Before the massage
First of all, make sure it is a good time for you to have a massage. Reschedule your visit if have a fever, skin irritations (such as poison ivy or sunburn), or if you are trying to stabilize your medication (because massage can affect the dosage needed).
In the days before your massage, drink plenty of water.
Do not eat just before your massage.
Give yourself enough time to arrive on time and relaxed. If you are rushing and arrive stressed, it will take longer to get into a relaxed state.
Health History
Your first massage will involve an intake process, starting with a health history. We build in time to your appointment for collecting your health history. So while you may want to show up a few minutes before your appointment, do not stress about getting here too much before your scheduled time. We will ask:
- Medical conditions
- Areas of concern
- What helps reduce the pain and what makes it worse
- Contact information
You will also be asked to sign a consent form. Minors shall have their guardians sign for them.
Interview
The massage therapist will review your health history and ask questions. Because massage can affect multiple body systems, such as the cardiovascular and nervous systems, be honest with the massage therapist about your health. You should also let the therapist know about any pharmaceutical drugs or botanical medicines you are taking, because massage can enhance or reduce the effect of pharmaceutical drugs, such as blood pressure medication. Knowing your history allows a therapist to determine if there are any reasons you should avoid massage or a particular technique.
The massage therapist will ask you questions to better design a session that meets your needs and goals within the time allotted. Let the therapist know what areas of your body you would like worked on, if there are any areas to avoid, and if you have any techniques that you would like to use or avoid. If you are concerned about undressing, discuss it with the therapist, who should be able to offer you some options. Don’t be afraid to discuss any apprehensions or concerns. All information you give is confidential.
The therapist will outline what will happen in the session and then leave the room so you can undress to your comfort level.
When you are ready, lie down on the massage table and cover yourself with the sheet and blanket on the table. The therapist will knock before re-entering.
During the massage
You will lie on a massage table, covered by a sheet. Make sure you are comfortable and let the therapist know if you are not. Tell the therapist if you are cold, want to be covered, don’t want an area of your body touched, don’t like the music, or are experiencing discomfort with the technique or how it is being applied. Remember, you are in charge, and can ask for changes or stop the session at any time.
Draping
All of our professional massage therapist will never expose genitals or breasts, or any other areas you identify. Only the area the therapist is working on will be exposed.
Music
The therapist may play music, but be sure to tell your therapist if you would prefer a different type of music or if you would like quiet.
Some things to know from your massage therapist
We are so used to seeing bodies of every shape, size, color, and perspiration level. And while we do appreciate a clean body, as long as you haven’t come straight off the ski slopes, it is pretty hard to offend us! Same goes for shaven legs. We don’t even notice if you haven’t shaved your legs in awhile.
How to get the most from your massage
Be as open to the process as you can.
Relax and try to let your thoughts go. One way to do this is to focus on how the touch or technique feels.
Remember to breathe, as this helps you relax. Sometimes people hold their breath when a sensitive area is massaged, but it is best to breathe through it.
In the same way, tightening your muscles during the massage is counterproductive. If you can’t seem to relax your muscles, let your massage therapist know. They may need to adjust the massage technique.