Our Licensed Massage Therapists at Ballaura Wellness Spa in Olympia, Washington are dedicated to improving the wellness of our clients through quality massage. Whether it’s your first massage because you received a doctor’s referral or because you’re coming in for a relaxation massage, our goal is to ensure that you are comfortable and well situated with all that will go on for your first massage session. If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to ask your massage therapist or our receptionist.
Before your appointment:
When you initially schedule your appointment, you will be emailed a new client intake form. It is very important that you fill this out before coming in for your appointment, otherwise you will have to complete it at our spa when you arrive. This gives the therapist background information on your story and what your body is going through in order to help them create an effective treatment plan.
If you are an insurance client, it is essential that you have your doctor’s referral on file so that we can medically treat you. Massage therapists in the state of Washington cannot diagnose nor prescribe, meaning that we cannot medically treat you until we have a diagnosis. You can read more information about insurance covered massages here.
Make sure that you are free of any odors when you come in for your appointment. Our spa is a shared space, so any strong smells can impact other clients and our staff as well.
At your appointment:
Your massage therapist will lead you back to the massage room that you will be in for your appointment. An initial verbal intake will be completed with the help of your medical history to put together a clearer picture of your story and symptoms. Your therapist should ask what type of pressure you prefer and clarify which areas of the body that are going to be worked on.
It is completely up to the client if they wish to leave their underwear on or not. If you are having your hips and glutes worked, our therapists can provide more specific work directly on the tissues. However, if you prefer to leave your underwear on, our therapists can work through the sheet and blanket to address tight muscles. It is all up to you and whatever makes you more comfortable.
Once you and your therapist create a plan for the session, they will then instruct you to get underneath the sheet and blanket and specify if they want you on your back or face down. They will then exit the room and allow you to undress and get situated on the massage table.
During the massage:
Your therapist will knock on the door and ask if you are ready. If so, they will enter the room and begin the session. The lights will be lowered to increase relaxation while music will be playing in the background. Our tables also have heaters and can be adjusted to suit your needs. If you are face down, you can ask your therapist to adjust the face cradle. The therapist will use a bolster or pillow to elevate your legs or feet to help increase comfort. Your therapist will start massaging you with either oil or lotion.
During the session, your therapist will occasionally check in with you to see how the pressure is and how your body is responding to the massage. Don’t hesitate to communicate with your therapist if you could use more or less pressure. The therapist will also let you lead the way in regards to conversation. Some clients like to nap during their massage session and like little talking as possible while other clients enjoy talking to their therapist the whole session. The therapist will follow your lead to make you as comfortable as possible.
Once the massage is over, the therapist will let you know and exit the room, allowing you to get dressed and exit to the lobby. There, your therapist will give you after care instructions for you massage and provide a recommendation on how often you should be coming in for treatment. You can choose to leave a tip in either the form of cash or with your card on file (just let the receptionist know when they ask to charge for the appointment). We highly recommend rebooking your next few sessions out since our spa is in high demand and our therapists are very busy. This helps ensure a consistent treatment regimen and helps you get the massage times that work best for you.
If you want to know more about massage care before and after your session, you can read more here.
We look forward to seeing you at our spa. Our goal at Ballaura is that you leave your treatment with the look that spent a whole day at the spa — even if we only get to see you for a few hours.
