What To Expect

Arrival

Please arrive 10 minutes early to fill out or update your health history, have a drink of water, or use the washroom. All outdoor footwear is removed upon arrival. There are trays near the entrance where you can place your shoes, and you can opt to bring your shoes with you into your treatment room.

Health Information

At the first visit, the client will be asked to fill out a brief health information form. This information is important in determining the type of treatment the client will need. All information shared is confidential and treatment notes will be made after every treatment. This allows the therapist at Academy Massage to continue with the techniques and approach taken during your previous treatments.

For your convenience, click here to fill out the form electronically that you can print and bring with you for your first visit.

Preparation

Treatment takes place in one of our private rooms. After a brief assessment, the therapist will give the client an overview of which areas of the body require therapy and which articles of clothing should be removed to provide treatment. At this point, you will be given about five minutes to change and lie face down underneath the top sheet and blanket of the massage table. Again, full privacy and professionalism are assured.

Treatment is best performed without the restriction of clothing, but your comfort is our foremost concern. If you feel uncomfortable with the removal of any article of clothing you are encouraged to voice your concern and we will work with the situation. You are never expected to remove your lower undergarments, as it is not necessary in order to perform any of our treatments.

Your therapist will then knock to ensure you’re ready, and the treatment will begin. The only body part exposed during the massage is the area being treated. The rest of the body is comfortably covered by the sheet and blanket. If at any time you feel uncomfortable, please voice your concern and we’ll ensure we adjust the sheet or position to your liking.

Ambiance During the Massage

An atmosphere of calm and quiet is cultivated. You are encouraged to turn off cell phones and any other electronic devices to avoid outside distractions during your treatment. Relaxing music will be played from our iPod docking station, and we always welcome you to provide feedback on the type of music you’d like to hear. During your treatment, you are welcome to chat with your therapist, or simply lie back and rest your mind. We will still ask for your feedback periodically, especially regarding how it relates to pressure.

If you have a specific request, please ask! We invite your feedback and will happily share our knowledge.

Post Massage

After a massage treatment, many people feel relaxed with an increase in energy which can last for days, but some may feel tired or even a little sore. It's really important to hydrate post-massage. Your muscle tissues can become dehydrated after a massage, similar to how you might feel after a workout session. Drinking plenty of water can help combat this and is helpful in building healthy muscle tissue, along with removing metabolic wastes that may have accumulated as your muscles were being worked on. Eating a light snack post-massage is also recommended.

Self-massage, stretching and other remedial exercises may be recommended after your massage to reinforce the treatment. The best results are achieved when massage is implemented on a regular basis. Your therapist will be able to give you a recommendation on how often you should receive treatment for your specific needs.