Never had a massage before? Here are a few things to expect:
Before your massage, you'll be asked to fill out a detailed health history. Allow a few extra minutes before your first massage to do this. Your practitioner will review this information with you before showing you to the massage table. Here, you will be left alone to "undress to your level of comfort". This means anything from your birthday suit to fully clothed - however you will be most comfortable. Bear in mind, clothing does make many techniques difficult or impossible so, in general, the more clothing you wear, the more limited the practitioner will be.
The massage table is heated and heat packs are often used in addition. If at anytime you are too hot, please notify your practitioner. This goes for pressure as well. While the practitioner will check in occasionally about depth of pressure, asking too frequently can interfere with your experience, so she may choose silence. If at any time you find a technique painful, PLEASE speak up! More is not better.
After your massage you will be left alone for a few minutes. Before attempting to stand, please take a minute to sit up and let your head clear. Standing up too quickly can make you light-headed. Your practitioner will spend a few minutes recapping your massage and offering some suggestions for making the results last as long as possible. It is recommended you drink plenty of water after your massage to assist with the cleansing process.
It is not unusual to be slightly sore the day following a deep tissue massage. This should not last more than 1 day.
