Question 1

What is a Swedish Massage?

Accepted Answer

Swedish is a full body massage with calming and fluid movements. It's main purpose is to relax the client and feel good. It's not only a treat to yourself, but can also provide mental and physical benefits by putting you into a more parasympathetic state (your body's relaxed state). Lowering your stress levels can have great benefits for both your mind and body. A 60 minute session is standard for a full body massage.

Question 2

What is a Deep Tissue Massage?

Accepted Answer

Deep Tissue is a more focused massage on problem areas. A Swedish massage can use deeper pressure, if that's what you enjoy, and still be Swedish. Deep Tissue differs in some of the techniques used and that more time is allowed in specific areas to really work into muscles and release any held tension or trigger points. Trying to rush into deeper muscles will only cause those muscles to tighten even more. Because of this, a standard 60 min session of Deep Tissue will not be enough to deliver a full body massage in most cases. We will decide what areas need the most focus, and then you can choose secondary areas that will receive treatment with any remaining time. Deep Tissue will also require communication between the client and therapist. You want to go deep enough to be effective, but not so deep that it hurts to the point of causing muscle tension. That is different for every person, and also typically varies for different body parts on the same person. Good communication will lead to the best results.

Question 3

What is a Integrated Massage?

Accepted Answer

Integrated Massage is a combination of Swedish and Deep Tissue. It's base is a Swedish Massage at whatever pressure you enjoy, but with the intention that if I discover any trigger points or particularly tense muscles you want me to spend a little extra time going deeper and working them out. There will be enough time in a 60 minute session for a full body massage, but a few minutes might have to come from one location to spend a little more time in another.

Question 4

Do you do Sports Massage?

Accepted Answer

The term "Sports Massage" is often misunderstood. Many people believe that's the massage they should get to help recover from any athletic endeavors but what they are usually thinking of is Deep Tissue. Sports Massage is a broad term used for massages given pre, intra, and post event for any sort of athletic activity.

Pre-event is typically a quick 10 minute vigorous massage given right before the event used to warm up the muscles and prepare the client mentally. Intra-event is used during the event, between heats or innings, half time, or between different events at a match or meet, to focus on any problem areas and help reduce cramping. Post-event is performed after all athletic efforts concluded, within 2 hours of last effort. It's designed to reduce muscle spasms and calm down the nervous system , and facilitate rapid healing/recovery.

This is something I can provide but scheduling and cost would depend on what type of event, where it's located, and if pre, intra, post or all three are desired.

Question 5

What areas are included in a Full Body Massage?

Accepted Answer

A standard Full Body Massage includes Face, Scalp, Neck, Back, Upper Chest (just below collar bone), Arms/Hands, Glutes, Legs/Feet. Any of this can be customized to your preferences and comfort level by either discussing with me before hand or filling out the “Massage Customization Form” available under the “Forms” section of my website.

Question 6

Arrival Time?

Accepted Answer

Please arrive at the scheduled time for your appointment. Any intake processes or discussions will happen then. The amount of time you scheduled for is the amount of time you are on the table, so any pre or post massage activities will not come out of your session. That extra time is already considered when I book clients.

Question 7

Clothes and Draping?

Accepted Answer

You should undress to your comfort level. For many this means completely undressed but feel free to leave underwear, clothes, or even a bathing suit on if that's what makes you comfortable. Keep in mind that any sensitive areas will be properly draped at all times and work can also be done over top of draping in areas if preferred. Also be aware that clothing may affect available techniques. For example, wearing a shirt or sports bra will limit any gliding work done on the back.

Question 8

Chest Work?

Accepted Answer

Chest work can be done on anyone, regardless of gender, and is separated into two categories; Upper Chest and Full Chest.

Upper Chest work includes only the space between your collarbone and if you were to draw a line across your chest from where your underarm starts. This allows for some Pectoralis Major and Pectoralis Minor work. Pectoralis Major covers from your sternum to your arm and your collarbone down to the 7th rib. Pectoralis Minor is a small muscle that lies underneath Major but can cause problems like rounded shoulders and bad posture if it is overly tight. Upper Chest work allows for just the upper fibers of these muscles to be worked on.

Full Chest Work includes the entire Pectoralis Major and Pectoralis Minor muscles.  This work can be received by anyone and can be done over top of the drape or undraped, depending on your preference. It can also be customized to avoid or include soft breast tissue. Due to being a sensitive area, anyone who identifies as female and wishes to receive Full Chest Work, draped or undraped, will need to also complete the “Chest Massage Consent Form” available under the “Forms” section of my website.

Besides being able to work the entirety of the pectoral muscles, there are many benefits to including the full chest in a massage. Possible benefits include:
Improved lymphatic health
Supports circulation
Improved quality and ease of breathing
Improved range of motion in the shoulder girdle
Improved relaxation response 
Improved posture
Can support women who are pregnant, nursing or breastfeeding in many ways
For clients w/ breast implants: possibly improved life span of implants 
For clients w/ post-surgical mastectomy: improved tissue health and reducing fascial adhesions
Can provide an opportunity for the client to develop a sense of normalcy, confidence and control related to their breasts.

If Full Chest work is something that interests you but you are uncomfortable with a male therapist performing the work, please feel free to reach out to me and I can provide the contact information for a wonderful female therapist that also provides this service.

Question 9

Abdominal Work?

Accepted Answer

The stomach area can be worked on just like any other area of the body. Some people enjoy it strictly for relaxation, others want a little deeper work to target the abdominal muscles, and others have found that deeper work on their large intestines can help with digestive issues like constipation. Abdominal work is not automatically included in a full body massage, but there is no problem adding it in upon request.

Question 10

Best way to contact?

Accepted Answer

Booking online through the website is probably the easiest and most convenient way to schedule a session. You can also call or text my phone number under the "Contact" section but know that I'm not always available to answer phone calls. For general questions and non-scheduling communication, you can also email me or fill out the Contact form on the website.

Question 11

Cancellation/Tardiness/Sickness Policy?

Accepted Answer

Cancellation: A 24-hour notice is appreciated for cancellation of an appointment, but it's understood that sometimes life happens. Even a few hours before your appointment is better than a no call/no show. No call/no shows will be charged in full for the appointment. Payment is due before your next appointment.

Tardiness: Appointment times are as scheduled and cannot extend beyond the stated time to accommodate late arrivals, as it's not far to the therapist or the next client. Please be on time to your appointment or the time will be deducted from your session.

Sickness: Massage/bodywork is not appropriate care for infectious or contagious illness. Please cancel your appointment as soon as you are aware of an infectious or contagious condition.

Question 12

Discounts?

Accepted Answer

I'm proud to offer a 20% discount to all Military personnel (and significant other), First Responders (and significant other), Healthcare workers and Teachers.

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