1505 Eastland Drive, Suite 500
Bloomington, IL 61701
Phone: (309) 662-2273
Fax: (309) 662-2014
Bloomington, IL 61701
Phone: (309) 662-2273
Fax: (309) 662-2014
First of all, make sure it is a good time for you to have a massage. Reschedule your visit if you have a fever, skin irritations (such as poison ivy or sunburn), or if you are trying to stabilize your medication (because massage can affect the dosage needed).
It is best to arrive a few minutes early for your first massage appointment as there will be an intake form to fill out. Your massage therapist needs some basic health information before being able to provide a service. Some health conditions require adjustments in the massage service provided and others may not allow massage at all. Here is a list of conditions which would cause you to not be able to receive massage therapy: any acute injury, any kind of infection, any type of seizure disorder, renal problems (liver or kidney), fever, any bleeding, burn, pregnancy-induced diabetes, toxemia, preeclampsia/eclampsia, blood clot, uncontrolled blood pressure, heart disease or any skin lesions or sores. Due to the effects that massage can have on different medications a complete list of medications and supplements, over-the-counter included, will be requested on the intake form. These precautions are meant to protect you and the massage therapist; 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 are unsure about a condition and whether it would prohibit you from getting a massage please feel free to call in advance and speak with someone about your concerns.
Once you have completed the intake form you will be taken back to the massage room. At this time the massage therapist will go over the information on the intake form with you. Linda will discuss any concerns that you may have, any areas that you might feel need extra attention or precautions taken; as well as draping procedures and what to expect once you’re on the table. Don't hesitate to ask questions about anything which you're unsure about, or any concerns you might have. If you're expecting something in particular from the massage, make sure this is told to the therapist. For example, if you've been having a lot of tightness in your right shoulder, and you'd like some extra attention given to it, tell the therapist. If you prefer a lighter or deeper massage, make that preference known. The massage therapist will discover your tight and sore areas during the massage, and will prioritize the time spent on these areas, and may do less work on areas that don't need as much attention. Letting the therapist know ahead of time about these problem areas, lets them prepare to spend some extra time there.
Once you've finished with the intake, Linda will give you some privacy to get undressed and get on the massage table. A sheet and blanket are provided. Linda will advise you to start the massage lying on your stomach or on your back. If you're to start on your stomach, there will be a cushioned doughnut-shaped device at one end of the table. This is a face rest, and you should place your face in there. This allows you to be face down, and keep your shoulder and neck muscles relaxed. If you lay your head on the table and turn it to one side, the muscles in your neck and shoulders won't be in their relaxed state and won't be able to receive the best benefits of the massage.
There may also be a pillow or bolster on the table. A bolster is a padded, cylindrical device. These are to be used for your ankles and knees. If you're lying face down, the pillow or bolster goes under your ankles, to prevent hyperextension of your feet while lying that way for an extended period of time. If you're lying on your back, it goes under the knees to prevent any hyperextension of your knee joint.
Once you're on the table, the therapist will come back into the room. For the most part, your work is done, and all you have to do is relax and enjoy. The therapist will undrape the section of the body that they will work on first, and apply a lubricant, either oil or lotion, to the skin. They will use a variety of strokes, whatever they think will work best for your muscles. Follow any directions the therapist gives you. If they stretch or rotate any joint, don't try to help. Just stay as relaxed and limp as you can and let the therapist move that part of your body.
Every therapist has their own style of massage, strokes they like to use on different parts of the body, and prefer to work on different areas of the body in a particular order. So for a first visit with any massage therapist, don't be alarmed if their style and direction is different from another therapist you've seen.
When the therapist finishes with one area of the body, they will put the drape back over that part, and undrape the next section to be massaged. At some point, you may be asked to roll over under the drape, and the therapist will continue with the other side of the body. When the massage is over, you'll be left in private to get dressed again. A towel will be provided so you can wipe off any excess oil with it. The therapist will return, and this is a good time to tell them how you feel, if you have any concerns.
That depends on the type of massage that you are receiving. There are certain modalities that can be tenderer than others such as deep tissue massage for example; a light massage that doesn't probe very deep into muscles shouldn't hurt. At the same time, the light massage won't be able to work out any stress that's deep within those muscles. A muscle that is relaxed will be supple and soft and won't hurt when rubbed. Muscles that are tight, and in many cases have been chronically tight for a long time, may have that "good hurt" feeling with a deeper massage. Think of that "good hurt" as the feeling you get when you stretch a sore muscle during exercise or a yawn. Muscles can be very sore from overuse or tightness, and that good hurt can become painful. A sharp pain may indicate a muscle that has been injured and has some sort of inflammation. In this case, you don't want the deep work to continue in this area. A deep massage with tight muscles may leave some residual soreness the next day.
Everybody has different thresholds of pain. The depth of a stroke may not be deep enough for one person's liking and may cause pain for another. Some people want the massage as deep as possible regardless of the soreness. Others want something much lighter, more sensual and pleasing, to help them relax rather than deeper work that might be sore. So make your preference known to the therapist, and give feedback at any time during a massage that the depth of the strokes is more than you'd like.
This will vary from therapist to therapist. The one area you can be assured that won't receive any stimulation will be the genitals. The gluteus areas and abdomen are not routinely massaged. If you would like these areas to be included, please let the therapist know before the massage begins. If one area of the body takes a lot longer than expected to massage, the therapist may skip other areas of the body to finish within the allotted time.
Should you request that any part of your body not be massaged? This is another area where the answer is not so easy. A person getting massaged should be relaxed. If anything during the massage causes them to tighten their muscles, then the benefits from the massage won't be obtained. On the other hand, the body is one interconnected organism. Even though you may feel discomfort in one part of your body before a massage, the cause of the problem may rest in a different area of the body. Overcompensation for an ache or nagging injury by limping, walking differently, or carrying yourself other than your normal way will cause muscles throughout the body to suffer. To reap the most benefits from a massage, all areas should be addressed.
As a general rule, just try to stay relaxed as much as possible during a massage. If it's your first massage, and you suddenly find yourself nervous as the therapist moves to a new area, just try to make your mind float and enjoy the feeling of having the stress worked out the muscles there. As you see more of the therapist in future visits, your nervousness about these areas will probably go away pretty quickly as you come to trust their strokes and professional approach to their work.
You should undress to your comfort level. Linda will work around the clothes left on the best she can. You should realize that this may mean that certain areas of the body may not be massaged at all, or may only receive minimal work there. It is suggested to all clients that they be completely undressed under the drape, but they should leave on whatever clothes are necessary for them to be relaxed during the massage. If removing all your clothes makes you too nervous and unable to relax, then receiving a massage that way won't allow you to obtain the optimal benefits from it.
The pieces of clothing left on the most often are either panties or boxer shorts. Certain styles of panties will allow access to most muscles in the buttocks if they are moved slightly. Boxers and panties that come over the bottom of the buttocks usually mean that no work will be done in that area. Some women wear thong panties to a massage. It allows the therapist access to all of the major buttock muscles, and also allows them the comfort and modesty they prefer.
The key to a massage is relaxation, allowing you to enjoy the experience. Many therapists will discourage you from talking during the massage. They want you to relax, and let the massage transport you to an almost subconscious bliss. It's not uncommon for many people to be more relaxed talking. After all, they're lying undressed on a table with a stranger touching their skin. Talking makes the therapist become more human and personal to them, and having this interaction makes it easier for them to place their trust in the therapist, and therefore make it easier for them to relax. Many clients talk in the initial stages of a massage, and as the massage progresses, they slip farther into a state of total relaxation and become quiet.
There are times when you should speak up during a massage. If anything makes you uncomfortable, bring it to the therapist's attention. If you're too cold or too hot, the rooms are too bright or hard on your eyes, or if you prefer the strokes to be deeper or lighter please mention it to Linda. Feel free to speak up, especially if something about the massage isn't working for you. We want you to have the best, most comfortable and relaxing experience.
Every massage therapist has their own style, some prefer a more clinical approach, some a more personal approach. Not every client clicks with every massage therapist. The key is to find one who can deliver the type of massage you like best. When you find one you like, stick with them and sing their praises. The best way to find a therapist is through personal recommendations from friends and family. You can get a good sense of the therapist's style from them, and know how well it matches your expectations before you visit them. Also, be sure to communicate with Linda if the techniques should be adjusted to meet your needs. A good therapist should be able to make that adjustment during the massage. The first massage can be looked at as a "get to know you session"; I'm getting to know your body and you are getting to know my touch. If a therapist doesn't get everything exactly right the first time then it might be worth giving her a second chance to fine tune things according to your wishes.
We hope you find this experience relaxing to help you look and feel your best. Let us help you manage stress, reduce muscle and joint pain and achieve deep relaxation. Do it for yourself, you deserve it!