David Walsh: You owe it to yourself to try massage therapy

Being a rookie when it comes to massage therapy, I wondered what to expect after making an appointment. There's something about getting disrobed that gets your attention. Time to check out what you're about to walk into.

Bodyworks Spa and Art Gallery would be the stop on a snowy, cold Feb. 13. Kim Donally, a licensed massage therapist for 20 years, runs the business located in Heritage Village (Shoppe 13).

Apprehensive? A little. In the meet and greet, Kim goes to great lengths to make me aware of the procedures used. She wants to know the reason(s) for coming, current physical condition and areas I would like addressed during the massage. Next, I got a tour of the facilities.

Then it's time to disrobe (to the client's level of comfort). Kim is out of the treatment room as I undress and walk over to the massage table where a warm blanket and crisp clean sheets await. Once disrobed, I lie on the massage table, under the top sheet. The lights are down, soft, relaxing music begins to play, and it's time for Kim to go to work in a quiet, tranquil setting. No distractions, no talking except when Kim leans over to whisper that it's time to turn over.

The massage table is padded, and a heating blanket is placed beneath the sheet, which the client can have adjusted. On this day, I received a customized full-body massage (for general relaxation and stress reduction). The sheet is pulled back only on the area being worked on. The therapist uses only the highest quality hypo-allergenic massage creams and lotions during the treatment. Kim's procedures can be gentle one moment, and intense the next, as I found out when she got down to the toes.

Once the session is completed, Kim leaves the room so I can get dressed. Before leaving, we discuss how the session went. The therapist points out the problem areas and makes me feel like she's reading a book.

It was a beneficial trip, and more sessions are definitely in order.

David Walsh is a sportswriter for The Herald-Dispatch.