What to Expect
Before • During • After Treatment
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What To Expect
Before, during & after your massage.
VIDEO
Optimize your time
Helpful hints to get the most from your experience!
Before & During Your Treatment
- There is a brief intake form for you to fill out, so please arrive (about) 5 minutes early to ensure you receive your full massage time.
- Give yourself enough time to arrive on time and relaxed. If you are rushing and arrive stressed, it will take longer to get into a relaxed state.
- After the intake process your therapist will perform a simple posture analysis to determine exactly where your pain is coming from. Inform your therapist of any repetitive movements, activities, sports and hobbies that may be related to your pain.
- Full draping is required by law, which means that only the areas being worked will not be covered with the sheets on the table. You are welcome to disrobe completely, or stay partially clothed.
- Please speak up if you find the room, table, or any other accommodations uncomfortable!
It’s all about you!
After Your Treatment
- Your therapist will give you specific, customized after care for how to prolong the effects of the massage, and relieve your pain outside of the treatment room. It’s best to follow these instructions for aftercare to maximize the benefits!
- Gratuity is not required, but happily accepted.
- Be sure to ask your therapist ANY questions you might have regarding aftercare. We are here to help you!
- Schedule your next massage, or two (recommended) to ensure you have dates and times that work with your schedule, and to continue the treatment to its fullest potential!
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn How it Works!
How does massage relieve stress?
Massage Therapy has been proven to help relieve stress in a variety of ways. Physiologically, levels of stress hormones like cortisol and norepenephrine, decrease during and after a massage session. Massage sessions relieve stress by reducing blood pressure, and inducing the production of brain-chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, causing the body and mind to relax deeply.
How does massage reduce chronic pain?
Another benefit of massage therapy from a client perspective is how it helps clients become more aware of their bodies and better familiarize them with the pain they experience. Over time, as clients receive more bodywork, their biology slowly changes, and their awareness of their own physical pain is increased, making it easier to address and treat over time.
How does massage effect the nervous system?
Massage helps to turn “off” the sympathetic (fight or flight, adrenaline fueled) nervous system and turn “on” the parasympathetic nervous system. (rest and digest, relaxation portion) When the body is massaged, blood and lymph circulation is increased, which helps to move vital nutrients and oxygen to throughout the body to organs and muscles. Serotonin and endorphins essential for healthy mental functioning and decreasing depression and anxiety are secreted.
How does massage reduce muscle pain and soreness?
When the body is receiving massage, the therapist is manually lengthening muscle tissue. By increasing the amount of blood flow to these overused tissues, it increases the amount of oxygen and essential nutrients that reach the muscle tissue, and therefore help to repair and restructure the muscle tissue itself. Massage is most effective when received over a long-term schedule, for long-term results.
When is the best time to receive massage?
Massage is excellent any time of year, any time of day, but if you’re particularly active, there are times when massage is more effective for tissue repair and muscle rejuvenation. Sports Massage is best to practice directly after a strenuous session of muscular use. This allows for healthy muscle development, increased blood and oxygen flow to muscles, and a quicker recovery rate, as well as increased flexibility and range of motion. Massage performed pre-event is particularly effective for reducing the chance of injury and pain during the event, and significantly quicker recovery.
Do I need to be fully nude to receive massage?
While each and every massage is different, the client has the ultimate say in their level of comfort during the massage. The entire intent of massage therapy is for the client to be 100% comfortable and able to relax, and focus, for the entirety of the massage. Some clients prefer to be fully nude, others decide to keep some articles of clothing on. Sometimes choosing to wear clothing can interfere with the level of access to muscles that the therapist has, but it truly is up to the therapist and the client, to decide what would be most ideal and effective for each massage session.
How do I know what type of massage to get?
Massage is a highly personalized healthcare modality. When you choose your therapist, do not hesitate to ask all the questions you need to, so that you can receive the best level of care for your particular needs. Finding a therapist that specializes in a certain modality is not as necessary if you don’t have specific goals to use massage to achieve. Do some research, ask different therapists about their unique treatment methods, and find what works best for you. Basic Deep Tissue is a good way to dip your toes into the massage healthcare realm, and get a good feel for a therapist. True Balance Healing offers over 10 modalities, that blend together to create a treatment session and plan as unique as you!