I’ve tried to answer as man y commonly asked massage questions below along with my massage policies for treatment.

Policies

Due to the close contact nature of massage therapy, I take health and hygiene very seriously.

​If I’m unwell or have symptoms of a cold, virus or infection, I will cancel your appointment.

If I have to cancel your appointment, I will always give you as much notice as possible.

I will first try to contact you at your registered email address. If I don’t hear back from you I will send a text message or call you.

If you show any symptoms of cold, virus or infection, likewise I expect you to cancel your massage appointment. 

Receiving a massage when your body is trying to deal with an illness is unlikely to help and will probably make you feel worse. It also runs the risk of spreading your illness to other clients and myself.

I require 24 hours notice to cancel your appointment, this allows me to offer it to another client.

If you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment, please contact me directly.

  • Don’t show for your appointment, you will be charged the full price for the session,
  • Cancel within 24 hours of the start time you will be charged the full price for the session,
  • Cancel outwith 24 hours of the start time, your payment will be carried forward to a future appointment,
  • Cancel outwith 24 hours of the start time but request a refund, you will be charged a 5% admin fee to cover transaction costs.

Please get in touch as soon as possible if you can’t make your appointment so I can make it available to someone else. 

Full Cancellation Policy

It’s important that you arrive on time for your appointment. 

I understand sometimes life, family, traffic or public transport can get in the way of the best laid plans. However, please keep in kind, I can’t extend your appointment if you arrive late.

If on the other hand if I’m running late, I will always extend your appointment to make sure you receive your booked time.

FAQ’s

60 minute session £58
90 minute session £87
120 minute session £110

The length of your session will be roughly 5 minutes less than the length of the session as it includes time for a quick chat plus undressing/dressing.

You can pay online when you book or on when you come in for your appointment. 

Please note: New clients are required to pay for thier first appointment when booking.

When paying at the appointment, Cash is preferred but you can also pay via Bank Transfer, Card or Mobile.

Sorry, I don’t sell gift vouchers!

Please don’t book appointments as gifts or presents instead.

The booking process is personal and forms part of the clients profile.

All appointments needs to be booked by the person who is coming for the appointment.

You may be entitled to claim back some or all of the cost of your sports massage if you have a health cashback scheme from Health Shield, Westfield Health or Elect either through your employer or personally.

Please check with your provided that they do indeed cover Sports Massage within your policy.

If you’re going to claim back the cost of your session, tell me and I’ll make sure you leave with the correct receipt.

Are you struggling to use the online booking system?

I made a quick video tutorial that runs through everything you need to do.

The video is a little old now but the process is still the same.

Worried about stories of deep tissue massage being really painful?

Some people think the more painful a massage is the better the results will be. This isn’t actually true.

A painful massage can sometimes give good results, but those results where likely possible without the pain too.

I work at a depth that is comfortable for my client.

Everyone’s comfort level will be slightly different and I adjust the pressure for each client to make sure it is both comfortable and effective.

Your massage should always feel helpful, at any time during the session you can ask me to adjust the pressure up or down to make it feel better for you.

Keep in mind, if you’re looking for a really deep massage that hurts or a very light relaxing massage then I’m not the right therapist for you.

My deep tissue work is more focused on precision and attention rather than brute force and ignorance.

You don’t need to decide on a particular type or style of massage to book before your session. All appointments are booked under the general heading Massage.

The type of massage that’s going to work best for you will depend on your goals.

If you want to relax you’ll need a different massage than if you want relief from an injury.

You may even want different types or styles of massage in the same session. Maybe some remedial work for a shoulder dysfunction but a relaxing massage for everything else.

My type of massage is tailored to your needs on the day.

As a general rule of thumb, my regular clients usually describe my massage style as slow, firm and focused.

Sometimes I may do passive stretches, limb movements and joint mobilisations during the session too.

Vacuum cupping or kinesio taping are available if I think they’re relevant and helpful.

I also might also suggest some movements at the end of your session. These are from my training as a Sustainable Yoga instructor (200hr)

Read more about my type of massage here

The ultimate massage question, does massage work?

To be absolutely honest, massage can in many cases help but it’s not a cure all.

How much massage can help will really depend on what you’re trying to fix. 

  • What is the issue?
  • What caused the issue?
  • Is the issue brought on by bad habits?
  • Are you able to change those habits?
  • Is your therapist knowledgable about your issue?
  • Is the massage appropriate for the problem?
  • Has massage previously worked for you?
  • Do you feel comfortable during the session?
  • Do you like and trust the therapist?
  • Do you think massage will be helpful?
  • Have you had previous bad massage experiences?

Ultimately, the only way to know would be to try it and see.

I’m not a Physio, GP or Dr so I can’t and don’t diagnose any illness, disease or muscular-skeletal condition.

During your session, I listen to your story, history and the details of your problem, I also take notice of how you move and sit.

This all helps me to piece together what I think might be causing your problem and to develop a treatment plan that I think will be helpful for you.

I often ask lots of questions to work out the best way forward for you and I may comment on what I think the issue is.

This isn’t and shouldn’t be seen as a diagnoses of any kind, they are observations that help me give you the best treatment I can.

If you need a diagnoses you should visit a medical professional such as a GP or Physiotherapist.

For most people massage therapy is completely safe. For a limited few, it might be a bad idea.

So I figured this is one of the important massage questions to answer.

There are some instances when massage could complicate or aggravate an illness or condition. In other words, getting massaged when you have any of the conditions listed below could be a bad idea. At the very least you need to discuss these conditions with me before booking you appointment. I’m happy to chat with you via email if you have any questions before your session.

  • Anemia
  • Berger’s Disease
  • Oesophageal Varices
  • Chronic Superficial Thrombus
  • Portal Hypertension
  • Unstable Hypertension / Hypotension
  • Cardiac Bruit
  • Advanced Respiratory Failure / Cardiopulmonary Disease
  • Aneurysm
  • Emboli – blood clot
  • Arrhythmia
  • Heart Disease
  • Phlebitis
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Thrombus / Deep Vein Thrombosis
  • Varicose Veins
  • Frostbite
  • Skin Graft
  • Burns
  • Infectious Skin Disease
  • Open or Healing Wounds
  • Bleeding
  • Fractures
  • Contagious Infection
  • Fever / High Temperature
  • Acutely Ill
  • Immunosuppressed
  • Tuberculosis
  • Recent Head Injury
  • Coma
  • Severe osteoporosis
  • Severe thrombocytopenia

Intake forms

Intake forms are completed online. You’ll get an email with instructions how to complete it when booking your appointment. It must be completed before your appointment.

In the treatment room

I’ll quickly run through your intake form with you and have a quick chat about your goals for the massage.
I might ask to see how you make certain movements.
I’ll run through a plan for your massage and check you’re ok with it.

Preparing for your massage

I’ll tell you what items of clothing would be best to remove but you only need to undress to a level that’s comfortable for you.

I always leave the room for you to get yourself prepared and on to the massage table and I’ll let you know whether to lie face up or down.

I have plenty of bolsters and pillows available if you need them to be comfortable.

I’ll always knock and check you’re ready before coming back into the room.

During the massage

Always let me know if my pressure doesn’t feel right for you.

Also, let me know if your uncomfortable, to hot/cold, need to move, whatever – give me a shout!

The end of the massage

I’ll let you know once the massage is finished and leave the room for you to get up and dressed.

Again, I’ll knock and check you’re dressed before coming back into the room.

Since the Covid pandemic, I no longer offer everyone a glass of water after their session. If you think you’ll want a drink of water after your massage, please bring a bottle with you.

Discussing the session

I’ll check you’re happy with how the session went and the areas we worked.

I may offer movement suggestions to help change old posture or movement habits.

I’ll give some advice on how you may feel after the session and over the following days.

Finishing up

If the session has been helpful you’re welcome to rebook at the end of the session but I won’t pester you to book another session there and then.

I encourage you to wait a few days before deciding to book a further appointment.

Paying

All new clients are required to pay when booking their first appointment.

Subsequent appointments can be paid for at the time of booking or at the appointment. 

Cash is preferred but I also accept Debit and Credit cards along with Apple/Google Pay.

Most new clients have massage questions about getting undressed:

  • How much will the therapist ask me to take off?
  • Will the therapist stay in the room?
  • Should I bring shorts?
  • Should I take my trousers off for a back massage?
  • For women, should I keep my bra on or take it off?
  • Should I keep my socks on?

The most important thing is you feel completely comfortable and relaxed.

I’ll tell you what clothes would be most helpful to take off, but only undress to a level you’re comfortable with, there is no pressure to undress any further.

Most massage techniques I use are best directly on the skin.

For full body massage, I’ll ask you to undress to your underwear.

For upper or lower body sessions, i’ll only ask you to remove the clothing covering those areas such as your top or trousers, tights, dress or skirt.

Lots of clients prefer to undress to their underwear even if only getting their back massaged as they feel more comfortable on the massage table.

I always leave the room for you to undress and dress again afterwards. I always knock before entering the room and if you need more time you can just tell me to wait.

Most women remove their bra for the session but some prefer to keep it on. If you’re going to keep your bra on it’s helpful to be able to unclasp it when working through the back area.

Clients who are sporty sometimes bring shorts for their session, it isn’t necessary but if you feel more comfortable in shorts you are welcome to wear them. It also makes it a little easier to perform some stretching techniques.

What’s best

Strangely swimming briefs are perfect for massage.

Why?

Let’s face it, they re designed to be worn around oily skin such as sun lotion and they provide great personal cover.

For men, speedo or fitted trunks are great, but please no baggy Hawaiian surfing shorts!

For women, bikini briefs or fitted shorts are perfect! But an all-in-one costume isn’t going to work.

You’re covered by a large sheet when on the table and it’s used to cover you for the whole treatment. Only the area being worked is uncovered at any time.

I use a special massage wax from Songbird Naturals (Tui) that’s totally natural.

I sometimes use the standard unscented version made from Almond Oil, Olive Oil, Beeswax, Arnica Flower Extract and Natural Vitamin E.

If you are allergic to nuts I’ve also got Songbird Natural’s Vegan Unscented Massage Wax which doesn’t contain nut derived oils so.

Sorry, I don’t work with clients under 18 years old.

I don’t offer pregnancy massage and I don’t take on new clients who are pregnant.

I will continue working with existing clients when they become pregnant to provide ongoing care throughout their pregnancy but I do recommend seeing a specialist pregnancy therapist during this time for all pregnancy related issues.

Sorry, I don’t do home or hotel visits ever.

That includes visits to music venues, theatres, boats and events.

  1. Don’t eat right before your massage treatment.
  2. Please arrive in plenty of time so you’re not rushed and can relax.
  3. Tell your therapist if you haven’t had a massage before or this specific type of massage.
  4. Ask any questions you have about the massage treatment and what will happen.
  5. If something doesn’t feel right during the treatment, it probably isn’t, so tell your therapist what you are feeling.
  6. Also tell your therapist if:
    – The pressure is too deep
    – You are too hot or cold
    – You don’t like the music
    – You are uncomfortable in any way
    – You are not happy with what they are doing
    – You want the session to end
    – Remember this is your massage and you are paying the therapist.
  7. If you want to talk during your treatment, talk, if not don’t. The choice is yours.
  8. Try to remain relaxed during the session, concentrating on your breathing often helps.
  9. Gather your thoughts before getting up from the table, you might feel lightheaded for a moment or two.
  10. Schedule time in after the massage treatment to relax and absorb the effects, at least 15-30 minutes.

You’ll find the answers to many more frequently asked questions in my Blog

Glasgow Treatment Rooms
Second Floor
34 West George Street
Glasgow, Scotland.
G2 1DA

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massage@themassagerebel.com