FAQ – Page 2 – The Snow Monkey Spa

Should I Cancel My Massage if I’m Sick?

May 19, 2019 admin Leave a comment FAQ

Short answer: Yes, please.

Long Answer: Yes, please.

Massage is great. You know this. But it’s not always a great idea.

As cold and flu season approaches again, it’s important that you know when it may be necessary to cancel your appointment.

Why?

When you are sick, your body needs rest. It’s strange to think about it this way, but receiving massage is an active task, it is not entirely rest. Massage causes change in the body, and your body has to work to maintain stability. Getting a massage when you are sick takes attention away from infection-fighting. That’s no good.

You’re not going to be cozy on the massage table. Sure, it sounds like a warm squishy massage table would be great. But the moment you put your already-stuffy head into that face cradle, you’ll realize the error of your ways. Gravity and pressure are not your friend here. Even if I do a great face massage to drain your sinuses, you’ll likely feel worse when you get off the table.

You could get me sick. Since most of the common winter viruses are contagious even before symptoms show up, I could pass the cooties along to more clients before I even know it’s happening.

Further, when I get sick, I have to cancel clients and take a few days off work. I work for myself, with no paid sick days to compensate for lost wages. Sure, as a responsible business owner I have a fund for these situations. But I would rather use that fund for a jetski or a fancy new oil holster. So I’m gonna try to stay germ-free this winter.

So it’s a deal. You’ll cancel so as not to infect me and my massage room, and I’ll do the same for you. We’ll keep each other safe.

When to cancel

If you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea in the past 24 hours, or are still feeling punky from a recent bout of such things.

If you’ve had a fever in the past 24 hours, or fever-related symptoms. This includes chills, aches, and fatigue. Even if you’re keeping the fever down with medicine, you’re still sick. The fever counts.

If you are itchy, runny, and/or sneezy, and you’re not 100% certain it’s seasonal allergies. And even then, allergies may leave you so miserable that the hour on my table would be wasted time and money for you.

If you are coughing constantly, or just a lot.

If someone in your household is ill and you are feeling at all funky, please cancel.

There is often some gray area here, especially if you are in the recovery phase of a virus or bacterial infection. If you’re unsure about your situation, please call me before your appointment and we can make a decision together.

What to Expect at Your First Massage

May 18, 2019 admin Leave a comment FAQ

What to expect

When you arrive at the office, if you hadn’t completed the intake form online, we will go over it briefly in person. We’ll talk about why you’re coming in for a massage and what you your goals are for the session. Are you having pain? Do you need to relax?

I’ll show you the massage room and walk you through the massage process. I’ll leave the room so you may undress, get on the massage table, and get comfortable under the draping sheet & blanket.

Most massage techniques are traditionally performed with the client unclothed; however, what you wear it is entirely up to you. Simply put: bottom undergarment can be left on or taken off. You will be properly draped throughout the massage.

I always like to start the massage by rocking the body and working on the back. I use an unscented jojoba oil to allow your muscles to be massaged without causing excessive friction to the skin. While I have scented essential oils, I will never use them without your prior permission.

During the massage

It’s great if you can let your body relax and sink into the table. If I need to move your arms or legs, etc, I’ll do the work! This takes practice. It does help me a bit if I’m trying to move the bolster under your knees, if you could bend your knees for me. But I can also lift your legs if you’re zonked out.

It’s really important for you to tell me if any massage techniques I use cause pain. Pain is not okay. There may be a certain level of discomfort and ‘good ache’ if we’re working on a problem area. It’s important that you tell me about that, too, so we can tailor the massage to be most effective without causing injury.

I’ll check in with you as we go, but please speak up if you become too warm or too cool, if you are not comfortable on the table, or need another pillow, or if you just hate the music!

After the massage

You should expect to feel mellow and relaxed after your massage. If we addressed pain issues, you may immediately feel a reduction in pain, or it may take a day or two before you feel that relief. If you are ever very sore following a massage, (it’s rare, but it can happen) please call me so we can discuss the best course of action, and so that I can make notes to adjust your next massage.

I hope you enjoy your massage! You can schedule online here anytime.

Massage Lubricants: Oils, Lotions, Powders, oh my!

May 16, 2019 admin Leave a comment Client Relations, FAQ

Massage Products for the Skin

First of all, you’ll be pleased to know I sanitize the lotion and oil pump bottles after each client.

Lotion: Biotone Advanced Therapy Massage Lotion. Grapeseed, apricot, sesame.

This is my go-to lotion. It lasts long enough so I don’t have to reapply it too often, but it does absorb into the skin so you don’t feel too greasy after the massage is over.

Oil: Pressed Jojoba

It comes highly recommended, as it is hypoallergenic, it won’t stain sheets, and it will never go rancid. It is quite a bit more expensive than other oils, but I love the way it glides over the skin.

Dry: Baby Powder

No one has ever requested it, but I keep baby powder available in case anyone wants to use that instead of oil or lotion.

Fabric: Satin

Another offer that hasn’t been requested yet, but I do have a large amount of satin fabric available in the event I get a client who wants to remain clothed. Satin is slippery and allows me to glide my hands or elbows over the body’s muscles without getting stuck and caught on the clothes or skin.

Massaging vs Massage Tools

May 14, 2019 admin Leave a comment FAQ

Using massage tools between appointments

There are plenty of tools that you can use to help yourself feel better in between massage appointments. There are foam rollers, therapy canes, electronic devices providing percussion or vibration, and balls of all kinds. You’ll see ways to use tennis, golf, racquet, and lacrosse balls for massage purposes. These can be great to have at home, at work, or when you travel. They can help ease some pain when you can’t get in for a massage. Life events pop up and make it difficult to squeeze a massage into your schedule at times. Massage is a great part of your plan for taking care of yourself, but of course it can’t be the only thing. It makes sense to have other activities and some tools to keep you feeling good regularly. For example rolling your sore and tired feet on a golf ball for a few minutes feels wonderful – and it helps get you up off the couch and moving again. Before you ditch your massage therapist completely, there are some things to consider. Your tool does only one action. Most just compress your muscles. But that’s not all you need to feel better. In a massage your muscles are pulled, squeezed, kneaded, and stretched as well as being compressed. One tool isn’t the solution to everything. Hammers are good – for hammering. When you need to paint, drill a hole, or tighten a nut they are not nearly as useful. Tools are not are educated in how your body works. Your tool won’t know when to stop and your muscles may get overworked. Working in some areas of your body can be dangerous and may cause serious problems. Obviously you want to feel better, not worse afterwards. Massage therapists have also learned about how much pressure to use and how best to work on a muscle. They can evaluate the progress and change the pressure or try a different technique. They may move you into different positions to change the angle to reach a muscle more effectively. Some tools may require you to get on the floor or bend a certain way. This can be a challenge to some who are lacking in mobility or agility. Pain can be tricky. You may feel the pain in one area but the real source can be somewhere else. If you only address where you feel the pain you will just treat the symptom and the pain will return. A massage therapist can often track down the source and help address the real problem. There’s more to a massage than just working on your muscles. You get personal attention, listened to, and cared for. Your body and mind can both relax as you let go of your responsibilities for a while. Tools for use at home can provide some nice benefits in between massages. Most of us enjoy saving money but when we need something important done correctly we pay a professional. Your body is the only place you have to live. Take care of it right.