Question 1

This will be my first massage. What can I expect?

Accepted Answer

I get this question so often, that I wrote a handy blog post about it. Check it out here. It answers the most common questions I hear about massage.

Question 2

What techniques do you use?

Accepted Answer

I'll use whatever techniques are appropriate to help you meet your goals and feel better. These may include Neuromuscular Therapy, Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Deep Massage (Lauterstein Technique), energy work, and Manual Lymphatic Drainage.

Question 3

What are the benefits of massage therapy?

Accepted Answer

Massage therapy is a wise investment in your health. Research shows that a single massage, and subsequent regular massages, can reduce anxiety and depression. While receiving a good massage, the nervous system may enter its "rest and digest" state, during which deep healing and restoration can take place. This reduction in stress levels can greatly improve quality of life, particularly because chronic stress is a common cause of disease, and is responsible for about 80% of doctor's visits. When you consider the cost of preventive vs. reactive healthcare, it is actually quite cost effective, and can even pay for itself many times over. Massage therapy can also address and alleviate specific areas of pain, tension, and certain soft tissue injury. Additionally, there's promising research that suggests massage can help with symptoms of specific conditions, such as Parkinson's, Fibromyalgia, strains and injuries, chronic pain, and more.

Question 4

I don't have any health issues or pain. What's the point of getting a massage?

Accepted Answer

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, massage is a wise investment in your health! And here's why. A huge number of doctor's visits are stress-related. A huge number of prescriptions and pills taken are stress and pain related. Many health issues are either exacerbated or triggered by stress. In our stressed out world, taking the time to regulate and relax the nervous system is important. Massage therapy does that quite well. Additionally, soft tissue injuries can sneak up on us if we're not taking an active role in our physical health. Whether you're active or sedentary, receiving soft tissue therapy can help you gain a greater awareness of your body, and a better awareness of what "wellness" feels like. Rather than simply feeling "not sore" or "not injured", massage can help you feel more connected with and at ease in your body. As mentioned above, considering the cost of preventive care versus reactive care, regular massage therapy has a high value. In a perfect world, we would all be getting weekly (or more!) massages, enjoying the health benefits of nurturing human touch and skilled soft tissue therapy.

Question 5

How often should I get a massage?

Accepted Answer

This depends on you. In a perfect world, everyone would be able to get a massage once a week or more. However, I understand that isn't necessarily realistic. Most commonly, people come in either bi-weekly or monthly for routine maintenance. If you're rehabilitating from an injury or an acute issue, I will evaluate in your first session, and will most likely recommend a short series of weekly sessions until we can get the pain under control. After that, reducing your frequency to bi-weekly or monthly is a good idea to prevent re-injury and maintain wellness. Making a commitment to come in regularly really is the best way to see the most benefits of massage therapy.

Question 6

Do you offer prenatal massage?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I do! When you are booking, you can simply book for a "therapeutic massage" and write in the notes that you are pregnant. While massage therapy is very safe, I do ask people in their first trimester to get an "ok" from their doctor first, because your doctor knows your health history and can let you know if you should wait.

Question 7

Do you offer hot stones or cupping?

Accepted Answer

No, I do not.

Question 8

Do you offer couples' massages?

Accepted Answer

No, since I'm just one person with two hands, I can't currently offer couple's massages ;) However, sometimes, a couple will come for sessions back-to-back. There's so much to do in downtown Decatur while your partner gets massaged, or you can just sit in our waiting room and read.

Question 9

Do you make housecalls?

Accepted Answer

I only make housecalls for clients who are physically unable to travel for health reasons. Based on my schedule, I cannot always guarantee that I can squeeze in a housecall. I charge a travel fee for housecalls, and I do not offer house calls during peak rush hours.

Question 10

Do you accept insurance?

Accepted Answer

No, I do not. If your insurance policy covers massage therapy, I can provide you a superbill to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.

Therapeutic Massage incorporates various massage techniques to create a session that is tailored to your needs and goals: from relaxation to pain relief, and everything in between.