What to Expect During a Massage or Reflexology Treatment

If you have any questions about my treatments which are not answered below, please feel free to call me on 07772 719213 and I will be happy to help.

Do I have to take all my clothes off?

During a reflexology treatment, all you have to remove is your shoes and socks. Apart from this, you will remain fully clothed.

For massage and aromatherapy treatments, you will need to remove everything except for your underpants, which stay on. Every part of your body, except for the part I am working on will be covered by towels at all times. I will leave the room to allow you complete privacy when getting dressed and undressed. There is no hurry and we will go through a thorough consultation first to allow you to relax in the room and with me before you get undressed.

Will it hurt?

Some people can find reflexology slightly painful, depending on the amount of congestion found in the feet. However, the majority of the treatment is deeply relaxing.

Aromatherapy massage is pain free, as it uses light pressure techniques designed to relax you and to let the oils sink into the skin.

Deep tissue massage can be painful in places, especially if you have a lot of congestion and knots in your muscles when you come for the treatment. Most people describe this pain as a 'good pain', because they can feel the treatment working. I use some deeper techniques during this kind of massage specifially to target areas that are already causing you pain or discomfort.

What if I have a medical condition?

Complementary therapies are effective in helping many medical conditions. A responsible practitioner will not promise to cure your condition. I believe that complementary therapies - as the name suggests - should be complementary to, and not an alternative to allopathic medicine.

There are some medical conditions that because of insurance or safety reasons are contraindicated for massage, aromatherapy or reflexology. When booking your treatment it is best just to let me know of any conditions you may have. It may be necessary for you to obtain the permission of your GP before commencing on any course of treatment with a complementary medical practitioner.

Will I experience any adverse reactions after the treatment?

After a reflexology treatment, a few people may experience what is known as a 'healing crisis'. A healing crisis is seen as a good thing, as it is a sign that the body has reacted to the treatment and is trying to re-balance itself. It is brought about by the release to toxins and may result in headaches, increased urination, increased or decreased energy and feeling a bit 'out of sorts'.

After a deep tissue massage, it is common to feel a bit sore or bruised, this usually be followed a relief from your symptoms.

Any adverse reaction will only last for 24 - 48 hours. You may only experience a sense of calm and relaxation after a treatment with no adverse effects. In order to help your body to adjust after a treatment, I advise clients to drink plenty of water and to avoid alcohol on the day of the treatment.

How many sessions will I need?

The number of sessions required really depends upon how long you have had your symptoms and how severe it is. For example, if you have had back pain for years, then one treatment will not bring relief from the pain. You should see improvement in three to five treatments. A change in habits such as posture, exercise and nutrition will help the effects of the treatments to last longer.