It shouldn't. Pressure is adjusted to what you can comfortably breathe through, and you can ask for more or less at any point. Feeling slightly worked the next day is normal; genuine soreness means the pressure was too high.

Am I supposed to talk during a massage?

Entirely up to you. Some people chat, some say nothing, and plenty fall asleep. Your therapist won't mind either way.

Do I need a doctor's referral?

No, you can book directly with us. Some insurance plans require a referral for reimbursement, so it's worth checking your own plan if you intend to claim.

How long should my first massage be?

Sixty minutes suits most first-timers. Forty-five minutes works well if you're focusing on one specific area.

What to Expect at Your First Massage

Q: What do I wear for a massage?

Whatever you're comfortable with. Most people undress to their underwear, but you're always covered by a sheet and only the area being worked on is uncovered. If you'd prefer to stay clothed, say so — effective work can still be done.

If you've never had a massage before, the uncertainty is usually the thing holding you back — not the treatment itself. What do you take off? Where do you go? What if it hurts? What if you're meant to talk?

Here's exactly what happens, start to finish, so there are no surprises.

Before you arrive

When you book online you'll get a confirmation email with a short health history form. Fill it in beforehand if you can — it saves time and it's genuinely useful to your therapist. It asks about injuries, medical conditions, medications and what you'd like worked on. Nothing invasive, and it's confidential.

Arrive about ten minutes early for a first visit. We're at Bay 2, 5018 50 Avenue in Olds, with street parking on 51 Street and a small lot on site.

The first five minutes

Your therapist will go through your form with you and ask what's bringing you in — a specific problem, general tightness, or just needing an hour. If you don't have a precise answer, that's fine. "My shoulders are always tight and I don't know why" is a perfectly good starting point.

They'll explain what they're planning to do and check it suits you. This is the moment to say anything you're unsure about.

What you take off — and what you don't

This is the question nobody likes to ask. The honest answer: whatever you're comfortable with.

Most people undress to their underwear for a full-body massage. Some keep more on. You are always covered by a sheet, and only the area being worked on is uncovered — your therapist will drape and undrape as they move around. If you'd rather stay fully clothed, say so; plenty of effective work can be done through clothing, and some treatments like laser therapy don't require undressing at all.

Your therapist leaves the room while you get on the table and knocks before coming back in.

During the treatment

Pressure is a conversation. This is the single most important thing to know. "Deep tissue" doesn't mean "as hard as possible" — it means working into deeper layers at a pressure you can breathe through. If something is too much, say so. A good therapist would far rather adjust than have you grit your teeth for an hour.

You don't have to talk. Some people chat the whole time, some say nothing. Both are completely normal and your therapist won't read anything into it.

Other things that are normal: falling asleep, your stomach making noise, needing to shift position, asking for more or less blanket. None of it is unusual and none of it is awkward.

Afterwards

Your therapist steps out while you get dressed, then usually gives you a quick rundown of what they found and anything worth doing at home. Drink some water and go gently for the rest of the day.

It's normal to feel slightly worked the next day, especially after deep tissue — a bit like after exercise. That settles within a day or two. If you ever feel genuinely sore rather than worked, tell us; it means the pressure was higher than it needed to be.

Payment and insurance

Payment is at the end of the appointment. We direct bill Alberta Blue Cross, ASEBP, Sun Life, Canada Life, Manulife, Desjardins, GreenShield, Industrial Alliance, Johnston Group and others — bring your policy or member details to your first visit and we'll set it up at the desk. If direct billing isn't available on your plan, you'll get a receipt with your therapist's registration number for claiming.

No referral needed to book with us, though some insurance plans require one for reimbursement — worth checking your plan.

Which treatment should a first-timer book?

If you're unsure, deep tissue and therapeutic massage is the usual starting point for a specific problem area, and relaxation massage if you're mainly run-down and want to decompress. Either way, tell your therapist what's going on and they'll adjust — the booking label matters far less than the conversation at the start.

A 60-minute session is the best first appointment for most people. Forty-five minutes works if you're focusing on one area.

Booking

45 minutes $75 · 1 hour $100 · 90 minutes $140. We're open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 7pm by appointment. Book online in under a minute, or call (587) 581-7176 — you'll reach the owner directly and we're happy to talk it through first.