What to expect during your first Massage Therapy appointment

Not all massage studios are the same, and some people like to know what to expect. Here are some basics so you'll be prepared for your first session.

Parking:

South Cameron St. has metered spaces directly in front of the door; these are free after 6 pm on weekdays, weekends, and holidays. Winchester also has plenty of free parking just around the corner on Cork St. or through the intersection on Cameron St.

When you arrive, come in the red door and take a seat in the waiting area. Feel free to use the restroom upstairs to the right while you wait.

When it's time for your appointment, I'll come get you from the waiting area. I like to start each appointment with a consultation. If this is your first appointment with me, I will review your intake form and talk to you about your goals for the session. This is the time to make sure I know the most important areas to focus on, any injuries or surgeries you've had, and any illnesses you may have. We know it may seem intrusive to share so much information, but it's important for me to know what's going on to treat you most effectively. There are also important safety issues, and we want to ensure massage is safe and effective for you. After your first appointment, the consultation will usually be short, but I will check in to make sure nothing has changed since your last session and that we're on the same page about your focus areas.

Following the consultation, I will step out of the room, and you can undress to your comfort level. When you get on the table, there is a sheet and a blanket; please get under both layers, and I will use them to keep you covered. I will only uncover the part of your body I am working on, and there is an adjustable table warmer for your comfort. I typically play instrumental or meditation-type music to help you relax during the massage. The lights are usually a dim color, so I can see what I'm working on without it being distracting. I generally use a thicker cream for massage that has a light scent of ivy and arnica. I've tried to find something that nourishes your skin without leaving it greasy. I also keep a supply of small, convenient emergency items, such as hair ties and makeup wipes, in case you need them.

Enhancing your Service

There are also several "Enhancements" you can add to your service. These additions can help you relax, provide therapeutic benefits, or both. You can add them when booking your service, or we can discuss them during your consultation and add them at the time of your massage. Please note that some enhancements require advance notice, and I will do my best to accommodate your requests.

Aromatherapy:

Aromatherapy can be a wonderful way to relax. I have a growing collection of scents with relaxing and healing properties. I'm just getting started, so please let me know your favorite scents, and I'll gladly try to add them. (I have a citrus allergy, I'm sorry, I can't add those scents.)

Hot Stones: (more coming soon!)

There are a variety of different stone therapies that can be helpful during massage therapy. Himalayan salt stones have been known to have healing properties (check out the blog post coming soon!). Heat itself can often help achieve deeper relaxation and more therapeutic results.

CBD:

CBD has been known to offer numerous benefits to the body. (And, if you're interested, be sure to check out our upcoming blog post for more details!) It's by far the most popular add-on I offer, and for good reason – it truly elevates the massage experience. My favorite combination is a 90-minute or 2-hour session with Himalayan salt stones and CBD. The heat from the salt stones helps warm the skin faster, allowing the CBD to absorb more efficiently. This also helps calm the nervous system and allows its anti-inflammatory properties to take effect. This is a wonderful option for clients seeking deep relaxation or deep tissue work, as the increased relaxation allows for more effective access to deeper layers of soft tissue.

Hand/Foot Scrub:

A sugar scrub is used to gently exfoliate the dead, dry outer layer of your hands and/or feet. I will use hot towels infused with lavender to melt the sugar scrub off, then apply a thick lotion to ensure your hands or feet are soft and smooth afterward.

The Massage itself:

Every massage therapist is different. There are so many different types of massage and so many different techniques that the variations are just endless. Not all Massage Therapists are right for all clients and that's ok, fortunatly Winchester has plenty of us and not shortage of people who love massage. The trick is for us to find the right match, I think the best way to do that is to communicate with each other and make sure that we are on the same page. If you want to relax and focus on your breathing I am here for you and if talking to me helps you deal with deep work, I am happy to be here for that as well. To me this is your time and I am happy to do what I can to make it comfortable for you. Many clients drift in and out during their sessions because this is one of the few times they get to just relax and focus on themselves. I will also be the first to tell you that as a Massage Therapist I know I do not have the lightest touch in the Winchester area, that doesn't mean you won't have a deeply relaxing massage but the lightest pressure I offer is medium, because I am aware of what I do well as a Massage Therapist.

Most commonly I will start a massage by compressing through the sheet. This helps me do a number of things, including connecting with the body, feeling where tension is, and releasing tension in large muscle groups. Then I will take the Sheet back to uncover the area I am going to work on. There are times Where I may use no or very little lotion on an area at first. I know this is uncomfortable and it won't last long, it's a technique we use with friction to separate the layers of muscle and fascia.

I start covering large areas with broader strokes to warm up the tissue first. I continue to add pressure to release tension in different places. The goal is to use the least amount of pressure possible to release the muscle and help relieve your pain. Still this can be painful, You will want to focus on breathing in and out with long steady breaths to avoid tensing up. If you are unable to do this, then it's time to let me know that the pressure is too much, which is no problem. Often I will reposition your arms and legs to access different muscles or to try and lessen the intensity of where I am working. Typically I will do things like bring your arm off the side of the table to work around your scapula or rotate your leg to access your hip muscles.

Stretches may also be incorporated into your massage . If there are specific areas of the body you would like to have stretched during the massage please feel free to discuss this during the consultation before your massage. Although I am able to do most massages while keeping you covered with the sheet, these may be some we need to do before we start the session.

Stretching and mobility sessions are available. During these sessions we can do 60 or 90 minutes of Assisted Stretching and mobility/dynamic stretching. This is usually mixed with compression massage or manipulation of targeted muscles to increase range of motion and improve motion without Pain. These sessions require a lot of moving, you will be on your back, sides and stomach at different times. You would be most comfortable in Gym clothes or something you could move easily in while staying covered.

After Your Service

I will step out of the room so you can get dressed. You will want to stand up slowly, as it's normal to feel a bit dizzy if you stand up too quickly. Once you're ready, open the door with the wreath, and I'll get you some water. We can also talk about anything that we noticed during the your massage therapy session and I will be glad to make some suggestions to help you after our session. I often recommend some stretches that may help you maintain that post massage relief. Our bodies are always doing things and always need care. In posts like Why you should get a Monthly Subscription,  I talk more about how a Monthly massage is important because you start to greater benefits, when you come back before you are in as much pain! If you have an acute injury I may recommend sessions 1 to 2 weeks apart at the start of your wellness plan, and then start to stretch the time between session apart to longer periods of time.

In other posts, you can learn more about how fascia and muscles work, but please remember to drink plenty of water after your massage. This helps your body flush out what it doesn't need and ensures your muscles and fascia can move freely without restriction. This can also help reduce soreness, which is a common response after a massage. If soreness does occur, we can discuss it before your next massage and plan any necessary adjustments. Regular bodywork will also make your massages more effective and help prevent soreness.

Book Now

View Wellness Plans