This is a collection of some of the things we are typically asked about by patients who are coming to see us for their first massage ever. We want you to be able to enjoy your massage without any nervousness or anxiety, so we also threw in some information that we believe you may find helpful, including things that patients are sometimes too shy to ask about directly.
What you should wear for your massage:
There is definitely no need to dress to impress for your massage appointment. Feel free to show up in comfortable clothing, including athletic wear or loose, soft fabrics. It might not feel great to try to put on a tight pair of jeans or restrictive clothes after you’ve just enjoyed a nice, relaxing treatment.
Feel free to undress to your level of comfort for your massage. Most clients opt to take everything off except for their underwear or gym shorts; but it is not uncommon that some clients prefer to take everything off. Regardless of what you choose, you will remain covered by the table sheets until your therapist undrapes the body part that is worked on (only one section at a time). At any time, when an RMT is working on a part of your body, such as one leg or one arm, they will be draping the rest of your body with your sheets, by covering and tucking your sheets under/around you as necessary, ensuring that nothing is unnecessarily exposed so that you feel comfortable, and also warm.
You are also welcome to stay dressed to your level of comfort. Compression work and mobility work can be done over clothing. Keep in mind that modalities requiring application of massage lotion cannot be performed over clothing.
We work with hypoallergenic, unscented massage lotion (not an oil), so it shouldn't stain any clothes when you put them back on. But it's still a good idea to bring clothes that you don't care too much about.
For those choosing to take a shower shortly before their treatment, please do not apply lotion to your body as it disrupts the consistency of the water-based massage lotion. Also, try not to wear makeup to your appointment if possible, as your face will likely be contained in a head-rest and smudge away all your efforts.
After your initial discussion with your RMT, they will leave the room so that you can get comfortable in private under the sheets and blanket, and they will only open the door and come back in to start treatment after asking you if you are ready.
At some point at your massage, you will likely be asked to turn over from on your stomach (prone position) to on your back (supine position), or vice versa. Once again, you will be given privacy to do so.
Our table does have a table warmer, which we can turn on whenever needed, so you shouldn't ever get too cold during a massage, even without clothes on.
Hydrate Before & After
Staying properly hydrated is imperative for basic functioning. It is recommended that you hydrate before and after treatment. - Oftentimes, the effect of massage will push your fluids towards your exit portals; having the extra reserve of water in your system will prevent you from feeling flushed or dehydrated following treatment.
What will happen during your massage appointment:
During your initial meeting with the Massage Therapist, you'll be asked about your goals for the treatment. Here's where you can provide your therapist with your reason for your visit. Likely, you'll have this information well thought through. However, if there's a lot to discuss; make a list of what you'd like to address and be sure to rank them in order of importance to you. Please consider a 90 minute session (or longer) for cases that you believe are a little more complex or if you're simply unsure.
Depending on the treatment length that you've requested, it's important to keep in mind that you'll be laying down for quite some time; and although you won't be denied going to the washroom during your treatment time, it's not recommended as you'll be losing time from your session. - You will be given the opportunity to use the washroom before and after your treatment; if you're not sure, just go to the washroom anyways.
During hands-on therapy, you will be coached on how to receive a massage from your therapist. There will be some dialogue to help ease you into your first massage. Even if you've received massage therapy before somewhere else, there will be some cues given to help you maximize your treatment.
Following your treatment, there is a short debriefing period where your therapist will check up on your overall experience. In this time, you'll likely be assigned homework in the form of stretches or strengthening exercises. This is also a good opportunity for you to ask any questions or make final remarks.
Does Massage Therapy hurt?
This is among the top questions that we receive. - In short, the answer is no.
The treatment is designed in a way to reduce the overall tension in your body. We first do this by having you lay down. - Being horizontal for the duration of the treatment removes the resistance to gravity and allows for patients to relax and accept soft tissue therapy.
Your therapist and you will form a dialogue around what is acceptable pressure for your body during the treatment and operate within those parameters. Massage therapist are trained to watch how your breathing changes with respect to pressure or massage technique. Whether you're coming in for a deep tissue, sports or relaxation massage; we as therapists do our best to provide you with adequate pressure to meet your needs. That being said, don't be shy - feedback during the massage is more than welcomed. You can always adjust the volume on the pressure verbally.
Will I bruise after a Massage?
Bruising is generally not the intended outcome for a massage treatment. Bruising can occur when dealing with more complex cases surrounding cardiovascular health issues or other medical conditions where medication used can make you more susceptible to bruising.
Providing your therapist with an accurate Health History Record can help your therapist determine the framework to operate within to avoid bruising.