First sessions feel a little clinical until they don't. A short guide for what to expect.
Before the session
Wear something comfortable to the studio. You'll change in private — most clients go to their underwear, but it's entirely up to your comfort, and you'll be draped with a sheet at all times during the session.
Avoid eating a heavy meal in the 90 minutes before your appointment. Drink water. If you drink caffeine, keep it to your normal level — more tends to make deep work less effective.
If you're tracking a specific issue (shoulder pain, hip tightness, headache pattern), think through when it started and what makes it better or worse. You don't need a script; the intake conversation covers it.
The intake
About 10 minutes at the start. Health history, medications, recent injuries, any areas to avoid or focus on, what you're hoping to get out of the hour. If you've had massage before, what worked and what didn't. This shapes everything that follows.
The session itself
Pressure is adjusted continuously. If something feels too firm or not firm enough, say so — it's feedback I rely on, not an inconvenience. Silence is welcome. Conversation is also welcome. Whatever helps you drop in.
Most people find the first 15 minutes the hardest to settle into. That's normal. The nervous system takes a minute to decide that nothing is going to hurt.
After
Drink water. Don't immediately schedule a heavy workout. Some soreness 24–48 hours later is normal for deeper work; sharp pain is not and I want to hear about it.
Most clients book their next session before they leave. Every body responds differently; I'll suggest a cadence based on what we find.
— Skyler