IT’S YOUR MASSAGE
Partnering with your massage therapist
An effective massage requires a partnership. We massage therapists oversee that our clients get the best massage possible, and you are in charge of relaxing the best you know how in whatever ways work for you, so I like you to communicate what feels good and what isn’t so great.
A lot goes on in a massage session
The first thing that we tend to think of in massage is pressure. Do you sometimes feel like shrinking away from a touch that’s too deep or fast? Do you ever feel frustrated because the technique feels too light or not specific enough? I would love to know so I can adjust to meet your needs.
If you are too cold, it is easy to turn up the heat. If you are uncomfortable on the table, you can shift to another position or be supported with extra pillows. If you don’t like an oil or lotion, there is probably something else on hand that you will like better.
During a session I use massage strokes such as: kneading, friction, tapping, percussion, vibration, effleurage, and shaking motions with acupressure. The usual sequence of techniques can be:
- Effleurage: Gliding strokes with the palms, thumbs and/or fingertips
- Petrissage: Kneading movements with the hands, thumbs and/or fingers
- Friction: Circular pressures with the palms of hands, thumbs and/or fingers.
- Acupressure: Press key points on the surface of the skin.
- Vibration: Oscillatory movements that shake or vibrate the body
- Percussion: Brisk hacking or tapping
- Passive and active movements: Bending and stretching
Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, joints, or other connective tissue, as well as lymphatic vessels, or organs of the gastrointestinal system. I can apply massage with the hands, fingers, forearm or elbow.
Try ignoring concerns about yawning or stomach gurgling
These are expected, even welcomed, during sessions because they are signs you are letting go of tension.
After your massage
You can help extend the benefits for your continued health and relaxation even after your massage. Drink plenty of water. It helps carry away waste products that can be released from your muscles during a massage, and your muscles may feel less sore and fatigued. If you are a little sore or if the massage didn’t relieve all your aches and pains, take a hot shower or hot bath with Epsom salts when you get home.
Don’t forget to relate your experience in your next session, so the pressure can be adjusted if need be. To extend the benefits of your sessions, keep up an exercise program, remembering that you don’t have to be a super athlete. Walking for 30 minutes, taking a tai chi class, or moving to music around your living room keeps your circulation moving and oxygenates your muscles. If you are sore after a massage, remember to tell your practitioner at the next session. Giving feedback to your practitioner about how a massage feels allows him or her to adjust to meet your needs.
If you are ill, postpone!
If you have a fever or an infectious sickness, even a common cold, there is good reason to postpone your appointment. For one thing, you may find that touch does not feel good. Second, your immune system is working hard to control and isolate the infection, and it’s possible massage could hinder this process.
Even if massage sounds good to you, some people feel worse after receiving a massage when they are sick. There is also a good chance your infection is contagious in the first stages. This is usually when you are feeling the worst or are coughing and sneezing frequently. The more you limit your contact with others, the less you will spread it around. If you don’t pass a cold to your practitioner, she or he won’t give it to other clients. When you catch the cold or flu, let yourself rest and drink plenty of liquids. Then enjoy your next massage in good health.
The cumulative effects of massage or reflexology treatments
Reduce pain from chronic conditions
Aah…you finally got in for your massage. As you relaxed, your headache or low back pain receded. You also may have noticed your anxieties weren’t hammering at you like they were when the massage began.
Like many of us, you may have experienced those times when a single massage provided amazing, short-term relief from pain or stress. But as you returned to your normal activities, the chronic pain and tension came creeping back over time, contributing to headaches or flare-ups of fibromyalgia, TMJD or old injuries.
Your chronic discomforts and conditions can actually improve long term with a series of massage sessions. With regular massage, you may also notice that you don’t feel the effects of excess stress as much or that, due to increased body awareness, you use your body in ways that cause less strain.
You may observe that your old pain patterns aren’t kicking in to the degree that they used to. Gradually, you may enjoy an increased sense of overall well-being and the awareness of what it feels like to be truly relaxed.
AMATOUCH POLICIES
Mission
Amatouch mission is to offer you stress and pain relief and develop your body self-healing ability.
All services are by appointment only
I am here to help you relax even after office hours. The best way for you to make a booking is online so that you can get a text and email reminder one day prior to your appointment. Alternatively, you can send me a text with the day and time you would like your treatment at. Either way, I will confirm your appointment before it.
Please note that I only work by appointment and advance notice is preferable.
Payment method
Payment in full is due at time of service. I accept Revolut or cash at my studio. Debit or credit card payment or Paypal when you make an online booking via my website or buy a gift voucher.
Informed Consent
You will be requested to fill in a detailed medical consultation form for your first appointment and to inform me of any changes in your health condition for the subsequent appointments.
The treatment plan will be explained to you and your consent requested; you can ask any question to help you understand the treatment at this stage.
Depending on your medical condition and expectation from the massage, when unsure to proceed with the treatment, I may refer you to your own GP or recommend another therapist – I can only work within my own perimeters and professional boundaries.
I require written approval from your doctor for the following conditions.
- After recent surgery
- Cancer
- Severe heart or circulation conditions
- Diabetes with complication
The following conditions are absolute contraindications (cannot receive massage at all):
- Cancer patients immediately after chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Infectious or contagious conditions
- Fever
- Under the influence of drug or alcohol
- Phlebitis
- Blood clots
It is important that you disclose health information and that you inform me of any changes, when unsure please talk to me and your General Practitioner or Consultant.
Warning
Massage Therapy is absolutely non-sexual. Any advances, or references of any kind will not be tolerated, it will result in the immediate termination of the session and liable to full payment of the schedule appointment.
Cancellation and lateness
24 hours advance notice is required when cancelling an appointment. Cancellation without 24-hour notice will result in a charge for your session, as that time has been set aside specifically for you.
Please arrive on time for your appointment. Time for your appointment has been arranged for you. If you arrive late your session will still end at the schedule time to accommodate others whose appointments follow yours. Full payment for your session will be expected.
This policy applies to gift vouchers as well.