For your safety and to better detemine treatment options, it is best to let me (your massage therapist) know of:

• Any conditions such as high blood pressure, lupus, multiple sclerosis or cancer.
• Any recent surgeries or medical procedures.
  
• Pregnancy -- even if you are not showing, yet.
  
• Any structural issues -- joints that are unstable, herniations or bulging disks in the spine, any sort of metal objects inside the body.
  
• Any conditions that would affect your ability to sense pressure or pain -- Diabetes, nerve injuries or recent use of muscle relaxants, pain medication or alcohol.
  
• Any skin conditions
  
  

How often should I get massage?                                                     back to top

There are two factors that determine frequency for many people: schedule and finances.

Working within those parameters, it is best to discover a pattern of frequency that works for you-- once a week, once every two weeks, once a month, once every 6 to 8 weeks. This way, you can plan the activities you will do in the interim to maintain the effects of the massage for as long as possible and to address factors that may be causing your discomfort. Seeing massage as a pre-emptive measure is generally more effective than using it as an "emergency" treatment.

Of course, there is always room for a random, out-of-the-blue, "I think I need a massage" massage.

The amount of time you spend on the table is determined by what you need to accomplish.

• I find that both 60 and 90 minutes are good for anyone looking to simply relax .
• Therapeutic Massage generally works best in a 90-minute setting if you want more than one area addressed.

No. The most important aspect of the massage experience is that you are comfortable enough to let go and relax; so, only take off what you are comfortable taking off.

A few details that may help you:

• I will leave the room when you get undressed before the massage, and when you get dressed after the massage.
• You will begin the massage beneath a sheet or a bath sheet, so you will be fully covered when I enter the room.
• I will uncover one area at a time as I work, then cover it again before moving onto another area. Hence, there will always be a clear, secure boundary delineating where I will be working.
• If you are getting a Swedish massage (or any of its Western relatives), and you are a woman, it would best best to remove your bra as it will inhibit my ability to appropriately work the back and shoulders.
• I often include work to the glute region since it is an important crossroad between your upper and lower bodies. That being said, if you are not comfortable with glute work, I will certainly not do it. Effective glute work can be done with or without underwear, so you can absolutely leave your underwear on if that makes you more comfortable.
• I may include abdominal work if I feel it will help acheive the ultimate treatment goals -- but always with your permission. If you are a woman, and we choose to include abdominal work, I will cover your breasts with a towel before uncovering your abdomen.
  
  

The body is made up of layers. In order to be effective, each layer should be addressed individually according to need. In general, the deeper the layer, the more pressure must be utilized to address it.

Massage that focuses on relaxation tends to work in the more superficial layers because general circulation and lymphatic flow are the primary goals. This is why the pressure during that style of massage if generally light to medium.

When you get into the muscle-specific work of Sports/Orthopedic massage, pressure will vary from medium to deep depending on which muscles in a given area need to be addressed and the stroke required to effectively address the muscles.

There are different philosophies with regards to pain during a massage. In my practice, pain is not the goal, but intensity is possible. However, on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being "I think I am going to die!"), the intensity you experience should not go over 7 to 8. If you find that you are holding your breath, squinting your eyes, tensing against the pressure or crying out in agony, then the pressure is too intense.

In my opinion, balance is achievable. However, balance is not a destination, but a state of mind that informs how we live in our lives and in our bodies. Because we live a dynamic existence there will always be forces that take us out of the ideal space, whether physical, spiritual or intellectual; so, the goal is to have a solid experiential awareness that can bring us back to the ideal.

I'll only discuss briefly the physical aspect since that is my expertise. Being aware of the relationships between the right and left sides of our bodies, the dominant and non-dominant sides, the front and back, and the top and bottom is crucial for our physical well-being.

Sometimes, people are surprised when I spend a significant amount of time on the front of their bodies (pecs, shoulders and upper abs) when they have come in complaining of pain between their shoulder blades. I explain that because of the way our bodies are designed to fold forward and not backward, the tension created in the front of our bodies through computer use and day-to-day stress pulls our backs taut -- like rubberbands stretched over a stone. If I can open up the front of the body, then the back can begin to release.

Knowing the nature of these relationships (and that they even exist) allows us to examine our daily activites and make adjustments, if necessary. Once we've felt a balance in these areas, we know where we would like to return.

An active physical life is important.... including stretching. If you have a hard time adding a stretching component into your workout routine, find a yoga class that you can do a couple times a week. Opening up the front of your body is particularly important. (If you haven't exercised in a while, start slowly and with guidance. You should also consult with your physician if there are pre-existing conditions that may inhibit your ability to exercise)

If you have specific areas in your back that cause you pain, oftentimes rolling on a tennis ball can help stimulate circulation to that specific area. Roll around until you isolate the specific area of complaint, stay there for about a minute (the intensity should lessen), then roll away. You can repeat this a few times.

Foam rollers are also a great way to address legs, hips and back on a daily basis. This can be incorporated into your workout or done at the beginning and/or end of each day.

A healthy diet with sufficient amounts of fluid is important for your overall health.

Examine the apsects of your life that may be contibuting to the patterns of pain you are experiencing. If you can eliminate them, do. If you can adjust them to be more conducive to your body's health, do. If you can't make any changes at the moment, step up the activities that can counter-balance the effects.