Quick summary
Intake and health history come first and take about 5–10 minutes at the start of your initial visit. You control the pressure the entire time; your therapist will check in and welcomes adjustments. Draping is non-negotiable: you’re covered by a sheet throughout, with only the area being treated uncovered. Mild post-session soreness is normal and typically clears within 24–48 hours. Direct billing to 20+ extended-health insurers is available, including Pacific Blue Cross, Sun Life, and Canada Life.
Your first RMT appointment starts with a short health history form and a conversation about what you’re hoping to address. From there, your registered massage therapist designs a treatment plan, you undress to your comfort level, and they work within a draped sheet for the entire session, uncovering only what’s being treated. Your consent guides every step.
What happens during the intake and health history?
Before you get on the table, you’ll fill out a standard health intake form. It asks about current medications, injuries, health conditions, and what you’re hoping the session will do for you. This isn’t bureaucracy. It’s how your RMT tailors the session and keeps it within the clinical scope defined by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC), which registers and regulates massage therapists in BC.
Your therapist will then spend a few minutes talking through what you noted. If you’ve got a specific area of concern (a stiff neck, a shoulder that’s been bothering you for months, general stress), this is the time to say so. The more your therapist knows, the more useful the 30, 45, or 60 minutes on the table will be.
If you have a new or severe headache, any sudden onset of pain with neurological symptoms (numbness, weakness, bladder changes), or you’re pregnant with a complication, let your therapist know before the session — and check with your physician first if you’re unsure whether massage is appropriate right now.
What should I wear to a massage appointment?
There’s no wrong answer. Most clients undress to their underwear or fully — whatever feels comfortable. You’ll be given private time to get on the table and under a drape (typically a sheet and a blanket) before your therapist re-enters the room.
Draping is maintained throughout the session. Only the specific area being worked on is uncovered, and that coverage is adjusted carefully as treatment moves. Your RMT will never expose more than is necessary for the technique being used. This standard is set by CCHPBC and followed by every registered therapist in the province.
A practical note: if you’re coming straight from the office or are short on time, wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothing you can easily slip off (and back on) makes the before-and-after simpler.
How do I communicate about pressure during the session?
The most useful thing you can say on a table is “a bit lighter, please” or “that pressure is perfect.” Your therapist will check in at the start and typically at transitions — but they genuinely want to hear from you in between those check-ins too, especially in a first session.
Massage is not supposed to be white-knuckle painful. There’s a difference between the productive discomfort of a tight muscle being worked, the kind that feels like it’s releasing, and pain that makes you brace or hold your breath. That second kind means the pressure needs to come down. Good bodywork happens in that productive zone, not past it.
If you want to know more about the “does it have to hurt” question, our post on whether deep tissue massage has to be painful covers that in detail.
What is the consent process at a first massage?
Consent is ongoing, not a one-time checkbox. Your RMT will explain what they’re planning before they begin, ask before working near sensitive areas (abdomen, inner thighs, scalp), and invite you to change anything at any point. You can stop the session at any time for any reason.
Registered massage therapists in BC operate under the CCHPBC Standards of Practice, which include specific informed-consent requirements. If anything during a session ever feels unclear or unwanted, you can say so immediately — or raise it with the clinic afterward.
For a sense of how we approach each session, our treatment philosophy page explains how we build plans around the client, not the other way around.
What should I do after my first massage?
The post-session period matters more than most people expect. A few things that help:
- Drink water. Not because of any dramatic “toxin flush,” which is a myth worth setting aside. Hydration supports general muscle function, and some people feel mild fatigue after a session. Water helps.
- Move gently. A short walk is fine. A hard gym session the same evening is not ideal, particularly after deeper work.
- Rest if you’re tired. Some clients feel surprisingly sleepy after a first session. That’s normal; take it as a signal.
- Note any soreness. Mild muscle soreness in treated areas for 24–48 hours is common, especially after deeper therapeutic work. It usually feels similar to post-workout stiffness and passes on its own. If it’s sharper, worsening, or lasts beyond 48 hours, call your therapist.
At your next booking, let your therapist know how you felt in the days after — that feedback directly shapes the next session.
How long is a first massage appointment?
The session time you book is hands-on treatment time. The intake conversation and any post-session notes happen alongside that. At Cascade Massage, a first appointment of 60 minutes is often the most productive starting point because it gives your therapist time to do a proper intake and still treat meaningfully. That said, 45-minute sessions can work well for targeted concerns like a single muscle group or a specific complaint.
Current session rates are listed on our rates and FAQ page. Direct billing is available for most extended-health plans, and your therapist can advise on what to submit if your plan requires receipts instead.
Frequently asked questions about your first RMT appointment
Your RMT will review a short health history form, discuss your goals and any areas of concern, and explain the treatment plan. You’ll undress to your comfort level, be covered by a sheet at all times except the area being worked on, and guide the therapist on pressure throughout. The session ends with after-care advice.
Wear whatever is easy to remove and comfortable. Most clients undress fully or to their underwear — you’re draped by a sheet the entire time and only the area being treated is uncovered. You are never exposed beyond what is necessary for the treatment.
Yes. A short health history intake form is standard practice for registered massage therapists in BC. It covers current health conditions, medications, injuries, and goals for the session. This lets your RMT adapt the treatment safely and keeps the session within the scope defined by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC).
Absolutely. The most useful thing you can say is whether the pressure needs to be lighter or deeper. You never have to make conversation, but your therapist is always glad to hear feedback — especially in a first session where they’re still learning how your body responds.
Drink water, move gently, and avoid intense exercise for the rest of the day. Some people feel pleasantly tired or notice mild muscle soreness for 24–48 hours — similar to after a workout. If you feel anything unusual beyond that, contact your therapist or physician.
Cascade Massage Therapy is located at 201-3077 Granville St inside Envision Physiotherapy, South Granville, Vancouver. Our therapists page has background on each of our registered massage therapists if you’d like to know who you’ll be working with. We’re also happy to help you think through how therapeutic massage fits your specific health goals.