What is therapeutic massage? Should it be painful?
Therapeutic massage provides stress relief, relaxation, and pain management. Each massage session is designed specifically to meet your needs and objectives at that time. Therapeutic massage is completely non-sexual and follows a professional code of ethics. Any sexual advances or inappropriate behavior will be cause to immediately terminate the session and you will be expected to pay for the session regardless. Massage (especially deep tissue massage) can be uncomfortable, but it should never be so painful that it makes you tense up. At that point, it becomes counterproductive. If you don’t like how something feels, please speak up. If I ask you if you need more or less pressure, please be honest. I won’t be insulted or offended. I want this to be the best experience possible for you, and honest communication will help ensure that.
Why should I receive a massage?
Massage has many health benefits that, when incorporated into your wellness practice, can help you maintain physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
According to the American Massage Therapy Association (www.amtamassage.org), the physical benefits of therapeutic massage can include: relief from pain, muscle tension, stiffness and spasms; faster healing of strained muscles and sprained ligaments; reduced pain, swelling and the formation of excessive scar tissue; greater joint flexibility and range of motion; enhanced athletic performance; improved circulation of blood and movement of lymph, lowered blood pressure, improved posture, a strengthened immune system, and faster post-operative and injury rehabilitation.
Massage therapy also fosters peace of mind and a feeling of well-being; promotes a relaxed state of mental alertness; helps reduce anxiety levels and mental stress; enhances your capacity for calm thinking; and creates physical (proprioceptive) awareness.
How often should I receive massage?
This is entirely up to you! We can discuss your goals, and if you are seeking massage for a specific form of relief, I may have recommendations on frequency. That being said, everyone is different; some people come once a week, every four to six weeks, once a quarter, or whenever they get that nagging “I should get a massage” feeling.
What is cannabis-infused massage? Will it get me high?
I offer my clients the option of using Apothecanna–brand cannabidiol (CBD) oils and creams. Apothecanna CBD products are made with non-psychoactive cannabis extract, which has potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. There is no euphoric feeling or “high” associated with topical use of Apothecanna, nor will it make you test positive on a drug test. I do not offer any oils or creams infused with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), though clients are welcome to bring their own legally-obtained, medical marijuana topical products for use during their session.
When should I arrive for my appointment?
You are welcome to arrive right at your appointment time, but I encourage you to arrive a few minutes before your session so you do not feel rushed. Arriving early also ensures that you experience the complete session. Out of courtesy to clients whose sessions may precede yours, I ask that you please do not show up more than fifteen minutes early for your appointment.
What should I expect during my appointment?
The first time we work together, I will take an extensive health history and ask about your lifestyle, activity level, work habits, and hobbies to help me fully understand what’s going on with your body. This will also give us a chance to discuss your expectations and goals for the session. At that time, I’ll give you an overview of what I’m planning to do to make sure we’re in agreement. I will then leave the room to give you privacy while you disrobe and get settled on the table.
When you tell me you are ready, I’ll come back in the room and begin the session. If at any time during the treatment something doesn’t feel good, let me know and I’ll adjust what I’m doing. The most important thing to know is that you are in charge of the session and I’ll do my best to honor any request you make. When the session is over, I’ll step out again and let you relax a moment before getting off the table and getting dressed. When you let me know you are dressed, I’ll come back in and give you some water, check to make sure you’re doing alright, and get your feedback on the session.
Do I have to be naked?
No. Although Swedish massage is traditionally received in the nude, you only need to disrobe to your level of comfort, and whether that means removing all your clothes or leaving some on, it’s all totally acceptable and normal. Some people prefer to receive their treatment with no clothing on and others prefer to leave on their underwear. Most women do remove their bra and some people (male and female) do choose to leave their underwear on. No matter what you decide, draping will be used during the session so you’ll be covered by a sheet and blanket the entire time. I will only undrape and expose the area that I’m working on. If you are concerned about these boundaries, please let me know. I am also happy to show you where I plan to drape before your massage begins. At no time will I see you completely naked.
What am I supposed to “do” during the massage? Can I talk? Will my therapist be talking to me? What if I fall asleep and realized I’ve drooled? What if I pass gas? What if I get an erection?
Your only job is to help me do my job, which is facilitating healing and relaxation. The only thing you need to do during a massage is keep me posted on how you are feeling by giving me feedback about uncomfortable or painful sensations. This can be anything from telling me about pressure to saying you’d like more or less warmth from the table warmer. Never hesitate to share information with me, as I will not be hurt or offended – quite the opposite, it is greatly appreciated! And, and if you fall asleep, I consider it a huge compliment. Even if you realize that you have drooled a little, don’t worry; this is very common. Please don’t be afraid to ask for a tissue.
I will generally follow your lead if you’d like a quiet or chattier session. The important thing here is that you are able to go to a place that is most relaxing and productive for your body. Feel free to ask me questions and provide feedback on how you are feeling – I love answering your questions!
Some men avoid massage therapy because they’re worried they’ll get an erection, or they get the massage, but are unable to relax during the massage because of this fear. But there is no reason to be embarrassed. It’s perfectly normal for men to get an erection during a non-sexual, therapeutic massage. Gentle touch administered to any area of the body can activate the parasympathetic nervous system and cause a partial or full erection. Massage therapists understand this and will generally ignore it. If you are still worried, you may wish to wear a men’s bikini bathing suit during the massage, which provides more support than boxers.
Activation of the body’s parasympathetic nervous system also triggers the body’s “rest and digest” response, which can promote the passage of gas. Please be assured that your therapist understands this to be a perfectly normal, healthy physical response! It’s a sign that your massage is doing what it’s supposed to do!
What is your cancellation policy?
There will be no fees for appointments canceled with 24 or more hours’ notice. For appointments canceled without 24 hours’ notice, I will waive the fee if you reschedule within a week. For appointments canceled with less than 24 hours’ notice and not rescheduled, full payment for the session will be expected.
What if I’m running late?
Please contact me as soon as possible if you are running late. I will be happy to see you when you get here and will give you as much time on the table as possible, keeping in mind that your session may need to be shortened to accommodate others whose appointments follow yours. In either case, full payment for the session will be expected.
What if Sarah cancels or is running late?
If for some reason I cannot honor your appointment, I will notify you at least 24 hours in advance and reschedule our session at your earliest convenience. In cases where 24 hour advance notice isn’t possible, I will give you a $20 discount on your rescheduled session. If I am running late, I will either extend the length of your session or a future session to balance out the time, or I will give you a $1 discount for each minute I kept you waiting, whichever you would prefer.
Do I need to fill out any forms?
If this is your first session with me, I will ask you to fill out a health intake form when you arrive. You can also fill it out beforehand and bring it in with you to your appointment. Please be honest on your health history, as a therapeutic massage may need to be modified or even postponed to prevent injury.
Is my health information confidential? Why do you need to know these things?
All health and personal information provided as well as the details of your session will be kept confidential and will not be shared without your prior consent. I ask for a detailed health history as the techniques of therapeutic massage may need to be altered or adjusted to compensate for a medical condition.
Do you take insurance?
No. However, I would be happy to provide you with a detailed invoice for submission to your insurance company or health reimbursement spending account.
What types of payment do you accept?
I currently do not accept credit cards. For now, I accept cash, check, Venmo (@SRC_LMT), and PayPal. Please let me know if you have any financial concerns and we can discuss what arrangements would be best for us.
Should I tip my therapist?
Tips are not expected but they are greatly appreciated. You can follow the same formula you would follow at a salon—10% to 20% of the service cost. Referrals are also greatly appreciated–not only do they help me grow my business, when someone you refer books a session, you receive 15 free minutes or $15 off your next session. I also really appreciate your reviews on my Facebook page, which is also a great place to find out about deals and specials!