Holistic Care Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is massage therapy?

Massage Therapy is the manual manipulation of the soft tissues of the body including muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and joints to improve health and well-being. Massage therapy can help alleviate soft tissue discomfort associated with everyday and occupational stresses, repetitive strain injuries and many chronic pain conditions. Massage therapy can greatly reduce the development of painful muscular patterning after accidents involving trauma and injury.

Do I have to remove all my clothing for massage therapy?

No. Your comfort as a client is of the utmost importance, whether that is in the context of the clothing you wear or the treatment you receive. Depending on the treatment, different levels of clothing may be more advisable. For example, in chair massage only outerwear is usually removed, whereas in sports massage and other modalities that involve a lot of movement and stretching I would suggest wearing compression garments but in relaxation modalities I find clients are most comfortable in just underwear or nothing at all. All professional massage therapists are trained in proper draping techniques so that your modesty is protected at all times. Your comfort and ability to relax is paramount to effective treatment.

How do I know which type of massage will be best to choose

Each type of massage has its benefits; however, I find that it's best to mix them together for most clients to make a customized treatment for each client based on their needs. If you would still prefer to just have a specific type of massage you can always request that; otherwise, you'll find that I usually do a very relaxing variation of sports massage incorporating neuromuscular, myofascial, and orthopedic massage techniques and even use a bit of reflexology on the feet.

How Can Massage Help Me

Massage therapy can be beneficial to people of all ages and conditions and is widely used to help obtain relief from many specific problems, including but not limited to:

Inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and tendinitis

Stress relief and associated conditions

Headaches and migraines

Muscle pain and related conditions such as spasms, strains and sprains

Nerve pain whether from compression or impingement

Back pain

Sciatica

Frozen shoulder

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder

Repetitive strain injury

Reduced range of motion

Circulatory and Respiratory problems

Pregnancy and labour discomfort

Post-injury and post surgical rehabilitation

Can anyone receive massage?

Yes, massage therapy is appropriate for individuals of all ages, including infants, children, and the elderly; however, there are some conditions for which massage therapy is not appropriate. A health intake will be filled out at your first appointment so that I can determine that massage is appropriate for you.

Does massage therapy hurt?

Massage therapy should not hurt! When you experience pain your muscle become more tense, so my goal is never to cause pain to a client. Sometimes clients do experience what they call "good pain" - this is not the same as pain though as it does not cause the muscles to tense up. I will work with your individual needs and if at anytime you feel pain please let me know so that I can modify the treatment to adjust to your needs. Usually from experience I can feel if the pressure is to deep and causing pain and adjust before the need to say anything but every client is different so please do not hesitate to give me direction if you are not happy at any time during the session. Clients for massage therapists do sometimes report feeling achy or sore the day after a massage, although this can generally be avoided by maintaining hydration after receiving the massage.

What will my first session be like?

On the first visit you will complete a confidential health history as part of your assessment. This is important as the Massage Therapist needs to know if you have any medical conditions or are taking any medications. The Massage Therapist will listen to your concerns, assess your individual needs as well as other factors that may be contributing to your injury (lifestyle, nutritional status, etc.). The Massage Therapist will then develop a treatment plan with you to ensure you receive appropriate treatment that will help you return, as much as possible, to your normal activities.

Can I track my progress

There are many different ways that I can show you your progress over the course of treatments. First we can do Body Analysis Grid charting before and after each session. You will need to sign a photo release for this. From this you can see how your posture is improving. Secondly, we can do range of motion testing, which will demonstrate your improvements in mobility. Lastly, I keep notes on each client after each treatment I perform of the changes I notice from session to session. For Body Analysis Grid charting and Range of Motion testing additional time will need to be booked as this takes extra time.

Will my Massage Therapist keep my information private?

Yes, I treat all sessions as medical treatments regarding patient safety and confidentiality

What methods of payment do you accept

I accept cash or bank transfer only at this time.

How has my session been altered to be COVID-19 safe?

Although I have always followed the Universal Precautions taught to all massage therapists in school to avoid the spread of pathogens, such as washing hands before and after each client's session, washing all linens that have come into contact with clients, etc... COVID-19 presents new challenges as a highly contagious, airborne disease. For this reason, I am taking extra precautions for my clients.

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These precautions include, but are not limited to:

• wearing a mask

• providing clients with a disposable mask (if they do not bring their own)

• working from home as the room I have here has better ventilation and windows

• reducing the number of linens used to the bare minimum absolutely necessary to provide appropriate coverage for modesty and warmth

• removal of soft surfaces that could hold pathogens, such as table padding, heating pads, etc...

• allowing additional time between appointments to ensure that cleaning products have enough time to kill airborne pathogens according to their protocols for usage

• wiping down all door handles, railings and surfaces that clients could come into contact with

• closing off doors to areas that are not for clients use

• allowing clients to pay via bank transfer instead of just cash, cash is still accepted as well but washed immediately after

• hand sanitizer is on hand for clients to use for their hands, phones, etc...