Your first appointment
What to expect before, during and after your massage
Booking with a new massage therapist involves a degree of trust.
You may be wondering where to go, what to wear, how much you need to explain and whether remedial massage will hurt. This page walks you through your first appointment, from completing your intake form to leaving the studio.
Before you arrive
A little preparation makes the first visit easier
Your confirmation and intake form
After booking, you will receive a confirmation email with your appointment details and a link to the online intake form.
The form asks about your health, medication, injuries, the reason for your visit, areas you would like to focus on and anything that may affect treatment.
Please complete it before you arrive. It gives us more time to talk about what matters to you rather than spending the beginning of your appointment on paperwork.
Finding the studio
51 Pompoota Road
Hope Valley SA 5090
Myomasters operates from a dedicated studio on a residential property. It is separate from the home and includes a waiting area, private treatment room and client toilet.
Street parking is available. Look for the long cream fence, enter through the gate near the Stobie pole, then make your way to the blue studio.
When should you arrive?
Please arrive at your appointment time, or just a few minutes beforehand. This is a quiet, one-to-one practice rather than a large reception clinic. If you are delayed or have trouble finding the entrance, use the contact details in your booking confirmation.
During your appointment
We begin with a conversation, not a standard routine
You do not need to arrive with a diagnosis or know which technique you need. Tell me what has been happening and what you would like help with. We will work from there.
What we may talk about
- when the problem began and how it affects you
- what makes it feel better or worse
- work, sleep, training and everyday activities
- relevant health conditions, injuries and previous care
- how you prefer massage to feel
- what a useful result would look like for you
This does not need to become a lengthy interrogation. The purpose is to understand enough to make thoughtful decisions about your care.
Assessment should have a purpose
Assessment may involve observing a movement, discussing a sensitive area or checking how comfortable a particular action feels.
I use assessment when it helps guide treatment, identifies a reason for referral or gives us something useful to review. It is not used to create an unnecessarily complicated story about what is “wrong” with your body.
Massage therapists do not diagnose medical conditions. If something falls outside my scope, I will recommend appropriate assessment rather than trying to treat beyond it.
Clothing, comfort and privacy
What to wear, or not wear, during your massage
What should you wear?
Wear comfortable, practical clothes. Track pants, shorts and a loose shirt make movement or clothed techniques easier than restrictive clothing.
If you are returning to work, prefer not to have oil on your skin or simply want to remain fully clothed, tell me. The treatment can be adapted.
Superhero shirts provide no measurable treatment advantage, but they are always welcome.
What will you need to remove?
I will explain which areas I propose to treat and what clothing, if any, would make that practical. Many clients remove some outer clothing and keep their underwear on for oil-based massage and flowing strokes.
That is not compulsory. You may keep clothing on, ask for clothed work, exclude an area or change your mind. There is no correct amount of clothing to remove.
Privacy and draping
I leave the room while you change. Clean linen is used, and only the area being treated is uncovered. Draping remains secure and can be adjusted at your request.
Any work near a sensitive or private area is explained first and requires your explicit consent. Breast and genital massage are not provided.
Come as you are
You do not need to shave, change your body or apologise for coming straight from work or training. Hair, scars, stretch marks and ordinary skin variations are part of working with real people.
Ordinary hygiene is enough. If you arrive warm from activity or with work dust on you, we can adapt without making it awkward.
Read the full article: What to wear, or not wear, during your massage
The treatment
Remedial massage without the endurance test
Imagine getting to the end of your massage having actually enjoyed the experience, and moving more comfortably because of it.
I sometimes call this approach Remedial-axation: purposeful remedial massage that can still feel calming, gratifying and genuinely pleasant to receive.
I use good, satisfying pressure because pressure can feel comforting. The aim is not to have you gritting your teeth or clinging to the table while waiting for the difficult part to end.
Sometimes I work slowly through an area. Sometimes I use stillness, gentle traction or a stretch that is difficult to create for yourself. I may blend Swedish massage, deep-tissue techniques, trigger-point work, myofascial approaches, movement or cupping when it is appropriate and agreed.
The treatment is not a fixed routine. Pressure, pace, position and technique are adjusted according to your preferences and response.
Massage should feel purposeful and satisfying while remaining comfortable enough for you to receive rather than endure.
You remain in control
You can ask for more or less pressure, change position, exclude an area, decline a technique, ask questions, choose more or less conversation or stop treatment at any time. Consent is an ongoing conversation, not a box ticked at the beginning.
The appointment journey
How the session unfolds
01
Listen first
We talk about what has been happening, how it affects you and what you want from treatment.
02
Assess with purpose
Assessment is used only when it helps guide care, identify a reason for referral or gives us something useful to review.
03
Treat responsively
Pressure, pace, position and technique are adjusted according to your preferences and response.
04
Review what matters
We consider whether treatment has helped you move, work, rest or participate more comfortably.
After your massage
Time to dress, review and decide what comes next
At the end of treatment
I will leave the room so you can sit up and dress without rushing. When you are ready, we briefly review how you feel and whether anything has changed in a useful way.
Sometimes the result is obvious. Sometimes it is a smaller change that becomes clearer later that day. Occasionally massage does not make a meaningful difference, in which case the plan should be reconsidered rather than repeated indefinitely.
Rebooking is discussed only when there is a clear purpose. You will not be pushed into an automatic treatment schedule.
Payment and private health insurance
Payment can be made by card or cash. I am registered with all major Australian health funds, and HICAPS is available at the clinic.
Whether you can claim a rebate, and how much you receive, depends on your individual policy and level of cover. Check with your health fund if you are unsure.
If you are late or need to reschedule
Please contact me as soon as possible. A late arrival may need to finish at the original time so the next client is not kept waiting.
A professional, respectful practice
Massage at Myomasters is therapeutic and non-sexual. Sexual comments, requests or behaviour are not accepted.
Your boundaries, privacy and dignity matter. If I believe a concern requires medical, dental or allied-health assessment, I will say so clearly.
Support and access
You are welcome to bring a support person when that helps you communicate, feel comfortable or participate in the appointment. Clients under 16 must attend with a parent or guardian.
If you have questions about access, positioning, communication or whether the studio can accommodate your needs, please contact me before booking.
Frequently asked questions
Questions before your first appointment
Do I need to choose the type of massage?
No. Book a remedial massage and tell me what you would like help with. Techniques are selected as tools within the appointment rather than separate products you need to understand in advance.
Does remedial massage need to hurt?
No. Firm pressure may feel satisfying, but pain is not proof that a technique is working. The pressure should remain tolerable and responsive.
What should I wear?
Comfortable, practical clothing is ideal. Loose clothes or shorts make clothed work and movement easier, but treatment can be adapted to what you arrive wearing.
Do I have to remove my underwear?
No. Most clients keep their underwear on. You decide what clothing you remove, and you may remain fully clothed if you prefer.
Do I need to shave?
No. You do not need to shave or alter your body before massage.
Can I exclude an area from treatment?
Yes. You can exclude any area, decline any technique or change your mind at any time.
Can I bring a support person?
Yes. A support person is welcome when their presence helps you feel comfortable or communicate your needs.
Will I be sore afterwards?
Some people experience temporary tenderness or fatigue, but soreness is not required for treatment to be effective. Tell me if previous massage has left you excessively sore so I can adjust the approach.
Can I claim through my health fund?
Yes. David is registered with all major health funds, and HICAPS claiming is available on site. Your exact rebate depends on your health fund and level of policy cover. Some policies exclude remedial massage, so check with your health fund if you are unsure.
Ready for your first appointment?
You do not need to arrive knowing exactly what you need. Book a remedial massage, tell me what has been happening, and we will work from there.