Should I do anything before my appointment?
There are several things you can do before your appointment to make sure you get the maximum benefit from your massage.
Get a good night’s sleep before (if you can) and avoid caffeine – again, if you can.
It is also helpful if you make a list of what’s bothering you. If there are specific problem areas, write down where they are, what the pain feels like, if specific actions cause it to worsen or feel better and other contextual information. Start making the list a few days in advance; it’s easy to forget what’s been bothering you if it’s not hurting at the moment.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing that can be easily washed if it gets a bit oily from the massage oil/cream residue on your skin.
What should I expect when you/I arrive?
Mobile
We aim to arrive within 5 minutes of your appointment start time (traffic can be a little unpredictable sometimes). This allows us time to set up the table to maximise treatment time for you. We bring all the equipment we need with us, a table, towels and oils/creams. During this time you will be assessed by us and we will discuss the treatment options.
We require a bit of space for our equipment and room for us to manoeuvre around the table easily. We recommend an area of 1.5 meters wide and 2 meters long in a communal area within the house/workplace.
Clinic
Our receptionist will greet you and confirm your name and who your appointment is with. If you haven’t already done so, they will ask you to complete your Patient Intake form on one of our devices. Your therapist will call you through to the treatment room for your appointment.
Do I have to take off all my clothes?
No, you do not need to take off all your clothes. Underwear must be worn at all times during your massage.
The amount of clothing worn will depend on the areas being treated during your appointment, if we are treating your upper body, only the top half of your clothing will need to be removed.
You will also be draped with a towel, exposing only the area of the body we are treating at the time.
What should I expect during my massage?
After your initial conversation and assessment, your therapist will step out for a few minutes to let you disrobe. Lie down on the table and cover up with the towels.
Your therapist will re-enter the room and ensure that you are drapped appropriately. They will apply balm or oil to your skin and begin working. The first few minutes will be exploratory, feeling around for knots and tender or painful spots. Don’t hesitate to give feedback.
Trigger point massage or deep tissue massage isn’t necessarily the kind of bodywork that you’ll fall asleep for.
It might hurt but should never be excruciating, and it’s important to keep a bit of a dialogue going with your therapist and speak up if something hurts too much or doesn’t feel right.
Your therapist won’t be offended if you say, “Hey, that’s too much pressure,” or, “Could you please be a bit firmer?” but we need to know so we can adjust.
Try to breathe deeply and steadily. It’s beneficial to breathe through any pain or pressure, as it helps your muscles stay loose and release tension.
The hands-on component of our treatment is the length of the appointment minus the initial and post-assessments (about 10 minutes).
What happens when the massage is finished?
Your therapist will leave the room. You might want to lie still on the table for a few minutes to allow your body to adjust and enjoy a moment or two of some time to yourself.
Just so you know, massage oil that’s on your skin can soak into your clothes, so it’s good to wear a t-shirt that can be soaked or washed easily.
Once you’re dressed, your therapist will come and have a quick chat with you and possibly provide you with some homework if it is appropriate for them to do so.
In our clinic, our Reception team will process payment for you and help you to book your next appointment. For our mobile appointments, your therapist will take payment once they have packed up the towels and table.
Payment can be made by Visa, MasterCard, Eftpos or Cash.
The therapist will then complete clinical notes for the treatment (this will take about 5 minutes). Our reception team will then send your receipt, be sure to check your spam folder as sometimes they end up there.
Is there anything I need to do after my massage?
Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and take it easy in terms of physical activity levels. Your massage is a bit like a workout for your body, gentle exercise is great – try to avoid anything to intense.
You might feel slightly nauseous; this is normal. If you’ve had more intense trigger point work done, you will probably feel a little sore the next day, which is also normal and should ease off within 24-48 hours. A warm shower is a great way to alleviate any post massage soreness.
Your therapist may also give you some homework to do in terms of stretches or exercises to complement the treatment they have done, these will help to reduce any remaining soreness and improve your mobility.
What if I’m happy with my massage?
We love to hear from happy clients and always pass on any feedback to our therapists from their massage treatments.
They work really hard and are passionate about making people happy so it always makes them feel good to know they made someone smile
What if I’m not happy with my massage?
Can I cancel the Appointment?
We understand that sometimes things need to change. Mels Massage cancellation policy is that if more than 36 hours notice is given you will not be charged for your massage service.
If you cancel with less than 36 hours notice a cancellation fee of $50 may apply for each massage booked depending on the circumstance.
Any no shows or cancellations with less than 4 hours notice may be billed at the full-service cost accordingly depending on the circumstance.