What should I expect on my first massage?
If it's your first treatment, we'll spend some time talking about you, your previous experience of bodywork and what you hope to achieve from having a massage. I'll ask you some questions about your medical history and any conditions you may have - this is to help inform me what the best treatment is for you and to make sure there's nothing preventing you from having a safe treatment.
Once we've agreed on an appropriate treatment, I'll leave you to make yourself comfortable under warm towels on the massage table while I wash my hands. At the end of the treatment, I'll leave you for a brief period of time to relax and 'come round' from the massage; we'll bring the treatment to a close with a drink of water, some discussion on how you're feeling and anything which may have been brought to light during the treatment. If you request one, I'll contact you the following day with a phone call or email to see how you're feeling.
Do I have to undress?
Only as much as you feel comfortable with. Some massage techniques can be done through clothes, and quite a lot of work is done through towels. If you choose to undress, only the area being worked upon will be exposed; towels will be used both to keep other areas covered and maintain a comfortable temperature.
Will my massage hurt?
Massage should never be painful. There will be times when using deep tissue techniques, mobility stretches or trigger point therapy that you may feel a degree of pressure or as if a muscle is being 'worked', but it shouldn't be painful. When using more 'firm' techniques, one of the things we'll discuss beforehand is how much pressure is appropriate for you and remain comfortably within those boundaries. Some techniques may lead to you feel a bit 'achey' the next day or the day after, but as before we'll talk about this beforehand.
You are a male therapist. Does this mean you only massage men?
For the benefits of a massage to take effect, it's important to feel contained and relaxed with the person providing the treatment, and I'm happy to provide massage for anyone who would like one. That said, I fully understand that many people feel more at ease receiving a massage from a therapist of a certain gender; if for any reason you feel that I am not the most suitable therapist for you, I will be happy to signpost you towards a therapist who I feel would be most appropriate for your needs.
When should I not have a massage?
There are a number of conditions for which massage is not an appropriate treatment. If you've recently had an injury or illness, are recovering from surgery or body modification or have an ongoing condition, please contact me to discuss it beforehand.
What if I'm too hot/too cold/don't like the massage oil/don't want music/want music?
Let me know! It's important that you're as comfortable as possible and the conditions are right for your massage to be the best I can provide. Choice of oil, room temperature, ambient sound or silence - we'll talk about all of these things before your massage begins.
Why don't you provide 30 minute treatments?
It's a personal thing for me - I've always appreciated a full hour (or more) for a massage; and as a massage therapist I feel that it's a much more wholesome experience to provide. A 30 minute massage only gives you time to work on one specific part of the body; and I don't feel that the individual parts of the body work in isolation. Even if you only wish for specific body parts to be massaged, a minimum of 60 minutes allows for those areas to be given the full attention they're due.