Preparing for your appointment
Thank you for booking your session. To help everything run smoothly on the day, here is a short guide covering what to do before I arrive, how to set up your space, and what to expect.
Complete your intake form
Please complete your intake form at least 24 hours before your session. This gives me time to review your medical history and plan your treatment before I arrive.
The form takes around 10 minutes. You can save your progress and come back to it later if you need to.
Parking and Access
I will be carrying a treatment couch and equipment to your door, so I will need to park within a short walk of your location. If you have already provided parking details on your intake form, thank you - if anything changes on the day, please let me know in advance.
Please make sure I will be able to safely access the treatment space when I arrive. If there are stairs, a narrow entrance, or anything else that might make access tricky, it is helpful to let me know ahead of time so I can plan accordingly.
Setting Up Your Space
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will need a clear, open area of at least 2 metres by 2 metres (roughly 6.5 x 6.5 feet) to set up the treatment couch and work comfortably around it. A living room, spare bedroom, or similar space works well.
On the day, please make sure:
The space is clear and ready when I arrive
Pets are in another room for the duration of the treatment (as much as I love them, they tend to be a distraction during treatment, and for safety reasons they cannot be in the same space as the couch)
Young children are supervised by another adult - you cannot be the sole responsible adult for a young dependent during your session
The space is somewhere we will not be interrupted by other members of the household
Room Temperature
The treatment couch is heated and I will have blankets with me, so you will be comfortable even if the room feels cool. There is no need to turn up the heating for me - in fact, a normal room temperature (around 18-20°C) works best, as the physical nature of the work means a cooler room is more comfortable for both of us.
Creating the Right Atmosphere
I will bring everything needed to create a relaxing environment, including a portable speaker and aromatherapy oils. You are very welcome to choose your own music if you have a preference - just have it ready to play when I arrive.
To get the best from the aromatherapy oils I use, I would ask that any scented candles, incense, or plug-in air fresheners are switched off or removed from the treatment room before I arrive. Competing fragrances can overpower the therapeutic aromas and affect the quality of the air in the room during your session.
If you would prefer a session without aromas, just let me know - that is absolutely fine.
For lighting, low and soft works best. Drawing the curtains or dimming the lights helps your body relax more deeply.
What to Wear
Wear whatever is comfortable. During the treatment, I will work directly on the skin using massage lotion, so you will be asked to undress to your underwear (or to whatever level you are comfortable with). You will be covered with towels throughout, and only the area being worked on will be exposed at any time.
Treatments can be carried out through clothing if preferred. You can read more about this here.
If you have long hair, having a hair tie to hand is helpful so it can be kept out of the way during neck and shoulder work.
If You Are Unwell
If you are feeling unwell on the day of your appointment - for example with a cold, flu, stomach bug, or fever - please let me know as soon as possible. Soft tissue therapy is not suitable when your body is actively fighting an infection, as it can place additional strain on your system at a time when it needs to focus on recovery. It is also important that we are not working in close contact while you are contagious.
I understand that illness is not something you can plan for. If you need to cancel due to genuine illness, please give me as much notice as you can and I will do my best to reschedule your appointment or arrange a refund.
On the Day
Try to avoid eating a heavy meal in the hour before your appointment. Staying well hydrated beforehand is helpful.
If you can, try to keep the time after your session relatively free. Your body will continue to respond to the treatment for several hours, and a bit of downtime helps you get the most from it.
When I arrive, I will set up the couch before we begin. Please allow 10 minutes before your treatment is due to start for this.
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Foundation treatments are booked for 120 minutes. Follow up treatments are either 60 minutes or 90 minutes. All appointments include the pre-treatment consultation, the hands-on treatment itself, and a post-treatment discussion where I will go over aftercare and any recommendations.
Please allow 10 minutes additional time for me to set up / pack up either side of the appointment.
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No - I bring everything with me, including the treatment couch, fresh linens, towels, lotions, and aromas.
Details of the lotion I will use can be found here. If you wish to provide your own lotion or oil, you will need to discuss this with me in advance as you may also need to provide your own towels and linen.
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Please give at least 48 hours' notice. Cancellations with less than 48 hours' notice are charged at 50% of the session fee, and less than 24 hours' notice at 100%. You can reschedule or cancel through the link in your booking confirmation email.
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Please give at least 48 hours' notice. Cancellations with less than 48 hours' notice are charged at 50% of the session fee, and less than 24 hours' notice at 100%. You can reschedule or cancel through the link in your booking confirmation email.
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Please tell me!
Communication during the session is really important. If the pressure is too much or too little, if you are too warm or too cold, or if anything does not feel right, just say so. I would always rather you speak up than lie there feeling uncomfortable.
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Some post-treatment tenderness is normal, particularly after deeper work. It usually settles within 24-48 hours. I will give you specific aftercare advice based on what we work on.
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You may find you need to use the toilet more than usual after your session, which is perfectly normal. Just stay well hydrated in the hours afterwards to replace what you lose. There is no need to drink excessive amounts - just keep on top of your normal intake.
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Many people find a warm shower or bath beforehand helps loosen the muscles. Just avoid applying heavy body lotion or fake tan before the session, as it can interfere with the massage oils and make it harder to work effectively on the tissue.
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Avoid heavy exercise before and after your session. Afterwards, try to give yourself some quiet time to let the treatment settle.
