Which Massage Is Best For Me?

One of the most common questions that I am asked by new clients is what massage modality should I book? There are so many to choose from and I just am not sure which one would be best for me. This is a great question to ask! The simple answer I often give is that this choice really depends on your goals for the session. 

Is your main goal to relax? Is it to address an injury or chronic pain you've been dealing with? How about Both? How about migraines, tension headaches and arthritis? Are you pregnant? Do you want to address the source of your pain, if so are you willing to commit to come in as often as 1-2xs/week and perform client homework including stretching and strengthening? Or are you wanting to just feel good and de-stress. These are just a few of the questions I may ask you prior to the session. 

If you are a new client I often wait until the initial new client interview and paperwork to determine which massage is best for you. As a massage therapist it is extremely helpful for the client to let me know what they like and don't like and what their expectations are for the session. Feedback is not only helpful for me but also ensures that you will receive the best massage for your needs. Every individual is different; we all have different experiences, bodies and pain tolerances. No two people are the same and this goes the same with massages. 

While it is not necessary to "direct" the massage, it is important that you let us know where you’re hurting and if anything we do is uncomfortable. Not communicating before, during and after the session will lead to subpar treatments. We are here to serve you, we cannot read minds and while I like to think my intuition is spot on I've always appreciated client feedback to reaffirm the progression of the treatment. 

If you are unsure what massage to schedule online, read through the descriptions and choose the type of massage that best fits your needs. If your still unsure which massage to book I recommend scheduling a “Swedish Massage”, when you come in for your professional consultation before your massage we can modify your treatment plan or massage type to what we both believe will ultimately serve you the best.  

Here is a chart to help you decide on session length:

Session Length	General Time Guideline
30 minute	Perfect to address one small area. An example of an area would be the neck, lower back, calves, etc.
60 minute	Great for a general full body massage, to address two small areas or one large area (ex: back).
90 minute	This time length is most recommended. During this session we have enough time to do a full body massage and focus on 2 areas.
120 minute	For the ultimate relaxation, this time length allows us to do a full body massage and focus on 2-4 areas.

Some questions that might help your therapists customize your treatments include:

What is your primary goal? (Decrease pain, relax, prepare for a sporting event, etc)

Are you pregnant? If you are, definitely book a prenatal. 

Do you enjoy deep, medium or light pressure?

Do you want to address the underlying issue of your pain? 

Are you willing to do client homework (aka stretching and strengthening)?

Are you willing to commit time to massage and other therapeutic treatments?

Do you suffer from headaches, migraines, TMJ dysfunction? 

Are you wanting a full body massage? 

(Yes, No, or If there is time after addressing major problem areas) 

Do you experience neck pain? 

When did your pain begin and when is the pain worse?

Please feel free to leave any questions or comments!

Cure Touch Do’s and Don’ts of Massage Therapy

The DO’s

• DO arrive early to your appointment. Being early to your massage will promote a relaxing atmosphere for you and your massage therapist.
• DO use the bathroom before the massage.
• DO ask your therapist questions. We are here to make you feel as comfortable as possible! It’s perfectly normal to ask questions. J
• DO tell your therapist if you’d like her to adjust the pressure during the massage. Everyone’s optimal pressure is different and we rely on your feedback to get to the perfect pressure.
• DO take your time getting off the massage table after a session.
• DO let us know 12 hours in advance if you need to reschedule.
• DO drink plenty of water after your massage.
• DO tell your friends about your massage at Cure Touch Massage Therapy!
• DO write a review on Yelp, Facebook or Google plus and receive $5 off your next massage!

The DO NOT’s

• Don’t be late to your appointment. Being rushed to get to your appointment isn't the most relaxing way to start off your massage.
• Don’t be a no show! It’s far better to be late to your appointment then not show up. Our cancellation policy requires notice at least 12 hours in advance.
• Don’t be afraid to speak up or be quiet during the session. Your massage is about YOU! We want to know how you are feeling during the massage, but it’s also important that you are able to “let go” and relax.
• Don’t worry about not shaving. I can honestly say that most, if not all massage therapists don’t care if you haven’t shaved. So, you have no reason to apologize! Just enjoy your massage and forget about it.
• Don’t wait too long to schedule your next massage! I recommend massages every two weeks. The best way to book is by going online: curetouch.com and clicking the BOOK NOW button.

Thanks for reading! I look forward to seeing you soon. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please feel free to email me.

Emily Larson

Cure Touch Massage Therapy

Massage Basics

The effects of massage can be categorized into two groups, mechanical and reflexive.

Mechanical benefits are manifested directly and can be witnessed immediately. These direct effects happen when blood & lymph are mechanically pushed back to the heart causing an increase uptake/removal of wastes and the delivery of fresh nutrients to the area.

Oxygenated blood rich in nutrients enters the tissue while deoxygenated blood leaves. Photo taken from: wikieducator.org

Reflexive benefits are less obvious because they indirectly influence organs via the nervous system. Some of the general benefits of massage include: increased system functioning, increased range of motion (ROM), injury and disease prevention, decreased feeling of anxiety and stress, increased feeling of well-being and body awareness.

Body awareness is important for healthy functioning because it addresses problems that may have been ignored otherwise. Body awareness comes when we are aware of our physical pains and have greater knowledge of our individual somatic feelings. As a massage therapist, I act as a facilitator to help others increase their body awareness.

The effect of massage is highly dependent on which strokes are being used during a session. There are five distinguishable strokes in Swedish massage. Swedish massage is one of the most common types of massage performed in the United States and because of this I have used this modality to express the basics of massage. In one way or another all modalities have similar strokes that are called by different names.

I. The first stroke is effleurage. This is a lengthening stroke that is commonly used as an introduction to the session. Effleurage is a superficial stroke.

II. Next, we have petrissage. This stoke encourages the movement of blood and lymph from deeper tissues. It is a circular kneading stroke.

III. Friction is another stroke that is used to draw new blood flow and heat to superficial tissues. This is an excellent stroke to use to quickly warm up an area.

IV. Vibration is a stroke used to release tension and break chronic holding patterns in the body.

V. The last stroke is tapotement, this stroke is also referred to as a quick chopping or beating motion of the hands. This stroke tones muscles and increases circulation.

*Please note that the effect of pettrissage, friction, vibration and tapotement are dependent on the depth of pressure, rate of speed and duration of the stroke.

As a massage therapist I perform hours of massage daily. To prevent injury and avoid the overuse of my hands I use proper body mechanics in every one of my sessions. By using proper technique, I can give a longer more effective massages.

Here are some tips for giving a great massage:
-Don't muscle your massages! Instead, utilize your body weight in the massage. Doing this will help avoid muscle fatigue and allow a more relaxing  massage for both you and the person receiving the massage.
-Avoid hyper-extending your fingers, thumbs or wrists. This will help you avoid conditions such as arthritis and prolong your ability to give an excellent massage.
-Check in with pressure! This means you don't assume the pain tolerance of others. Using a pain scale can be an effective way to achieve an optimal pressure. For instance a 1, is too little and a 7 is just right. At a 7, you have achieved a "hurts so good" pressure.

-In order to give sufficient pressure during a massage you need to be aware of your surroundings and your body position. Never reach up to give a massage. Instead, make sure you are able to lean into the massage. If the person is too tall have them sit down while you stand or lay down while you kneel.
-Use different tools. Tools for massage include palms, fists, knuckles, forearms, elbows, etcetera. Smaller tools like fingertips should be used for smaller areas like the hands or feet. Larger tools like the forearm work great for the back.
-Always end with lighter strokes that awaken the body. Ending with strokes that awaken the body will give the person receiving the massage a sense of closure and grounding.

Enjoy these new found skills! Please feel free to ask me any questions about the basics of massage.