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Best time to book for Massage

• Try to choose a date and time where you can have few hours to rest or relax for yourself without going back to your daily routines or work.
• Try to change your schedule around to give yourself some personal time.
• Plan ahead and move your daily routines and work around so you don’t have to go right back into work or your daily routines right after full body massage this could extend benefits of your massage.

Before going for Massage
Preparing yourself in advance can maximize your experience and holistic massage benefits.

• Drink water
  Holistic Massage releases toxins from your muscles. Making sure that you are hydrated when you go into the massage makes it easier for your body to flush out these toxins.
  Drinking water or herbal teas are excellent methods for staying hydrated.
  Avoid regular tea, coffee, alcohol, or any other stimulants.
• Take a Hot Shower
  A massage is a hands-on treatment during which your therapist massages your muscles as well as your skin. Therefore, there’s nothing better than feeling clean before treating yourself to a massage.
  Taking a shower can make the massage a more relaxing experience. The warm water will help relax your muscles.
• Eat Lightly
  It’s preferable to eat at least few hours in advance of your massage or, if you’re afraid you’ll get hungry, eat a fruit or other food that’s easy to digest.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothes
  Wear loose, comfortable clothes. wearing comfortable clothes will not only put you in a relaxed state before your massage but will also keep you relaxed after massage. Also, muscle soreness may vary after the massage, so loose clothes may be easier and comfortable for you to put on before you leave the clinic.

Information for assessment and treatment planning
As part of consultation, therapist will go through the followings and explain the contra-indications that may prevent or restrict body massage treatment.

• medical history, lifestyle questionnaire, client expectations.
• review of assessment to plan treatment programme, agree treatment with client, obtain written consent
• During this discussion, it’s your opportunity to communicate your needs, concerns, and any areas you prefer to have specifically worked with and conversely, the areas you would like the therapist to avoid.

Getting Ready for Massage

• After consultation, therapist answers any questions you may have before treatment, then you will be left to undress (for women full body massage, we provide a gown with velcro fastening and elasticated at the back) down to underwear and get comfortable on the couch.
• During the massage, only the part of the body being massage will be exposed at any time, the rest being covered in warm towels at all times.

During Massage Session

• If you’ve never had a massage before, you may discover you like, dislike or need to adjust something during your session. Always be sure to speak up and let the massage therapist know what you need.
• Therapist will ask you whether you’d like more, less or the same amount of pressure, so you can articulate what you want. This feedback is important for you and for therapist throughout the massage session.
• Whether it’s more pressure, less music or additional draping, your therapist will make sure you are comfortable as possible, at all times.

After the Massage

• When the massage is complete, therapist answers any questions you may have and you will be instructed to rest for a moment, then you will be left to be dressed.
• Once you are ready, you will be offered a bottle of water to help flush out any toxins that may have been released.
• Therapist will evaluate the results of treatment and go through with you any recommendation. These recommendations could include how often you should get a massage and possible benefits of regular massage.
• Massage usually isn’t a one-and-done therapy, and it’s important to know what you should do between sessions to enhance the positive effects.

Possible benefits of massage

• Physiological effects - increased circulation, warm tissues, stimulation of skin- increasing cellular function, desquamation, increased sebaceous secretions, increased lymphatic flow, stimulate nerve endings, breakdown of fatty (adipose) tissue, relax tense muscles, loosen scar tissue,
• Psychological effects – relaxation, relief from tension, stress relief, sense of wellbeing, invigorating, uplifting.

Aftercare Advice
The therapeutic and healing powers of a massage will do wonders for your mind and body. However, there are a couple of things that you should do to ensure these effects last for a longer time.

• Drink lot of water
  Body massage stimulates the lymphatic system. This means water is essential to flush out the toxins, so if you don't drink water after a massage, you can sometimes experience a slight headache.
• Eat light Meal
  Avoid eating a heavy meal after a massage,If you get hungry, try to snack on something light in the first few hours.
• Avoid Coffee
  Caffeine is a stimulant. Consuming caffeinated drinks will increase your heart rate,avoid your usual cup of coffee for a few hours.
• Avoid Alcohol
  Alcohol after a massage is not a good idea, atleast for few hours.
• Avoid Hot Shower
  Taking a shower after a massage will wash off the massage oils used by the massage therapist.
  Massages promote blood circulation. A hot shower or bath will increase blood flow too which could make you faint or dizzy.
• Avoid Exercise/Workout
  Please wait for 24 hours after the massage before exercising again, but don’t forget to do your stretches.

Holistic Massage

Holistic Massage is a purpose-built home practice in Colchester, Essex, offers a range of invigorating holistic massage therapies and treatments to rejuvenate the body and mind, so, relax and enjoy an overall feeling of wellbeing.