Your first massage: what actually happens
If you have never had one, the unknowns are usually what put people off. Here is the whole thing, start to finish.
Most nervousness about a first massage is about the practicalities, not the massage. So here is exactly how an appointment runs.
Before you arrive
Come about five minutes early. Eat something light an hour or two before — not a large meal, but don't arrive hungry either. Drink water as normal.
The first five minutes
We go through a short, entirely confidential health form: medication, injuries, surgery, pregnancy, skin conditions, anything you are being treated for. It is not nosiness — some conditions change how, or whether, we work on an area.
Then a conversation. What hurts, what you do all day, what you want out of the hour. "I have no idea, I'm just exhausted" is a perfectly good answer and a very common one.
Undressing
You are left alone in the room to undress to your comfort level and get under the towel. For a back, neck and shoulders massage, keep your lower half dressed if you prefer. For a full-body massage, most people keep underwear on. There is no correct answer.
You are covered the entire time. Only the area being worked on is uncovered, and it is re-covered before we move on. This is standard professional practice and it is not negotiable.
During
Face down to start, usually, with your face in a padded cradle. If the pressure is too much or too little, say so — this is the single most useful thing you can do. "Firm" means different things to different people, and we would far rather adjust at minute five than have you endure an hour.
You do not have to talk. Many people don't say a word after the first few minutes, and that is entirely fine. You also don't have to hold your limbs up or help — let them be heavy. If you fall asleep, no one minds.
Things people worry about, unnecessarily
- Not having shaved. Nobody cares.
- Ticklish feet — tell us and we will use firmer pressure or skip them.
- Your stomach making noise. That is your nervous system dropping into rest mode. It is a good sign.
- Needing to move, cough, or use the loo. Just say.
Afterwards
Get up slowly — a lot of people are lightheaded for a moment. Drink some water. If you had deep tissue work, you may feel a bit tender the next day, similar to after exercise; that settles within about 48 hours. A warm bath and a gentle walk help more than sitting still.
Avoid a heavy gym session or a big night out straight afterwards if you can. The effect lasts noticeably longer if you let it.
Which one to book first
If you carry it in your shoulders and have limited time, back, neck and shoulders is the sensible start. If you are simply frayed and want to switch off, a relaxing or Swedish massage. If you are training hard or have a specific area that limits you, deep tissue or sports. And if you genuinely don't know, take the treatment finder on the homepage or just message us — we will tell you honestly, even if it's the cheaper option.
A note on all of this: everything here is general guidance based on standard practice, not medical advice. If something is painful, spreading, or simply not settling, please see a GP or pharmacist rather than waiting for your next appointment.
