Nothing to worry about
What to expect on your first visit
If you have never had a massage before, or you are getting back into exercise after a long break, the unknown is usually the thing that holds people back. Here is exactly how an appointment runs, so there is nothing to wonder about.
Before anything else
You are in charge the whole way through
Most people who feel nervous about a first massage are worried about the same few things. That it will hurt. That they will have to take more clothes off than they want to. That they will not know what to do, or when to speak up. All of those are easy to put to rest.
Nothing happens in an appointment that you have not agreed to first. If you want to keep your shorts and t-shirt on, that is completely fine. If the pressure is more than you want, you say so and it changes. If you would rather stop altogether, you can, at any point, without having to explain yourself.
You keep control
Pressure, position and what gets worked on are all agreed with you as we go.
You stay covered
Only the area being worked on is ever uncovered, and never more than you are comfortable with.
You can speak up
Saying something is too much is not a complaint. It is what makes the treatment work.
Step one
We talk before we do anything
Every appointment starts sitting down, fully dressed, having a conversation. It is not a form to fill in or a box to tick. It is simply the therapist finding out what is going on.
You will be asked what brought you in, what hurts and when it started, what you have already tried, and what you are hoping to get out of the appointment. If you train or play a sport, or your job involves a lot of sitting, driving or lifting, that is useful to know too.
If you have seen a GP, physiotherapist or anyone else about the problem, mention it. Bring any letters or scan results if you have them, though it is not essential. This is the point where the therapist decides what to work on and how.
This conversation is why a first appointment costs a little more than a follow up. The assessment only needs doing once, so later sessions pick up where the last one left off.
See prices and session lengthsStep two
What to wear, and what to expect
Bring whatever you are comfortable in. Shorts and a t-shirt are what most people wear, and for the deep tissue and sports treatments that is genuinely all you need. If you would rather stay fully dressed, that is fine as well, and the work is simply adapted.
You will be asked to remove anything from the area being worked on, and no more than that. You get changed in private with the door closed, and the therapist will not be in the room while you do.
On privacy and draping
You stay covered with a towel throughout the session. Only the specific area being worked on is uncovered at any time, and it is recovered before anything else happens. If at any point you feel exposed or uncomfortable, say so and it is sorted immediately. There is no expectation that you undress beyond what you are happy with, and the therapist will check with you before starting.
- You change in private, door closed
- Covered with a towel throughout
- Only the worked area is ever uncovered
- Say the word and anything changes
The honest answer
Does it hurt?
This is the question most first timers actually want answered, so it is worth answering properly rather than glossing over it.
For the relaxing massage, no. The pressure stays light to medium throughout, the strokes are slow, and there is no point in the session where you need to brace yourself.
For deep tissue and sports massage, you will feel the work clearly. Firmer pressure on tight tissue produces a strong ache, and on the tightest spots it can be intense for short periods. That is different from pain. A good rule of thumb is that you should always be able to breathe steadily and to talk through what you are feeling. If you find yourself holding your breath or tensing against the work, that is too much, and it is worth saying so.
If you have never had a massage and are not sure you will like the sensation, the relaxing massage is the sensible first step. You can always move up to firmer work later once you know how you respond.
Relaxing massage
Light to medium pressure throughout. Comfortable rather than challenging.
Deep tissue and sports
Firm, and sometimes intense on the tightest spots. Never sharp or shooting.
Afterwards
How you will feel, and what to do next
Straight after your session
Most people leave feeling looser and lighter, with a sense of having more room in the areas that were worked on. It is a pleasant, unhurried feeling, and a few minutes sitting up before you head out is all that is needed.
Some clients feel a little flat or sleepy, particularly after a thorough session or if they arrived carrying a lot of tension. That passes quickly and is nothing to worry about.
The next day or two
It is normal to feel tender in the areas worked hardest, much like after a hard training session. Visible bruising is uncommon. That tenderness usually settles within a day or two, and many clients notice the real benefit on the second or third day, once the initial soreness has passed.
Drinking water and keeping gently active both help. If anything feels wrong or unexpected, call us rather than wondering about it.
Should I train that day?
Gentle movement afterwards is usually fine and often helps. Light walking, mobility work or an easy swim are all sensible. What is best avoided is hard training on the same day, particularly after deep work on one specific area, as the tissue needs a little time to settle.
- Light movement on the day: fine
- Hard sessions on the same day: best avoided
- Mid training block? Tell the therapist
- Competing soon? Book earlier, not later
Ready when you are
If you are still unsure whether to book, give us a call and we will talk it through with no pressure either way.
Ready to book your session?
Choose a time that suits you, or call us and we will find one that works.