Frequently Asked Questions
What is your cancellation policy?
We have a Cancellation Policy – please review it here on our Cancellation Policy Page.
What should I expect from my first massage?
Before the session – have a stomach relatively empty of food or drink so that when you are lying down on it, you are not uncomfortable.
Privacy – if you choose to be unclothed underneath the sheet, we give you your privacy to undress to your level of comfort. We will not re-enter the room until you are ready. We will ensure you are properly draped through the course of the session and, when it is over, will leave the room so you have your privacy to get dressed.
Safety – We will respect any wish you voice to avoid working any particular area of your body. You are in charge of what you receive during the session. You get those needs met by asking.
Time – the first massage is 15-30 minutes longer than subsequent sessions to allow time to discuss your physical health history, current needs, and design the session so you get the most out of it and the benefits last as long as possible.
After the session – Drink at least 2 glasses of water to flush your system of any toxins released during the session. Give your body time to integrate the session – do not plan any stressful activities, mental or physical, immediately afterward. Give yourself time to soak it in!
When should I get massage?
To decrease stress and tension
To increase health and vitality by stimulating immune cells in the skin
To relieve pain from:
- headaches, including migraines
- repetitive stress
- injury; whiplash, sciatica, plantar fasciitis
- improve athletic performance
To Relax! Take time for yourself.
When should I NOT get massage?
When you have a cold or cough,
When you have a contagious skin disorder (including poison oak/ivy),
When you have been told by your doctor not to.
How do I get the most from my massage?
Communicate – Remember: your massage therapist is not psychic. You may wish they were, but if you think about it, you probably don’t want them to be able to read every thought in your mind. So, talk to them. Tell them what feels good and what feels uncomfortable. There’s no other way for them to know. Wouldn’t you want to know if you were doing something uncomfortable to someone else? So do we. And, please don’t worry about hurting feelings. Feelings would be more hurt if you didn’t share what didn’t work for you. Help us do what we want to do – to help you feel better – by communicating.
Drink – 2 glasses of water after each massage to flush toxins out of your body which may have been released during the session.
Get massage regularly – just like with regular exercise and daily nutrition, the benefits of massage increase over time with regularity.
How frequently should I get massage?
The answer to this question depends on your goals and your balance of time and money.
Rehabilitate from accident/injury or Excel in Athletic Performance – 2 or 3 times each week. For peak athletic performance and in the case of injury rehabilitation, massage 2-3x/week is recommended.
Optimize – Once a week. For optimum physical and mental health, the ideal is to get massage weekly.
Maintain – Once a month. To maintain good self-care, many choose to get monthly maintenance massages.
Massage Myths
No pain, no gain. Also known as, “It’s supposed to hurt to be helpful.”
Wrong!! No pain, no Pain! If you are fighting yourself (or us) to bear the pressure, how can that be relaxing? More pain is not better. More pain is more pain. More pressure is not better, either. In the same way that you can find relaxation by sitting completely still on your couch at home after a long day, so, too, can you benefit from light to no pressure in massage. This is not to say we can’t or don’t deliver a lot of pressure. We can and we do, when and where it seems right. We strive to match your muscle exactly where it’s tension is, and to apply the appropriate level of pressure to allow it to release whatever tension it is ready to release, in a relaxed and easy way. This way, your body shifts from tense to relaxed and you leave with more lasting relaxation.
One session should be enough to fix me.
If it has taken years to develop the tension in your neck and shoulders, it is highly unlikely that one session will undo all that built up stress. That said, miracles do happen. Some clients report an immediate relief of long-term pain that does not return. For others it takes longer. Setting realistic expectations will help you get more out of your massage.
