Published by Garden State Circle — Tiffany and Jake Slowinski · Somerville and Hillsborough
By Tiffany Slowinski
Booking a massage sounds like the relaxing part. Then you open the calendar and have to decide whether you need an hour, an hour and a half or two. As a mom of three, I understand wanting an appointment that fits your schedule without feeling rushed once you get there. More time can make sense, but it is not automatically the right starting point for everyone.
Owner, Sol Massage Therapy, Hillsborough
At Sol Massage Therapy in Hillsborough, owner and sole therapist Julio Solano, LMT, explains the difference in terms of what he can cover and what the client is comfortable receiving. He has been licensed in New Jersey since 2018. His recommendation for someone who has never had a massage starts with the shorter option. Someone coming in with a particular problem may have a different conversation about the time length of the massage.
How long should your first massage be?
For a first massage ever, Julio recommends 60 minutes. He wants a chance to understand the person’s tolerance before introducing longer sessions or more tools. “If it’s your first session ever, I’m not going to be breaking out all my tools and going deep tissue.” Doing all of that in a first session, he says, can leave someone overly sore, possibly bruised and turned off to massage altogether. The body needs time to build tolerance for tools and advanced techniques. That makes the initial appointment a chance to learn what feels comfortable, not a sign that longer sessions are a bad idea.
A first visit with him is not necessarily someone’s first massage, which is where the conversation gets more specific. For a new client coming in with pain, he discusses 60 to 90 minutes and reads their tolerance from there. He also considers the comfort of staying face-down for an extended period. In his experience, a long session can leave some people feeling stuffy or initially claustrophobic, so duration deserves a conversation.
What can he cover in 60, 90 or 120 minutes?
Julio describes 60-minute massages as the time to go head to toe without concentrating heavily on one area. A 90-minute appointment allows a whole-body massage plus more focused work on the concern that brought the person in. Two hours is the length he books for himself, and the one he considers the most therapeutic. It gives him time to work on more areas for longer, use more tools and advanced techniques he has learned over his career, and add stretching.
His shorthand is direct: “The 90 minute is golden, but definitely 60 minutes if it’s your first one ever.” The 90-minute session is golden, he explains, because it’s what most people can fit into a busy schedule. Since most people don’t get massages as often as they would like, he says the longest session is where a client can accomplish the most and get the most value from a visit.
How much does a massage cost in Hillsborough at Sol?
As of October 2026, a 60-minute massage is $110, 90 minutes is $165 and 120 minutes is $220. Julio’s massage pricing is based on duration, with hot stones, cupping and tools included as needed at no additional charge. Focusing on one area or skipping another does not add a charge. The table shows the published rates alongside his explanation of the time.
| Option | Price as of October 2026 | Julio’s explanation of the fit |
|---|---|---|
| 60-minute massage | $110 | A first massage ever or head-to-toe work without extensive focus on one area |
| 90-minute massage | $165 | Whole-body work with additional time for a particular concern |
| 120-minute massage | $220 | The most therapeutic option, with more time per area, more tools and advanced techniques, and stretching |
There are no memberships or packages to choose from. A client can prepay one booking without committing to a series, or pay after the session by cash, card or Zelle. A credit card is required to confirm an appointment, but nothing is charged to it. Julio also offers discounts to massage clients who come at least once every two weeks. That separate frequent-visit policy can be discussed when planning an ongoing schedule.
Does a 60-minute booking mean 60 minutes on the table?
Julio says the booked duration is hands-on time when the client is on the table at the scheduled start. “I always give the full time as long as you can make it onto the table on time.” He builds a 30-minute buffer after every appointment. That allows time for dressing, a conversation, water and cleaning and resetting the room.
He asks clients to arrive five to 10 minutes early. An intake form is emailed when the appointment is booked, and completing it ahead of time helps the visit get started. He still goes through the questions again in case something was missed. The start time matters because his full-time policy depends on being ready on the table when the appointment begins.
What should you tell him before the session?
The useful starting point is what you want the appointment to address and whether anything hurts. For tight shoulders, Julio first distinguishes an injury from tension connected to stress or daily movement. An injury changes the conversation to contraindications and the medical team’s plan. From there, the discussion can cover the duration, pressure and areas of focus, with room to explain what feels comfortable.
Learn more about Sol Massage Therapy at solmassagenj.com.
About This Article
Garden State Circle interviewed Julio Solano, owner at Sol Massage Therapy, Hillsborough, in October 2026. Details may change; confirm with the business.
Sol Massage Therapy is a member of the Garden State Circle, which verifies its members’ information and publishes features about them. How the Circle works.
Garden State Circle interviewed Julio Solano in October 2026. He reviewed and corrected this article on Oct. 27, 2026. Prices and policies are his as of October 2026 and may change; check with the business before booking.
This article is maintained. If anything here is wrong or has changed — a name, an address, hours, or whether a business has closed — tell us and we will check it. Businesses named here are welcome to write in directly. admin@gardenstatecircle.com
Sol Massage Therapy, inside BLISS in Hillsborough, NJ. Julio@SolMassageNJ.com. Appointments booked through Fresha.