Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do you enjoy doing massage?
2. What should I wear- will I be covered during my massage?
3. Do I have to remain draped?
4. Why do I need to fill out an intake form-client history?
5. Why do I have to drink water after my massage and not coffee, soda or
alcohol?
6. What massage methods do you use?
7. Why is proper posture/stretching so important?
8. What is this Fascia ?
9. How often should I get massaged?
10. I wish I could afford to get
massage more often- Why is massage so expensive?
11. Gratuity?
12. What kind of products do you
use?
13. Is Maternity Massage safe?
14. What if it s that time of the
month ?
15. Do you make house calls?
16. Is massage sexual? Like
prostitution? Do you do extras ?
17. Is there anyone you won t
massage?
18. Should I cancel my appointment
if I catch a cold or poison ivy?
19. Do a lot of people fall asleep
during massage?
20. Should I talk, or not?
21. Do you have shower facilities?
22. Ack! I forgot to shave my legs!
23. Ack! My stomach is making
noises!
24. You must really hate massaging
people as fat , old , ugly as me.
25. Can you massage the
fat/cellulite away?
26. Can you skip massaging my
_________?
27. Can you teach my spouse to
massage me like that?
28. Can you diagnose my illness?
29. Can you adjust or crack my neck
or back?
30. Do your hands hurt from doing
massage all day?
31. How old do you have to be to
get a massage?
32. Can I bring my own music for my
massage?
33. Can you massage pets?
34. Are your linens clean?
35. I have had other massages that
made me sore the next day, why is that?
36. Why the cancellation policy?
37. Why do you wait 2 days to call
back?
38. Why only 2 days a week?
1.
Do you enjoy doing massage? What got you into
this line of work? I consider myself very lucky to have a
career that I absolutely love and am fulfilled by every day.
I truly believe in the power and importance of a healing
touch and enjoy being able to give that to others. I also
love to help people find ways to empower themselves. I have
massaged people since I was about 6 years old, and have been
a massage therapist professionally for over 11 years now.
2.
What should I wear- will I be covered during my massage?
You may undress to your particular level of comfort (you can
wear shorts or underwear if it makes you more comfortable)
however, you will be modestly draped with a sheet and or
blanket at all times.
3.
Do I have to remain draped? Yes, you must remain
draped throughout your massage.
4.
Why do I need to fill out an intake form-client history?
This will enable the massage therapist to serve you in the
best way possible. This will show if you have any
contraindications or conditions that would make it
uncomfortable or even harmful to receive a massage. This is
for your safety. It will also give me a history of your
injuries, surgeries, or any type or repetitive movements
(from work/hobbies, etc.) that you may do consciously or
unconsciously, that may be causing your pain or discomfort.
It will also help me to know what you like or dislike in a
massage experience so I can make your appointment with me
absolutely wonderful!
5.
Why do I have to drink water after my massage and not
coffee, soda or alcohol? In general, we need
plenty of water just to hydrate our tissues. When we aren't
t hydrated, our bodies can t perform optimally, and we can
feel fatigued. When your muscles are tight, they may be
entrapping nerves and blood vessels. When blood vessels are
entrapped, the muscles can t get enough blood, oxygen and
nourishment that they need. Meanwhile, the body s cellular
waste stays stuck in the restricted muscles (knots).
When you receive a massage (particularly a deep tissue
massage), this waste is flushed out of your system.
It is also recommended to drink a few glasses throughout the
day before your massage appointment. If you don t drink at
least 2 eight ounce glasses of water within a few hours
after your session, or if you choose one of the other
beverages listed above instead, you will more than likely
experience soreness, fatigue, weakness or headaches for a
day or two following your massage. WE DON T WANT THIS TO
HAPPEN!! We don t want to turn a relaxing, therapeutic
experience into an unpleasant experience, so please Drink
your water!!
6.
What massage methods do you use? I combine
massage techniques for relaxation with various Advanced Deep
Tissue techniques, such as Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT),
Myofascial Release (MFR), Trigger point Therapy, Sports
massage, Therapeutic Assisted Stretching techniques (PNF and
Thai-Yoga), as well as Reflexology foot massage and
Maternity massage.
7.
Why is proper posture/stretching so important?
After I give a massage, I will demonstrate a few stretches
or self-massage techniques, suggest breathing exercises, and
explain the importance of becoming aware of your posture and
body mechanics.
Particularly if you are participating in a series of massage
with the purpose of rehabilitating your body.
These are all important, along with proper nutrition,
because your body wants to be in balance. If, for example,
the muscles on the left side of your neck are consistently
tight- over time they will shorten. For every action there
is an equal and opposite reaction.
Therefore, the muscles on the right side of your neck will
lengthen, and this will cause one imbalance which can cause
tension, pain, headaches, limited movement, etc. Then
because of our connective tissue (fascia), and your body s
own righting reflexes , compensations start to happen
throughout the body. What started off as a tight neck can
also turn into a tight and raised hip, which will make one
leg look shorter than the other. This is known as a
functionally shortened leg. (A structurally shortened leg is
when one of the leg bones is actually shorter than the
other.) By massaging and stretching the shortened muscles
longer than the lengthened muscles, we can bring the body
back into balance, where it wants to be so that it can
function optimally. Imagine what can happen in the body if
our organs are being compressed by improper balance of the
musculature! What you do at home is just as important as the
massage sessions. One massage cannot undo the many years of
neglect, abuse, injuries, etc. Likewise, regular massage can
only be truly beneficial if we continue to take care of our
bodies at home, even if only for a few minutes, several
times throughout the day, and take notice of, and change the
detrimental postural habits we all do.
I can also take a few minutes before your session in order
to do a brief assessment and measure to see if one shoulder
or hip is raised or rotated. This will help me to target the
exact muscle groups that we would need to focus on, and
which muscles need to be stretched longer. My GOAL is to
help you release the restrictions in your body that are
causing you pain and limited movement. If you also work
toward that goal at home, I believe you can improve the
quality of your life.
8.
What is this ‘Fascia’ ? Simply put, fascia is a
connective tissue, similar to tendons and ligaments in your
body that is like a web from head to toe. It goes in and
around and through all of the muscles in your body. One of
its functions is to allow various sets of muscles to glide
over each other. When there are restrictions, especially old
restrictions, the muscles tend to get glued together and
they have to move together, rather than glide over each
other. This will make them tired, sore and weak.
Because of this gluing , the body begins to stay stuck in
certain postures, particularly poor postures. When fascia is
healthy, the body feels freer with much more movement and
mobility, and less pain. We can keep it healthy by staying
hydrated and stretching.
9.
How often should I get massaged? Each person is
totally individual: it depends on the results that you are
looking for. If you just want to generally relax or pamper
yourself, perhaps once per month or quarterly would be fine.
If you lead a more stressful life, between once per week and
once per month. If you are looking for more corrective or
rehabilitative work (have limited range of motion or chronic
tension) once per week would be best.
Remember that in most cases the chronic tension didn't t
happen overnight, so it will take some time to bring the
body back to a balanced state. I will show you various
stretches to do at home to increase and enhance the benefits
between sessions.
10.
I wish I could afford to get massage more often- Why is
massage so expensive? There are several factors
to consider. After Uncle Sam, overhead costs, dividing other
duties, such as laundry, accounting, errands, phone calls
etc. the therapist isn't getting the full amount that you
are paying. You are also paying for the therapist s
experience and education. In a Spa, you are paying for the
pretty extras. That said, I also try to make massage as
affordable as possible. If you put $5- $10 aside each week,
you could get a massage every 2 1/2 to 5 months. (Are there
any bad habits you are trying to break? Maybe put a portion
of that money into the jar.)
Massage makes a wonderful gift! Many people,
rather that worry about receiving gifts that may need to be
exchanged simply request
Massage Gift Certificates for holidays and
birthdays. I also run specials and give incentives for
referrals. You may want to host a Massage Party. You could
come in with a friend for a
Massage Lesson and I can teach you how to massage
each other. In my
practice, you will receive the full amount of time that you
paid for.
Some places give you a 50-55 minute hour.
Some places will also charge you more for deep tissue or
deep pressure (and often…it isn’t very deep or true deep
tissue work…) I charge the
same flat rate because you are receiving my knowledge and
skill…and my passion for what I do…equally in all services.
11.
Gratuity? To me, a gratuity is any token of
appreciation. While monetary gratuity is appreciated, it is
not expected. I enjoy big hugs and the look of relief on my
client s faces just as much, if not more.
Referrals are also a
way to show gratitude. I would prefer someone who really
needs regular massage to come in more often and NOT tip me,
than not schedule because of the added expense.
12.
What kind of products do you use? I use only
plant based, cruelty free products. By this, I mean that the
oils and creams that I use are from plants, nuts, and seeds.
For those with peanut allergies, I use jojoba oil. I don not
use petroleum based products (mineral oil or baby oil)
because these are from non-renewable resources, they are not
beneficial to the skin and usually leave a residue on the
skin. Plant based oils are absorbed more easily into the
skin and act as a natural moisturizer. I also make sure to
only use products that have not been tested on animals
(which causes unnecessary pain and suffering). The products
that I use are safe and tested using other methods. I also
offer the Body Cushion system. Rather than lying flat on the
massage table, this system of specially designed bolsters
follows the curves of your body, so it takes the stress off
of your joints and back.
13.
Is Maternity Massage safe? Absolutely! If you
have any health concerns, please refer to your physician. In
general, and as long as you are in good health, massage
during pregnancy can actually ease a lot of discomfort.
There are some therapists, out of personal preference, who
choose not to do maternity massage, and some who choose not
to massage until after the first trimester. However, there
is no reason that massage cannot be administered in most
cases. If in doubt, check with your physician. (My friend,
Dr. Laureen Pladdys was sure to get weekly or bi-weekly
massages during her pregnancy with triplets. It aided in her
discomfort, and she gave birth to 3 beautiful and healthy
baby boys!)
14.
What if it’s ‘that time of the month’ ? This is a
personal preference. There is no reason not to receive a
massage at that time. It all depends on your comfort level.
15.
Do you make house calls? I will do house calls,
massage parties, and couples massage for established clients
only. There is a 2 hour minimum, plus a $30 travel charge.
Please see the Description of Services section.
16.
Is massage sexual? Like prostitution? Do you do ‘extras’ ?
No, No, No! I personally haven't been asked this too often
by my clients. Of course there are places that do that. But
that is not what you will find here. I specialize in massage
for therapeutic purposes only. Strictly non-sexual and
non-sensual.
17.
Is there anyone you won t massage? Yes, see
above question! I also won’t massage anyone that has a
contagious skin condition, other contraindications (see
contraindications ), anyone under the influence of alcohol
or drugs, or who is extremely rude!
18.
Should I cancel my appointment if I catch a cold or poison
ivy? If it is a minor cold, you should be okay.
However, it you get a bad cold or flu it would be best to
cancel, for your benefit as well as mine.
No offense, but I would rather not catch it and miss time
from work! Poison Ivy- please
do cancel and do not come in until there is no
more rash. I am susceptible to it.
19.
Do a lot of people fall asleep during massage?
Yes, about half of the clients drift off for a while. I
have only had to shake someone awake 2 or 3 times! Yes,
sometimes people snore, the best compliment you can give a
massage therapist!
20.
Should I talk, or not? This is up to you. I will
follow your lead. I encourage whatever makes you feel most
comfortable. I do suggest that you keep your topic something
positive, for relaxation purposes.
21.
Do you have shower facilities? No, I do not. It
is always appreciated that you come to your appointment
relatively clean If you are simply coming from the office,
that is not a problem. If you are concerned with feeling
oily afterwards, I use massage cream or a lotion/oil
combination to prevent this.
22.
Ack! I forgot to shave my legs! I always
apologize when I forget too but it s really not a problem.
Besides the guys rarely shave their legs, so I think I can
handle it!
23.
Ack! My stomach is making noises! Or something
else just made a noise Again, not a problem. Stomach noises
are a positive sign. When you are stressed, your body is in
sympathetic mode, your digestive process slows down so other
things can speed up. When you are relaxed, you go into para-sympathetic
mode.
This is when your digestion picks up and everything else
calms down. Sometimes my stomach makes noises while I m
giving a massage, so we can have a little symphony! As for
other noises hey, we re all human.
It happens to everyone at some time or another.
24.
You must really hate massaging people as fat , old , ugly as
me. First, when I massage someone, I am not
looking for imperfections. I do not see fat/thin,
male/female, young/old I simply see someone who needs a
healing touch. The only thing I am searching for is tension
in muscles. Secondly, with that in mind, please, please do
not ask or say those things when you come in for your
sessions. I’m not looking for those traits and those
statements cause some pretty awkward moments.
25.
Can you massage the fat/cellulite away? If I
could I would be a millionaire! Massage can give you more
awareness of your body, and make you feel better about
yourself to take measures to care for yourself in various
ways. There are several different theories as to what
cellulite is. Even if I could massage it away, I would not
offer that service, because it largely depends on various
measures of self care, and since I cannot possibly monitor
how much effort someone is putting into their self-care, I
would prefer not to encourage anyone to waste their time or
money.
26.
Can you skip massaging my _________? Some people
have certain areas they prefer not to be massaged.
Typical areas would be; feet, face, scalp, abdomen or
buttocks. Other people may love to have those areas
massaged. I list this in my intake form, we can skip any
such areas you like. Private areas are never massaged.
27.
Can you teach my spouse to massage me like that?
Absolutely! Well, maybe not exactly like me! I can teach you
some basic movements. I can show you how to do it with more
benefits to both the giver and receiver. The main thing to
remember is, it needs to come from your heart, not from a
sense of obligation. See the massage lessons and What s New
portions of this web site.
28.
Can you diagnose my illness? No! Please don t
ask me to do that. It is out of my scope of practice.
Do you really want someone diagnosing you that doesn't t
have the proper training?
29.
Can you adjust or crack my neck or back? No!
Please don t ask me to do that either. I never intentionally
adjust anyone. Sometimes it may happen as the muscles relax.
That is just a little bonus, similar to when you stretch and
feel your spine align.
30.
Do your hands hurt from doing massage all day?
Not too often. I use my body weight more than the strength
of my hands. Oddly enough, they usually don’t hurt till
someone asks me that!
31.
How old do you have to be to get a massage?
Actually, even infants can receive massage. Generally, you
can find classes where a practitioner will teach the parents
how to do it. I require that a client be a minimum of 8
years of age. I will massage those between 8-14 up to 30
minutes, with parent present. 15 and older can receive an
hour or longer.
Time frames can also depend on whether someone is
exceptionally small or tall for their age. Massage is
exceptionally beneficial for the mature population as well.
32.
Can I bring my own music for my massage?
Absolutely! I play relaxing music, however bring in anything
that makes you feel relaxed kindly leave your death metal
music at home. Thanks!
33.
Can you massage pets? I massage my dogs all the
time. I would be happy to show you how to massage your
dog.Cats can be massaged too-- my cat only lets me massage
her ears and neck. This could be scheduled as a 15 minute
session.
34.
Are your linens clean?
No! I re-use them over and over until someone
complains about the smell! Yes, of course I wash my linens
between each use. I'm haven t been asked that often, but it
has crossed my mind at some appointments that I have had!.
35.
I have had other massages that made me sore the next day,
why is that? There are several explanations for
this. First and foremost, is the importance of drinking at
least 2-8oz glasses of water within an hour of your massage.
If your muscles are restricted and get loosened up during
your massage, then metabolic or cellular waste (such as
lactic acid) is released into your bloodstream. The water
helps to flush it away. If you don't drink the water, it is
very possible you will feel tired, sore, or very headache-y.
Another possibility will depend on the amount of adhesions
(knots) you have, and if the therapist was really working
them out. This should feel like general workout soreness,
but NOT "PAIN". It is also possible the therapist did use
too much pressure for your body. Every "body" is different,
and each individual can be different from day to day, body
part to body part. I have learned over the years to listen
to my client s body, in addition to what they say they want.
If the client says "extremely deep pressure" but their body
is saying "no way!" I listen to the body. If the client gets
mad at me, then that is something I have to deal with. I
would prefer that then someone to be in actual "pain" the
next day. I will ask you once or twice if the pressure is
suitable, and ask that you let me know if you are ever
uncomfortable. PLEASE, do not worry about "offending" your
therapist if the pressure isn't suitable to you. Let them
know, especially if it is really hurting you. While a "mild
discomfort" is necessary in certain modalities to create a
response in the tissues (such as in NMT), this will feel
like a "good hurt"...not "pain". A responsible therapist
always stays within the tolerance of their client.
36.
Why the cancellation policy? Well, believe it or
not, this is how I make my bread & butter! Imagine going in
to work your 8 hours, and your boss says, “well, you have to
sit at your desk all day, but there is no work so I am not
paying you”, when you knew the day before you had much work
to do…When a service provider (massage therapist, hair
stylist, mechanic, dentist) puts you in their appointment
book, that time slot is dedicated to you. If you give at
least 24 hours notice, chances are we can fill that spot
with someone else who needs massage. If not, that is fine…we
would know ahead of time that we can take a break or study
or run home to let the dogs out…or anything productive. If
you just don’t show up, or call 10 minutes or an hour before
your appt---this is appreciated rather than just not showing
up, but it still means that we can’t fill that space. I
wanted to develop a cancellation policy that I would be
comfortable with on both sides, so with me, if it is less
than 24 hours notice there is a $30 fee to be collected at
your next appointment time. I know things come up~
emergencies, illness, bad weather, and I will usually let it
go once or twice. But, in order to stay in business and also
pay my bills, I need to have this policy in place, and hope
to attract clients who are honorable and respectful of my
time, as I am theirs. The flip side of my policy is that if
I ~ever~ need to cancel less than 24 hours notice, I will
give you an extra 20 minutes free on top of your next paid
hour appointment. I feel this is only fair. The only time I
ever cancel is significant illness or other emergency. I
have had people cancel last minute to go to a concert, or
skiing, or just to party…and that is great to go have fun,
but it is also important to be respectful of others. I truly
thank each person for their understanding in this matter!
37. Why do you wait 2 days to
call back? I have had a few people get very
irritated at me, and a few business people allude to the
possibility that this is not good business. I have placed on
my outgoing message that I will call back within 2 business
days, and also to please state your name and number
s-l-o-w-l-y. Due to the nature of my business, I am usually
either in a massage service, or on the road, and
occasionally take the whole day off to be with family,
friends, at a class or time just for me~ I am not always
able to answer the phone to give my undivided attention, or
call back right away. If someone happens to call while I am
in the middle of a full day, it may take me 1-2 days to call
back, especially if they have a specific time frame for me
to call back. Also notice that it is 2 “business” days. If
you call on Thursday, I might not be able to call back until
Monday. I do work at other places on the weekend, or I may
go away for the day, so I am not always able to call on the
weekend. It is much easier
to contact me by email. Many times the time
slot I get to contact people back is very early morning, or
later in the evening. If I am away for the week, I always
leave this on my voicemail and what day I will be able to
return calls. When this happens, by all means, leave some
dates and times to call back, and when you would like to
schedule your appointment.
ALSO, if someone says their phone number rocket fast, and it
doesn’t come up on caller I.D….there is no way I can call
them back. There are also times I am sure to call
clients back, and their child answers the phone, or
something happens with their answering machine, so it may
look like I didn’t call back, when I have… I very much
appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding with this.
I would never not call back just for the heck of it!
38.
Why do you only massage 3
days a week? While I have been a massage
therapist since 1994, much of that time I worked in Marlton
NJ, and I started my own business from scratch in 2003. I am
still learning how to market and network to get my practice
where I would like it to be, so I still work at other
locations in the mean time. I also offer On-Site options on
various days of the week as well. I share space with another
therapist at my current office, so for the moment, my in
office hours are Wed, Thurs, & Fri. Evening appointments
tend to book up quickly. I also teach wellness workshops and
write articles, and of course like to continue my studies to
bring the best combination of techniques to you! I am
also learning the art of “balance”, myself! So in order for
me to refill my well to give the best service that you
deserve, I am learning to carve out time to practice what I
preach in terms of “self-care”~
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