Frequently Asked Questions

Q. This is my first massage. What should I expect when I arrive?

On your first visit, I will ask you to fill out a short health history form so that we can develop a safe and effective plan for your session. This intake process also allows us to clarify your goals for the session and how bodywork might support your general wellness goals.

As required by the state of Minnesota, I’ll also provide you with a Client Bill of Rights which details my training, your rights as a client, and information about fees and payment.

Q. When should I arrive?

Please try to arrive 10-15 minutes early for our first session in order to give us adequate time to get acquainted and take care of paperwork before we begin. If possible, please print out the forms and have them ready when you arrive.

Q. Is a “one hour massage” really one hour?

I schedule massage sessions so that a one hour massage really is one hour on the table, from the beginning to the end of the massage. In order to maximize your time on the table and so that your hour doesn’t get cut short, please try to arrive 5-10 minutes early. This means that a full “one hour” massage appointment would actually take about an hour and 15 minutes.

Q. I am sensitive to perfumes and aromatic oils. Do you have any alternatives?

I will always use an unscented lotion or oil, depending on your preference, unless you specifically request otherwise. In that case, if I have what you request, I will custom-blend a few drops of a high quality pure and organic essential oil (lavender, for example) with the carrier lotion or oil. However, I am not an aromatherapist and therefore I limit the use of essential oils or other scents in my practice.

Q. What about privacy and confidentiality?

You will always have complete privacy while undressing and dressing, and will be fully draped during the massage, except for the area of the body being worked on. Please specify if there are any areas of the body I should avoid for health or personal reasons. You may undress completely or wear underwear or a swimsuit.

The information in your health history form and anything you say or do during a session is confidential. I will not release this information without your prior written consent, nor will I discuss anything that arises during a session with anyone, including a mutual acquaintance, a partner, or a parent.

Q. What will my massage feel like? Is it going to be relaxing or painful?

If you’re in for a stress-relieving massage for the purpose of relaxation, the most distressing aspect of the massage should be the fact that it has to end! There should be no discomfort whatsoever.

Relaxation is also a necessary aspect of the rehabilitative massage; after all, the body can’t let go of stored tension when it is tensing up in response to new pain. Deep tissue and trigger point work can range from slightly uncomfortable to moderately painful, but should never go beyond your pain tolerance level or create more tension and guarding in the body. In this type of bodywork, ongoing communication between client and therapist is the key to working effectively and in a way that minimizes pain and discomfort. Please know that I will be checking in with you throughout the course of any deep-tissue work during a session.

Q. How often should I get a massage?

The answer to this question depends on your goals and intentions for receiving bodywork.

Pain or problems stemming from overuse, repetitive stress or postural distortions generally develop slowly over a long period of time. While you’ll probably feel better after one massage, more likely it will take more than a single session or two to create significant change. Long-term relief may require some analysis of and adjustments in one’s workstation, lifestyle, or posture, or new ways of using the body, which we can also work on together.

Here are a couple of guidelines:

• For healing from a traumatic injury, or to work through the layers of a complex pain syndrome, massage once or twice a week for a few weeks may be most effective, tapering off as the situation improves.
• For general maintenance when all is basically well in the body/mind, a massage every 4 to 6 weeks may be effective.
• Every 2 to 3 weeks might benefit folks who are dealing with a lot of personal or work-related stress and seek out massage to take time for themselves—an excellent antidote to ever-increasing demands for our time and energy.

The main thing is: get your bodywork on a regular basis,
and your body/mind will thank you!