Your first massage: what to expect

Coming to a massage for the first time is awkward mostly because of the unknown. Here is everything worth knowing in advance.

Before the session

• Arrive 5 minutes early — a first visit needs time for the conversation.
• Avoid a heavy meal 1–2 hours beforehand. Arriving on a completely empty stomach is not ideal either.
• Remove jewellery and your watch.
• What you wear does not matter — you will change anyway.

The conversation at the start

Every session opens with a short round of questions: what bothers you, any injuries, surgeries, chronic conditions, pregnancy, what medication you take. This is not a formality — the answers determine which areas can be worked on and with what pressure. Mention things even if they seem irrelevant to you.

Clothing

You undress to whatever extent you are comfortable with. Underwear usually stays on. Throughout the session you are covered with a sheet, and only the part of the body currently being worked on is uncovered. The therapist leaves the room while you change.

Pressure

This is the most important part: pressure is something to talk about during the session. The right pressure feels like "uncomfortable, but good". If it hurts to the point where you hold your breath or tense the muscle, the pressure is too much and the result gets worse, not better. Just say "lighter, please". No therapist will take offence.

Do you have to talk?

No. Most clients stay quiet and that is entirely normal. Speak when you want to, or when something is wrong.

After the session

Drink water. Avoid heavy training and the sauna the same day if the session was intense. After deep tissue work, mild soreness the next day is possible, similar to after a workout — that is normal and passes within a day or two. If you get sharp pain, bruising or a lasting feeling of being unwell, let us know.

Duration

A first visit usually takes 10–15 minutes longer than the nominal session length because of the conversation and changing. Plan for that in your schedule.