What Should I Expect at My First Massage Appointment at Brookfield Massage?

If you've never had a massage before, it's normal to have questions.

What should you wear? Should you arrive early? Is it okay to talk during the treatment? What if you're not good at relaxing?

After years of treating patients, I've found that many people come in expecting there to be a "right way" to get a massage. The truth is, there isn't.

Every person is different, everybody is different, and every treatment is different.

The most important thing is that you're comfortable.

Before Your Appointment

One of the most common questions I get is when to arrive.

I recommend arriving 5-10 minutes before your appointment time so you don't feel rushed and we have time to explain the treatment. If my office door is open, it means I'm available and you're welcome to come right to the treatment room. If you're waiting in the waiting area, I'll come out and greet you when it's time for your appointment.

Another common question is what to wear.

The answer is simple: wear whatever you're comfortable in.

Depending on the area we're treating, you may undress to your comfort level, or in some cases remain fully clothed. We'll discuss the treatment plan first, and I'll explain exactly how draping works before leaving the room so you can get settled privately.

If you're ready to book your first appointment, you can visit my treatment page to learn more about the different treatment lengths and options available.

What Happens During the Assessment?

The first few minutes of your appointment are spent talking.

We'll go through your health history, discuss what's been bothering you, what your goals are, and anything else that may be relevant to your treatment. This usually takes about 5–10 minutes.

From there, I may do a brief assessment. While some assessment happens before treatment, a lot of what I learn happens through touch once treatment begins. Over time, I've developed the ability to feel patterns in the body that help guide where treatment needs to go.

After gathering information, I'll explain what I think the best plan of action is and make sure it aligns with what you're looking for. We decide together how to use the treatment time.

Do I Have to Talk During the Massage?

Another question I hear all the time is whether talking is okay.

Absolutely.

Some people chat throughout the entire treatment. Some people talk for the first few minutes and then relax into silence. Some people barely say a word.

All of those are normal.

There is no expectation that you need to be quiet, and there is no expectation that you need to keep a conversation going.

One patient I treated had significant anxiety around massage therapy due to past experiences. They had recently undergone surgery and their doctor recommended lymphatic drainage treatment to help with swelling. Rather than trying to force relaxation, we simply talked throughout the appointment. The conversation helped them stay comfortable and present instead of feeling stuck in their own thoughts.

Afterward, they were surprised by how comfortable they had felt and how much the treatment had helped.

For some people, talking is part of what helps them relax. That's perfectly okay.

Does Massage Need to Be Deep?

This is one of the biggest misconceptions I see.

Many people assume deeper pressure automatically means a better treatment.

It doesn't.

The goal isn't to use as much pressure as possible. The goal is to help your body let go of tension.

Sometimes that requires deeper work. Sometimes it requires a lighter approach. Sometimes it requires a combination of both.

What matters is finding the approach that works best for your body.

The same goes for many of the "rules" people hear about massage. You don't have to be silent. You don't have to love deep pressure. You don't have to fit into a particular idea of what a massage should look like.

Massage Is Teamwork

If there's one thing I want patients to know before their first appointment, it's this:

Massage is teamwork.

Only you know how your body feels.

You know what hurts, what feels better, what feels worse, what your stress levels are like, and what you're capable of doing outside of treatment.

My role is to bring expert touch, experience, and knowledge of how the body works.

Together, we figure out the best path forward.

For some people, that means creating a home exercise plan and working on changing movement patterns between appointments. For others, life is busy, stressful, and overwhelming, and they simply need treatment and support right now.

Both approaches are valid.

There is no judgment.

My goal at Brookfield Massage is to meet you where you're at, understand what's important to you, and help you move toward where you want to be.

Your First Appointment Doesn't Need to Be Perfect

Whether you're booking because of pain, stress, an injury, post-surgical recovery, or simply because your body feels like it needs some attention, your first appointment doesn't need to be perfect.

You don't need to know exactly what's wrong.

You don't need to know the right things to say.

You don't need to know whether you'll want to talk or stay quiet.

You don't even need to know what kind of treatment you need or how often you need massage.

That's what we're here to figure out together.

If you're ready to book your first massage, I'd be happy to help you get started.