Be on time. There is no need to show up early, but giving yourself enough time to make it to your appointment punctually will help you have a more pleasant experience. You won’t be as frazzled and rushed so you can get more benefits from the massage. In addition, if you arrive late, I may have to cut your massage short to ensure that the next client’s massage starts on time.
Disconnect. It’s hard to shut out the “real world” and all the responsibilities that may entail, but if possible, put your phone on silent mode. Life is stressful enough without it intruding on your limited “me time.”
Speak up. My number one priority is giving you a positive bodywork experience that is effective and relaxing. Although I have a bag full of tools and experience to use, every person is different and you know your body best. I appreciate honest feedback so that I can make the massage the best it can be. If you’re too cold, too hot, need to adjust your position, need more or less pressure, need me to work longer on a specific area, or if something feels uncomfortable, etc, please, please let me know. You won’t hurt my feelings! 🙂
Relax. Easier said than done, but try to let go and let me do all the work. You’ll get the most out of the bodywork if your muscles are relaxed. If I need to move your body parts, such as your head, arms, and legs, you don’t need to assist me. Some people find it helpful to imagine “playing dead” or “pretending to be a rag doll” to accomplish this.
Get comfortable. Remove glasses and jewelry before your massage. You can keep rings and small earrings on if you’d like as they are easy to work around. If you have long hair, it is usually best to pull it back with a clip or band, unless you find that uncomfortable. I have a stash of (unused!) hair bands and you can have one if you forget yours.
When lying face-down, scoot your body up so that your forehead is positioned at the top of the face cradle. Rest your ankles over the bolster so your lower back isn’t strained. If you need some bolsters/towels under your chest or abdomen to feel comfortable, let me know. When lying on your back, scooch down so your head rests on the table. Keep the bolster under your knees. If you want a towel or pillow under your head or neck, let me know. If you want more or fewer blankets at any time, let me know about that too.
Hydrate. I provide a cup of water for each massage. Although drinking water is probably over-hyped by the massage industry, if you haven’t had much water that day, drinking some water is probably a good idea. If you need a refill before you leave, just ask.