MASSAGE FAQs
What happens at my first appointment?
My treatment room is located on the first floor so please let me know in advance if you have anydifficulty with stairs.
On your first visit you will be asked to complete a consultation form and we will talk about yourrequirements, what you are hoping to achieve from the treatment and any health issues you have. You are free to ask any questions and make any requests duringthis time. Please allow an extra 10 – 15 minutes for your initial consultation.
Will I have to get undressed in front of anyone?
When the consultation is complete I will leave you to get yourself undressed and settled on the massage couch. I will only re-enter the room once you are comfortable and after knocking on the door. During the treatment, sarongs and towels will be used to cover you and only the body part being worked on will be uncovered at any onetime. I respectfully request that underpants are worn throughout massage treatments. Ladies are free to keep their bra on if they wish. Please don’t hesitate to ask for any additional cushions or bolsters if required.
Once the treatment is over, I will check in with you as to how you are feeling. I will pour out some water for you and leave you to get dressed in your own time. Once again, I will remain outside the room and only re-enter after knocking, once you are dressed.
Are there any conditions which mean that I can’t have a treatment?
Most medical conditions will benefit from holistic treatments and all therapies can be modified if necessary. There are however, a few medical conditions which I am not insured to work with including anybody currently receiving cancer treatment, anyone who has had major surgery in the past 6 months or any serious conditions such as strokes or heart attacks, which would all require GP consent. I am also unable to offer any treatments to clients who are in their first trimester of pregnancy.
Please do not withhold any important medical information under the misconception that it may result in a treatment being refused. It is much better for your therapist to have all the relevant information in order to make your treatment the best that it can be.
I've had a bad experience with massage before which left me in a lot of pain, will a massage hurt?
If you have previously had a bad experience with massage then we can discuss this during the consultation. Remember that you are in control of your treatment no matter which massage therapist you see and nobody should give you 'their' version of a massage just because they are the therapist and you are the client. The last thing I would ever want to do is hurt a client and your massage will be carried out at a pressure which is appropriate for you. I will always check in on how the pressure feels for you so please speak up if you don’t feel completely comfortable. Massage pressure can be built up gradually at your instruction.
Trigger point massage on the back and shoulders can sometimes feel sensitive but, again, I will always check in with you to make sure this is within your comfort zone. If you wish, we can concentrate on more relaxing techniques in order to create your perfect treatment for you.
If you are still feeling cautious, the aromatherapy massage may be the right choice for you as this is incredibly relaxing and gentle.
What is remedial massage and aromatherapy massage?
Some of my existing clients will be familiar with my previous offering of either Swedish massage or deep tissue massage. After listening to client feed back on both types of massage, it became apparent that most clients want a mixture of the two for different areas of concern. I will now offer one type of massage: remedial massage which includes light pressure, mid pressure and deep tissue and can be tailored to your specific needs.
Aromatherapy massage is concerned only with getting the oils onto the skin so that the benefits of the aromatherapy oils can be experienced. As a result, the aromatherapy massage has the pressure of applying a body lotion.
What can you incorporate for all the different time allocations?
During a 60minute full body massage I can usually incorporate the back (about 30m),the back of the legs (about 10m), the front of the legs (about 10m) and the neck and shoulders (about 10m). Alternatively, if you would prefer more time to be spent on the back, we can exclude, say, the front of the legs and do 40minutes on the back. If you would like to incorporate a face and scalp massage then this would require an additional 10-15 minutes which can either be taken from somewhere else or added on to your time if you choose to book a longer treatment. Massage times run up to 90 minutes so there is plenty of time to create your perfect treatment.
A 30 minute massage treatment is traditionally reserved for back massages. However, if you wouldlike to have a 30 minute leg massage, or 30 minute neck, shoulder and scalp massage then this is entirely your prerogative. You are free to create the treatment of your choice.
How often should I geta treatment?
It depends on your requirements. If you have a specific issue for example, tight shoulders or lower back issues, I recommend that you have weekly or fortnightly sessions until you feel better. You may then wish to have maintenance treatments once a month.
REFLEXOLOGY FAQs
What is reflexology?
Reflexology is a non-invasive ancient healing therapy which uses the feet as an accessible way of mapping out the entire body. Reflex points on the feet are gently manipulated with the fingers and thumb to address any physical or emotional issues you may have or to provide a general overarching holistic treatment which kick-starts the body’s own healing response.
Who is reflexology for?
Reflexology is a wonderful treatment for anyone to enjoy. It can be usedto address a wide range of issues such as insomnia, stress, digestive disorders, fertility issues, anxiety and depression and many, many more.
What should Iexpect during a reflexology treatment?
During the treatment, you will remain fully clothed whilst you relax on the couch. The treatment will begin with a relaxing foot massage before moving on to reflexology work, which addresses the various systems of the body by manipulating the corresponding reflexon your foot. You should feel deeply relaxed during this treatment as you body receives information from the treatment.
You may feel some sensitivity on certain reflex points, you may feel an emotional response to the treatment or you may simply feel nothing but the enjoyment of the treatment. Whatever your response, it is strongly advised that you drink plenty of water during and after the treatment as even though you may not be consciously aware, your body will be responding to the treatment in its own way.
How long will a reflexology treatment take?
The standard treatment will take approximately one hour. You can choose to upgrade to a 90 minute treatment if you would like a little extra pampering.
How often should I have reflexology?
Regular treatments are recommended in order to get the most from this therapy. You may wish to have one treatment per week or one per month depending on time and budget allowances. It is generally not advisable to receive more than one treatment per week.
But I have horrible feet! Can I still have reflexology?
Yes you can. Believe me, nobody has ever said to be "you should see my feet, they're beautiful". Unless your feet are in poor condition because of a contagious viral or fungal issue you are perfectly welcome to receive reflexology, you do not need to have a pedicure beforehand. In fact, often leaving your feet in their natural state tells me more about your overall health.