Deep tissue work is paced deliberately. The therapist applies slow, sustained pressure rather than quick strokes, working with the grain of the muscle to find the tight bands and waiting for them to release rather than forcing them.
This is firmer work than a Swedish session, and it asks more of you. Communicate with the therapist about pressure — discomfort is sometimes part of the work, but real pain is a signal to ease off.
You may feel a little tender for a day after the first session. By the second, the body knows what to expect, and the relief settles deeper.