What to Expect...

Your massage will take place in a comfortable atmosphere, on a Professional Therapy Massage Table, with relaxing music playing in the background. During an Oil Massage your body will be covered at all times with the exception of the area I’m working on.

This page deals with the details of your first and subsequent massage sessions:-

Initial Consultation
Duration
Frequency
Undressing and Covering
Massage Oil Used
Pain or Discomfort
Contraindications to Massage
Not a Sexual Service

Initial Consultation
You will have an opportunity at the start of your first appointment to tell me something about yourself and your lifestyle. I will need to know what causes you stress, what your stress levels are today, your current physical condition, medical history and what prompted you to come for a massage. I will also ask about your long term health goals and what you would like to achieve from the treatment, whether the aim is to loosen your lower back, release tension from your shoulders, to help you switch off from the world or to feel more balanced and relaxed. Please allow an extra 30 minutes for your Initial Consultation.

I will ask you to complete a shorter questionnaire before your first Seated Acupressure Massage and/or Indian Head Massage Treatment. These will be available for you to complete before I visit your office for the treatment.

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Duration
A session can last from 30-90 minutes, depending on your needs and the booking you have made. This describes 'hands-on' time, which is the length of the massage treatment. Please allow an extra 15 minutes for consultation, undressing and re-dressing. The massage itself will focus on any problem areas and is tailored to your needs. It is far better to focus on problem areas and ease any pain or discomfort than to merely follow a prescriptive routine of, for example, 30 minutes for a half-body massage and 1 hour for a full-body treatment.

Seated Acupressure Massage can take as little as 20 minutes at your place of work or at a specific event. Of course, I also offer this option in my treatment room at Back To Touch. For more information please call me or email.

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Frequency
Depending on your body's requirements, and given your other commitments, a 30-60 minute massage every 2 weeks for preventative maintenance would be the ideal frequency. Where specific problems or dysfunctions occur I may recommend more frequent treatments until the appropriate outcome is achieved. The treatments will gradually reduce in frequency as the problems ease and we can establish a maintenance programme.

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Undressing and Covering
For an oil based massage you will be asked to remove most of your clothing, keeping pants on unless they restrict access to the gluteal muscles. Undressing takes place in private and you will lie under a towel on the massage table. Only the part of the body being massaged will be uncovered at any time to ensure that your modesty is preserved and respected throughout the treatment.

For Seated Acupressure and Indian Head Massage I will ask you to remove your tie and loosen the top buttons of your shirt. You may wish to remove your shoes to enhance your personal comfort during this treatment.

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Massage Oil Used
I use Sweet Almond Oil during Holistic Massage and Chavutti-Thai Treatments. Depending on your skin type, I may enrich this with Vitamin E, Jojoba, Avocado, Macadamia Nut or Peach Kernel Oil. I use Grapeseed or Soya Oil for those clients with nut allergies. Essential Oils, heated in an oil burner, gently perfume the air and add to your body work experience. If you are sensitive to certain scents please let me know prior to your treatment so that the treatment room can be sufficiently aired.

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Pain or Discomfort
Before treatment begins I will need to know what level of pressure you like to have in a massage. However, everyone has a slightly different view of light, medium and firm pressure so I will ask again during the massage to ensure that the treatment is not uncomfortable. However, you may feel some pain or discomfort when I am working on sensitive or particularly tense areas (typically, shoulders and lower back / hip areas). Please let me know if you experience any pain so that I can adjust treatment of that area accordingly.

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Contraindications to Massage
There are some conditions which may prevent you from having a full massage, (Deep Vein Thrombosis, for example). If you have questions regarding any such condition or ailment please call me to talk it through prior to your appointment; in many cases the treatment can be adjusted to your needs.

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Not a Sexual Service
Please note that I provide therapeutic bodywork as a healing art and not a sexual service. Any illicit or sexually suggestive remarks or advances will result in immediate termination of the session.

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