FAQ
Can I submit a receipt and get reimbursement from my  health plan?

Many extended health care plans do cover massage therapy, but please check with your plan provider.    When checking into your coverage make sure to find out the following information:

  • Do you require a doctor prescription or note for massage. If so, does the note need to indicate the length or time or duration for the massage?

  • Who is covered under your massage benefits? What is your maximum allotment per year? 

  • Some insurance companies cover a percentage of each treatment or a maximum dollar amount per treatment or the full amount of each treatment.

When should I get a massage?

Any time is a good time to get a massage. You don't need to wait until you're stressed or injured.  Massage works wonders as preventive care for a person's body and mind. Instead of waiting until your back hurts from overwork or stress, or the headaches that start at the back of your skull begin to pound, or the stress of every day life makes you want to pop your cork, get a massage before these things happen. A regular massage is a wonderful way to cope with stress, both physical and emotional, and to keep if from causing discomfort or harm to your body.

When should I not get a massage?

There are several contraindications for receiving a massage. If you have any of the following conditions, you should not get a massage:

  • Fever

  • Any type of infectious disease

  • Systemic infections

  • Severe cold

  • Fracture, bleeding, burns or other acute injury

  • Liver and kidney diseases

  • Blood clot

  • Pregnancy-induced diabetes, toxemia, preeclampsia/eclampsia

  • High blood pressure (unless under control with medication)

  • Heart disease

  • Open skin lesions or sores (therapist may work around them if localized)

You don't want the massage to make an underlying medical condition worse.  If you are unsure about whether a minor condition should prohibit you from getting a massage, call us before you book your appointment.

During your initial visit, our Registered Massage Therapist will ask you to fill out a simple form that will allow you to list any underlying medical conditions.  The therapist should be aware of any of these.  Even if you have an allergy it should be listed, so we can make sure we aren’t using anything that may exacerbate your condition.  On subsequent visits, we will ask you about any new medical or physical conditions.

Will a massage hurt?

That depends on the type of massage and the depth of the strokes. A light massage that doesn't probe very deep into muscles shouldn't hurt. At the same time, the light massage won't be able to work out any stress that's deep within those muscles. A muscle that is relaxed will be supple and soft and won't hurt when rubbed. Muscles that are tight, and in many cases have been chronically tight for a long time, may have that "good hurt" feeling with a deeper massage. Think of that "good hurt" as the feeling you get when you stretch a sore muscle during exercise or a yawn. Muscles can be very sore from overuse or tightness, and that good hurt can become painful. A sharp pain may indicate a muscle that has been injured and has some sort of inflammation. In this case, you don't want the deep work to continue in this area. A deep massage with tight muscles may leave some residual soreness the next day.

Everybody has different thresholds of pain. The depth of a stroke may not be deep enough for one person's liking and may cause pain for another. Some people want the massage as deep as possible regardless of the soreness. Others want something much lighter, more sensual and pleasing, to help them relax rather than deeper work that might be sore. So make your preference known to the therapist, and give feedback at any time during a massage that the depth of the strokes is more than you'd like.

How often should I receive a massage?

The answer here depends on the reasons for receiving the massage. If a client comes for some injury relief, and to relieve chronic tightness that is interfering with their daily lives in some way, weekly sessions may be necessary for a while to build on each session's improvement in their relief and healing.

For those who use massage as preventive care and managing the daily stress in their lives, once a month is about the norm. They may shorten the time between massages during stressful periods. Some come more often just because they enjoy it that much.

For most people, the frequency of the massages they receive is limited by their pocketbook. It's an unfortunate fact, but once many people realize the benefits it provides them, and the pleasure they receive from it, they find a way to incorporate a regular session into their budget.