What happens at a massage appointment?
And do I really have to take all my clothes off?
It can be a bit nerve-wracking to go for a massage, particularly if you’ve never had one before. So, let me tell you how it works and what to expect on your first appointment with me.
Step One: Contact Me!
First of all, you might email me, or book online to see me. I’ll receive an email or a message from my website, letting me know your name and contact details. My first step is to call you on the phone number that you’ve given me on your email or your booking form.
Why am I calling you?
Put yourself in my shoes…I have never met you, I don’t know you and you could be a bot from another country filling in my webform. So, I’m calling you to check that you are a ‘real’ person and that you definitely want to book a massage. I’ll ask you some questions to confirm that you are happy to receive a massage and that we can confirm time/place for your booking. This will take about 5 minutes.
My priority is to help me feel safe and respected ahead of meeting a new client.
Step Two: On the Day
You will arrive (on time I hope) and I will welcome you into the massage space. You’ll see a massage couch (don’t be scared) in the middle of the room but before we get to that, I’ll go through a client consultation with you. I’ll ask you about why you are coming to see me, what you hope to get out of the session and also some questions about medical history (pregnancy, medical conditions such as DVT, any allergies). If it’s your first time with me, this will take about 15 minutes.
I’ll ask you to get undressed, lay on the table face down with you face in the cradle, under the drapes that I have placed there (usually two towels and a blanket if it’s cold). I will leave the room before you start undressing and I will always knock before coming back into the room to check that you are ready for me under the drapes.
My priority is to help you feel safe, respected and not worried about being in a state of undress.
Do I have to be naked?
It’s up to you! If it’s a full body massage, you can leave your pants/knickers on if you prefer. I will massage your glutes through the towels. If you want to be naked, that’s fine, I will only ever expose the part of the body that I’m working on. I will never undrape your full buttock, nor will I ever undrape your front pelvis completely. You can control this, at any time you can tell me what you’re comfortable with or not comfortable with and we will stop and adjust as needed.
My priority is to help you feel safe, respected and not worried about being in a state of undress.
I haven’t shaved my legs and I’m anxious about it…
This is the most common thing clients say to me. My response is always the same, ‘I honestly don’t care’. I’m here to provide you with a relaxation massage, in a non-judgemental space and you can wear, not wear, be whoever you want to be in that space. I’m here to be an oasis of calm and peace for you.
My priority is to help you feel safe, respected and not worried about being in a state of undress.
Step Three: At the end of the massage, then what?
I will tell you gently that the massage is finished and that you can sit up slowly when you are ready. I will leave a glass of water next to you and ask you to slowly and carefully sit up and get dressed in your own time. I will leave the room once you are ready to sit up. I will knock before coming back in the room once you are dressed. Then, hopefully once you are dressed, you will offer me some feedback and if you’d like to, you can rebook for your next session. After that you will leave, feeling relaxed, calm and ready to face your day. A massage can leave you feeling a little out-of-body if you really relaxed, it’s important you don’t rush getting dressed and getting into the car. Take a moment.
I hope this helps!
I hope this helps to reassure you if you are new to massage and thinking of booking in for your first session. If you are, here’s the link and I’ll see you soon!
