What should you expect from your session with me?
I will greet you at the front door and invite you upstairs; you can remove your shoes/boots inside my apartment. You may wish to use the bathroom before we begin, or have a glass of water; these are also available to you at any time during and after your session.
I live with a male partner who you may hear move about the apartment at times. I also live with two friendly cats; please advise me in advance if you prefer not to see them (don’t worry, they have a cozy space to relax in during your session).
Once we are in the massage room, I like to have a brief conversation about how you are feeling, where your stress levels are at, and what you would like to focus on during the session. I will leave the room to wash my hands and let you get comfortable: if we’re doing a table session, please undress to your level of comfort and lie on the table beneath the drape; if it’s a floorwork session, I may ask you to take a seat or lie down.
Table session
You will be covered by a sheet and only parts being actively worked will be undraped (for modesty and to keep you warm). The session generally involves compressions, techniques involving oil on skin, and the mobilization of joints. You will usually be asked to turn over at some point, supportive cushions will be repositioned, and the session will continue. I may offer to extend our time if there is a little more work I want to complete; I will advise you in advance to respect your schedule.
At the end of the session, you will be fully draped, and I will invite you to take your time. It is normal to feel a bit sleepy or groggy following a table session, and it’s important not to rush into movement or a standing position. The light will gently and gradually brighten, and you can pull the door open when you are ready for our post-session chat.
Floorwork session
You will remain fully dressed, hopefully in loose-fitting clothes that allow you to move easily. I often begin by inviting you to take a seated position so that I can work the top of the shoulders, the neck, and the arms. If our focus is shiatsu, I will perform a hara reading, inviting you to lie down so that I can palpate your abdominal region to determine which meridians are most in need of attention. I will then work those meridians through compressions and joint mobilizations, usually ending with the bladder line which runs down the back and legs.
As in the table session, I will ask you to turn over or change position during the session. Please take your time and let me know if you require assistance.
No matter the form of the session, I invite you to ask questions at any point, to signal any discomfort or pain, and to breathe in a deep and natural rhythm (I may direct your breathing to facilitate certain techniques or stretches). You may wish to make conversation*, you may wish to retreat inward, you may let yourself drift off to sleep. Your session is your time, go with what feels natural and relaxing for you.
*While I can easily accommodate conversation during Swedish massage, it is a bit more difficult in a Shiatsu session.
After the session
I like to have a little chat to discuss what worked for you, what may not have worked, and things to look out for in the coming days. It’s important to hydrate well in the 48 hours after your session, especially if we’ve done more intensive work such as deep tissue. If you’re a new client, I’ll advise on a reasonable frequency based on my findings, and we’ll set an appointment for a follow-up. We take care of payment, I issue your receipt, and I help you transition into the rest of your day or evening (again, taking your time is so important here).