general questions | before your massage | during your massage | after your massage

During your massage...

Do I need to take all of my clothes off?
Most traditional massage and bodywork techniques are performed with the client unclothed; however it is up to the client to determine what that means. Many clients prefer to remove all their clothing; others retain their underwear, others wear exercise shorts or other garments. The important part is that you are comfortable! Your massage therapist will completely respect your decisions.

Will I be covered during the massage?
Absolutely! The therapist will keep a sheet draped over your body throughout the session for comfort, warmth and safety. She will uncover only the body part that is being massaged at that moment. Genital areas (male and female), gluteal cleft (male and female) and female breasts will remain covered throughout the massage.

What parts of my body will be massaged?
This all depends on which parts of your body require massage. You and your massage therapist will discuss this before your session. Typically a 1hour massage covers the back, legs, feet, arms, hands, shoulders, neck, head and face. Additionally, the therapist will massage the gluteal muscles (usually through the sheet) and abdomen. As these are sometimes more sensitive areas for people, you should indicate to your therapist if there are regions of your body that you are not comfortable having massaged.

Will oils be used?
Light oil will be used to help the massage strokes glide more easily over the skin and to let your muscles be more deeply worked without causing excessive friction on your skin. Your therapist will be using highly natural, unprocessed, pure oil, but you should let her know if you have any sensitivities. Occasionally, your therapist will use aromatherapy oils which have been infused with essential oils.

What happens during the massage?
The massage will start with gentle, flowing strokes that will help calm your nervous system and external musculature. As your tissue begins to warm and relax, the therapist will start adding more pressure to begin opening up deeper muscles. Your therapist will ask you questions to gauge how much pressure is appropriate for your body; it is very important that you communicate with the therapist so that she can tailor the session for your needs. Your therapist may also move your limbs and body to stretch particular muscles and joints; try to relax your muscles and release the urge to “help” - just let that limb go. Your therapist may also ask you to take several deep breaths and to “direct” the breath to certain areas of your body; all that this means is to use your breath to draw awareness and attention to any muscular tension in a particular area.

What should I do during the massage?
Let it all go and relax! Yes, that's easier said than done, and chances are for many people there will be a few moments on the table where your to-do list and that fight with your sister rushes into your mind. That's normal - just how our brains work. Don't criticize yourself for having trouble completely letting go. Instead, start focusing more and more of your attention on your breath and your experience on the table. One way to quiet your mind is to focus your attention on the session - following the sensations and movement. One of the great benefits of massage is the heightened sense of body awareness. Follow the therapist's hands as they highlight each muscle and body part. Is your therapist touching muscles you didn't know existed? Do strokes help you understand and feel how your arms are part of your shoulder? Are you surprised at which muscles and areas may be tense and which are not? Proper breathing helps you to relax and to reach your session goals. Slow, deep breathing (from the belly) will provide your body with much-needed oxygen, while signaling your body to let go of its tensions. Again, try not to focus on “goals” or “outcomes” for the massage session; instead, focus on opening to the experience and the sensations.
For a great article on bringing yogic awareness to massage check out this piece from Yoga Journal: http://www.yogajournal.com/health/1005_1.cfm

What does the massage feel like?
The massage should feel great! It should help calm your nervous system and release muscle tension. It should not hurt! If you have a lot of muscle tension that you want the therapist to address, you may experience mild discomfort as pressure is applied -- but the discomfort should be pleasurable, in the sense of "it hurts so good!" Your therapist will apply pressure to the depth that you want - if you are particularly sensitive, the massage will be extra gentle and superficial; if you have tension that requires deeper work, your therapist will apply more pressure. The point of the massage is to induce relaxation and comfort - your therapist will adapt the techniques to fit your body.