03 · Your first visit
The questions nobody wants to ask out loud
Answered plainly, so you read them here rather than working them out while lying face down. If yours is not on the list, ring and ask.
What do I take off?
Down to your underwear for a massage, and you keep it on. You undress alone while the therapist waits outside, then get under the towel. They knock before coming back in. For a facial only, you stay dressed from the waist down and we give you a wrap for the top.
Will I be covered the whole time?
Yes. Only the part being worked on is uncovered and everything else stays under the towel, which is tucked rather than draped so it does not slip. If you would rather keep a bra on, keep it on and we work around it.
What if I fall asleep, or snore, or drool?
All three happen most days and none are a problem. Falling asleep is a compliment. We do not wake you until the end, and there is a face towel for exactly the third thing.
Do I have to talk?
No. Say at the start that you would rather it be silent and it will be. Therapists ask about pressure once in the first five minutes and then leave you alone unless you start a conversation.
I have not shaved my legs.
Nobody has noticed, ever, in eleven years. Same for feet, back acne, scars, stretch marks and everything else people apologise for at the door. It is a body, we see forty a week.
What if it hurts, or I want it firmer?
Say so immediately, in those words. Therapists cannot feel what you feel and would far rather adjust at minute five than hear at the end that it was too light. Firmer and too much are the two most useful things you can say.
Is it safe with my condition?
Usually, but tell us first. Blood thinners, recent surgery, pregnancy, cancer treatment, varicose veins, high blood pressure and recent cortisone injections all change what we do rather than rule it out. The form asks, and it matters.
How early should I arrive?
Ten minutes, so your treatment starts at your treatment time. Arriving late means a shorter massage rather than a later finish, because someone is booked after you.
Can I have a massage on my period?
Yes, and plenty of people do specifically for the cramping. Tell your therapist so they avoid deep abdominal work and lower back pressure, and take a heat pack in the rest room afterwards.
Do you treat men?
About a third of our bookings. Nothing on the menu is gendered, nobody will steer you towards a shorter treatment, and Daniel and Moana both do the remedial work most men book us for.
What if I am a larger body?
Our tables are rated to 250kg and are wider than standard. Bolsters, side-lying and a raised chair are all available and nobody needs to ask for them awkwardly at the door. Say so when booking and the room is set up before you arrive.
Can I book for a teenager?
From fourteen with a parent in the building, and from sixteen on their own with written consent. Massage only, no facials with extractions, and we keep it to sixty minutes.
Contraindications
When we change the plan, and when we say no
Most things on this list change what we do rather than rule you out. Tell us on the form and it gets handled quietly rather than discussed in the doorway.
| What you have told us | What changes |
|---|---|
| Pregnant, past twelve weeks | Side-lying with bolsters, Jess or Aroha, no deep abdominal or lower back work, unscented oil by default. |
| On blood thinners | Light to medium only, no cupping, no dry needling. Bruising is the concern rather than anything serious. |
| Recent surgery, under six weeks | Nothing near the site, and we want your surgeon's say so first. Everything else is fine. |
| Cancer treatment, current or recent | Light oncology-safe massage with Aroha, no lymphatic work on the affected side, shorter sessions. |
| Varicose veins | We work around them entirely rather than over them. No pressure on the vein itself. |
| High blood pressure, unmanaged | No hot stones, no full body heat. Seated and side-lying positions instead of prone. |
| Fever, or a cold coming on | We reschedule, no fee. Massage moves things around your body that you want staying still. |
| Skin infection or open wound | Treatment near it is out. If it is widespread we reschedule and there is no charge. |
Afterwards
Drink more water than usual for the rest of the day. Deep tissue work can leave you sore for about twenty four hours, which is normal and not a sign anything went wrong.
Do not book a big gym session for the same evening. A walk is ideal. If you feel lightheaded standing up, sit back down for five minutes and someone will bring you something to eat.
Book a ritual14 Napier Road Havelock North. Above the florist, own entrance from the lane.
Parking eight free spaces off the lane, plus the village car park two minutes away.
Hours Mon to Sat 9am to 7pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm. Last booking 90 minutes before close.
Access stairs and no lift, so ring us and we will arrange a ground floor room.