What to Expect from your Massage

Each massage session is uniquely personalized using techniques and pressure appropriate to your needs and preferences, so that you can let go of the tensions of your day, and your body, mind, and spirit can relax into a place of comfort and ease.

Whatever blend of techniques we choose for your massage (Swedish, deep tissue, methods specific to pregnancy, etc.), you will get a peaceful room, soft lighting, and relaxing music. You can choose aromatherapy with organic essential oils or fragrance-free (for those of you with odor sensitivities).  The room will be candle-free to avoid odor and particulate matter. .  If you find heat appealing, even pregnant, your massage may include some cozy blankets and hot towels.

Before your massage, I will ask you to fill out a brief health history and together we will determine what areas you would like to have focused on— those may be areas specific to your pregnancy, areas that always hold tension or discomfort for you, something you particularly like, or a combination.  

I will then leave the room and ask that you undress to whatever level you are comfortable with: for some, that will mean underwear; for others, yoga-style clothing.  Ideally, if you are comfortable doing so, you will disrobe down to the loosest underwear you own, so that I can move it around to access your hips.  (For those of you used to getting "regular" massage which is easiest if the client is naked under the sheet, pregnancy massage is easiest with loose underwear.)  You will then get under a sheet and I will knock on the door before entering. 

Together we will spend a few minutes getting all of the pillows and cushions in just the right places to support you comfortably.  Then we'll determine what massage pressure feels best to your body and then you will be free to drift into a relaxed state, knowing that at anytime you are welcome to request a change in pressure or area, more heat or air-conditioning, a blanket or extra pillow, etc.  As the massage progresses, each area that we have decided to work with will get individually undraped, massaged, and then re-draped, so that you feel warm and secure (unless you wish to feel cool and breezy, in which case we leave more of you uncovered and blow the fan across you).    

To the extent that it feels comfortable to you, I encourage us both to be silent during your massage, so that you can be present in your body and in your breath.  This time is a gift to yourself.  Perhaps you will drift in and out of "not awake and not asleep," maybe  you will hear yourself snore; or, maybe you will be relaxed but alert and ready to head off refreshed into the rest of your day. All of these are healing states, opportunities for your whole system to have quiet time away from the many stresses and interactions of your daily life.   

Please feel free to speak at any time if something about your session could be just a little more wonderful. I want you to leave relaxed and happy and firmly convinced that you had a really good massage.  But, I also want you to give your body the quiet time for healing.  It's your session, so please find the balance that works for you.

At the end of the massage, I will leave the room while you dress.  When I reenter the room, you may choose to float your way out the door or we may take a few minutes to go over some self-care options and schedule your next appointment.