Frequently asked questions

What do I need to know for my first visit?

See my page of questions clients often ask on their first visit and answers.

Can I come in when I have a cold, flu, cough, sore throat, stomach bug, shingles, herpes, poison oak, wounds, etc.?
Massage is a very close contact endeavor. For this reason my sick policy is firm. Most skin conditions can be avoided by simply pointing out the affected areas, unless you want a full body massage. Most viruses in the early stages and in the few days after feeling better, are still contagious. Please cancel as soon as you feel possible illness coming on to reduce the impact on your therapists' livelihood. Reschedule a few days after all symptoms have gone. Both I and many of my clients have compromised immune systems. Clients who arrive sick will be asked to go home and may not be allowed to reschedule for the safety of myself and clients. Thank you for respecting my health and my livelihood.

How many sessions will it take to get better?
There is absolutely no way to know this. I can tell you that most people feel improvement that builds each session so it's not a waste of money, Sometimes there are mitigating factors that hinder improvement like significant joint injuries, nervous system dysfunction, systemic inflammation, continued damaging activities, etc. Even then, people usually feel they are not feeling worse, often a little better, and that can still help greatly with quality of life The number of sessions can depend on any of the following: the age of the client, how active they are, the body's unique response to treatment, pain threshold, client cooperation, severity of injury, decreased range of motion or postural distortion, as well as how long the issue has been going on. 95%+ of my clients feel significant better after 3 sessions and often dramatically better if they complete the 10 sessions.

What modalities do you offer?

Here's a list of my modalities.

What are your qualifications?
My bio includes all relevant training (1500+ hours) and experience (12 years).

What other resources do you have for me to heal myself?

Please check out my resource page with free videos, book suggestions, and local movement resources. Additionally, here is a link to my blog.

What should I do post treatment, in between sessions?
Please drink water and move to get the water moving through your fascia. The more you use your new range of motion in the following week, the more the results will stick. Do not do anything that increases inflammation for the following couple days such as: hot tub, drinking, eating lots of sugar, sauna, etc. You can work out right away, but realize you should not run a marathon just after you got new running shoes. You've got a new body, use it, but give it some time to adjust.

What if I have whiplash from a recent car accident?

Please see my post on guidelines for whiplash treatment and my page about car accident massage. It's important to first  see a chiropractor do to manual tests and imaging to determine if there was any significant spinal or other joint damage. This is also useful in getting a prescription for massage to get reimbursed by auto insurance.
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What do the different modalities actually do and which is best for me?

Here are some brief guides for clients new to orthopedic massage, structural integration, craniosacral therapy, car accident massage, sports massage, myofascial release, and neuromuscular therapy.

Can I purchase a gift certificate for a friend?

I don't sell gift certificates anymore, due to financial liability and sometimes a lack of client investment in this type of healing process. If you would like to purchase a session for someone else, please call first to pay over the phone, then you can schedule with my online scheduling. Just enter the client's name.instead of yours and use their phone number and/or email. I don't recommend surprising someone, but instead asking them, then paying by phone, then scheduling and giving a personalized card.

Do I tip on medical massage?

It is customary but not mandatory to tip on all massage services. Massage therapy is the most physically demanding of all the medical professions and even more so for clients that need deep, therapeutic massage or structural integration. Some clients who need frequent medical massage understandably may choose not to tip due to financial constraints and insurance reimbursement constraints. Tipping in the massage industry is sometimes considered sliding scale. I do tip my Rolfer and medical massage therapists what I am able to comfortably, no less than a relaxation massage. Its all hard, skilled work.