Did you know there are more than 250 bodywork modalities? With so many options out there, even experienced bodywork adventurers might feel overwhelmed and unsure about what to choose.

Consider your goals as you make your decision. Are you looking to relax, relieve, rehabilitate, recoup? Perhaps you’re looking to get invigorated. Or perhaps you’re looking for all of the above.

Because choosing one modality over another may seem daunting, we dedicate this issue of Body Sense to finding the right technique for you. Allissa Haines presents several bodywork options in her article “To Relax or Not to Relax?” She suggests that what’s right for you today may not be what’s right next week, next month, or next year. Your goals may be constantly in flux—and that’s fine.

The best place to start is by communicating with your practitioner. He or she is a trained professional (often in many modalities) and can guide your goals and session in a number of directions depending on your needs.

Take heed massage enthusiasts: the great news is that it doesn’t matter what technique you choose (there is no right or wrong), all have healthful benefits that range from reducing anxiety and stress, to boosting the immune system, to improving self-esteem, and all provide much needed relief for body, mind, and soul.

Exploring the vast array of techniques with your massage therapist should be an adventure, and we hope that through this publication, and with the information we provide on Massagetherapy.com, your therapist and the more than 300,000 other therapists across the United States are waiting in the wings to provide you with the support you need.