Here are some tips for getting the most out of your bodywork treatments.
- Wear or bring the right clothing for your treatment type – loose-fitting, flexible clothes for shiatsu; shorts/sports bra or two-piece bathing suit for myofascial release; for massage therapy, and sometimes myofascial release, plan on getting undressed and being draped with a sheet.
- Remove jewelry and watches before your treatment – even small earrings can get in the way during some neck techniques.
- Turn off your cell phone or put it on silent mode – ringer or vibration mode can be distracting when you are trying to relax in a quiet room.
- If you are receiving myofascial release, do not wear lotion or sunscreen – any lubrication interferes with the technique. Consider avoiding make-up for any treatment type. (I’ll just mess it up anyway!)
- Don’t eat a large meal right before your treatment – having a light snack is better than feeling starved, but a full belly can be uncomfortable.
- Use the bathroom before your treatment – there’s nothing like wishing your precious hour of bodywork was already over because your bladder is about to explode!
- Consider avoiding conversation during your treatment – focus on the sensations in your body, breathe deeply, and visualize your pain or tension melting away.
- Let me know if you have specific music preferences – especially if some of my music collection is unpleasant to you. You are welcome to bring your own music, and I will greatly enjoy listening to something new. Silence is always an option as well.
- Plan to arrive within five minutes of your appointment time – as my office is in my home, arriving very early means that I may not have switched over to “professional mode.” If you arrive very late, your treatment time will be shortened.
- My treatments are full 60-minute hours, as opposed to the “therapeutic hour” of 50-55 minutes that is common in many clinics – please plan for the additional time. (If your appointment is at 2:00pm, you probably will be leaving around 3:15pm.)
- Schedule some extra time to relax after your treatment – let the effects of your treatment soak in, and try to avoid having to work or be in stressful situations immediately afterward.
- Drink plenty of water after your treatment – water helps flush out your system after toxins have been released.
- It is common to feel effects of your treatment later – occasionally soreness (mild or extreme) will occur a day or two after the treatment. Sometimes you may feel no changes immediately after treatment, but the next day you wake up feeling great. You may also experience emotions coming up during or after the treatment. The best thing to do is to just feel whatever you are feeling, and don’t try to fix or change it. These sensations and emotions are part of the healing process and are necessary. What is not necessary is to figure out why you are feeling this way. So forget the “why” and remember that healing isn’t always pretty, but you will feel better afterward. And you are always welcome to call me for support.
- If you would like a reminder call the day before your appointment, let me know – it has not been my habit to make these calls, but I am happy to if it is helpful to you.
- You are in charge of your treatment – tell me immediately if anything is uncomfortable or simply doesn’t feel right. Some discomfort is occasionally part of the healing process, but there is a difference between therapeutic pain and injurious pain. If in doubt, speak up! You are completely unique, and what feels great to someone else might not feel that way to you. I am experienced with a wide range of modalities and techniques, and can almost always find a way to adapt the treatment to your needs.
- Ask for what you need – if you are cold, I can turn up the heat or give you a blanket; pillows or other propping can help with lower back or neck pain
- Give me feedback – let me know what changes you notice as a result of your treatments, and tell me if something isn’t working for you. Setting goals for each treatment, or for a series of treatments, can greatly enhance your results.