Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear during my massage?
Clients are encouraged to be comfortable and can expect to be draped at all times. Some individuals may choose to wear undergarments under the drape, others may choose to disrobe completely. The most important factor is your comfort, so you should wear what you feel you can relax in. It’s also important to note that there are many draping techniques used to ensure clients comfort and safety.
Why is there a massage therapy intake session?
It is important to me at SIW to create a strong basis of understanding and treatment for my new and existing clients. Every new client gets a 15 minute complimentary introductory consultation wherein the therapist and client clarify the needs and goals of the session(s) and establish a plan for meeting those goals. I believe that massage is medicine and I want to treat my practice like an environment that makes space for the investment in client care. If you enjoy your time with me after the first session, we make a plan to follow up with consultations throughout your care at SIW. All new clients should expect to stay an additional fifteen minutes past the time they scheduled for the massage to account for the intake session.
Does my intake session take away from the time spent on the massage?
Not at all. The 15 minutes prior to your session is an added benefit to the total time you booked. If you booked a 60 minute appointment, that means you get 75 minutes of my undivided attention.
How do I handle gratuity?
Gratuity is never expected, but always appreciated. I see my services as healthcare services and I do my best to price my services accessibly while honoring my skill, experience, and abilities. That being said - I thank you for your patronage and if you enjoy your experience with me and would like to express your gratitude - a tip is a wonderful treat but a great review or a kind word shared on my behalf would mean the world to me.
How do I prepare for my massage?
Clients should arrive clean and free from strong odors. Hydration before and after a massage is helpful to the process of cellular metabolism and massage recovery. It’s recommended not to eat a heavy meal prior to your massage and to use the restroom beforehand for greater ease on the table.
How should I communicate with my therapist?
Though I do our best to anticipate my clients needs; I cannot read minds. It’s very important to me that you feel comfortable letting me know if an element of the massage is not to your liking. I will do my best to ask questions and check in with you, but you should not hesitate to let me know if something isn’t feeling helpful to your massage experience. It is my delight to do what is in my ability to make your massage experience phenomenal.
How can I expect to feel after my massage?
There are occasions where tissue work, light or deep, leaves a feeling of soreness, grogginess, or overwhelm after a massage. This can present itself in a “just went to the gym” type of soreness, or feeling a bit run down, feeling great, or anywhere in between. If you experience soreness for over 24 - 48 hours after your massage, or overt discomfort, please let me know so that we can adjust our approach for next time. I always recommend that clients plan to relax after their massage and not to do any heavy lifting or intense activity 24 hours post-massage.
Will therapeutic massage be painful?
Therapeutic massage should not be painful, leave bruises, or exceed a clients threshold of sensation. Though a client may feel some degree of discomfort, the aim is always to provide longer-term relief and productivity. As one can imagine, pressure is relative, so it is important that clients feel comfortable being open about their needs in adjusting the depth and technique. It is very important to understand that intention and receptivity are much more effective than sheer force when treating tissue.
I have a complex health background, an undiagnosed condition or chronic pain - is massage right for me?
I find a systems oriented approach to be most effective in treating my clients. This means, I look at the whole of the person - their lifestyle, environment, practices, and inner world to understand where and how I can be the most helpful. Because of this, I also understand that there are limits to what a massage therapist can reasonably and safely accomplish. The world and the organisms living within it are full of nuance and complexities that we have yet to understand. Massage therapy can be a wonderful addition to a network of providers that will help you on your journey in navigating the complexities of our human organism and its’ relation to the larger whole. It is important that individuals living with complex pain, chronic injury, and disease, understand that licensed massage therapists are not psychotherapists or medical doctors. If you are in chronic pain, struggling with a complex illness or injury, it is important that you create a network of intelligent and qualified providers that will assist you on your wellness journey. Clients can expect my approach to be integrative and holistic - meaning I will happily work closely with your providers to create an empowering environment for your health and wellbeing.
What can I expect from my massage now and over time?
Every person is different, including our tissue response and recovery time. There are occasions when massage is performed that clients see immediate and drastic results. Other times, the process may take longer, or even come and go depending on our lifestyle, habits, health concerns, and previous injury, treatment, or surgeries. It’s important to remember that when we want to see positive change, we have to interact with what is making that positive change consistently. Just like going to the gym, it will take time, planning, and persistence to work through years, sometimes decades, or a near lifetime of physical memory. If your massage makes you feel slightly better, we keep doing it, expanding on it and plan around your health and wellness goals.