Frequently Asked Questions

Massage therapists manipulate the soft tissues of the body, usually with lotion. So it's generally requested to disrobe the area we will be working on, as long as it's within your comfort level. That being said, RMTs are trained to work with various clothing situations. In fact, you can remain fully clothed to receive some treatment modalities like Reiki, marma point massage, compression and sound therapy. We will have a short discussion before the massage to go over what your needs are for treatment on that particular day. You will get undressed in private prior to the treatment. Before I leave the room, I will instruct you to disrobe, get on the table, and cover yourself with the linens. Then I knock to check that you're on the table and ready before re-entering the treatment room. You will be lying on the massage table fully covered by a sheet and light blanket throughout the massage. When I need to work on a specific area like your back, arm or leg, that area will be temporarily uncovered. Your privacy and comfort are my main considerations and priorities and are respected at all times. If you are uncomfortable at any point or for any reason during the massage treatment, it's important to let me know right away so we can address what you need to feel comfortable and please feel free to ask any questions you may have at any time.   Your treatment is a collaborative effort between the two of us! 

 My focus is on providing therapeutic massage that relieves pain and creates deep relaxation and healing in the body. Depending on the time we have booked, you can choose from some of the different modalities I offer to address your specific condition and needs. These include myofascial therapy, dry cupping, Reiki, Marma Point massage, Stone massage, Sound therapy, or Deep Tissue massage. Alternatively, you can request a soothing Swedish massage to simply relax and destress. At the beginning of every session, we will discuss what brings you in for a massage that day and ensure the treatment is crafted to your specific needs and pressure preferences. 

 Absolutely not! I consider massage to be a collaboration between me, the therapist and you, the client. I want you to enjoy your massage and get what you need from the massage treatment. Every client and every massage is different. It is far better to request more or less pressure during the massage from time to time than to leave feeling like you did not get the massage you wanted. For both therapeutic and relaxation massage, it is important that you receive enough pressure to feel as though your muscles are being worked, but not to the point of pain. Massage therapy is supposed to feel like a "good pain" and not something to be tolerated or endured with a clenched jaw!  Communication between client and therapist is the key to having a truly effective and enjoyable treatment.

On a pain scale of 1 - 10, the pressure being applied should be around 5 - 7 for optional benefits to happen. Anything above or below those numbers is not in a therapeutic range. If an area is too painful to be worked on directly, that's when we can introduce other modalities like dry cupping and compression therapy to help calm the pain signals from that area before attempting to work with it 'hands on'. 

 You can definitely choose not to talk during your massage, other than occasionally responding to questions about pressure or sensation in an area. Many clients choose to be silent for the majority of the massage and it's common for people to drift off and even sleep through part of the session. 

This is your time for your self-care! It's definitely not awkward for your practitioner if you choose to just enjoy your massage by focusing on relaxing or falling asleep. From time to time, I may need to  check in on you, such as asking about how the pressure feels towards the beginning of the massage, or to turn over, but chatting is not a necessity.  That being said, some people feel more comfortable and more relaxed by chatting or talking about what they're experiencing and that is totally fine as well. You can also choose to talk for part of it and sleep through the rest - again, it's all up to you! 

 Massage therapists work to alleviate scar tissue and adhesions (knots) in the soft tissues by using techniques and pressure to release those areas that are causing pain and range-of-motion restrictions, and to bring much needed blood flow back to various muscles so the body can heal itself. This is generally the focus of therapeutic massage techniques such as trigger point therapy, deep tissue and myofascial work. Generally the more pressure applied and time spent on specific areas, the more likely that area is to be slightly sore a few hours later or even the next day - this is called DOMS - Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (same thing you can feel after a work out). This is often due to inflammation after the massage and is part of the body's healing process. Self-care can vary for different people. For some a hot bath/shower/hot tub works, for others they find it helps to ice the sore areas. Staying well hydrated  and being aware of your body's needs as it heals is a great idea for both muscular and overall health.  After the session, I generally discuss ideas for self-care at home and please feel free to ask me any questions you may have about home care. 

This really varies depending on you and your current situation. If you are experiencing a particular condition, injury or chronic tension in a specific area or areas that is causing consistent pain and interfering with your daily activities, then a few weekly or bi-weekly treatments may be helpful until the pain has lessened or the issue is resolved.  Usually within 3 to 4 sessions, clients are feeling a marked improvement with a particular condition or issue.

If there aren't any specific issues or conditions causing you problems, then it's  generally suggested to have a regular massage on a 4 - 8 week basis. This is what we consider a proactive, maintenance massage schedule. It's always best to 'follow the body' and see what schedule works for you.

Cupping is effective for anyone who loves deep massage work, has acute pain, chronic tension, or an old injury that needs attention. Athletes love cupping because it helps speed muscle recovery after a workout by aiding the immune system in clearing metabolic waste products from the soft tissue, like lactic acid that can make your muscles stiff and sore the day after a workout. Cupping also stimulates angiogenesis in soft tissue (the creation of new capillaries) which allows the body to be more efficient at healing an area due to increased blood supply. 

Cups are applied by a vacuum suction and create an upward compressive stretch to the connective and soft tissue. When integrated with a Swedish Massage, cupping allows me to work on more sensitive areas with less discomfort for you. Some clients choose to have cupping added into their maintanence massage routine because they find it helps them be proactive with areas of repetitive use - such as upper back cupping for people who spend a lot of time at the computer.

Please note that cupping may leave a temporary circular mark on your skin for up to a week following treatment. So, you may choose to not get cupping done right before your wedding day or your trip to somewhere hot and sunny.  :)

 Adding hot stones to a treatment session helps reduce muscle tension and the comforting weight of stones helps the nervous system shift into relaxation response.  The heat and weight also helps prep your muscles and fascia for deeper therapeutic work and/or deeper relaxation.  Applying cold stones to areas like the eyes and face, can be refreshing and also helps conditions like headaches and localized inflammation.

Marma points are from the Ayurvedic healing system developed thousands of years ago in India. They are similar in placement to acupuncture/acupressure meridian points, in fact the two systems are related. Marmas are small physical areas on the body where structures intersect and cross - muscle tendons, ligaments, fascial lines, nerves, and vessels for blood, lymph and other fluids. They are key communication points for working with and balancing the nervous system. These areas can become restricted and have adhesions and other blockages. Working on the marma points in an area is effective at releasing blockages for circulation and movement of soft tissue structures as well as for improving the flow of subtle energy in the body. If possible, I like to incorporate working with the marma points on the head and/or feet during a massage treatment, since these are emphasized in Ayurvedic science as critical areas that restore balance, flow and harmony to the body's systems. And well, it just feels good too.

 24 hours notice is required to cancel or reschedule an appointment, otherwise a cancellation fee may be charged. During these Covid times however, I do understand if a client has to reschedule in a shorter timeframe. Please get in touch with me by email or text, and I will be happy to work with you to resolve any issues with scheduling. 

Thank you in advance for your consideration and honesty in these situations. As a small business owner, I appreciate your understanding.