Happy New Year! Sign up to our Newsletter for a weekly wellness reminder! 😇
Book Now
Book Now

Happy New Year! Sign up to our Newsletter for a weekly wellness reminder! 😇

Buy gift vouchers
Book Now

FAQ’s

General Information

Before Treatment

  • We will take relevant health history and details of your current concerns.
  • We may carry out a simple postural and movement analysis before agreeing a treatment plan with you.
  • You do not need to bring anything to your session – just wear comfortable underwear / boxers or shorts. Avoid sports bra for upper body massage work.

During Treatment

  • We will treat you on a massage table, covered with a towel to always keep you warm & comfortable. Some techniques are delivered in a seated position.
  • We will concentrate on the areas of concern & surrounding or relevant structures, unless you request a full body massage.
  • We will encourage you to give feedback and communicate with your therapist. Pain is unnecessary and does not mean gain.

After Treatment

  • We will give you simple after-care advice or a more detailed exercise plan that enables you to move forward between treatments.
  • You may feel slight post-treatment soreness after your first session, this is normal. We recommend a day off the gym, drinking lots of water and taking a warm bath with Epsom Salt to ease any soreness away.
  • Although the benefits of massage are progressive and most conditions benefit from several treatments, we will never ask you to come back for further treatments unless we agree that this would move you closer to your goal.
  • We will check in on you by email in a couple of days.

The techniques we use will be blended to respond to your physical, but also emotional needs:

  • Deep Tissue Massage
  • Myofascial Release
  • Trigger Point Therapy
  • Stretching / Activation techniques
  • Swedish Massage

We can apply these with a broad, general focus or in a more targeted, specific way. The key is understanding both the physiological nature of your condition and the effects of each technique. This allows us to select and combine methods that make every treatment as effective and efficient as possible.

While we can assess how your muscles and soft tissues are functioning, providing an official medical diagnosis isn’t part of our role – that’s the remit of physiotherapists, osteopaths, or doctors.

If we think you’d benefit from seeing another professional, we’d point you in the right direction so that you receive the best care for your needs. We are happy to communicate with other professionals involved in your care, as some conditions require a multi-disciplinary approach.

Your appointment duration includes the time needed for history taking, hands on work, after-care advice and taking payment. We endeavour to maximise your massage time within the duration of the appointment.

We recommend a 60min appointment for your first visit.
90mins is wonderful, and ideal if you are a larger build or prefer a less frequent but all-encompassing treatment.
45mins is great for a focused session of one half of your body.
30mins is great for laser sharp work on neck and shoulders, calves, or as a follow-up in your treatment plan. We do not recommend 30mins for your first appointment.

Feel free to email or call us to discuss your symptoms & health history prior to making an appointment. We are here to help!

Alongside being an experienced massage therapist, Biliana is also a registered osteopath. This means her treatments draw on a wider depth of knowledge and techniques, giving you more advanced, tailored care in every session.

Yes, absolutely. At The Massage Lab we work as a team and share treatment notes after each session, so your care plan stays consistent. We even recommend trying different therapists to find your best match and to make sure you always have someone you trust, even if your usual therapist is away on holiday or off sick.

Some insurance plans cover Sport & Remedial Massage, provided your therapist is registered with a recognised professional organisation. At The Massage Lab, our therapists are members of leading professional bodies including the Institute of Sport & Remedial Massage (ISRM), the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT), and the Sports Massage Association (SMA).

We recommend checking with your insurer first. If you’re covered, you simply pay us as usual, and we’ll issue a receipt for you to claim your money back.

Yes. We aim to always send you home with one or two simple tips to prolong the benefits of your treatment — easy things you can integrate into everyday life. When a more structured approach is needed, we use Rehab My Patient software for physio-style exercise plans, or draw from our own bank of effective exercises. We believe the best results come from a collaborative, active approach, where hands-on therapy is supported by the right self-care.

Sports & Remedial Massage

  • Soft Tissue Therapy has evolved over the last 30 years from its roots in Sport Massage through the work of a small group of pioneering therapists who kept increasing their clinical skills so they could meet the needs of their clients better. As physiotherapy in the UK no longer includes hands-on techniques, Soft Tissue Therapists like us now specialise in helping your recovery from minor strains and injuries and to manage life with postural or chronic pain.
  • Originally, Sport Massage was used in the realm of athletic performance, but its benefits were increasingly used by anyone in need of help with their physical wellbeing. The name Sport and Remedial Massage was coined to reflect the broad application of this safe and effective therapeutic modality.
  • Clinical massage simply means that the therapist’s education and approach to massage therapy is rooted in clinical reasoning. This ensures that every technique we use is chosen for a specific purpose, not just routine. It’s a knowledge-based approach to treating soft tissue conditions and disorders, informed by a deep understanding of how muscles, fascia, and connective tissues respond to injury, stress, and overuse.

Not at all. Many of our clients are office workers, busy parents, or people with postural tension who benefit just as much as athletes.

Some techniques can feel intense, but it should never be unbearable. We always work within your comfort level and adjust pressure to suit you.

If we think you’d benefit from seeing another professional, we’d point you in the right direction so that you receive the best care for your needs. We are happy to communicate with other professionals involved in your care, as some conditions require a multi-disciplinary approach.

Common issues include back and neck pain, headaches, shoulder injuries, sciatica, tight hips, and recovery from muscle strains.

It depends on the type and severity of your injury. For acute injuries, we may recommend waiting a few days or seeking medical clearance first.

For ongoing issues, weekly or fortnightly sessions may help. For maintenance, once every 4–6 weeks can keep tension at bay.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

MLD is very gentle, with light, rhythmic movements on the skin. It feels soothing and deeply relaxing, not like deep tissue massage.

It’s commonly used for swelling (oedema/lymphoedema), post-surgery recovery, sinus congestion, digestive issues, headaches, and general detox.

It’s safe for most people, but we’ll always check your medical history. Certain conditions (e.g. acute infections, untreated cancer, or heart failure) may mean MLD isn’t suitable.

Usually within a few days, once your surgeon approves. Many clients find it reduces swelling, discomfort, and speeds up healing.

It depends on your condition. For post-surgery swelling, several sessions close together are often most effective. For wellbeing, occasional sessions may be enough.

Yes. By stimulating lymph flow, MLD supports your immune function and helps the body clear toxins and waste more efficiently.

Active Isolated Stretching

Comfortable, stretchy clothing such as gym wear. You’ll remain fully clothed throughout.

No. AIS works with the body’s natural range of motion, using short stretches that avoid the pain and resistance sometimes felt with static stretching.

Instead of long holds, AIS uses 2-second stretches repeated several times. This method avoids triggering the body’s protective reflex and achieves deeper, safer gains in flexibility.

Not at all. AIS is designed for every body type. Whether you’re very tight or already flexible, the method adapts to your starting point.

Sessions are usually 45–60 minutes, depending on your goals. They’re often a little longer than a massage treatment.

Many people feel benefits after just one session, but regular treatments (e.g. weekly or fortnightly) combined with self-stretching at home give the best results.

Yes. AIS is an excellent complement to sports massage, remedial work, osteopathy, or training programmes.

Yes, but it depends on the nature of your injury. AIS is gentle and can aid recovery, but we’ll always assess you first and may recommend a referral if another therapy is more appropriate.

Absolutely. AIS is highly effective for releasing chronically tight muscles from sitting, working at a desk, or repetitive daily postures.

Yes. We’ll teach you easy-to-follow protocols to practice between sessions. Ongoing self-care is key to long-term results.

Both. Athletes use AIS to enhance performance and recovery, while everyday people find it invaluable for reducing stiffness, improving mobility, and preventing injury.

Gentle stretching can be safe, but AIS is not our first-choice modality during pregnancy. We may recommend pregnancy massage instead—please speak with us first.

Most clients notice an immediate increase in flexibility and ease of movement. With repeated practice, these gains become longer lasting and more functional.

white_logo
BOOK NOW