— First-visit guide · Roswell, GA
First Time Massage: What to Expect in Roswell
From booking to paying, for someone who has never had a massage, at our spa on Alpharetta Hwy in Roswell, Georgia.
Quick answer
A first time massage at Health & Healing starts with a short talk with your therapist about pressure and focus areas, then a 60-minute Swedish or deep tissue session, $80. You can ask for lighter or firmer at any point.
- 60 minutes
- $80
- 30 minutes
- $60
- Stay clothed
- Chair or Thai massage
- Pay with
- Cash, card, phone or gift card
— 01
What happens at a first massage?
- Book online or by phone.
- Arrive a little early to settle in, use the restroom and fill in any paperwork at the front desk.
- Your therapist asks what you want from the session: the pressure, the areas to work on, and anything medical.
- Undress to your comfort level in a private treatment room.
- The massage itself. Ask for lighter or firmer pressure whenever you want a change.
- Dress and pay.
— 02
How do I book a first massage?
You can book a first massage online or at (470) 549-2020. Call for the first-visit special with hot stones and hot towels, which is booked by phone or at the front desk, and for a massage today, so you know before you set out whether a time is open.
Can I walk in for a first massage?
Walk-ins welcome when a therapist is free; booking ahead is recommended. Book a couples massage or a four hands massage ahead in particular; four hands needs two therapists free at the same time.
— 03
What is the best massage for a first-timer?
A 60-minute Swedish massage at medium pressure: it covers the whole body, and you can ask for firmer once you know how it feels. Deep tissue is the same price if you already like firm pressure, and the Swedish vs deep tissue guide compares the two.
| If you want | Book | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A full-body first massage | Swedish or deep tissue massage | 60 min | $80 |
| The same hour with heated stones and hot towels | First-visit special, by phone | 60 min | $79 |
| A little less than an hour | Swedish or deep tissue massage | 45 min | $70 |
| A short try on one or two areas | Swedish or deep tissue massage | 30 min | $60 |
| To keep your clothes on, seated | Chair massage | 15 or 30 min | $30 or $55 |
| To keep your clothes on, with stretching | Thai massage, no oil | 60 min | $90 |
— 04
What should I wear to a massage?
Whatever is comfortable: for a table massage you undress to your comfort level in a private room, and chair and Thai massage are done fully clothed. For Thai, wear clothes you can stretch in, since it uses no oil and adds assisted stretches.
How much do I take off for a table massage?
Some people undress fully under the sheet and others keep underwear or shorts on; the therapist works around whatever stays on.
How does the sheet work?
The usual practice in massage is draping. You undress in private and lie under the top sheet, and the therapist uncovers one area at a time, such as your back or one leg, then covers it again before moving on. If any part of that makes you uneasy, say so before the session starts.
— 05
What should I tell my massage therapist?
The pressure you like, where to work, where to go easy and anything medical, before the session starts:
- Light, medium or firm pressure, and that this is your first massage.
- The two or three places that need the most time, such as your shoulders after a week at a desk or your calves after a run.
- Anywhere to skip: ticklish feet, a bruise, a sunburn.
- An injury, a health condition, recent surgery, a history of blood clots, or a pregnancy.
- Any allergy to oils or scents, especially before choosing the $10 aromatherapy oil or coconut oil add-on.
What to say during the massage
Say "lighter", "firmer", "more time here" or "skip that spot" whenever you notice it. Firm pressure can feel intense, but pain that is sharp, or that makes you hold your breath, means ask for lighter straight away.
— 06
How do I pay for a massage?
You can pay for a massage by cash, credit or debit card, tap-to-pay from your phone, or a gift card.
What should I do after the massage?
Sit on the edge of the table for a moment before you stand, and have some water if you are thirsty. We have towels but no showers, so if you are coming from a workout, shower at home first.
— 07
Is massage safe for a first-timer?
For most people, yes: the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says the risk of harm from massage appears to be low. Check with a doctor first in these cases:
- If pain or an injury is new, sharp or getting worse, see a doctor before you book, and bring their advice to the talk with your therapist.
- After recent surgery, get your surgeon's OK first.
- If you are pregnant, ask your obstetrician or midwife first; once they agree, book the prenatal massage in place of a standard one.
- With a history of blood clots, or a rash or other skin condition where you want massage, ask your doctor first.
Serious side effects are rare. The ones NCCIH records include a blood clot, a nerve injury and a broken bone, some after vigorous work such as deep tissue massage or in older adults. That is one more reason to start a first massage at medium pressure. Don't let a massage delay a visit to your doctor about a medical problem.
— First-visit specials
First-visit prices on a hot stone and hot towel massage, for one person or two. Book these by phone or at the front desk.
| New Customer Specials | Time | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massage with hot stone & hot towel A massage with heated stones and hot towels. Book by phone | 60 min | $79 Regular $90 | Call |
| Massage with hot stone & hot towel The same session with 30 more minutes. Book by phone | 90 min | $109 Regular $130 | Call |
| Couples massage with hot stone & hot towel Two tables side by side. New customers only. Book by phone | 60 min | $149 Regular $180 | Call |
| Couples massage with hot stone & hot towel Two tables side by side. New customers only. Book by phone | 90 min | $219 Regular $260 | Call |
Specials are booked by phone or at the front desk. The couples special is for new customers only. Specials can't be combined with gift cards, Spafinder or Spaweek cards, or any other coupon.
Finding us
How do you get here from GA-400?
- Northbound on Georgia 400: take Exit 7B, Holcomb Bridge Rd west, for about 1.6 miles and turn right onto Alpharetta Hwy. About 0.2 miles up, turn right on Commerce Pkwy at the light and then left into our lot.
- Southbound: take Exit 8, Mansell Rd west, for about 1.7 miles and turn left onto Alpharetta Hwy. We're about 0.2 miles down on the left, just past the post office.
- Look for the green Health & Healing sign in the strip with the Roswell Post Office at 10719 Alpharetta Hwy, and park in the lot in front of the door. Allow extra time on weekday evenings if you are coming north on GA-400 or along Holcomb Bridge Rd.
— Questions
What else do people ask before a first massage?
Can I bring a friend to my first massage?
Do I have to talk during a massage?
Can I try a head spa or a facial instead of a massage?
Is the spa wheelchair accessible?
— Sources
Health And Healing Massage Spa offers massage for relaxation and wellness, and does not diagnose or treat medical conditions.