I’ve Never Had a Massage Before…And I Have Questions

I read a book recently called Massage is Weird by Ian Harvey and the title says everything you need to know about massage therapy. It IS weird. And sometimes scary. Especially when you don’t know what to expect. You go to a new place, talk briefly to a stranger who asks you to undress and get on their massage table, and then they touch you…. for an hour….

This can be scary for anyone. So, I’m hoping to answer some questions for you here to help ease your anxiety about your massage appointment. Let’s start with the big one first.

Do I have to get completely naked??

Nope. Not at all. Does it help when you are undressed for us to massage… yes. But is this an absolute necessity…no. It is your body and your choice what you do with it. I will have you completely covered under sheets during your massage. So, if you are comfortable getting undressed for your massage, great, do it. If you’d prefer to keep some (maybe all) of your clothing on, also great. You’ll be covered for me during the massage no matter what you choose to do. And I want you to be comfortable during the session.

There are some types of massage that I do need to touch skin to be effective. For example, cupping and myofascial massage. So keep that in mind when making your decision. And also…oil…. for some of the massages we will use oil and it’s challenging to get oil out of clothing….personal experience with that lol. But even with those things in mind, I’m resourceful and can work around anything.

What if I don’t like something?

This something I’ve heard a lot from students and client over the years. During their massage session, they didn’t like the music, the pressure was too much, the pressure wasn’t enough, the therapist talked the entire time, they were cold or warm, and the list goes on and on… for pages… yup, I have a list :)

Again, your body, your choice. If you don’t like something during the massage, let me know. Here’s the thing about the massage session, I want you to relax and enjoy. And if your nervous system is challenged with these annoyances, it won’t relax and let your tissue release. So, speak up please. You don’t like a technique I’m doing…I’ll modify it or switch to something else. The music isn’t loud enough or too loud, I’ll adjust it. You can’t stay still on the table a moment longer, wiggle.

When do I pay? Do I have to tip too?

For me, you can pay when you schedule the massage, or you can wait until the day of the session. I have both options available for you. If you decide to pay on the day of the session, I generally wait until after your massage to handle the payment process. And tips, while appreciated, are not necessary and completely your choice.

How early should I arrive for my appointment?

I encourage clients to come 5ish minutes early for their appointment, so they can use the restroom and get comfortable before we start. However, if you can’t get here until your appointment time, that’s ok, too.

How long is the massage?

I have 3 options available: 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 90 minutes. And I firmly believe that you should get that whole time for massage work. So, the consultation and getting on the table does not cut into that time. You want a 60-minute massage…. you get a full 60 minutes of massage work!!

I hope all these things help ease your mind about massage therapy and some of the questions you may have had in the past. However, I love questions (ask my students lol), so feel free to contact me on the contact page or on Facebook if you have any other questions. The teacher in me always likes to clarify and enlighten.