Your first massage: what to expect

Almost nobody admits this, but a first massage can feel daunting. Not the massage itself: the unknowns around it. What do I wear, what do I say, how much do I undress, and will I have to make conversation for an hour? Here is the honest answer to all of it.

Before your first massage appointment

Book the treatment that sounds closest to what you need and stop worrying about picking wrong, because your therapist will adjust once you have talked. If you are unsure where to start, our guide to what remedial massage involves explains the main difference between a targeted treatment and a relaxing one. Before you arrive, it helps to fill in our health intake form online: it covers the medical basics, anything you would rather avoid, and where you would like the focus, so we can use your appointment time on the treatment rather than on paperwork.

What happens when you arrive

Come a few minutes early so you are not walking in flustered. You will be shown through to the room, and we will have a short chat first: how you are feeling, what your week has been like, whether anything is sore, and what you would like from the session. Then your therapist steps out, you undress to the level you are comfortable with, and you get onto the table under the covers. You are draped with linen the whole time and only the area being worked on is uncovered.

What happens during your first massage

Your therapist checks in on pressure early and then again as the session moves to a new area. That is the only real thing asked of you: say if it is too firm, too light, too warm, or if you would rather an area was left alone. You do not have to talk. Plenty of people chat the whole way through and plenty fall asleep, and both are completely normal. If you have a preference about scent, our notes on choosing essential oils for massage are worth a look beforehand.

After your first massage

You will be left to get dressed in your own time. There is usually a quick word at the end about what your therapist found and anything worth doing at home, and our guide to getting the most from your massage covers the aftercare in more detail: water, warmth, and going easy on the rest of the day. If you have extras cover, you can claim your massage on your health fund on the spot through HICAPS before you leave.

Frequently asked questions

What should I wear to a massage?

Wear whatever is comfortable to travel in. You will undress to the level you are happy with once you are in the room and alone, and you stay covered with linen throughout, with only the area being worked on uncovered.

Do I have to talk during a massage?

Not at all. The only thing worth speaking up about is comfort: pressure, warmth, or an area you would rather skip. Beyond that, talk or drift off, whichever you prefer.

How early should I arrive for my first massage?

A few minutes is plenty, especially if you have filled in the health form beforehand. Arriving unhurried makes a genuine difference to how the first ten minutes on the table feel.

Can I book a shorter first session?

Yes. A 30 or 45 minute treatment is a perfectly good introduction if a full hour feels like a lot for a first visit. The full massage treatment menu lists every length we offer.

If the only thing left to settle is how long to book, our guide to choosing between a 60 and 90 minute massage walks through what fits into each.

Still have a question? Our massage studio FAQ covers the practical details, or you can check availability online whenever you are ready.