Frequently Asked Questions

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After confirming your first appointment, I will send you a short consultation form via email. If you do not have access to email/a computer, please let me know and I will bring one to your first session. The form will consist of questions relating to your personal information, medical history and any conditions/injuries, potential allergies and areas of tightness or pain. You should complete and send the form back to me before your appointment so that I can create a treatment that is suited to your needs. 

You are at liberty to give as much or as little information as you like. However, I would advise that you provide as much information as you can so that I can plan your treatment more effectively. It is my responsibility to modify your treatments so that I can provide you with the best care possible. I am happy to answer any questions or concerns prior to your session via email or over the phone and we will discuss your consultation form before your ‘hands on treatment.’  

Please note you should arrive at the clinic 10-15 minutes earlier than your appointed treatment time so that we can discuss the information you entered in your consultation form. We will then discuss your treatment plan, and your preference for light or firm pressure in massage, music or no music and mood lighting. You will not be charged extra for this time. You will not be required to complete another consultation form for subsequent treatments. 

After your consultation, I will tell you how to position yourself on the table and how to drape the towels before leaving the room to wash my hands while you get ready. I will knock on the door to check you are ready after a couple of minutes, and I will set the room’s ambience to your preference before conducting your massage. 

Your first session will last 90 minutes and will consist of a consultation, treatment and aftercare. Subsequent sessions will last for an hour. 

We will discuss your medical history, general lifestyle and how you are affected by pain/reduced mobility. We then do an orthopaedic postural and range of motion assessment before creating a treatment plan tailored to your needs and the results you want to achieve.

You are at liberty to give as much or as little information as you like. However, I would advise that you provide as much information as you can so that I can plan your treatment more effectively. It is my responsibility to modify your treatments so that I can provide you with the best care possible. I am happy to answer any questions or concerns prior to your session via email or over the phone and we will discuss your consultation form before your ‘hands on treatment.’   

As part of your treatment, I create and issue you with specific stretches, exercises and home care advise to follow between sessions.  

At the start of each session, I will ask that you undress to your level of comfort. For many people, this means removing all their clothes apart from their lower body underwear. However, this is not always necessary, and may depend on the type of massage you have asked to receive. 

For Indian Head Massages/upper body massage (back, neck, shoulders, arms or hands), you will usually be required to remove your upper clothing, but can request a boob tube to wear for modesty. 

For lower body massage (lower glutes, legs and feet), you will usually be required to remove your lower clothing, but keep your upper clothing on.  

If you choose to receive a full body massage, you will usually be required to remove all clothing, except underwear. 

I have been trained to drape towels as needed to accommodate your modesty whilst still allowing access to the parts of the body receiving massage therapy. If you have specific concerns about being undressed, feel free to contact me prior to making an appointment and I will be more than happy to discuss them with you!

Make yourself comfortable! The room I practise in has an electric massage table designed for stability, and the room will have adequate heating. I will also help ensure that you are comfortable and warm throughout your treatment by having a blanket and pillows available. You can choose to have relaxing music and/or mood lighting to help you unwind and focus on the relaxing sensations of massage.  

I may guide you through some deep breathing techniques to help oxygenate your body tissues. I may also guide your arms, hands, legs and feet into certain movements designed to stretch/ mobilise your muscles and joints. If I need you to change your position, I will tell you what position I need you to move into, such as turning from lying on your back onto your tummy.  

Do let me know at any time if you need to change your position to make yourself more comfortable. Many people choose to just close their eyes and relax during a session, whilst others prefer to stay alert and chat. This is YOUR time, and you can do whatever you need to do to relax!

At certain times during your massage, you may feel some discomfort as I work on areas where there are tight muscles or muscle knots. If you do feel pain that is beyond your threshold for more than a moment, do let me know so I can adjust my pressure.  

Communication is important to help minimise the risk of pain and injury during/ after your massage and to ensure you receive an enjoyable treatment. I will guide you through breathing techniques during your massage to help your muscle tissues relax, and I will provide you with aftercare advice specific to deep tissue massage and trigger point therapy at the end of your treatment. 

Whilst I do ask that you be mindful of cleanliness and hygiene, you do not have to remove body hair, have manicured nails, styled hair or wear body spray/perfume. These are personal decisions that do not impact on your massage session and this is your time! Be comfortable! If you do shave, do so at least 24 hours prior to your treatment, as doing it right before your massage can leave your skin feeling raw and irritated, and may lead to a painful massage.  

No. Some clients prefer to have music playing in the background, and mood lighting to help them unwind. I do have a selection of music and sounds that you can listen to during your session. However, this is not compulsory and I will endeavour to make the atmosphere as calming and relaxing for you as possible. 

Let me know before your treatment! I will alter your massage to exclude the areas you do not wish to be treated, and will spend extra time working on areas you would prefer I work on! Also, it is absolutely fine if you wish to keep certain areas of your body covered/clothed. 

Part of being a massage therapist is approaching your treatment session in a non-judgemental way. I will not pass any judgement over your body weight, amount of hair, scars, skin conditions, medical conditions or personal history. 

Your dignity and modesty will be protected at all times using the appropriate draping of towels and blankets. If you are uncomfortable about having certain areas of your body massaged, let me know and I will adjust your treatment to work around those areas.

One of the purposes of massage is to make time for yourself to relax and focus on your physical and mental wellbeing. Many people choose to just close their eyes and relax during a session, whilst others prefer to stay alert and chat. This is your time, and you can do whatever you need to do to relax! Having said this, I do encourage you to tell me if you are uncomfortable or if too much/too little pressure is used, so that I can alter my treatment accordingly. 

I do advise that you use the toilet before your massage therapy session. However, if you do still need to go to the toilet during the massage, simply let me know! I will provide you with a robe and will step outside of the room so that you can cover yourself and make your way to the toilet. Massage can stimulate digestion, so it is not uncommon to pass gas or burp during your session. There is no need to be embarrassed, it happens!

It is difficult to say how many sessions you may need in massage therapy, since every person is unique. Some people require several sessions. I will be able to talk more specifically to you about this after your first session, once I have had a chance to evaluate your body and the way massage therapy can help improve any condition/s you may have.

It is normal to feel very relaxed or drowsy/sleepy following the massage. If you know you are prone to feeling this way after a massage, I will give you a moment to re-orient yourself before slowly getting up from the massage table.

After a session, many people experience freedom from aches and pains that have built up over a period of time either due to tension or repetitive activity. After initially feeling slowed down or tired, some people feel more energetic, experience heightened awareness and greater productivity that lasts for days. 

Additionally, you may experience symptoms of what is commonly known as the 'healing response'. You may feel light headed and achy, dehydrated and may experience cold-like symptoms (runny/blocked nose, sore throat), heightened emotions and temporary worsening of symptoms after your massage. These are normal, temporary and are signs that your body is re-balancing itself.  

I am afraid that due to transportation difficulties, I am unable to offer home visits. 

My massage medium preference is wax, as it is easily absorbed by your skin and is easier to manipulate when performing massage techniques. 

I tend to use Shea butter based waxes because of its exceptional moisturising and softening properties. If you have a Shea nut allergy, I will use grape seed oil, which also has fantastic dermatological benefits. 

All towels will be clean and laundered, and the massage couch will be properly sterilised prior to your treatment to avoid cross contamination and risk of allergic reactions. 

Massage can be adapted to suit the symptoms of most conditions, which I will check with your during your consultation. However, you should not book a massage if you:

• Have a fever/contagious or infectious condition 
• Are experiencing diarrhoea and/or vomiting
• Are under the influence of recreational drugs or alcohol

If any of these apply to you, either see your GP/local medical practitioner for treatment or wait until the symptoms have passed before booking your massage. 

It is important that you let me know if you have any of the following conditions: 

• Pregnancy
• Cardiovascular condition (thrombosis, phlebitis, hyper/hypotension, a pacemaker)
• Joint, bone conditions (arthritis, osteoporosis)
• Nervous tension, anxiety, depression
• Trapped, pinched nerve (sciatica)
• Nervous system conditions (MS, Parkinson’s’, Bell’s Palsy)
• Respiratory conditions (asthma, emphysema, bronchitis
• Urinary condition (bladder/kidney infection)
• Bowel/liver complaint
• Thyroid condition (under/over active)
• Gangrene
• Epilepsy
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Medical Oedema
• Recent surgery/operation

If you have any of these conditions, it does not mean you cannot have massage. It just means that I may adapt your treatment to err on the side of caution. If you have any other conditions or specific needs, feel free to contact me prior to booking your treatment.

If you are in the early and most contagious stage (the first 48-72 hours) of a cold or the flu, do not attempt to come in for your session. Please phone, email or text me to cancel with as much notice as possible so that we can rearrange your appointment. 

If I become ill with a cold or the flu, I will notify you as soon as I can so that we can rearrange your appointment for when the contagious stage has passed. 

I accept payment by cash, card, cheque or gift card (purchasable through me).

YES! Images of the gift certificates I sell are shown in the image on the left. If you would like one, contact me by email, phone or text, quoting the type of gift card and the desired treatment. Gift cards can either be collected from me on the days I work at my clinic, or sent to you by post at an additional cost for first class delivery. Payment for gift cards can be made either in cash, by cheque or via bank transfer. If you have any questions, please let me know!   

 Your privacy is important, which is why I will only use your personal data to provide the service you have requested and store it carefully, in line with the GDPR regulations. I collect personal data on your consultation form at your first appointment. 

I use your name, address and date of birth to identify you and use elements of this information to create a client code so that my accounts, online calendar and electronic client base do not contain your name. Medical, health and lifestyle information from your consultation form are used to ensure I give you a safe and effective treatment. 

Your consultation form, treatment records and reference file, containing your client code, are all kept in a password encrypted folder held on my password protected local drive and backed up to a USB stick, which is kept in the locked cabinet. After 10 years, your forms and records will be electronically deleted and any paper copies of your consultation form will be destroyed.

I will use your phone number/email address to contact you about your appointments and treatments. Please note that when you contact me via email/phone/text, I cannot guarantee the security of the information you relay. 

I would like to keep you up to date with useful information and my availability, which I will send via a monthly newsletter. There is a section of your consultation form where you can opt in or out of this. 

If you have any further questions with regards to how your data is used and stored, feel free to contact me. 

There is limited but free parking at the Bay Therapy Clinic and it is also accessible by bus. Please see the NCT Transport Website for more information.