My first massage... Communicating my needs to my therapist

I received my first professional massage over 12 years ago.  Countless massages later, I still remember it.  My therapists name was Elkie and the room was small, slightly cluttered in a cozy way and there was a large tie-dye blanket over the window to block out the sun.  The thing that sticks out in my brain the most was that she had a mixed cd and it had an instrumental cover of "Stairway to Heaven".  I really do not recall much about her massage, just the contentment I felt because she made me feel warm welcome and most of all safe.  Massage, it can be a little odd for someone at first.  The expectation of getting undressed in an unfamiliar space, and having a person you just met touch you is very intimidating.  Please, discuss this with your Massage practitioner.  If you aren't feeling comfortable about something, let them know.  We, as practitioners, have several obligations to our clients.  The first and most important is to respect your boundaries.  So, if you don't feel comfortable, let us help you.  We can usually modify or change most things in a massage to give you a customized and pleasant experience.  Never be afraid to communicate your needs to your massage or skincare therapist.  you, at the end of the day know your body better than we do.  That being said, I will use my professional judgment to ensure that I am offering you safe and effective bodywork and skincare.  If for some reason I need to amend your treatment plan I will do my best to offer you reasons why the alternative may be a better choice than what we had previously discussed.  Massage shouldn't be painful and can actually be harmful when administered incorrectly.  This is why effective communication is so important, we don't want to hurt you and we want you to reach your intended goal of the massage.