How many sessions will I need?
The number of session will vary depending on the person and type of injury. My philosophy is that when we are trying to treat an issue that you come in once or twice a week. This frequency allows us to make progress without waiting too long and the problem returns. Once the current issue is resolved we will either spread out the time between sessions or go to maintenance. Maintenance is different for everyone. In general once a month is good maintenance schedule, but many just call me as needed. I’m always happy to talk with you before you come in to make sure this is a good fit for you.
What kind of lotion do you use?
My main lotion I use is Biotone’s Pure Touch Organics Massage Cream. It’s made from It’s made primarily from Organic jojoba and shea butter. My secondary lotion is Biotone’s Advanced Therapy Massage Lotion. This one give me more glide and is better for Swedish massage.
Do you take insurance?
I take FLEX and HSA credit cards. Other types of insurance, unfortunately, are very difficult to work with and, in my opinion, not helpful for the healing process. If you are in an auto accident I can take payment up front and give you paperwork to submit. Please talk to me first to discuss the details of auto insurance billing and reimbursement.
What’s the best way to make an appointment?
Call, text, or email. Due to the number of spam phone calls recently, please leave a message. And I don’t return your request within 24 hours, please reach out again.
Do I have to undress?
No. There are times when it might be more effective to work without clothes, but honestly many issues can be addressed without you taking any clothes off. If you do undress you will have a sheet covering you and I will only uncover the body part(s) that I’m working on at the moment. Many people do undress completely or down to their underwear, but don’t feel pressured to do so. As we work together you’ll become more comfortable. My massage work is about helping you get out of pain and relax. Make yourself comfortable.
I’m often too cold or too hot, what should I do?
Yes. If you are cold, I have a blanket, a room heater, and a table warmer. If you are hot, I have air conditioning, lighter sheets and a window that I can open.
Is talking ok during the massage?
Talking is up to you. Most people find it more beneficial to keep the talking to the work at hand. But sometimes it’s good to talk out your stresses, which is fine, but keep in mind that I’m not a psychologist. I will follow your lead and it’s perfectly fine if you need to tell me that we need to only talk about the work.
I’m overweight. Does that matter?
No. People of all sizes and shapes have pain and need massage. Keep in mind that your weight may only be a small contributor to pain problems. Often it’s muscle imbalances (even if other tissues aren’t balanced) that are more of an issue. And that’s what I work to address.
What if I need to pass gas during a massage?
Don’t worry about it! Some people seem to live their whole life without ever passing gas. I don’t know how they do it. In the process of loosening up muscles, sometimes it can’t be helped. And after eating sometimes it can’t be helped. I’ve got a window we can open if we need to. The important thing is you are able to relax. If you keep holding it in, you could be holding a lot more tension in more places than you think.
What is a typical treatment plan?
Every client is different. If you have a specific problem, typically you will come in once or twice per week until the problem is significantly better, or preferably gone. Once the problem is better we will increase the time between treatments. For maintenance I may see you once every couple weeks to once every three months. And some clients just come in as needed. In unusual cases there are multiple issues affecting the body and massage is used to manage the associated pain while we find the source of the problem. Every person is different and every person needs a different treatment plan. If you have questions, feel free to ask me. But, in general, it’s hard to know until I get to know how your body wil respond to my work.
What is your massage practice like?
I like to help people get out of pain and feel better. Therefore my philosophy is to treat the areas that are bothering you and your whole body will be more relaxed. I loosen the muscles and work out muscle pains. Though some clients like a full body massage, I tend to focus on the areas needing attention. For instance, if you come with low back pain but still want a full body massage, we may spend 30 minutes treating the low back pain and then 30 minutes on the rest of the body. But for many of my clients we would treat the low back pain for a full 60 minutes. Your feedback on what you like will help you get the massage work you are looking for.
How can you treat musicians?
A musician’s career is dependent on the ability to use his or her muscles. As a musician I have an understanding of what you are trying to accomplish with your music. Which, in turn, helps me to determine what your body needs. Many times I will have musicians bring their instruments in so that I can see the habits in their playing that may be causing their problems. Massage work has helped me improve my tone and use less effort in my playing. I can help you improve your playing too. I can also help with music related injuries that involve the muscular system such as Carpal Tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, frozen shoulder and any pains exacerbated by playing. In fact, massage work is often the best treatment for these conditions as we often achieve long term results without side effects.