I remember getting a massage from a professional massage therapist for the first time with Dorothy. She had been getting Swedish massages occasionally to help with muscle tightness from volleyball. I felt so out of place, but she helped calm me down. I don't think I would have had the courage to let a stranger massage me if not for Dorothy.
She told me to hydrate well beforehand, and to expect to be sore after massage. It helped with my back pain. A few sessions going together, one of the massage therapists we saw gave me advice on stretches to help reduce the discomfort that I felt from poor posture and prolonged computer usage. I still use those stretches to this day.