Your First Visit
You will be asked to fill out a mini health form which assists the massage therapist in getting to know how to help you get the best result from your massage. She will ask what your main reason for the visit is that session. Maybe you just want to relax and she will work on your whole body. Or you may have back or neck pain, most people do carry lots of stress in these areas. She will give those areas more time during the massage if you wish. (Please come to massage with a clean body and an empty bladder)
You will undress to your underwear and lay face up on the massage table. You will be covered modestly at all times during the massage. Each area is uncovered and draped as it is worked on. Approximately half of the session will be on the front part of the body, you turn over, and the other half on the back of the body. The table is heated and the room is warm. Aromatherapy is used if you desire. The essential oils are pure plant oils that have healing qualities and smell wonderful. They help to relax you and are mixed in with a carrier oil such as grapeseed, jojoba, sweet almond oil or shea butter oil allow ease of movement as the therapist kneads your muscles. Lotions are used also.
The room is dimly lit and soft music is played. The room is private and quiet. During the massage you will be asked to let the therapist know if the level of the touch is too light or too heavy. It should feel good and if a sore spot is touched it should be loosened up gradually before deeper work is done. A good rule to follow is "hurt so good" but not to the point of "hurt so bad" You need to speak up and tell the therapist how it feels. She will gladly work with you. Take several deep breaths through out the massage to bring new oxygen to your body and to relax you.
After the massage, you get up slowly, take a deep breath and dress. You will be given water to drink after the massage and instructed to continue to drink a lot of water that day to flush out the toxins from the body. You may be sore the next day if you do not drink enough. Remember it is a passive workout and muscles may need to gently be exercised the next day. Most people feel fine and totally relaxed. They can not wait until their next massage.