Where will my massage or bodywork session take place?
Must I be completely undressed?
Will the practitioner be present when I disrobe?
Will I be covered during the session?
What parts of my body will be massaged?
What will the massage or bodywork feel like?
Are there different kinds of massage and bodywork?
What should I do during the massage or bodywork session?
How will I feel after the massage or bodywork session?
What are the benefits of massage and bodywork?
Are there any medical conditions that would make massage or bodywork inadvisable?
Remember that massage does not cure diseases nor does it replace proper medical care, nutrition, or exercise. However, many bodywork modalities complement health care. Be sure to contact your physician and medical care professionals if you have a disease or medical condition.
Where will my massage or bodywork session take place?
Your massage or bodywork session will take place in a warm, comfortable, quiet room. Soft music may be played to help you relax. You will lie on a table especially designed for your comfort.
Must I be completely undressed?
Most massage and bodywork techniques are traditionally performed with the client unclothed; however, Ortho-Bionomy is typically done while fully dressed in loose comfortable clothing that you might wear to a yoga class and no drape is needed unless for warmth. Lymph drainage can be done either clothed in tee shirt and shorts or dressed to your level of comfort and draped appropriately. Should you undress to your level of comfort, you will be draped during the entire session.
Will the practitioner be present when I disrobe?
The practitioner will leave the room while you undress, relax onto the table, and cover yourself with a clean sheet or towel.
Will I be covered during the session?
You will be dressed or properly draped at all times to keep you warm and comfortable. Only the area being worked on will be exposed unless you are fully clothed.
What parts of my body will be massaged?
A typical full-body session will include work on your back, arms, legs, feet, hands, head, neck, and shoulders.
What will the massage or bodywork feel like?
Ortho-Bionomy® is effective for infants to elders, clients with acute to chronic pain, and for frail clients to superior athletes. Each session is designed for individual clients with slow gentle movements, comfortable positioning, light contact, and gentle compression or traction. Practitioners gather ongoing feedback from clients for comfort levels and movement preferences. Practitioners work with the body's nervous system to stimulate natural responses for self-regulation and self-balancing. It surprisingly feels like the practitioner doesn't do much to elicit noticeable relaxation, tension relief, and a sense of well-being. It is so gentle it can be done post-surgery by a more advanced practitioner who is trained to do the work with joint replacements and mastectomies.
Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) is also gentle and relaxing. The work stretches the skin to open overlapping segments in lymph vessels to evacuate lymph that is held in bodily tissues. This work helps the body drain trapped fluids in extremities and across the body by opening the lymph pathways and lymph nodes all the way to the major drain sites in the body. For that reason a series of MLD can be beneficial to stimulate lymph flow before a scheduled surgery and to help lymph move following surgery or injury. Surgery can cut lymph flow passageways and some injuries can block lymph vessels, but your MLD practitioner can help the body reroute the lymph following a surgical procedure or injury. The work does not use oil and lotions, but may use some water or hand sanitizer to keep the practitioner's hand from sliding across the skin, because you want to move the skin, not glide over it. It can be done clothed in loose active wear or to level of comfort and draped.
Coaching the Body® work (CTB) is a gentle way to release muscular trigger points using pressure or vibration tools so that the proprioceptors in joints release protective joint muscle holding. It sometimes is done up to a level of 5 out of 10 on the pain/discomfort scale while gently moving a limb as the joint proprioceptors release gradually. It is not as uncomfortable as dry-needling techniques used for trigger points, although that is an effective technique. Oils and lotions are not used in this work, and it is also done while clothed in loose and comfortable clothing or draped while disrobed to level of comfort.
MaMassage® is for pre- and post-natal mothers. It relies on Swedish techniques heavily but some other modalities can be incorporated with training, such as Ortho-Bionomy, MLD, and CTB (see above). The mother's body goes through tremendous changes following conception, such as loosening tendons to prepare for birth and the posture and gait are affected from tendons and the weight of the baby. Back pain, swelling, and discomfort are common symptoms from these changes that bodywork can help. There are contra-indications for work during pregnancy (particularly in the first trimester) so speak with your doctor and a practitioner with pre-natal training practitioner before getting this work.
Swedish massage is often a baseline for clients. In a general Swedish massage, your session may start with broad, flowing strokes that will help calm your nervous system and relax exterior muscle tension. As your body becomes relaxed, pressure will gradually be increased to relax specific areas and relieve areas of muscular tension. Often, a light oil or lotion is used to allow your muscles to be massaged without causing excessive friction to the skin. The oil also helps hydrate your skin. You should communicate immediately if you feel any discomfort so that another approach may be taken. Massage and bodywork are most effective when your body is not resisting.
Are there different kinds of massage and bodywork?
There are numerous types of massage and bodywork; various techniques utilize different strokes, including basic rubbing strokes, rocking movement, posture and movement re-education, application of pressure to specific points, and more. We can discuss which methods may be most appropriate for you.
What should I do during the massage or bodywork session?
Prior to the massage, feel free to ask the practitioner any questions about the technique or the upcoming session. During the massage, make yourself comfortable. The practitioner will either gently move you or tell you what is needed throughout the session (such as lifting your arm). Many people just close their eyes and completely relax, communicating if/when they need more or less pressure, another blanket, or anything else relevant to the session. If you have any questions regarding the session or about the particular technique you are receiving, feel free to ask.
How will I feel after the massage or bodywork session?
Most people feel very relaxed. Some experience freedom from long-term aches and pains developed from tension or repetitive activity. After an initial period of feeling slowed down, people often experience increased energy, heightened awareness, and greater productivity which can last for days.
What are the benefits of massage and bodywork?
Massage and bodywork can help release chronic muscular tension and pain, improve circulation, increase joint flexibility, reduce mental and physical fatigue and stress, promote faster healing of injured muscular tissue, improve posture, and reduce blood pressure. Massage and bodywork is also known to promote better sleep, improve concentration, reduce anxiety and create an overall sense of well-being.
Are there any medical conditions that would make massage or bodywork inadvisable?
Yes. That's why it's imperative that, before you begin your session, the practitioner asks general health questions. It is very important that you inform the practitioner of any health problems or medications you are taking. If you are under a doctor's care, it is strongly advised that you receive a written recommendation for massage or bodywork prior to any session. Depending on the condition, approval from your doctor may be required.
