Frequently Asked Questions

Massage & General FAQs

Most people have received massage therapy before but if you haven't, I'm sure you have questions! I've tried to include the most common questions here. If you have a question that isn't listed, please send me a message! Remember, the only question that is stupid is the one not asked!

What Kind Of Session Do I Need?

Are you looking for relaxation?

You are looking for a Swedish massage or craniosacral therapy. Swedish massage involves a soft pressure allowing you to relax and enjoy the feeling of being pampered. Craniosacral therapy involves a light touch that allows the body to go deep into relaxation along with deep tissue releases in the body.

Are you looking for muscle relaxation and pain relief?

You are looking for a therapeutic massage. It allows you to experience relief from muscle tightness and pain. It is a firmer pressure of massage that allows deeper work through the layers of tissue of the body. It can be slightly painful when working on muscles that extra tight or that contain 'knots' known as trigger points.

Are you currently pregnant?

You are looking for a prenatal massage. This type of session uses bolsters specially designed for the mommy-to-be so that she is able to lie comfortably during her session.

Are you looking an alternative method for dealing with stress, anxiety? Wanting help with smoking cessation, weight loss?

You are looking for a hypnotherapy or hypnomassage session. Hypnotherapy is a way of solving personal problems through reaching a deeply relaxed state of mind. Hypnomassage is a blending of hypnotherapy and massage.

How Early Should I Arrive For My Appointment?

All clients should arrive 10-15 minutes prior to their appointments to discuss what your goals are for the session and to allow time to undress before your appointment start time.

What Is Included In The Session Time?

Your session time consists of the total amount of hands on time from the beginning of your appointment time. That is why it's crucial that you show up at least 15 minutes prior to your appointment time so that you can get your full amount of hands on time. If you arrive on or after the time of your appointment, the time for you to dress and undress and the time to communicate with me how I can truly customize your session will take away from the amount of hands on time you will receive.

Do I Have To Be Completely Undressed For A Massage?

During a massage, most people undress down to their undergarments, while some get completely undressed. You will be fully draped (covered) at all times except the body part that is currently being massaged.

Do you accept FSA/HSA for payment?

Short Answer: YES!! LOL

For more information about using an FSA/HSA account, check out this page - FSA/HSA FAQ.

What Is The "Ultimate Stress Reliever"?

This treatment is specifically designed to help you release stress, tension, anxiety and depression. During the treatment, specific acupressure points and reflexology points are hit to release the tension in the body.

What Is Reflexology?

Reflexology is a technique that involves applying pressure on specific pressure points to your feet (or hands and ears) to help correct energy flows throughout your body. These specific pressure points correspond with certain organs and body systems. A reflexology session promotes health and well being.

Craniosacral therapy FAQs

What Is CranioSacral Therapy?

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a light-touch, manual therapy that releases tensions, as well as restrictions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve overall health. CST was developed by Osteopathic Physician, John E. Upledger after extensive clinical research at Michigan State University. Established in 1985, Upledger Institute International has trained more than 125,000 therapists worldwide and offers more than 600 courses in 50 countries.

What Conditions Can Be Helped By CranioSacral Therapy?

CST complements the body’s natural healing processes. CST is reported by clients to be effective in helping to relieve a wide range of symptoms associated with:

Allergies
Autism
Cancer Treatment
Central Nervous System Disorders
Chronic Fatigue
Concussion Syndrome
Fibromyalgia Related Disorders
Headaches and Migraines
Infant and Childhood Disorders
Neck and Back Pain
Orthopedic Problems
Post-Traumatic Stress
Scoliosis
Spinal Cord Injuries
Stress and Tension
TMJ syndrome
Traumatic Brain Injury

How Does CranioSacral Therapy Work?

Few structures have as much influence over the body’s ability to function properly as the brain and spinal cord that make up the central nervous system. And few systems have as much impact on the central nervous system as the craniosacral system — the membranes and fluid that surround, protect and nourish the brain and spinal cord. Every day your body endures stresses and strains, and your structures work to compensate for them. Unfortunately, these changes often cause body tissues to tighten and distort the craniosacral system, which can then cause tension to form around the brain and spinal cord.

The result is a barrier to the healthy performance of the central nervous system, and potentially every other system it interacts with. Fortunately, such restrictions can be detected and corrected using simple methods of touch. Generally using about 5 grams of pressure (about the weight of a nickel), the CST practitioner uses his or her hands to evaluate the craniosacral system by gently feeling various locations of the body to test for the ease of motion and rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid pulsing around the brain and spinal cord.

Soft touch techniques are then used to release restrictions in any tissues influencing the craniosacral system. By normalizing the environment around the brain and spinal cord and enhancing the body’s ability to self-correct, CranioSacral Therapy is able to alleviate a wide variety of dysfunctions.

What Should I Wear For A CranioSacral Session?

During craniosacral therapy, you will need to wear something super comfy and warm. Sweats, yoga pants and stretchy shirts are a good go-to.

What Can I Expect From A Therapy Session?

A typical CST session lasts from 60-90 minutes, and takes place in a quiet, private setting. CST is performed with the client fully clothed and lying on a comfortable massage table. Using a light touch, the therapist evaluates or “listens to” the body for tension patterns and imbalances.The craniosacral system is accessed and treated using the bones and connective tissue. Skilled CST therapists can enhance fluid flow and balance membrane tension, helping to bring increased vitality to the system. Releasing chronic tension patterns and enhancing fluid motility allows the body’s healing mechanisms to operate more effectively, imparting greater balance and ease.

What is experienced during a CST session is highly individualized. Some say they feel deeply relaxed, while others describe feeling unwinding sensations as the body releases tension. Sometimes, circumstances are recalled surrounding a past trauma or injury that caused the body stress. While this doesn’t happen every time, this process called “SomatoEmotional Release” is perfectly normal and helps the body reverse dysfunction and restore optimal levels of mobility.

What Will I Experience After A Session?

Just as each individual experiences CST sessions differently, the results can be diverse as well. You may leave in such a relaxed state that you feel like sleeping for hours. Or you may leave full of boundless energy. You may feel a decrease in pain or an increase in function immediately after the session, or the effects may develop gradually over the next few days.

Since CST helps the body resume its natural healing processes, it’s common for your improvements to continue weeks after the session. You may also experience a reorganization phase as your body releases previously held patterns and adapts to a new state of wellness.

Who Can Benefit From CranioSacral Therapy?

Because CST is effective as a preventive health measure, almost anyone can benefit from a session. The extremely light touch also makes CST a safe approach for children and infants who have experienced early stress, including birth trauma. By releasing restrictions around the central nervous system early, you may help prevent future difficulties such as learning disabilities or hyperactivity.

Are There Any Conditions That Shouldn’t Be Addressed With CranioSacral Therapy?

There are a few situations in which CST is not recommended. They include any condition in which slight variations in intracranial pressure would cause instability, such as acute aneurysm, recent skull fracture, and cerebral hemorrhage or other severe bleeding disorder. If you have any questions about whether these situations apply to you, seek the advice of your physician before receiving a CST session.