mark fabric, so if you keep underwear on, wear something you do not mind getting a little oil on. For a back or leg massage, the therapist may need to work close to the waistband or fold the towel; if that is not comfortable, say so and they will adjust. For a Back and Shoulder or reflexology treatment you may only need to remove a top or roll up your trousers, which is another reason to ask when you book.

"Guests worry about this far more than we do. Whatever you are comfortable in is the right answer, and if something feels off, tell us and we change it straight away."

Siri therapist team

How therapists keep you covered and comfortable

A good session has a rhythm: a short chat about what hurts and what to avoid, a pause while you get settled, and a check on pressure after the first few minutes. Your therapist should ask whether it is too light or too firm, and the answer can be changed at any point. Our pressure guide has the words to use.

Draping goes with you through the session. When you turn over, the towel keeps you covered as you move, and you settle again underneath it. Nothing in the treatment requires you to be uncovered beyond the area being worked, and if you want an area left alone, such as the lower back or the feet, you can simply say so.

Before you arrive: the small stuff

• Shower: not required, though a quick rinse after the gym or a long walk is considerate and helps you settle. St Heliers guests coming from the beach may want to rinse off the sand first.
• Jewellery: take off necklaces, bracelets and large earrings, which can catch on towels or press into you on the table. Rings are usually fine.
• Hair: tie it back if it is long, particularly for neck and shoulder work, and clip up anything that will dangle into oil.
• Phone: silence it and leave it in your bag. The point of an hour or ninety minutes is not being reachable.
• Eating: have something light an hour or two before, rather than a big meal or an empty stomach.
• Afterwards: bring a comfortable layer to put on afterwards. You often feel looser and a little cooler once you stop, and a warm top and easy shoes make the trip home nicer, especially in an Auckland winter.
• Glasses and contact lenses: you can wear glasses to the room, though you will take them off lying face down. Most people take lenses out for a longer session.

If you have a medical condition, a skin condition, an injury or you are pregnant, check with your GP or midwife and mention it when you book, so the therapist can plan the session and the right amount of covering. Our first-visit guide walks through the whole appointment, and the aftercare guide covers what to do once you are dressed again.

If you feel self-conscious

Plenty of first-timers do, and it is worth saying that therapists see the whole range of bodies every day. They are looking at muscle, not appearance. What they care about is that you are warm, comfortable and able to relax, because a guarded body is harder to work on.

If the idea of lying under a towel feels like too much, book the Thai massage first. You stay clothed, you get a feel for the therapist and the room, and you can move to an oil massage next time. Another gentle route is a shorter treatment. A 30-minute back and shoulder massage means only your upper body is uncovered, and a reflexology foot massage needs little more than bare feet and legs.

You can also say at the start, in plain words, how you would like to be covered. "Could we keep my top on for the first half?" is an ordinary request, and nobody has to hear a reason. The same goes for pausing the session: if you want to sit up, adjust the towel, or stop, say so.

What it costs, and where to book

A 60-minute Traditional Thai massage is $115 at our Viaduct spa in the Auckland CBD and $105 at St Heliers. Oil massages in the same styles cost the same, and are listed on the Viaduct treatments page and the St Heliers treatments page. Both spas are open seven days from 10am to 8pm, and a 15% surcharge applies on public holidays.

Common questions