Hands to Heal Massage Therapy

Hands to Heal Massage Therapy - Before Your Massage

Before Your Massage

Make sure it is a good time for you to have a massage. Please reschedule your visit if you have a fever, skin irritations (such as poison ivy or sunburn), or if you are trying to stabilize your medication. (massage can affect the dosage needed). Please read the contraindications page for detailed information, or contact us for information.

Pre Treatment Advice

• If it is your first massage at Hands to Heal please arrive 5 minutes early to fill in your client history form.
• Give yourself enough time, if you are rushing and arrive stressed, it may take longer to get into a relaxed state.
• Do not eat before your massage.
• In the days leading up to your massage, try to increase your intake of quality water.

Your Health History

Your first appointment will begin with a consultation, starting with your health history. You be required to fill in full a client history form which covers your health history, medications and GP, contact details. A copy of the client history form is available for download on our website, please click here or arrive 5 - 10 minutes early for your first visit and take time to fill in our client history form.In general your client history will ask about:

• Medical Conditions
• Areas of Concern
• Your level of pain, discomfort and or stress
• What you do to reduce the pain, and what aggravates it.
• GP, next of kin and your contact information. 

You will be asked to sign the client history form which assists to ensure you get what you want out of your massage treatment session, ensures disclosure and gains consent to do what you have requested.

Consultation

Your massage therapist will review yor health history and ask questions. Massage can affect multiple body systems, such as cardiovascular and nervous systems, so you will need to be honest with your massage therapist about your health. You should also let your massage therapist know about any pharmaceutical drugs or botanical medicines you are taking, because massage can enhance or reduce the effect of pharmaceutical drugs, such as blood pressure medication. Knowing your history allows a therapist to determine if there are any reasons you should avoid massage or a particular technique, and can focus on the areas of concern.

Your Hands to Heal Massage Therapist will ask you questions to better design a session that meets your needs and goals within the time allotted. Let your therapist know what areas of your body you like to worked on , and if there are any areas you would like to avoid. If you are concerned about undressing, discuss it with your therapist, who should be able to offer you some options. Don't be afraid to discuss any apprehensions or concerns.

Please Note:

1. All information you give is confidential. (NB: We do not massage breast or pelvic regions).
2. Your therapist will then outline what will happen in the treatment session and then leave the room so you can undress to your comfort level.
3. When you are ready, lie down on the massage table and cover yourself with the towel or sheet provided on the table. The therapist will knock before re- entering.

During The Massage

Generally, you will lie on a massage table, draped or covered by a towel, sheet or blanket. In some sessions you may be seated in a massage chair, again covered with draping. Make sure you are comfortable and let your therapist know if you are not. Tell the therapist if you are cold, want to be covered, don't want an area of your body touched. don't like the music, or are experiencing discomfort with the technique or how it is being applied. Remember, you are in charge, and can ask for changes or stop the session at any time.

Draping

A professional massage therapist will never expose breast or your pelvic region, or any other regions you identify. Only the area your therapist is working on will be exposed.

However your massage therapist requires you to remove undergarments, and advises to do so, it is there are not any inhibitions for your specific soft tissue region ie: sciatica - gluteal region

Music

The therapist may play music, but be sure to tell your therapist if you prefer a different type of music or if you like to be quiet.

How To Get The Most From Your Massage

• Be as open to the process as you can.
• Relax and try and let your thoughts go. One way to do this is too focus on how the touch or technique feels.
• Remember to breathe, as this helps relax. Sometimes people hold there breath when a sensitive area is being massage, but it is best to breathe through it. Inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth.
• In the same way, tightening your muscles during the massage is counterproductive. If you can't seem to relax your muscles, let your massage therapist know. They may need to adjust the massage technique.
• Your massage therapist will advise on a pressure scaling they use. 1 being light touch - 5 being extreme pressure. Normally the pressure of a Relaxation massage is between 2 -3. Deep Tissue Release after the region has been warmed between 3-4.

After The Massage Treatment

At the end of your massage, the therapist will ask if you require assistance to sit up on the massage table, then leave the room so you can dress in private. You may wait a few minutes on the table as you get grounded, especially if you are feeling a little light headed, this is quite normal.. At Hands to Heal we massage in a non pressured, at ease environment so you can take your time to get ready

When are you leave the treatment room the therapist will offer you a glass of water. It is a good idea to drink some water and help the body flush waste products that have been released.

If possible, allow some quiet time after your massage and don't go back to work or other responsibilities immediately. 

How you feel after the massage used, the length of the session, and the demands you place on your body afterward. Feelings range from being relaxed, renewed and centered, to invigorated, excited or experiencing a rush of clarity or new energy and insight, and recognizing your true level of fatigue.

Clinical types of massage may leave the body free from chronic tightness or acute pain patterns, but may replace it with mild soreness from the pressure applied. After this type of massage, you may want to rest the area before jumping back into activity that produced the soreness.Realize that the benefits of massage can be instantaneous, however most tend to be cumulative, so typically, you will feel better as you get additional massages.

If you have any further questions regarding your first massage session please contact  one of our professional massage therapists we will assess your needs and assist you in choosing the best massage treatment option.

If you have any questions in relation to Before Your Hands to Heal Massage, please don't hesitate to contact us, we are here to help you make the right choice of Massage Therapy Treatment.