Before arrival - Make sure to Fill out the intake form sent to you via email at least a day before, or arrive to your appointment 15 minutes early to fill out all the necessary information, including medical history, payment information in case of last minute cancellation, and any accommodations that may need to be included in your massage.
You will receive a reminder text the day before your appointment.
Dressing - Dress with the understanding that you will be dressing down and any hair/makeup may be mussed over the course of the massage. If you are not comfortable or unable removing an item, your therapist will be able to work around it.
If you requested a clothed session wear a base layer of thin unstructured clothes that don’t restrict your movement and have minimal buttons or layers. The removal of jackets, wired bras, corsets, binders, tight/thick jeans, or similar clothing will allow for maximum therapeutic effectiveness.
As they will be in close proximity to you, make sure to be clean and without any heavily scented products such as perfumes in respect to other clients and your therapist.
If you believe you are sick in any way please reschedule; though I am fully vaccinated, I am often in close contact with people with compromised immune systems and both the safety of my other clients and myself, I highly recommend staying home. If you simply feel under the weather possibly due to allergies you may be asked to wear a mask to you appointment
Arrival - Try and arrive 5 minutes early to allow buffer time, if you are going to be late, please, communicate your estimated time of arrival with me via text or email as soon as possible. The Late policy is after 1/4th of your appointment time has passed we will need to reschedule, though if you are able to be communicative we are much more likely to be flexible.
Intake - Once you’re appointment time rolls around and your here on of the therapists will welcome you and lead you into the massage room to have a conversation about your written intake you gave earlier. For the first session we will want to spend the first 10-15 minutes talking with you about any complications, questions we might have, changes in your body, or things we may wish to look at before you get onto the table. In subsequent sessions these conversations will get shorter mainly asking about major changes and the focus for the session.
Once the intake is done I will leave the room to allow you a few minutes to dress down to your comfort level and lay under the sheet and blanket on the table. I will specify if I want you face up or face down as it will depend on what the first priority of the session is.
I will knock first and ask if your ready for me before coming in, though if I cannot hear you I may need to crack the door to listen more clearly for your answer. After receiving an affirmative I will come in and check on your comfort with temperature, if you need any pillows or bolters to lay comfortably, music volume, etc.
Sheet etiquette - During your massage I will make sure to keep groin, breasts, and buttocks covered at all times to respect your modesty, please remain under the sheet while I am in the room and try not pull on it. During the session I will likely ask you to reposition yourself, such as flipping over, and will hold the sheet in a way that you will be able to without disturbing it.
End of the Session - Your therapist will calmly let you know that your time is up and will leave the room to allow you to redress at your own pace. They will meet you outside the door with a cup of water and ask about how you are feeling, opinions on the massage, etc. This will also be the time that I would give you any information regarding at home exorcises, stretches, helpful tools, or lotions that you could use at home to maintain your body between massages.
At this time I will also ask about rescheduling, as massage is most effective when done regularly as a form of maintenance on the body.
Payment - At the end of your appointment there will be the option to pay either with cash or card. As with most of the service industry in the US it is customary to tip ~20% but in no way required.
After your appointment - You will get another email asking for feedback on your experience and then easy links to leave reviews. One of the best ways, besides tipping, to show your love for a therapist is to leave reviews for other people to see! A Therapists reputation can often be the difference between a new client or not.
Is massage painful?
It can, but it doesn't have to be. It's not unusual to feel some soreness during or within the next 48 hours after any form of deep work. But the level of pain highly depends on the area we're working on, any preexisting injuries, and personal preference. You can always ask the therapist to use less pressure at any time if it’s too uncomfortable. For more info on that look at question #6!
Do I have to take my clothes off?
No! I always ask clients to remove clothing only as far as they feel comfortable. Many clients leave on panties/boxers/etc but given I will be utilizing the sheet to cover any nipples/genitals/etc I have no strong preference either way.
I will leave the room while you're undressing and will provide sheets and blankets to cover you during the massage. Some massage techniques work better than others if you want to remain clothed, so discuss this with me before you book or during the intake.
I'm self concious about , what should I do?
We all have parts of our body we're self-conscious about. Many of the areas you may be self conscious about, like weight, body hair, scars, feet, unwanted sexual characteristics, acne, other skin blemishes, lumps or bumps, medical devices, etc, are all perfectly human and most massage therapists have worked on much worse than you with no issue on their end.
Please don't let this stop you from getting help from a massage therapist. Whatever your concerns, know that your therapists are friendly, supportive, and judgment-free. After this if you're sensitive about a particular area, you can always ask them to avoid it or opt for a fully clothed massage.
Should I see a Massage Therapist if I'm not in pain?
Massage therapy is a great natural solution when you want relief from pain, but it can also be used as a preventive treatment too. Seeing your massage therapist regularly can help:
Lower cortisol and raise serotonin levels to calm and relax your body
Prevent future injury by increasing mobility and creating more comfortable range of motion
Loosen tight muscles, which may increase blood flow, leading to lowering your blood pressure
Often, depending on what you are seeing your LMT for, they may use a different technique or massage modality with its own benefits. Feel free to ask about what techniques they are using and why they are using them. We are often happy to answer questions.
What if I fall asleep and drool or snore?
When it comes to massage frequently asked questions, this is a common one. It's normal to fall asleep during a massage. You might be feeling stressed and sleep-deprived, so falling asleep is normal once you're in a relaxed state.
There's zero judgment from us if you snore. We're pleased you're relaxed enough to fall asleep, and we won’t mention it.
Drooling is also common, especially if you're on your front. Ask us for a tissue, and we'll be glad to grab one for you.
Isn't massage just to help you relax?
Massage is excellent for relaxation! And relaxation by itself has many health benefits, especially during otherwise stressful points in life like during sociopolitical upheaval or divorce. But it also has many other benefits.
Massage can help with a myriad of chronic health conditions such as Fibromyalgia or arthritis, reduce stress and ease muscle tension, improve circulation, alleviate breathing problems, lower blood pressure, reduce headaches, improve your daily mobility, and help manage anxiety or depression through regulation of the nervous system.
If you aren't sure about if massage will be helpful for your specific health issues, feel free to either text or email me with your questions and I will get to it as soon as I can.
Is it okay to ask for more pressure?
Yes! A good massage therapist will check in with you during your massage to make sure the pressure is what you are looking for but if there is a particular spot where you would like more or less pressure or you simply change your mind feel free to speak up.
Be mindful that massage doesn't have to cause you pain to be effective. Some massage techniques can be quite gentle and still effective.
What if I need to use the restroom?
Its recommended to go to the bathroom before your session, but it can occasionally happen that you'll need to go during the massage. We want you to be relaxed, so if you're focusing on holding it in, it’ll interfere with your experience. So do speak up, and I'll step out to allow you to redress as much as you need and point you to the restroom.
What if I pass gas during a massage?
When you're in a relaxed state, you might pass gas during your massage. It may even occur when the therapist applies direct pressure to a particular area.
Any massage therapist will let you know this is normal and just shows you're relaxed. You'll get zero judgment from your therapist. If you can't bear to let it happen, just ask to got to the restroom..
Should I talk to the therapist during my massage?
Some people prefer to chat during their massage session but don't feel you have to make conversation. If you want to close your eyes and relax, that’s perfectly acceptable.
The exception to this of course is if you are uncomfortable in any way that I can fix (pain, temperature, stuffy nose, etc) or forgot to mention something during your consultation.
What if I'm ticklish?
Let your massage therapist know before your session. They can use firm, slow pressure or, if you're extremely sensitive, they can avoid your tickle spots.
How can I be sure a massage clinic is reputable?
Do your research by checking out their website, calling them to find out what services they offer, or looking at third party reviews. A reputable clinic will offer services from licensed massage therapist (LMT) with their license number displayed in their massage space. They'll also always have you to do a health questionnaire on your first visit to make sure you are safe to receive massage.
We hope these massage frequently asked questions and responses help you feel safer about booking your massage. Get in touch to book your treatment and ask us all of your questions (even the embarrassing ones).
