Top Questions
Massage Therapy Questions
There are a lot of questions that people have when visiting a new Massage Therapist, whether they are new to massage or have had 1000 treatments from other therapists. Find some of the most common questions people have below. If something is still unclear, don’t hesitate to get in touch. And remember - no question is a silly one - as long as no malicious intent is involved. You can also find lots of useful information on our services page and in our blog posts
disability, mobility & chronic illness issues
what if I get anxious or excited?
How long a treatment / what kind should I book?
How should I prepare for my first treatment?
To prepare for your first appointment, make sure to wear comfortable clothing and come well hydrated - best to bring a small bottle of water if your treatment is longer than 30 minutes.
Arrive promptly to allow time for check-in and to fill out any necessary paperwork.
You can also discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your therapist in advance.
Women should wear a back fastening bra and not a sports type, to facilitate ease of treatment, while preserving modesty.
Men - if you are having a full body massage its perfectly okay for you to be fully naked; if you prefer to keep on underpants please ensure they are not overly tight - to avoid unpleasant wedgies!
Do you have disabled access & can you help treat terminal or chronic illness?
Unfortunately there is one set of straight stairs with handrails at the entrance to Hands On Massage, so you need to be able to get up those and on and off the table unassisted or with minimal assistance.
Many chronic illnesses can benefit from the restorative and calming effects of massage, and particularly from the specific techniques used in Remedial Massage, as well as the relaxing de-stressing effects of Swedish & Fusion Massage. See the list of contraindications below which show when you can NOT have massage therapy.
What should I expect from my first session?
You should expect to be treated with: courtesy; compassion; empathy; understanding; confidentiality, in a friendly professional, manner; and for your modesty & privacy to be maintained to the agreed level. This level of service should be continued throughout every session that you attend with us.
The environment & equipment will be clean, fresh and pleasant.
Any questions you have will have been answered to your satisfaction.
The therapist will explain before starting what he intends to do, it is up to you to guide him through the treatment if you are experiencing any discomfort, pain, anxiety, or just don't like a specific technique or level of touch, or are experiencing any reaction to oils being used.
If you are coming for a specific problem to be fixed you may be asked to carry out some specific movements which will be assessed, and form the basis of a treatment plan. (see our videos on the GALLERY PAGE)
Before oil is used a body mapping of the areas to be worked on will be carried out through a large towel draped over you - this is to gauge how much pressure will be required, where the areas of treatment focus will be, and to assess how muscle groups are working together.
After treatment you should feel relaxed and invigorated. however you may feel a little drowsy and dehydrated. Any improvements to your range of movement will be best seen the day after treatment.
What if I need to move during a treatment ?
Feel free to adjust your position or any body part that needs adjustment due to pressure or cramp, etc, at any time.
If you need to use the toilet, especially during a longer treatment, please just ask and we can pause the treatment - your comfort is vital! Ideally use the bathroom prior to starting, especially if you have been drinking a lot of water, or have not emptied for a while.
What if I get anxious or excited during a treatment?
You may become unexpectedly mentally or physically aroused during treatment - this is a natural reaction to touch, and you should not worry.
You may feel anxious about being touched by a stranger and get quite tense - the therapist will be aware of this and check in on you.. it usually subsides as the time passes and you adjust to the sensation and level of pressure.
Focus on the soothing music; concentrate on your breathing - take long slow deep breaths in and out.
You will be covered with a drape and / or modesty towels, unless otherwise agreed or due to the specifics of an agreed treatment, so there is no need to get anxious. If you feel you need a short breathing space - just let the therapist know and he can go through some exercises with you.
Many men are concerned that they may get an erection due to being touched in certain areas of their body - not always the areas you would assume! I want to reassure you that as a fellow man - I feel your pain! Alos it doesn’t phase me at all and I will happily work around anything that arises - if you are wearing underwear or shorts, I probably won’t really notice as i will be focussed on my work. If you are naked you will be covered by drapes or towels and I can move things to one sid, or work on a different area until you feel good to go in the area again. 😁👍
Do I need to stay silent during a treatment?
If you are a little nervous (or generally a very chatty person), you may feel the urge to chatter away throughout the treatment.
However the best benefit will be for you to fully relax and immerse yourself in the experiences and sensations of treatment, enjoy the aromas, the sounds and most of all the therapeutic touch.
Concentrate on your breathing - feel every breath coming deep inside your lungs, and all the toxins and stress being blown away. So by all means have a conversation and bring up relevant issues about your treatment; but try to tail this off after a while and stick to treatment related comments.
If you are uncomfortable, anxious or feel you need to stop for any reason, please always spek up as soon as possible - good 2-way communication with the therpist is always the best.
How long a treatment should I book?
Treatment time depends on what your issue is, or what you want from a treatment
If you have a specific issue - choose a treatment from the menu that you think best covers that - if its only one area then 30-60 minutes is usually sufficient
If you just want a quick, relaxing full body treatment - go for the 1 Hour Rapid Swedish Massage -- you may want just a Back, Neck & Shoulders one, and that's fine too. If you want this style but with essential oils, select an aromatherapy treatment.
If you want a remedial (fixing) session followed up with or incorporated into a deeply relaxing treatment, go for the 90 Minutes Fusion Massage (this has quite deep tissue pressure)
I f you just want a deeply relaxing full body treatment that will get rid of all your stresses, choose a 90 minutes to 2 hour session.
The new format for the 2 hour treatment FOR MEN allows you to use add-ons to select from Deep Tissue, Gentle resetting of mind and body, tantric style (not a full tantric massage) with chakra alignment, or a fuller body contact style (thai like). This is the ONLY treatment that has a naturist opotion add-on.
FOR MEN ONLY - There is a LONG 3-hour session available which consists of 90 minutes of DEEP THERAPY followed by 90 minutes of relaxation and BIG long stretches. This is for BIG men! So: BodyBuiiders; professional athletes; Rugby Players; Gymnasts; professional dancers; etc. Please enquire for this treatment as it cannot be self booked.
When Can I NOT Have a Massage?
Contra-indications to treatment:
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first 3 months of pregnancy, or abdominal massage at any time during or up to 3 months after
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if you are having active treatment for cancer
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within 48 hours of a serious injury
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within 2 weeks after surgery
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during active flare-ups of conditions such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, skin conditions - or if you have a skin rash (spots)
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during active infections, or if you have enlarged or inflamed internal body organs
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if you have or think you may have a DVT (one of your legs will be swollen, red and hot to the touch)
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you will be refused treatment if you are under the influence of intoxicants, or are abusive in ANY way.
Consult With Your GP or Health Specialist Before Coming if ANY of the Following Apply:
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you are over 70 years of age
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you have osteoporosis
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You have high, or very low blood pressure
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you have unstable angina or other heart condition
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If you have cancer, but not on active high dose chemotherapy or radiotherapy
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If you are on steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, or blood thinners (anticoagulants)
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if you have any other serious medical conition or injury.
What will the therapist be wearing?
As you will see from the photographs in our media here and on our social media sites Alan will be wearing the company T shirt or other company branded top. He usually wears shorts, but occasionally sports trousers / joggers.
With some male clients, where there is a level of comfort and familiarity, in very hot weather he may wear a vest or work shirtless.
In the 2 hour session ONLY there is an add-on selection for a naturist massage.