To get the most from your treatment and your therapist

some advice…

Be on time

So that you can leave your busy-ness behind before you come in.

Communicate

I will ask you to fill out a brief consultation form. The more I know about your expectations and preferences for your treatment, the better. Some people come for general relaxation and others have particular areas of discomfort. If I know from the start what you want to accomplish during your treatment, I am much more likely to be able to help you. Please click here to see a list of conditions that might make massage unsuitable for you.

Get comfortable

Getting undressed is often a worry for new massage clients. The massage table is curtained off for you to undress and lie down in privacy. All of my clients keep their pants/underwear on. I do work deep into the gluteus muscles and underwear does not interfere. I do a lot of passive stretching, joint manipulation and sometimes may need to have you sit or stand to work a muscle in a certain position, so to spare my blushes and yours – underwear is required. I use a sheet to drape you and keep you warmly covered, exposing only the area that I am working on.

No apologies, please

We all are our own worst critics. Please don’t apologise for your hairy legs, sweaty feet or anything else you might be worried about. I see many bodies in various degrees of health and fitness and find them all beautiful. And while personal hygiene is important for both clients and therapists, I am much more interested in the knot under your scapula and how to release it, than anything you may be self-conscious about. Instead of being self-conscious, be conscious of your breathing.

Work with me

I warmly welcome feedback and it will greatly enhance your therapy experience if you communicate clearly with me. If you are uncomfortable with any aspect of the treatment, then please let me know and we can adjust the room temperature or the pressure to a level that is comfortable to you. Any discomfort may interfere with benefits of treatment, so don’t hesitate to let me know if anything is uncomfortable. Relaxation is the goal. Give yourself time and space to open up and really let go of the tension. Relaxation is an art. To truly relax takes time and a bit of helpful guidance.

Breathe and RELAX!

The best thing you can do to increase the effectiveness of your treatment is to breath evenly and deeply.  Massage releases waste products from the muscles and connective tissues and we discharge 70% of our cellular waste products through our breath.  So your job is to breathe and relax. By focusing and mentally letting go of any sensations of tension, you will make your bodywork treatment profoundly healing.

To chat or not to chat

During your treatment breathing and relaxing are your main focus.  Please do not feel you have to chat.  This is your time to relax, so use it wisely

Float away home

Once the treatment is over please try to slowly allow yourself to get up off the table and dress, there is no rush. We will discuss things relevant to the session and your treatment plan.  This is a good time to book your next appointment. The benefits accumulate with each treatment, so to feel the true benefits a series of appointments is recommended.

You are free to sit in the waiting room if you need a bit of time before going back into the world.  And I urge you to give your body time to integrate the treatment by not jumping right back into your busy-ness.  Enjoy the sense of relaxation for as long as you can.  Slow down.  Be kind to yourself.  Relax.  Just be.  An addiction to massage is a highly recommendable vice.  But then I would say that….