Frequent Questions
What
is "therapeutic" massage?
"Therapeutic" means it's good for you. All massages are intended to improve blood & lymph
flow. In fact, that's the primary benefit of styles like Swedish and Shiatsu massage. They
are fairly general techniques. Therapeutic therapists use techniques likes myofascial release and
neuromuscular re-education to loosen everything from the myofascial sheath, then stretch the muscles very
gently to get them to relax and lengthen, to prevent them from snapping back afterwards. It takes time
and experience to do this well, but it is my specialty.
I've heard "good" massages can be
painful...
There should be no pain. Pain means the therapist is trying to go faster or deeper than your body wants to
relax. The therapist needs to slow down and be more gentle. Each person is different, so the therapist needs to
be able to adapt to each client.
What time
should I arrive for my appointment?
You should be lying on the table, relaxed and ready for your massage to start at the
time of your appointment. That means you need to arrive at least 5 minutes before your appointment.
Most therapists plan for 15 minutes between sessions, so arriving 10 minutes early is usually best.
If I have injuries, why not go to a chiropractor or physical
therapist?
Chiropractors force joints to move. That's why they are called high velocity or high amplitude techniques.
Physical therapists can be similar. Therapeutic massage gently stretches the muscles that are pulling the joint
together tightly, preventing the tight joint, rather than forcing it to move. Without addressing the muscular
issues impacting the joint, the problem will probably not go away.
My chiropractor does massage therapy, too. Why shouldn't I go to
them?
In my experience, the best therapists work for themselves or in facilities that specialize in therapeutic
massage.
What makes one therapist better than
another?
Personal experience makes the difference. While travelling non-stop for a former employer, I got massages from
recommended therapists all over America, learning a little bit from each one. However, in my experience, the
best therapists are people who have been badly injured and have recovered. They learn first hand how much
stress the body can take and the torque applied by injured fascia. That's how they develop the touch and feel
necessary to completely eliminate injuries. They know what it feels like.
How long should a massage be?
It completely depends on the person and their injuries. Very few people have no injuries. 45 minutes is really
the minimum. People with old or deep injuries can take 2 hours or more. My longest so far is 3 hours. If your
therapist can't do a 2 hour massage, you might want to find a new therapist.
What should I wear for a massage?
A very common question. In general, less is better, but stay within your comfort zone. Your job during the
entire massage is to relax as much as possible. It's hard to relax if you're not comfortable.
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