Massage

Your First Visit

Finding a qualified massage therapist—who not only has graduated from an accredited school, and/or has passed the National Certification Exam for Massage and Bodywork, as well as having the appropriate business licenses—is your most important task. Begin by asking someone you know for a referral, but remember that a good referral source is someone who has experienced different therapies/treatments or someone in the healthcare field with knowledge about the practice/benefits of massage.

Prior to your massage, drink plenty of water. Dehydrated tissue is difficult for the therapist to work with and may be painful for the client.

 

Arrive 10 minutes early to complete a health history. Then the therapist will review your history to determine where you’re having pain/difficulties, what area(s) to focus on, and the type of massage or treatment program that best fits your needs.

 

The Wellness Center offers a private room for massage with a table and fresh linens or towels for draping purposes. Since the space and atmosphere play a vital role, soft music and dim lighting enhances relaxation, comfort, pleasure, and the overall experience.

 

The therapist leaves the room to allow clients to undress privately, remove jewelry, and lie on the massage table under the sheets/towel. A client’s massage is discreet; only the area being worked on will be uncovered.

 

Bolsters are used to protect the back while lying down, and pillows provide additional support. A face cradle allows the therapist to work on clients’ necks in the face-down position. Some clients experience congestion in the face-down position, which is usually only temporary.

 

For most techniques, the therapist uses oils or cream, so tying long hair back is suggested. If clients suspect or know they have allergies to oils, they should inform the therapist beforehand.

 

Communication with the therapist during the session is vital to effective, safe bodywork. Typical concerns and questions include these:  is the pressure too deep or too light; are you experiencing pain; is the room too cold; or would you prefer less talk from the therapist? Clients are not obligated to converse while getting a massage. If a client remains relaxed and focuses on releasing muscles while breathing, the therapist can concentrate on the health-giving bodywork.

 

Remembering to breathe slowly and deeply throughout the session reduces tension and assists the flow of blood and oxygen to restricted muscle tissue. At the end of the session, the therapist leaves the room, so the client can slowly, carefully get off the table and get dressed.

 

After a massage, we recommend clients drink plenty of water. On a daily basis, we recommend drinking half of one’s body weight in ounces. Immediately after a massage, we also advise refraining from vigorous exercise for 24 hours, unless the massage is specific prep for a sporting event. Also, proper stretching will help maintain the increased flexibility one acquires after a massage. Soreness is possible to experience after the first massage, or if one fails to drink water afterwards.

TIPPING

Upon payment, many people wonder about tipping, which is optional, not expected but appreciated.

SCHEDULING

We recommend scheduling appointments in advance; getting a massage at least once per month for therapeutic benefits; and planning/committing to ongoing treatment. Thus, the Wellness Center believes bodywork should not be treated like a vacation but should be considered a stress-break and maintenance habit that addresses the difficulties and needs of everyday life.