To get the best out of your session at home, we recommend you take a few simple steps in advance to ready your treatment room. We believe a massage table or bed performed massage can not only be better but also more hygienic. The same applies to towels. That’s why we ask you to provide your own. It’s better for you and we prefer it that way. Cover your bed with soft towels to provide warm and comfortable cushioning for your body. Lay out a comfortable pillow for your head or feet to rest on. Protect your bed and the surrounding area from oil.

Sight – Turn down your lights and light several candles. The more the better.

Sound – Music relaxes the mind. Put on your favourite music or try out your therapist’s.

Scent – Fill the room with your favourite scent of a candle. Enjoy an even deeper sense of calm.

Taste – A glass of fresh water nearby will rehydrate you. Drop in a slice of lemon for a refreshing twist.

Touch – In the end, it’s all about the touch. So lie back, relax and let your therapist renew you.

Before any treatment, avoid large meals or alcohol. It’s also a good idea to drink plenty of water, which will help your body to flush the toxins out of your body. It’s also a good idea to give yourself plenty of time either side of the massage, so that you don’t feel rushed. You should always tell your therapist in advance if you are, or think you might be pregnant, have any medical conditions or are receiving any treatment or medication, have recently had an injury or operation, are allergic to anything, particularly skin allergies, have any broken skin or sores on your skin.

The benefits of one massage can last days but you need to give it a chance to do that. Try not to plan any hectic activity immediately afterwards.

Massage is appropriate if you have mild pain. But if the pain is intense or ongoing, it’s best to see your doctor before trying massage techniques. If you’re not sure what’s causing your pain, massage might make your symptoms worse.

Additionally, massage and other techniques might be unsafe for some people. Use caution, or talk to your doctor first, if you have:

• fractures
• burns
• healing wounds
• bleeding disorders
• blood-thinning medications
• deep vein thrombosis
• severe osteoporosis
• severe thrombocytopenia
• cancer