• Decrease lower-back pain and improve overall range of motion
• Contribute to a shorter and easier labor for expectant mothers
• Relieve and ease a medication dependency
• Enhance your immunity by stimulating the lymphatic system
• Helps to stretch and exercise weak or tight muscles
• Helps athletes recover from strenuous practices
• Improve the condition of your skin
• Increase joint flexibility
• Promote tissue regeneration
• Overall improve your circulation
• Reduce the appearance of adhesions and swelling post-surgery
• Decrease the number of spasms and cramps
• Alleviate migraine pain

Getting one massage is great for your body, and getting massage therapy treatments on a regular basis is even better. Partake in a regularly scheduled self-care can and you will begin to see how big of a difference it can make and how healthy you will become. Consider massage therapy a necessity for your health and wellness plan.

Please call and cancel your massage appointment if you suspect you have the flu, have a fever, are nauseated and/or vomiting, have diarrhea, are experiencing abdominal discomfort or pain, have a rash or other symptoms that are contagious or require a medical evaluation and treatment.

We certainly don’t want to make you feel worse giving massage when you should be home resting or be in the doctor’s office getting appropriate treatment.

If you’re feeling under the weather, please reschedule your massage appointment so you don’t share your germs! We look forward to seeing you once you’re well again!

The frequency of massage depends on you. What are your needs? Do you get massage because:
You are sore?
You have a lot of stress in your life?
You are an athlete and want to use massage to help with training and competition?
You are a caregiver and need a break?
You aren’t particularly sore or stressed. You just want massage because you like it and it feels good.
Your reason for massage is an individual thing. Maintenance massage —whether it be weekly, every 2 weeks, once a month may work best for you – or waiting until you feel you need one may be a better choice for you.

The most important thing you can do before arriving is to relax. Remember, this is an enjoyable experience that is designed to reduce stress and anxiety, not to cause it. Take a deep breath and assure yourself that this process will be a pleasurable one, and try to remain open to suggestions as well as letting your mind rest during the process.

The day of your massage, you may find it helpful to eat lightly: more fruit and vegetables than heavy foods like meats, heavy gravies, cheesy pastas or milk products. Also, we recommend that you do not drink alcoholic beverages before massage because that can put a strain on your liver.

If this is your first visit with us, try to arrive a few minutes early because we have a short intake form for you to complete. The form will ask you to list medications, past/present illnesses, surgeries, injuries, purpose for your visit with us, and will ask a few health style questions to help your therapist understand you better. If you have allergic reactions to creams, fragrances or oils, let the therapist know.

Be sure to ask about scheduling more massage sessions. Massage has the greatest benefits with continued use, and the effects are cumulative, meaning that over time your body will begin to feel better, more relaxed, and help to reduce the effects of anxiety or pain with continued sessions.

Once in a while, because the soreness has been worked out of the muscles and they have returned to better tone, there may be some residual tenderness the day after your massage. This too, is normal, and will pass. There is a difference between soreness and pain. If you experience pain, please call us so we can make some recommendations for you.

Also drinking plenty of water post-massage is very helpful in rehydration, building healthy muscle tissue, and removing metabolic wastes that accumulate as your muscles are worked out.

Caffeine, artificial sweeteners, the lack of certain minerals, or side effects of certain medicines can sometimes cause muscle soreness, cramping or spasms. If you are already experiencing these difficulties, you may want to consider eliminating caffeine and artificial sweetners. Talk to your physician, pharmacist, or appropriate health care professional about the possibility of mineral deficiency or side effects of medications.

For tight, sore muscles, moist heat (ie, microwave pack or wet compresses) may be helpful. Never use heat longer than 15 minutes at a time. If heat feels too hot, it probably is – allow it to cool. Moist heat allows muscles to relax. Remember that heat causes tissues to swell, so if you are already experiencing swelling, heat may not be your best choice.

Many people don’t care to use ice, but it can be effective in reducing swelling and relieving pain after trauma. If pain is not due to a fracture or arthritis, you might try putting ice in a plastic bag, then wrapping the bag in a cloth (such as a wash cloth) for 5-10 minutes. Ice is especially beneficial for sinus soreness when used gently around the eye sockets and under the cheekbones for a couple of minutes, followed by a warm, steamy washcloth.

With both ice and heat, it is important not to injure the body by too much exposure to either, so check your skin periodically. Heat and ice should be used with caution in young children, elderly persons, and those with diabetes or other medical conditions that require physician supervision.