Frequently Asked Questions
Come and let your body enjoy a healthy massage. I use only the highest quality natural and organic massage products.
List of Frequently Asked Massage Questions:
1. How often can I get a massage so that it is beneficial?
2. What if I am late for an appointment?
3. What should I expect at my first massage appointment? And what preparations do I need to make?
4. What about Gratuity?
5. What do I wear during a massage or do I disrobe entirely?
6. What if I'm overweight or embarrassed about my body?
7. Can I talk during a massage?
8. How will a massage feel, will it hurt?
9. Is a massage always appropriate?
10. How will I feel after the massage therapy treatment?
11. What do I do during a massage therapy treatment?
12. What if I don't want to use my gift certificate I was given. Can I get a refund?
13. If I don't want to use my gift certificate, can I give it to a family member or a friend?
14. What can I do if my gift certificate is getting ready to expire and I haven't used it. Can I extend the date?
15. What if my gift certificate has expired? Can I still use it?
1. How often can I get a massage so that it is beneficial?
- The benefits of massage go beyond the physical. Massage can help ground you and help reduce the mental stress of daily life. Ask yourself what benefits you are looking to get out of massage. Some clients who need to balance their fast-paced lives receive massage once per week. Others receive massage once a month just to 'get the knots out.' If money is not an
issue and you really enjoy massage, I would suggest you receive it once a week or every two weeks. Listen to your body. How soon after a massage does it begin aching? When does your stress level get too high? top
2. What if I am late for an appointment?
- If a client is late for an appointment the session will be adjusted to perform as much of the treatment as possible within the remaining time. Pricing will not be adjusted.
** Refer to About Your Therapist Page to Review All of My Policies so you know ahead a time** top
3. What should I expect at my first massage appointment? And what preparations do I need to make?
- Please arrive on time and freshly bathed. Ladies, if you shave, please do so one-day prior. If possible do not shave on the day of your treatments. Also ladies, please come with little or no make-up. Gentlemen, if you normally shave facial hair, please do so the morning of your treatments. It is recommended that your alcohol intake be limited within 24 hours of your
session. It is also recommended that you keep your eating light the day of your session, keeping intake to whole foods.
I will have a health intake for you to fill out, which may take 10 – 15 minutes to fill out so I ask that you plan to show up 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. Afterwards I will review the intake with you and begin asking general questions to establish what areas you would like worked on, if there are any health conditions needing to be addressed and to determine if massage is appropriate for you. top
4. What about Gratuity?
- Gratuity may be left at your discretion and is very much appreciated but not expected. top
5. What do I wear during a massage or do I disrobe entirely?
- For a full body massage, most people undress completely. However, you may choose to wear underwear. top
I will give you privacy to undress, and you will be covered with a sheet and blanket at all times except the area being worked on. Depending on the technique I am performing, you may or may not need to undress.
Normally if I am going to be doing a Reiki, Bowen, or Chair Massage Session you are always dressed. During a Bowen session, I may ask you to disrobe to allow me to access your body for the moves to be more effective
Disrobing entirely is your choice; however, it is customary to do so. Your therapist will maintain your privacy at all times.
You will be draped with a sheet and blanket and only the area being worked on will be undraped.
At NO time will a clients private parts be exposed or be massage! NO EXCEPTIONS! top
6. What if I'm overweight or embarrassed about my body?
- You wouldn't believe how many times I've heard someone say they'd get a massage if they lost weight first or didn't have that cellulite on the back of their thighs. Don't let this stop you. You're denying yourself quite a pleasurable experience. Massage therapists have seen bodies in every imaginable shape and size, from young to old, and they're not there trying to judge your physique or ogle your body. They're professionals who have found massage to be a wonderful gift to give to women and men alike, regardless of age and weight, and are proud of what they can offer to people in need of help or just wanting to luxuriate in the sense. top
7. Can I talk during a massage?
- The key to a massage is relaxation and allowing yourself to enjoy the experience. Many therapists will discourage you from talking during the massage. They want you to relax, let your mind float free, and let the massage transport you to an almost subconscious bliss. It's not uncommon for many people to be more relaxed talking. After all, they're lying undressed on a table with a stranger touching their skin. Talking makes the therapist become more human and personal to them, and having this interaction makes it easier for them to place their trust in the therapist, and therefore make it easier for them to relax. Many clients talk in the initial stages of a massage, and as the massage progresses, they slip farther into a state of total relaxation and become quiet. There are times when you should speak up during a massage. If anything makes you uncomfortable, bring it to the therapist's attention. If you're too cold or too hot, the room is too bright and hard on your eyes, or if you prefer the strokes to be deeper or lighter, mention it to the therapist. Feel free to speak up, if something about the massage isn't working for you. top
8. How will a massage feel, will it hurt?
- It usually depends on the techniques used. Many massage therapists use a form of Swedish massage,which is often a baseline for practitioners. In a general Swedish massage, your session may start with broad, flowing strokes (effleurage) that will help calm your nervous system and relax exterior muscle tension.
As your body becomes relaxed, pressure will gradually be increased to relax specific areas and relieve area of muscular tension. Often, a light oil or lotion is used to allow your muscles to be massaged without causing excessive friction to the skin. Do not hesitate to ask questions or mention if you feel any discomfort so that the massage therapist can use another approach or technique Whether a massage will hurt depends on the type of massage and the depth of the strokes. A light massage that doesn't probe very deep into muscles shouldn't hurt. At the same time, the light massage won't be able to work out any stress that's deep within those muscles. A muscle that is relaxed will be supple and soft and won't hurt when rubbed. Muscles that are tight, and in many cases have been chronically tight for a long time, may have that 'hurts so good' feeling with a deeper massage. Think of that 'good hurt' as the feeling you get when you stretch a sore muscle during exercise or a yawn. Muscles can be very sore from overuse or tightness, and that good hurt can become painful. A sharp pain may indicate a muscle that has been injured and has some sort of inflammation. In this case, you don't want the deep work to continue in this area. A deep massage with tight muscles may leave some residual soreness the next day.
Everybody has different thresholds of pain. The depth of a stroke may not be deep enough for one person's liking and may cause pain for another. Some people want the massage as deep as possible regardless of the soreness. Others want something much lighter and relaxing to help them relax rather than deeper work that might be sore. So make your preference known to the therapist, and give feedback at any time during a massage that the depth of the strokes is more than you'd like. top
9. Is a massage always appropriate?
- No, there are several medical conditions that would make massage inappropriate. That's why it is necessary that you fill out the health history forms and before you begin your session. The massage therapist will ask general health questions to rule out if you have any contraindications to massage. It is very important that you inform the practitioner of any and all health problems or medications you are taking. If you are under a doctor's care, it is strongly advised that you receive a written
recommendation for massage prior to any session. Your massage therapist may require a recommendation or approval from your doctor. top
10. How will I feel after the massage therapy treatment?
- Most people feel very relaxed. Some experience freedom from long-term aches and pains developed from tension or repetitive activity. After an initial period of feeling slowed down, people often experience increased energy, heightened awareness, and greater productivity which can last for days. Since toxins are released from your soft tissues during a massage, it is recommended you drink plenty of water following your massage. Massage therapists sometimes recommend a hot Epsom salt bath that encourages the release of toxins that may have been stirred up from the massage treatment. top
11. What do I do during a massage therapy treatment?
- Make yourself comfortable. If I need to adjust your position, I will either move you or will ask you to move what body part is needed to move. Otherwise, change your position anytime to make yourself more comfortable. Many people close their eyes and relax completely during a session; others prefer to talk. It's up to you. It is your massage, and whatever feels natural to you is the best way to relax. Do not hesitate to ask questions at any time. I encourage you to ask questions
and to always speak up if you are not comfortable with pressure or if something is bothersome when worked on. top
12. What if I don't want to use my gift certificate I was given. Can I get a refund?
- There are NO refunds or exchanges on any gift certificates or gift certificate packages. top
13. If I don't want to use my gift certificate, can I give it to a family member or a friend?
- Yes, just as long as they use it before the expiration date. Please notify my or have the person tell me who's gift certificate they were given. top
14. What can I do if my gift certificate is getting ready to expire and I haven't used it. Can I extend the date?
- Yes, as long as you call me at least a month before it expires or try to at least schedule an appointment before it expires. I am more than happy to work with gift certificate recipients who make the attempt to use their gift before it expires to make an extension on the expiration date. top
15. What if my gift certificate has expired? Can I still use it?
- No. The only exception to this rule is if you have been seriously ill or in the hospital or have been in an accident and have not been able to receive a massage due to these events. top
Gift Certificates may be purchased for any of my services.
Honor a loved one, friend or colleague with the Gift of Health
