6 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Massage

The most effective massage experiences begin with intention, communication, and allowing yourself to fully receive the benefits of the treatment.

Whether you're seeking relief from chronic tension, recovering from physical activity, managing stress, or simply prioritizing self-care, massage can be a powerful tool for whole-body wellness. At The Fifth Om, our approach to Integrative Massage is rooted in a simple philosophy: there is power in nature, and there is power in your body's innate ability to heal.

Our highly experienced and licensed massage therapists combine decades of knowledge with a personalized, holistic approach that supports the body, mind, and spirit. While every session is uniquely tailored to you, there are several things you can do to maximize the benefits of your massage experience.

1. Get Clear on Your Needs and Intentions

One of the best ways to get the most out of your massage is to spend a few moments reflecting on what you need before you arrive.

Are you seeking:

• Stress relief?

• Muscle recovery?

• Pain management?

• Better sleep?

• Emotional balance?

• Time for deep relaxation and self-care?

Understanding your goals helps your therapist tailor the session to support your needs. Whether you prefer lighter, nurturing touch or deeper therapeutic pressure, sharing your preferences allows us to create a more effective and meaningful experience.

At The Fifth Om, we meet you where you are in your wellness journey. Before your session, simply ask yourself: What does my body, mind, and spirit need today?

2. Communicate Openly With Your Therapist

Your massage is a collaborative experience.

We encourage you to share any areas of tension, injuries, discomfort, sensitivities, or goals before your session begins. During the massage, don't hesitate to communicate if you'd like more or less pressure or if something doesn't feel quite right.

Our therapists are highly trained professionals who actively listen and adapt throughout the session. Clear communication helps ensure you receive the most beneficial treatment possible while feeling seen, heard, and supported every step of the way.

Healing begins the moment you step through the door. Our calming environment is designed to help you slow down, settle in, and prepare to fully receive the benefits of your massage experience.

3. Arrive Early and Allow Yourself to Unplug

Many people arrive carrying the stress of their day directly into the treatment room. To fully receive the benefits of massage therapy, give yourself permission to slow down before your session begins.

Take a few deep breaths. Silence your phone. Let your to-do list wait.

At The Fifth Om, our calming environment is intentionally designed to help you transition from doing to being. The more present you can become before your session starts, the more deeply your nervous system can relax and respond to the treatment.

4. Be Fully Present During the Experience

Massage can become a deeply meditative practice when you allow yourself to stay present.

One simple way to do this is through mindful breathing.

With each inhale, bring awareness to your body. With each exhale, invite tension to soften and release. As your therapist works, notice sensations without judgment and allow yourself to settle fully into the moment.

We also offer complimentary aromatherapy with every service, while our heated treatment tables provide an added layer of comfort and relaxation. Together, these elements help create an immersive experience that supports deeper rest and restoration.

5. Support Your Body Before and After Your Massage

Many guests choose to pair their massage with a Far Infrared Sauna session to encourage relaxation and prepare the body for treatment

What you do outside the treatment room can influence how you feel afterward.

Before your massage:

• Stay well hydrated.

• Avoid heavy meals immediately before your session.

• Consider booking time in our Far Infrared Sauna to help warm muscles and encourage relaxation.

After your massage:

• Continue hydrating.

• Allow time for rest and recovery.

• Take a gentle walk or stretch.

• Avoid intense physical activity if possible.

• Pay attention to how your body feels over the next 24-48 hours.

These simple practices can help prolong the benefits of your massage and support your body's natural recovery processes.

Ready to experience the benefits for yourself?
Explore our Integrative Massage offerings and find the treatment that's right for you.

6. Make Massage Part of Your Wellness Routine

One of the most overlooked ways to maximize massage benefits is consistency.

While a single session can provide immediate relief and relaxation, regular massage therapy can help support long-term wellness goals such as:

• Reduced stress

• Improved mobility

• Better sleep quality

• Enhanced recovery

• Improved body awareness

• Ongoing self-care and nervous system regulation

Your therapist can help recommend a treatment schedule that aligns with your goals and lifestyle.

Experience Integrative Massage at The Fifth Om

An Integrative Massage at The Fifth Om is more than a massage—it is an opportunity to reconnect with yourself.

Through a holistic approach that honors the body, mind, and spirit, our therapists create a nurturing space where healing, restoration, and self-care can naturally unfold. Every session is thoughtfully customized to support your unique wellness journey, helping you leave feeling grounded, renewed, and deeply cared for.

Ready for your full-body exhale?

Book your Integrative Massage today and discover how powerful intentional self-care can be.

Looking to deepen your relaxation experience? Many guests pair their massage with a session in our Far Infrared Sauna for a restorative wellness ritual.

Explore Far Infrared Sauna

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Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I get a massage?
The ideal frequency depends on your goals. For stress management and general wellness, many clients benefit from monthly massage sessions. Those addressing chronic pain, injury recovery, or athletic performance may benefit from more frequent treatments.

Should I drink water after a massage?
Yes. Staying hydrated supports overall tissue health, circulation, and recovery following your session.

What should I do before a massage?
Arrive a few minutes early, stay hydrated, avoid heavy meals, and communicate any goals or concerns with your therapist.

Can a massage help with stress and anxiety?
Massage therapy is widely used to promote relaxation, reduce physical tension, and support overall emotional well-being.

Holistic Morning Rituals for Beauty, Wellness & Alignment

Beginning the day with a holistic beauty routine is a sacred connection to self. The first light of morning and the first conscious breath can become a gentle new beginning—one that sets the tone for the rest of the day.

Your mornings are worth romanticizing, especially as you discover the rituals that support your unique needs and capacity for vibrant self-expression. At The Fifth Om, this is the heart of what we do: guiding you into conscious beauty, vitality, and confidence in your authentic self.

Holistic mornings go beyond the checklist of coffee, emails, and rushing out the door. They are not defined by elaborate routines, lengthy journaling practices, or meditating for a specific amount of time.

Instead, creating a holistic morning is an invitation to reclaim the start of your day—to align with yourself before stepping into the demands of the outside world. Every morning offers an opportunity to return to the body, listen to what it is communicating, and nourish it with intention.

At The Fifth Om, our philosophy is deeply rooted in the understanding that beauty begins within and that the body has an innate capacity for healing. Our wellness sanctuary was designed to offer a soft landing into self-care—gently, wholly, and intentionally.

A Simple 3-Step Holistic Morning Ritual

Drop Into the Body

Before reaching for your phone or beginning your to-do list, take your first moments of the day to fully arrive in your body. Notice how you feel. Stretch gently, move slowly, and place your hands over your belly or heart.

Connect With the Breath

With your hands resting on the body, begin to deepen your breath intentionally. Inhale slowly and fully. Exhale gently, pausing briefly at the bottom of the breath before inhaling again. Allow each breath to center the mind as your body gradually awakens.

Integrate Skincare as Ritual

Skincare is not simply about products; it is about cultivating a relationship with your skin. A morning skincare routine can become an act of care rather than correction. Presence over perfection. Consistency over intensity.

You can also pair your morning rituals with affirmations as you move through your skincare or makeup routine.

Go Further With The Fifth Om

A holistic morning routine is more than a series of steps. It can become a daily moment to reconnect, reset, and prepare for the day ahead, allowing you to meet the world as a more aligned and unapologetic version of yourself.

Here are a few ways our wellness practitioners can support your holistic morning rituals:

Virtual Skin Consultation

Receive personalized guidance through a Virtual Skin Consultation with our lead esthetician, Michele. Drawing from decades of expertise, Michele offers one-on-one support to help you build a holistic skincare routine tailored to your skin type, goals, and lifestyle. You’ll receive professional recommendations for clean skincare products, ritual guidance, and sustainable practices that support long-term skin health and radiance.

Morning Facial & Massage Appointments

Begin your day with intention through a morning facial or massage in our wellness sanctuary. At The Fifth Om, we believe in the 80/20 approach to skincare: 80% consistency at home and 20% professional support.

Our signature facials restore radiance while integrative massage helps release tension, improve circulation, and reconnect you to the body. Regular treatments create space for a peaceful, unhurried beginning to your day.

Energy Medicine

For those seeking deeper energetic alignment, we offer Reiki and Integrated Energy Therapy (IET). These sessions can help clear stagnant energy, support groundedness, and promote emotional clarity and balance.

Learn more about our IET and Reiki offerings here: https://www.thefifthom.com/energy-medicine-offerings=

Ready to transform your mornings into a more holistic experience?

Reserve a session through our website or give us a call to learn how we can support your wellness journey.

The Fifth Om is a wellness sanctuary for holistic well-being located in the heart of downtown Kennebunk.

Elevated Facial with Facial Cupping at The Fifth Om

Both timeless and innovative, our Elevated Facial now incorporates the art of facial cupping—a gentle, sculpting technique designed to lift, revitalize, and support healthy, radiant skin.

Far more delicate than traditional body cupping, this facial technique does not leave marks or redness. Instead, it works through soft, rhythmic movements that lightly lift the skin, similar to the flow of a gua sha facial massage—deeply relaxing, yet visibly effective.

At The Fifth Om, facial cupping is thoughtfully offered by our Licensed Esthetician, Alivia, as part of her Elevated Facial experience, bringing together ancient practice and modern, results-driven skincare.

Schedule your Elevated Facial with Alivia.

How Facial Cupping Works

Using small, soft silicone cups, Alivia gently glides across the surface of the skin to create a light, vacuum-like lift. Each movement is intentional, designed to stimulate circulation while supporting the natural contours of the face.

This technique can help to:
– Boost blood flow
– Encourage lymphatic drainage
– Reduce puffiness, especially around the eyes and jawline
– Support natural collagen production
– Enhance absorption of active skincare ingredients

The result is skin that appears more lifted, sculpted, and luminous, while the experience itself remains deeply calming.

Facial cupping also amplifies the benefits of the clean, botanically formulated products used throughout your facial, allowing each layer to work more effectively. And if you’re curious about how often we recommend coming in for a professional facial, you can read more here.

Facial Cupping at The Fifth Om

Located in the heart of downtown Kennebunk, our holistic wellness spa offers a space where advanced skincare meets intentional, restorative care.

As you settle into one of our airy treatment rooms, your experience is designed to feel both deeply relaxing and results-driven. Clients often describe our facials as grounding, subtly energizing, and exactly what they didn’t realize they needed.

“Today’s facial was incredible! She was spot on to my issues.”
— Brooke, facial client

At the start of every session, Alivia takes the time to understand your skin, your concerns, and your goals. From there, she customizes each step of your treatment, blending botanicals, technique, and advanced modalities like facial cupping to support visible, lasting results.

Facial cupping is available as a specialized enhancement within Alivia’s Elevated Facial, offering a precise, non-invasive way to support tone, circulation, and overall skin vitality.

Ready to experience the difference?

Book your Elevated Facial with Alivia

Is Facial Cupping Right for You?

While facial cupping is gentle and well-tolerated by most, it may not be suitable for those with active breakouts, highly sensitive skin, or certain acne conditions.

If you’re unsure whether it’s the right fit, we recommend starting with a phone call or Virtual Skincare Consultation. This allows us to guide you toward the most supportive and effective treatment plan for your skin. To book your Virtual Skincare Consultation, reach out and we’ll gladly assist.

Book Your Experience

Experience the next evolution of holistic skincare, where intention meets results.

Book your Elevated Facial with Alivia and discover the lifting, sculpting benefits of facial cupping, thoughtfully integrated into a treatment designed entirely around you.

A Decade of Refinement: Recognized in Maine’s Best of the 207 Awards

Last week, The Fifth Om was named a Bronze Winner in two categories in Maine’s Best of the 207 Awards — Best Day Spa and Best Alternative Therapies.

This statewide recognition arrives as we mark ten years in business in downtown Kennebunk. That timing feels meaningful.

While we are deeply grateful for this honor, what it reflects most clearly is not a single moment but a decade of steady refinement, intentional growth, and a continued commitment to holistic, regulation-based care.

Ten Years of Thoughtful Evolution

Michele Bundy performing a holistic facial at The Fifth Om in Kennebunk, Maine.

From the beginning, The Fifth Om has been guided by a simple question:

Does this enhance the experience of holistic wellbeing?

Over the past ten years, that question has shaped every decision — from the treatments we offer to the practitioners we welcome to our team.

Our approach blends advanced esthetics, therapeutic bodywork, and nervous system-informed care. We prioritize sustainable skin health, measurable results, and whole-body restoration over quick fixes or fleeting trends.

Recognition like this reflects the quiet consistency of that work.

A Year of Meaningful Expansion

This past year, in particular, has been one of intentional growth.

We introduced our Infrared Recovery Massage, integrating our signature therapeutic techniques with the Celluma PRO red and near-infrared light panel to support circulation, cellular regeneration, and deeper recovery.

Our Reveal Peel quickly became a client favorite, offering advanced resurfacing without the aggressive downtime associated with traditional chemical peels. This botanical “no-peel” peel works within the deeper layers of the skin to refine tone and texture while protecting barrier integrity.

We expanded our use of CBD by Vital Body Therapeutics, a women-owned U.S.-based company raising the standard for alternative therapies.

And we launched our own clean skincare line, formulated right here in New England. Our TENFOLD Golden Glow Face Cream has become the shining star of our facial treatments, while our Virtue No. 1 Silky Botanical Cleanser continues to gain devoted clients.

Each addition has been deliberate. Each innovation rooted in expertise.

The Heart of the Work

Our team of practitioners is the architecture of care at The Fifth Om. Their depth, skill, and shared philosophy make it possible to deliver treatments that feel both restorative and refined.

And our growth has always been fueled by community.

Word of mouth.
Friends telling friends.
Families returning season after season.

That trust is what makes milestones like this possible.

Honored and Looking Ahead

We are proud to be recognized as a Bronze Winner for Best Day Spa and Best Alternative Therapies in Maine’s Best of the 207 Awards.

We are equally proud to be a two-time Silver Winner for Best Spa through the Kennebunkport, Kennebunk, and Arundel Chamber of Commerce.

But awards are not the destination. They are markers along a longer path.

Our work remains rooted in regulation, refinement, and a deep respect for the body’s innate intelligence.

If you have been meaning to experience The Fifth Om, we invite you to discover what award-winning, nervous system-informed care feels like in practice.

We look forward to welcoming you for many seasons to come.

Book Your Visit