What to Expect at Your First Massage

If this is your first massage you may be curious about what to expect before, during, and after a typical massage.

Before your massage it is probably best to not eat a large meal. Some people like to take a warm shower or bath to assist them with feeling comfortable and relaxed.

When you arrive at Health Care, PRN LLC for your appointment, you will be greeted and given a health intake form to complete. This will provide your therapist with some valuable information pertaining to your current and past health. Your therapist will show you into the massage treatment room and then do a verbal intake. During this time the two of you will discuss your needs and goals for the session. At this time, your therapist can answer any questions you may have.

After this intake is finished, your therapist will exit the room so that you may prepare for the massage in privacy. You will lay on a padded table during the massage. Before getting on the table, you will undress to your comfort level. There will be a large full-length towel on the table. As you climb onto the table, you will cover yourself with this towel. You will remain warmly covered throughout the session except for the part of the body your therapist is massaging. Once on the table and under the the soft towel, you can relax and enjoy the peacefulness.

Your therapist will knock before entering the room to ensure that you are ready. After entering, your therapist will make sure that you feel comfortable; adjusting anything to your liking such as the lighting, music, room temperature.

As the massage begins, it is your time to simply relax and breathe gently . A full body massage typically includes the back, buttocks, legs, feet, arms, hands, abdomen, head, neck and face. We normally start at the head and neck and work our way down towards your feet. Most of our work is done with you lying on your back as we use your body weight to facilitate our work. When each area is worked on the towel is pulled back and then replaced. If there are areas of your body that you are not comfortable with having massaged, for any reason, mention this to the therapist. You do not need to explain or justify your reasons.

Since each client’s needs are different, we discern what kind of work to use in response to what we feel is happening in your body’s soft tissues. For example, we may apply gentle, even pressure until a tight muscle begins to release. Rocking the body in tune with your own body’s rhythm facilitates this release. We pay particular attention to your cranium and any distortion there may be there. Using gentle CranioSacral and Neuromuscular techniques, we help the cranium come back into proper balance releasing the nervous system and allowing it to function more freely. We use a light lotion when doing certain Neuromuscular and Swedish massage techniques.

Eventually the massage will have to end and your therapist again will leave the room. After getting up off the table, take a moment to reflect on how you feel different from when you arrived. Be sure to discuss any differences with your therapist.

We thank you for the honor to work with you and look forward to massage becoming a regular part of your good health routine!