Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a spa massage and a therapeutic treatment massage?
When people hear ‘massage,’ most think of a traditional full-body Swedish relaxation or spa massage, which is a "protocol massage" because the therapist follows a set protocol with little to no deviation.
A therapeutic massage is geared towards injury recovery, focusing on the problem are, and is often therapeutically painful, since it often involves applying deep pressure or repeated strokes to a tense area. Relaxation is a side benefit, not necessarily the goal, unless the diagnosis is anxiety or something similar.
I've never had a massage before. What can I expect?
For your first appointment, plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early to fill out some paperwork. These forms collect information about you, your medical history, any current health concerns, with some additional paperwork for insurance information if that's your payment method. Please come clean and free of perfumes, colognes, essential oils, or other strongly scented products (deodorant OK).
After completing your intake paperwork, you are lead to the treatment room. Your the therapist does a short intake of their own, and then they step out and close the door. You undress to the level of your comfort—a lot of people leave underwear on or only undress the area to be worked on, and it's fine if you are not comfortable undressing at all; the therapist can work through clothes or sheets, though perhaps not as effectively. If you’re nervous, you can ask the therapist to narrate what they’re going to do before or as they do it.
Presuming you undressed at all, you get on the table beneath the drape, which is an opaque sheet. When you let the therapist know you’re ready, they'll step back in. The draping is modest; only the body part(s) being worked on is uncovered at any time. From there, the therapist will begin to assess you and manipulate tissue.
If you ever feel uncomfortable, say “Stop,” and "I am uncomfortable," "This is not effective for me." People have different levels of comfort, so you will not offend anybody by making your needs known. We want you to receive the care that you need, not suffer in silence for any length of time!
