Your first time what people don’t dare ask  before an in-home massage

“Do I have to undress completely?”

No. You stay in your underwear. The therapist works under the sheet and only uncovers the area being treated at that moment, never the whole body at once. The rest stays covered.

If you feel uncomfortable even in underwear, say so when booking: there are protocols in yoga shorts or a vest top. Swedish and therapeutic lose a little effectiveness but stay pleasant. Reflexology is done fully clothed.

“What if they see something…”

During a standard massage the therapist sees your back, legs, arms, hands and neck. They do not see your chest or groin: that is the basic rule of the profession, not a favour. The sheet covers everything that is not being worked on.

If you have scars, stretch marks, psoriasis, a tattoo you regret, a piercing, body hair, extra weight: the therapist has seen it all, hundreds of times. No one judges, no one comments. If you want to flag a sensitive area beforehand, just say “I have a scar here, please avoid it”: it is noted, and that is all.

“What if I have my period?”

No problem. You stay in your underwear with your usual protection (tampon, cup, pad). The sheet covers everything. The therapist does not see it and does not know, unless you mention it (you do not have to).

Some women find that massage reduces period pain, especially in the lower back. Others prefer to reschedule because they feel less comfortable. Both are valid. If your flow is very heavy and you worry about an accident, place a personal towel on the sheet at hip level: it is discreet and removes the anxiety.

“I’m a man, is it awkward to book a massage?”

No, and statistically you are far from alone. About 40% of our requests come from men: stressed executives, athletes, business travellers. In-home massage is exactly as normal for a man as for a woman.

On therapist gender: you can ask for a man, a woman, or anyone, and we respect it without question. If you ask for a woman because you feel more at ease, it is neither weird nor something to justify. If you ask for a man because you want strong pressure, that is a common belief but imperfect: plenty of female therapists have very firm pressure. It is more about technique than strength.

“Do I have to make conversation during the session?”

No. It is the opposite: most people talk at the start (assessment, preferences, tension areas) then go quiet once on the table. Silence is the norm, not the exception.

If you are the kind of person who wants to talk, or if silence makes you uncomfortable, you can. But know that many therapists will gradually reduce their replies to invite you into the release. That is not rudeness, it is their craft.

“What if I actually fall asleep?”

It is common, especially with Swedish or reflexology. The therapist simply continues. You probably will not snore (lying face down with your head in the cradle does not lend itself to it), but if you do, no one will laugh at you.

If you fall asleep at 30 min of a 60 min session, the therapist wakes you gently at the end so you do not startle. You leave more rested than after a full night: it is one of the most appreciated effects and no one complains about it.

“What if I cry?”

It happens more often than you would think, especially on first sessions for people going through a hard time (grief, burnout, separation). Prolonged touch can release an emotion you did not see coming.

The therapist knows this and has seen it before. They continue calmly, give you space to cry if that is what happens, and will not apologise or ask why. It is just your body letting go. You can also simply say “I need a minute” and resume.

“Does it hurt?”

Swedish and drainage: never painful. If it pinches or burns, that is abnormal: say so straight away and the pressure is adjusted.

Therapeutic and sports: the pressure can be uncomfortable (a 6 or 7 out of 10) for 10-15 seconds on the knots, then it releases. The simple rule: “tolerable pain that feels good afterwards” is fine; “unbearable pain” or “sharp stabbing pain” means you say stop and the pressure drops. Always.

No serious therapist pushes past your threshold. If you meet someone who insists “it’s normal, let me finish”, that is a red flag: stop the session and tell us.

“What if I need the bathroom mid-session?”

You say so, the therapist stops, leaves the room, you go, you come back. No drama. Many therapists offer you a glass of water before starting, partly to reduce this.

“My flat is small / untidy. Is that a problem?”

No. The portable table takes about 1 m × 2 m of floor: you just need to walk around it, so 8 to 10 m² of clear space. A living room with a sofa pushed against a wall, a bedroom where the bed stays put: that is plenty.

On tidiness: the therapist is not your mother-in-law. They do not look at the laundry drying on the radiator, the dishes in the sink, or the rug that should have been hoovered. They look at where to set up the table, and that is all. You do not need to clean beforehand.

“My cat / dog will be around. Problem?”

Most therapists are fine with pets in another room. If your cat insists on coming, say so when booking: some therapists love it (and it works very well), others prefer the animal in another room to stay focused. Barking dogs are better kept apart during the session to keep the quiet.

“My partner works from home, we share the flat. Can I still?”

Yes. The session takes place behind a closed door in a quiet room. Your partner keeps working in another room. As long as you can close a door and the area is reasonably quiet, it works.

If you live in a studio with no partition, say so and we adapt: option 1, the session happens while your partner is out; option 2, we set up a temporary area behind a screen (your therapist can bring a fabric divider on request).

“Do I have to tip?”

In Switzerland it is not expected. The listed price is the full price: no hidden service charge, no expected percentage on top. If you really enjoyed the session and want to express it:

• Best for the therapist is feedback (by WhatsApp or email): they need it to fine-tune their offer, and it is a signal for us to route them back to you.
• Second best is a recommendation to someone close to you.
• If you really want to give cash: CHF 10-20 is more than enough. Not required, ever.

“How do I know this isn’t an ambiguous service?”

A legitimate question, especially when arriving on the in-home massage market through a platform. The short answer: our framework is strictly professional and it is made clear to every therapist in the network from the moment they join.

Concretely:

• The therapist arrives in work attire (neutral t-shirt or polo, soft trousers). No suggestive clothing, no heavy perfume.
• Communication is minimal and professional: intake assessment, preferences, pain flags. No intrusive personal questions.
• The sheet covers the whole body except the area being worked on. Never full exposure.
• Any out-of-scope request is refused immediately, the session stops, the therapist leaves. This is stated clearly to new therapists when they join.

If at any point you feel something is off (a gesture, a word, a look), you end the session and call us. We remove that therapist from the network immediately and refund in full.

“If I don’t like it, can I say stop?”

Yes, at any time. If the pressure does not suit you, ask for softer or firmer. If the style does not suit you (you booked Swedish and realise you want therapeutic), you can ask to switch mid-session: usually doable.

If you want to stop before the end (pain, general discomfort, a contraindication we had not seen): the session stops, you pay only for the time elapsed (or nothing if it is before 10 minutes). No pressure. No judgement.

“I’m pregnant / just had surgery / take medication. Can I?”

Case by case. The short answer:

• Pregnancy: yes from the 2nd trimester (4th month) with a specific prenatal protocol, by a trained therapist. Not during the 1st trimester if the pregnancy is high-risk.
• Recent surgery (operation, childbirth): wait for the green light from your surgeon or midwife. Usual delay: 4-6 weeks, sometimes more depending on the procedure.
• Anticoagulants, antiplatelets: common and compatible, but flag it: pressure is adapted and deep work avoided on certain areas.
• Cancer in treatment: to confirm with your oncologist. Gentle massage is possible as support, never on areas under active radiotherapy.
• Fever, skin infection, open wound: we reschedule. Not out of excess caution, out of common sense.

When in doubt, speak to your doctor first. Wellness massage complements a healthy life; it does not treat a medical condition.

“And afterwards, what should I do?”

Nothing mandatory. To extend the effect:

• Drink 1-2 glasses of water within the hour. Massage increases circulation and it helps to stay hydrated.
• Do not jump straight into intense activity (sport, a stressful meeting). Leave 1-2 hours of wind-down if you can: that is where the quality of the following night’s sleep is decided.
• Avoid alcohol for 2-3 hours (massage plus alcohol can cause dizziness or headaches).
• A warm bath or shower is fine; a very hot shower is less ideal right after (the skin has already been warmed by the friction).

If you had deep therapeutic work and feel sore the next day: that is normal, it lasts 24-48h. Walk a little, hydrate, exactly like after a workout.

“If I like it, how do I rebook the same person?”

You tell us by WhatsApp or email at the second booking: “I’d like to rebook with X.” If X is free on your slot, you get them. Otherwise we suggest an alternative and explain.

By the 3rd or 4th session, many clients deal directly with the therapist (numbers exchanged). We encourage it: our role is to connect you, not to stand between you for the rest of your life. The commission we take at the start covers the matching and the vetting; beyond that, you are free.