Massage FAQs
Common Questions
You will be asked to fill out a health history form. It is very important to list all health concerns and medications so the session can be tailored to your specific needs without doing any harm. It is also important to list any allergies so I can use a different oil or creme during the session. You will be asked general questions to establish what areas you would like worked on, if there are any conditions needing to be addressed, and to determine if massage is appropriate for you. I may perform certain assessments and testing to evaluate your condition and to see if you have any presenting complaints.
Undress to the level that you are comfortable. For a full body massage, most get completely undressed. However, if you would be more comfortable during the session if you leave your underwear on, that’s fine.You will have privacy to undress and get comfortable on the table, under a sheet and blanket.
Yes. This is known as draping. You will be covered by a sheet and blanket. The therapist only uncovers the part of your body being worked on.
This depends on the type of massage and the depth of the strokes. A light, relaxing massage that doesn’t probe very deep into the muscles, shouldn’t hurt. With that being said, there is a ‘feels good’ hurt and an ‘ouch, stop it’ hurt. A good massage, even a really deep tissue massage, should always stay in the ‘feels good’ hurt range. Pain can be an indicator that the muscle is possibly injured or inflamed and I can adjust the pressure. Also, pain can cause you to tighten up and cancel the relaxing effects of the massage. The most effective and deepest massage always works with your body’s natural response, not against it.
“Some is better than none.” What does that mean? Well, it varies from person to person. If you are just looking for some occasional relaxation, then a session every 3-6 weeks may be fine for you. However, if you are looking to address a specific condition, then it is recommended to go more frequently at first and then slowly taper down to a maintenance schedule. Sometimes more frequent 30-minute sessions can be effective until your goals are met and a maintenance schedule is in place. The frequency of sessions will be determined after your treatment when there is a better understanding of your particular muscular issues.