What To Expect During Your First Massage
If you’ve never had a massage before, you may be unsure what to expect. While you likely have some understanding as to its tremendous health benefits, you may still feel a bit apprehensive about booking your first appointment. To help set your mind at ease, let’s break it down.
Firstly, you will want to arrive about 10 to 15 minutes early for your appointment. The reception staff will have you fill out a detailed health history so that your Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) can be made aware of any current or past health conditions that may be relevant to treatment.
Once this has been completed, your RMT will review this with you and discuss your main concerns and areas you would like to focus on. Depending on the conditions or symptoms you present with, your therapist may ask to perform a postural assessment and certain orthopaedic tests to help give them a greater understanding of your symptomology. From there, your RMT will work with you to decide the best approach for treatment—treating what they found in their assessments, or focusing solely on the areas you feel comfortable with or feel require the most attention.
Your RMT recognizes that you are a unique individual and may require certain approaches to help make you feel comfortable. It is not a ‘one size fits all’ treatment, so don’t be afraid to let your therapist know if you have any particular concerns about how the treatment may unfold. This is your time to let your therapist know if there are areas you would like them to avoid, pressure preference, if you have concerns about draping procedure, or even if you’d just like to change the music. If you forget something, don’t worry, your RMT will be happy to adjust to your needs at any time during the treatment.
Since this is your first treatment, you can expect your RMT to be highly communicative to ensure you feel safe and secure throughout the process. They will explain their treatment plan, after their discussion with you, and will describe how to get on the table. Your RMT will then leave the room to give you privacy as you undress to your comfort level. Be sure to remove any jewellery such as earrings and necklaces that may interfere with your treatment.
No two treatments or RMTs are alike, but once you are on the table (usually face down in a cradle to start), your RMT may use hydrotherapy (with your consent), or a variety of techniques to introduce touch and increase relaxation. They will then proceed to drape, using pre-determined bony landmarks, to uncover only the area they will be working on. Rest assured that your private areas will remain private. You should feel secure in these drapes—if for some reason you do not, let your therapist know and they will adjust them according to your preference.
It is important to understand that there is a power differential during treatments, as you are (typically, but not necessarily) undressed under the sheets, while your RMT is fully clothed standing over the table. While your RMT will do their best to communicate with you, it is essential that you voice any and all concerns you may have. You may assume, for instance, that your RMT “knows” exactly how much pressure to apply, or can feel what you are feeling. This is a misconception. While an RMT has experienced the treatment process many times themselves, they can still never know exactly how things feel for you. What may feel like enough pressure to them, may feel like it’s just not quite enough for you.
Constrastingly, they may feel your tissue can handle the pressure they are applying, but you feel that it’s just too much. Your RMT is more than capable of adapting to your needs. It’s not their treatment, it’s yours, so use your voice!
As you will likely be on your stomach for some duration of the massage, you may notice that your sinuses begin to act up. This is completely normal as the face down position can cause them to drain. It can, however, interrupt your enjoyment of the massage. You can always request to move down on the table, turning your head to the side with the support of a pillow, or simply ask for a tissue. Your RMT is very familiar with these types of requests, so never let yourself suffer during a treatment.
As previously mentioned, there are a variety of techniques your RMT may use, including but not limited to myofascial release, kneading, stripping, stretching, strengthening and joint play. With time these techniques will become familiar to you, but in the meantime, if you are unsure as to why a particular technique is being used, they will be more than happy to explain what they are doing. Myofascial release, or MFR, for instance, tends to feel like a slow burning sensation, or it may feel like not much is happening at all. This technique is used to increase the length of your fascia (discussed in a previous blog post) and can be amazingly helpful to increase your range of motion and decrease pain.
After your massage, your RMT will check in with you to see how you feel, and may repeat certain orthopaedic tests to see if any immediate changes have taken effect. They may also recommend self-care practices such as stretches and strengthening exercises and suggest how often you should seek treatment.
You can expect to have some post-treatment tenderness or soreness that may last for a day or two, but after this initial discomfort dissipates, you should feel better than you did before you sought treatment. It should be noted, however, that a single massage will not be enough to relieve you of conditions or aches and pains that have been built up for months or years. They took time to develop, and they will take some time to alleviate.
Once you have been for your first massage, you will likely be amazed at how you went your whole life without one. While you may feel initially a bit sleepy (massage drowsiness is real!), you will soon feel refreshed and invigorated. Indulge in the ultimate form of self-care, and your body and mind will thank you.
Maureen, RMT
To schedule a treatment with Maureen, click HERE
Disclaimer
None of the information provided on this website should be substituted for medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed healthcare practitioner.