Frequently Asked Questions

Yes there are. That's why it's imperative before you begin your session we go over your general and specific health issues. You should always inform me or any other practitioner of any health problems or medications you are taking. If you are under a doctor's care, it is strongly advised that you receive a written recommendation for massage or bodywork prior to any session. There are a few conditions that an approval from your doctor may be required. Also, if you get a prescription from your doctor most health insurance will reimburse you any out of pocket costs.

See my specific Benefits page but massage and bodywork can help release chronic muscular tension and pain, improve circulation, increase joint flexibility, reduce mental and physical fatigue and stress, promote faster healing of injured muscular tissue, improve posture, and reduce blood pressure. Massage and bodywork is also known to promote better sleep, improve concentration, reduce anxiety and create an overall sense of well-being. 

The short answer is no. Disrobe only to your level of comfort. If we are only working on specific areas other clothing can remain on. An example is if we are treating only the shoulders and neck only upper body clothing needs to be removed, but disrobe only to your level of comfort.

With that said, keep in mind that no matter what level you disrobe, during a professional massage, you’ll always be draped so only the area being worked on is uncovered at any one time.

Bodywork through clothing limits the number and types of strokes a Therapist can do, In the case of Therapeutic Massage Cupping it is hardly possible unless bare skin of the area being treated is exposed. 

Here are some other points to consider:

• I will always respect your level of comfort and work to achieve a positive therapeutic result but remaining fully clothed will limit the type of massage techniques that can be used. Bare skin allows for broader range of massage strokes making a more complete treatment possible. Also, it just feels better to you, the client. 
• You can always request that certain body areas are avoided during a massage though this may mean a complete treatment will not be possible. There's hardly a case of low back pain that can be adequately treated without including the glutes as well. 
• For some treatments involving stretching it's best to dress as you would for the gym to avoid the need for complex draping.
• Suggestions for the Ladies: It’s best if you remove your bra, even if you choose to leave your panties on because lotions and oils may stain certain fabrics. It’s also very difficult to work the upper shoulder/neck muscles and around the shoulder blade with bra straps in the way. Breast tissue remains snugly draped at all times.
• Suggestions for the Guys: Don’t wear the long thigh boxers/briefs that closely hug the thigh if you can avoid it. These make it really difficult to massage your IT band, quads and hamstrings. Choose briefs or traditional boxers instead.
• Please remove jewelry before your session. It's best to leave it in a safe place at home.

A few more thoughts while on the subject:

Most massage and bodywork techniques in a spa environment are traditionally performed with the client unclothed especially in European countries but American sentiments are more conservative. When I worked in the spa environment it was about fifty/fifty those that left some undergarments on and those that were comfortable unclothed under the drape. Remember, it is entirely up to you what you want to wear. You should undress to your level of comfort. 

Most Therapists are trained that the amount of clothing you take off is your comfort zone in a massage. A Therapist should never remove any clients undergarment while they are on the table. Moving a bra strap out of the way or tucking down a high waistband to access the upper sacrum is one thing, and that should only be done with permission. Any alteration of what you are wearing when you got on the table during a session requires the Therapist  to leave the room just like when you got on the table when the session began. 

The Therapist will leave the room while you undress. Then relax onto the table under the top sheet and blanket. After a few moments the Therapist will knock and ask if you are ready before entering the room to start your session.

Prior to the massage, feel free to ask any questions about the technique or the upcoming session. During the massage, make yourself comfortable and relax. The Therapist may gently move you or tell you what is needed throughout the session (such as lifting your arm). Many people just close their eyes and completely relax. If you have any questions regarding the session or about the particular technique you are receiving, feel free to ask. 

Cupping marks are often confused with bruises. This is not correct, bruising is caused by impact trauma with ensuing crush and breakage of capillaries and the body reacts with a rush of fluids to the damaged location from the tissue injury. 

After a Cupping session marks are almost always left behind which are caused by the vacuum inside the cup that raises the tissue. When a condition exists within deeper structures where there are enough pathologic factors and stagnant fluids (interstitial, blood and lymph) are dredged up during treatment, discoloration will appear at the skin level. . 

Cupping marks are then simply the result of having unwanted toxins purged in a systematic manner over several treatments. 

Areas on the body where there is old trauma or injury may require multiple Cupping treatments to remove all stagnation. In follow up treatments the marks get progressively lighter as stagnation is systemically removed from the body.

Cupping marks also serve a diagnostic purpose depending on the size, shape, and color are said to reflect the amount of stagnation or cellular waste buildup. These marks fade as your lymphatic system processes the waste. 

Since most of my work is medical in nature I really don't expect to be tipped (the assumption in day spas), but I also won't begrudge one either as an added thank you. As an independent Therapist any gratuity is greatly appreciated. (My pricing is very competitive to day spas especially when you factor in the expected gratuity.) I would rather see you come in more often if affordability is an issue for you than receive a tip.

For most surgeries, the average recommended time is six to eight weeks excepting lymphatic massage, but every case is different. You must obtain a physician’s post-surgery written release before post-surgical treatments begin if you are in this time frame.

Lymphatic massage can be started 2-3 days after your surgery if approved by your physician and should be done daily for the first week.

Soreness or tenderness in the bellies of treated muscles may occur up to 72 hours after a Neuromuscular Therapy or deep tissue session. Some folks may also have intermittent discomfort in different places during this same period due to the body adjusting to the treated areas' new found length and neural connectivity. I suggest staying well hydrated. In the rare case it is really tender I recommend icing the area.

Hydration is super important. Our bodies are made up of approximately 70% water. Being properly hydrated will help prevent any post-massage discomfort and your tissues will respond to the treatments better.

Plan on being well hydrated in the days before and after your session for the best results. Drink a cup of clean water in an hour or two before your appointment.

Here is a basic guideline for how much water you should drink daily. Take your body weight in pounds and divide it by two to get the recommended ounces of water per day. If you enjoy any dehydrating beverages (coffee, soda, alcohol, etc.) then add another 8 ounces per serving.

I recommend doubling the usual 2 cups of Epsom salts to 4 cups for a standard-size bathtub filled with warm-hot water. Don't use scalding hot water! Pour the salt into the running water to help it dissolve faster into the bath. Soak in the tub for a long time, at least 20 minutes, or up to 40 if you can stand it, as this will possibly allow trace amounts of the magnesium to absorb through the skin. If the tub starts to cool down drain the tub a bit and add more hot water to warm it up. 

Neuromuscular Therapy is a specialized modality of manual therapy that uses precise protocols for treatment within a client's chosen pressure. Shortened muscle is lengthened, and the muscular sensory receptors are reset. 

Using the Deep Tissue technique a Therapist works the muscle tissue by applying heavy pressure to access deeper layers of tissue with no set treatment goal in mind. Deep Tissue is a spa-technique or menu description to differentiate it from the lighter classic classic or Swedish Massage for clients that want it or think it better. See my more in depth article on the differences between them under Articles.

No. I do not offer membership plan(s). Based on Client feedback, I am open to offering a simple and no strings attached packages in the near future. 

Membership plans at first glance seem a great deal but I have seen first hand that they can lead to a lot of client dissatisfaction. I know this because I have worked at Spas that use them. See my article, Spa Membership Pros & Cons.

I would rather keep everything simple and upfront without any complications for you and me. No complex contracts, no monthly charge or penalty for a service you may not be able to receive due to modern life's challenges whether it's family/work or anything in between. I firmly believe the value of my services speaks for itself especially when compared to Day Spa franchises.

Lymphatic massage is a very light but intentional type of bodywork that assists the body's lymphatic system to keep itself functioning efficiently. The lymphatic system filters and cleans out fluid and cell waste, excess proteins, viruses, bacteria and other junk. The lymphatic pathways are mostly found just under the skin that run throughout the body with lymph nodes that act like checkpoints filtering much of this waste out, returning fluid back into the circulatory system. The lymph nodes are also the home for the lymphocytes, those white blood cells that attack and gobble up foreign cells, bacteria and viruses so lymphatic flow is crucial for a healthy immune system.

Often after surgery, injury, and around areas of inflammation cause the lymph system to get overloaded with cellular debris and waste. Lymphatic massage assists all of these pathways in doing their job of carrying these away, speeding the natural healing process often reducing swelling and areas of edema (swelling). 

Lymphatic massage is becoming more popular outside of recovery situations due to its ability to induce relaxation and the many benefits to the skin, detoxification, stress reduction, alleviate chronic malaise etc.

Facial lymphatic massage is applied by most estheticians during a facial. A newer modification is lymphatic face cupping which is even more effective.  

FB was continually restricting my account for no reason. I would ask for a review and then after a few days my account would be released without being asked to change anything. Maybe it was attempted hacking, a troll flagging my content out of spite etc.; these are all guesses of course, FB never said even when I emailed them about it. 

To un-restrict my account FB required me to verify me was me by requiring the upload of official state and federal identification documents that they already had from the first time. I didn't feel comfortable that this information was secure and frankly it was becoming a pain in the ass to do this every few weeks. Why do they need this information repeated? Nothings changed. That's why I am not on FB anymore. 

Privacy issues are huge with social media accounts and I truly feel are not worth the risk anymore. There are also some studies coming out now with findings that for some people the over reliance on social media is actually a health hazard both mentally and physically.

There are numerous types of massage and bodywork; various techniques utilize different strokes, including basic rubbing strokes, rocking movement, posture and movement re-education, application of pressure to specific points, and more. We can discuss which methods may be most appropriate for you. 

Draping is just like it sounds, while on the massage table you are always draped or covered by a sheet and a blanket. Only the part of the body that is being worked on during the massage is ever exposed at one time. For instance, your back, one arm or one leg while the rest of the body is covered. Private parts are never exposed, ever. Proper draping keeps you warm and also protects modesty. 

Draping allows the Massage Therapist access to parts of the body without being encumbered by clothing to give you the best therapeutic and/or relaxing experience.

Also, read the FAQ on Do I have to take off all of my clothes?