When should I get a massage?
Almost any time is a good time to get a massage. You don't need to wait until you are stressed or injured. Too often I see clients who wait until they are in distress before seeing me. Massage works wonders as preventive care for body and mind. Instead of waiting until your back hurts from overwork or stress, or the headaches that start at the back of your skull begin to pound, or the stress of every day life makes you want to pop your cork, get a massage before these things happen. A regular massage is a wonderful way to cope with stress - physical and emotional - and to keep from causing discomfort or harm to your body.
If you are dealing with a nagging minor injury, sore muscles, or you are completely stressed out, find a massage therapist and see what they can do for you. First, check out our next section, "when NOT to get a massage."
When should I not get a massage?
There are several contra-indications for receiving a massage. If you have any of the following conditions, you should NOT get a massage:
- Fever
- Any type of infectious disease
- Systemic infections
- Severe cold
- Fracture, bleeding, burns or other acute injury
- Liver and kidney diseases
- Blood clot
- Pregnancy-induced diabetes, toxemia, preeclampsia/eclampsia
- High blood pressure (unless under control with medication)
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Open skin lesions or sores (ask before you book, the therapist may work around them if localized)
The guidelines here are straightforward. You don't want the massage to make an underlying medical condition worse, and you don't want to pass anything contagious to the massage therapist. If you're unsure about whether a minor condition should prohibit you from getting a massage, call your therapist before your appointment. If you have a chronic medical condition, check with your doctor before proceeding on a course of massage therapy.
What happens during a massage?
Before each massage you will be asked a number of questions. These are to make sure that the treatment you are about to receive is correct for you as some treatments may not be performed if there are medical problems. The answers that you will give will help the therapist give you the best holistic massage possible as well as after care and home care advice tailored to you.
What should I wear?
Holistic massage is performed on the massage bed. During Holistic Massage you will be asked to remove your clothes down to your underwear. While getting changed your modesty will be kept intact as the therapist will shield you with a towel or leave the room for you to get ready. Once on the bed you will be covered with a towel from neck to toes. Only the body part being massaged will be exposed at any given time.
Some people may worry about things like cellulite or scars and so on. Please try not to be concerned with things like this during your massage. Therapists come across many different body types, male and female, all shapes and sizes. Everybody has areas that they are concerned about but please know that your therapist is not there to judge you but rather give you a great massage and time for you to let go of everyday stresses and injuries.
Indian Head Massage is a seated massage. During Indian head massage you will be asked to change in to a body towel that is fastened around the body just under the arms. This gives the therapist access to the upper back, neck and shoulders and allows for oil application. When the therapist is not working you will be covered with another towel draped over your shoulders to keep you warm.
Reflexology is performed while the client is seated on the bed with their shoes and socks off and trousers rolled up to the knee.
Reiki is performed with the client fully clothed - minus their shoes - on the massage bed.
