Masking now optional.
Masking now optional.
As long as you don't have any contraindicated* health conditions, you can get a massage everyday if you want! There are no side-effects to a properly administered Massage! Regarding needs, every body is different and every person's daily experiences are unique. Someone who suffers chronic, daily pain may need to schedule more often than someone who is generally comfortable but needs an occasional tune-up.
Talk to your Therapist openly and honestly about your daily activities, routines, career (knowing what you do for a living helps us understand what muscles you may be overworking and gives us an idea of your daily body posture) and even that "old football injury". Being informed about what your body is going through is how we determine the best treatment for your individual needs. With that information, which is always confidential, we can create a plan of attack to get you on the track to wellness! For example, an acute issue may require 2 half hour sessions focused solely on the specific problem area twice a week for a month followed up with a full body session for maintenance and then a re-evaluation of the initial problem to identify progress.
If the issue is resolved, you can discuss scheduling less frequent maintenance sessions. If the problem persists, your therapist will want to know what techniques helped most, which ones did not really help and introduce new methods of treatment to continue the process. Remember, it is called "Massage Therapy" not "Massage One Time Instant Cure"!
In the unfortunate event that your Massage sessions are not being an effective form of treatment, your Therapist may recommend that you escalate to a particular type of Specialist depending on the nature of the issue. That does not mean they are giving up on you! As Therapists, we just want our clients to be pain free and if we need to refer out to achieve that, that is what we do. We can also certainly work with your Specialist and incorporate your Massage treatments into the treatments you are receiving from them. Contraindications* aside, there are really no reasons not to get a Massage! So what are you waiting for?!
*Contraindication: "A contraindication is a specific situation in which a drug, procedure or surgery should not be used because it may be harmful to the person..." -MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
Pertaining to Massage Therapy, a simple example of a contraindication would be a painful bruise or a fresh sunburn. More complicated contraindications certainly exist and can be dangerous so please be honest on your intake form and in your discussions with your Therapist.
We hear this question a lot! Many clients comment, "It's like going to the doctors office!"; Well, yes! It is! In the state of Florida, Massage Therapists and Massage Establishments are regulated by the Department of Health (DOH) Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) and as such are required to obtain Medical History Information to determine that administering Massage Therapy will not endanger the client.
In regards to Release Forms, their function is to establish that the client understands the responsibilities they have as a client and the responsibilities of the Therapist. Furthermore, Massage Therapy Professionals must, like all Health Care Professionals, adhere to the standards and regulations of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) ensuring all client information is kept safe and confidential.
The purpose of the paperwork is not to inconvenience the client but to understand as comprehensively as possible what their needs are and how to best treat those needs. So just remember, if you are a new client, be sure to arrive early to fill out your paperwork and know that the information will be used to enhance your experience and it will always be confidential!
A professional Licensed Massage Therapist would never "require" full disrobing (undressing). Clients should be made to feel comfortable in the environment. If that means they prefer to keep their undergarments on, that is absolutely acceptable. It should be noted for women regarding the brassiere: it is helpful to remove that item to allow unencumbered access to the upper back muscles. However, if that were to make a client uncomfortable, a good Therapist is able to work around it. For those who are comfortable disrobing, the Florida DOH has laws governing appropriate draping (covering) of clients receiving Massage Therapy. All Massage Therapists in the State of Florida are required to be trained in and adhere to these regulations. If a client is still feeling apprehensive about the prospect of disrobing, there are Massage Modalities that can be administered with the client fully clothed. Ultimately the most important factor is the comfort and security the client is feeling.
If you like! Therapists usually let the client set the tone on chatting. If you would like to engage in small talk, most Therapists will reply to questions asked but may not actively keep the conversation going. Some Therapists enjoy chatting and it is ok to tell them you would rather relax in quiet. It is really up to the two individuals in the room but if you decide to be talkative just remember there may be other clients receiving treatments in adjacent rooms and to be respectful of them.
Like much of written history, some accounts vary as to which culture may have employed the practice of touch therapy first. It may be that cultures worldwide recognized and implemented the benefits of Massage techniques unknowingly simultaneously; each creating their own methods to treat the specific needs of their respective societies. That is a speculative statement however, hard evidence exists of ancient civilizations reaping the benefits of Massage Therapy.
In Egypt, the tomb of Akmanthor ("The Tomb of the Physician" as it is called) dates back to BC 2330 and is decorated with a mural of two men who appear to be receiving Massage Therapy, one to his hands and the other to his feet, by two practitioners.
During the "Spring and Autumn" period (BC 722-481) of Chinese history (believed to be the beginning of recorded history) Huangdi Neijing is composed. Known now as The Neijing, it is a written compilation of all known medical information up to the time. It is regarded as the foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine and refers to Massage therapy in 30 of its chapters.
Even "The Father of Modern Medicine", Hippocrates, understood and lauded the importance of Massage Therapy. He is famously quoted saying, "The physician must be experienced in many things, but assuredly in rubbing".
The first known official department of Massage work occurred in China in AD 581 and the practice of Massage continues to be evidenced around the world over time. In the 1700's and 1800's, we see the emergence of European influence on Massage Therapy.
Per Henrik Ling, of Sweden, is widely regarded to have developed what is now "Swedish Massage" from his method known as "Swedish Movement Cure". In 1813, The Royal Gymnastic Central Institute was opened in Stockholm and named Ling as its Principal.
The Dutch Massage Practitioner, Johan Georg Mezger, coined the phrase "Swedish Massage System" in 1878 and gave names to five basic techniques that to this day, are still known by their French names and are employed in Massage Therapy on a regular basis.
Like Medicine, over time and through commitment, Massage Therapy has evolved from theory, conjecture and rudimentary practices to modern day science incorporating knowledge, skill and compassion.
(Paraphrased from Wikipedia article, "Massage" from their "Complementary and Alternative Medicine" series.)
We require 24 hours' notice for cancellations. Cancellations within 24 hours of an appointment will be charged a $25 re-booking fee payable before booking new appointment.
Before allowed to re-book, clients who "No call/No show" will be charged 50% of the original appointment price and will be required to pre-pay for any future bookings.
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