What to expect from my massage appointment?

If this is your first or 10th or 100th massage, it’s always better to know what to expect before you arrive. At ph.therapy our massage therapists are all qualified and highly experienced. 

What makes the massage therapists at ph.therapy different from other massage therapists?

We take the time to get to know what you want and expect from the massage.

Our motto is ‘people centred care’ meaning you are at the centre of everything we do. We will ask you questions to ensure we have got things right throughout your time with us. 

We love feedback, as this makes our service to you even better, so we create a safe space for you to express yourself.

We are a team of mainly physiotherapists and a couple of massage therapists – so we know how the body works, anatomy and we ensure we keep up to date with current research and advice. We use specialist tools like graston tools to get into those deep knots. If you’d like some cupping in your session we can provide you with that. You will have a choice of 3 different types of massage. See our massage therapy service page for more information on the types of massage we offer. If you’re lucky in your session, which is most of the time, you’ll get some extra information on how to best look after yourself – meaning you come in for just a massage and you leave starting a new healthy living journey.

What to expect?

When you first arrive, your therapist will get you comfortable. Understand who you are, to then help you figure out which areas you’d like massaged. 

Your fully qualified massage therapist will then break down how much time will be spent on each area – if you would like more time on one area and less on another we can amend this to your needs! (Remember you are at the centre of this!)

Once you’ve settled in, we will give you some private space to protect your privacy and dignity to get undressed and lay on the plinth (massage bed) – don’t worry we have towels to make you more comfortable and to keep you warm!

We will then check you are not allergic to the massage cream/oil we use. 

Then you are on your way to feeling a little bit more yourself, zen and feeling like you can take on the world again!

The science

Massages are helpful for the following reasons: 

• To alleviate stiffness and pain, by lengthening your muscle fibres and by reducing sensitivity on painful soft tissue
• To destress and relax you – we ensure we create a calm and relaxing atmosphere for you so that if you fall asleep on the plinth you’ll have the best sleep
• To help you sleep better – let us know after your first massage, you’ll feel like you’ve slept like a baby for the first time in years!
• To increase your range of motion in your joints – massages help to stretch your muscle fibres, this allows you muscles and joints to become more flexible to improve your range of motion

How to get the most out of your massage?

1. Book it at a time when you can completely switch off. By this we mean, make sure you have childcare sorted or haven’t just rushed in from work. Our therapists will make sure the environment is completely zen to help you relax, but we cannot control your racing mind. 
2. Try not to have a large meal beforehand – this can sometimes make people feel nauseated.
3. Ensure you follow the after care instructions – like stretching and staying mobile. This will mean the effects of the  massage you receive will last longer.
4. Have a rough idea before you come in where you’d like your massage therapist to do their magic on, if it’s your shoulder/back or even your hand. If there are areas you want to have more time spent on then let your therapist know prior to the session – remember you can change your mind during the massage too
5. Feel comfortable with your massage therapist, don’t be afraid to let them know if you’d like them to be more gentle or to press harder. It’s your massage, only you know how you like it. 
6. Communicate, communicate and more communication – this will happen each time you come in. But most importantly on your first session, allow your therapist to know what you do and don’t enjoy!
7. We tend to use a hypoallergenic massage cream, but if you are worried you may react or would like us to use a specific oil/cream you have, please bring it with you!

Safety

We use hospital-level cleaning products to ensure your protection. We also use gloves when massaging which surprisingly help our therapists glide on your skin better and also protect you from any germs or bacteria!

If you feel dehydrated or a little light headed after your massage, we have a blood pressure machine handy, and we will offer you some water (a sealed bottle and you’re free to take it home with you too!).

How often should I have a massage

At ph.therapy we always get asked this question. The best way for us to answer your question is to think about you as a person. As physiotherapists and massage therapists, we would recommend most people to have a massage once a week. There are a few things we need you to factor in when you make your decision: 

1. How much spare time do you have for a massage – if you’ve got an hour each week then great
2. How much can you afford – if that’s once every fortnight then great
3. How active are you – massages really help with recovery after training, if you train 4 times a week and would like a massage once a week; that is in line with what we recommend

Overall, we recommend if you can have a massage once a week, that would be optimum. But we also understand that most people have busy lives so whenever you can fit one in might work better. We have some bundle packages available – call us to find out more about these. 

Still have some questions or want to book in, give us a call

By Sabrina

Owner of Ph.therapy