What you should expect the first time you come in for a Massage at U-Knead-A Massage Inc.:

 

Please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before your appointment time. Upon your arrival, you will be greeted and asked to fill out a health history form. This form is where you record your contact information, past/present injuries and other physical conditions we should be made aware of. Your massage therapist will greet you and review the intake form with you. They will inquire about the reasons you are coming in for a massage, your current physical condition and any specific areas in which you are experiencing pain or would like to address during your massage. This will help determine the type of massage that best fits your "kneads"

 

Your massage therapist will then take you to a private treatment room with a comfortable massage table with a warming blanket and crisp clean sheets. Your massage therapist will leave the room and wait outside while you disrobe to your level of comfort. Remember to remove all jewelry. Some clients prefer to completely disrobe, while some will remain partially clothed. Either option is fine. Once disrobed, you will lie on the massage table, under the top sheet and blanket. The therapist will knock on the door before entering the room.

 

You will always be draped with the sheet during your massage session. The massage therapist will only uncover the part of the body they are working on, ensuring that your modesty is respected at all times. For most techniques, the therapist will use lotion or cream. If you have any allergies to nuts or oils, please let the therapist know.

 

 During Massage:

We at UKAM want to provide a relaxing and therapeutic experience during your massage. The massage table is padded and a heating blanket is placed beneath the sheet, which you can have adjusted to your preference. There is usually soft music and dim lighting to enhance the relaxing experience. An additional blanket or pillows are available at your request. Communicate with the therapist about anything that is uncomfortable: such as too much pressure, pain, cold room, table heater too warm, etc. Do not feel obligated to carry on a conversation while getting a massage – you are free to talk or not during a massage. Its all up to you.

Remember this is YOUR treatment.  If you have a preference to the temperature of the room, the type of music being played, the pressure being used, or the amount of chit-chat during your session, please do not hesitate to let your therapist know.

 

 

 In the Hours After Your Massage:

After your massage you may notice profound changes in your body and mind. Here are some things that have helped many people get the most from their massage:

• Drink extra water. During a massage circulation is improved, which helps flush irritating waste products from stressed muscles and other tissues. Drinking water aids the functioning of the whole body including the circulation and the kidneys, which are both involved with relieving the body of waste products. Drinking extra water also seems to help reduce soreness and fatigue after a massage.
   

• Schedule time to take it easy after your massage. Rest if you feel the need. If you can, take a nap or get in bed early. If you haven’t been sleeping well, receiving massage may relax you enough that you will want to turn in and catch up.
   

• If the focus of your massage is on a particular injury or body part, remember to stretch, ice, or apply heat to that area with the advice of your massage therapist. Or, you may want to do some gentle movement, such as walking, sometime in the hours after your massage to mildly encourage your muscles to work in a balanced and efficient way.
   

• People sometimes experience some soreness for 24 hours or so after a massage. If you do feel sore or think that you might, stretch gently in a hot shower or take a warm bath with Epsom salts. And remember to tell your massage therapist about your experience so it can be taken into consideration in your next session

Cancellation Policy:
Everyone loses when you miss an appointment . . . your therapist, another client who may have wanted your appointment, and more importantly, YOU! We understand that unanticipated events happen occasionally in everyone’s life. Business meetings, project deadlines, flight delays, car problems, big surf, and illness are just a few reasons why one might consider cancelling an appointment. In our desire to be effective and fair to all of our clients and out of consideration for our therapists’ time, we have adopted the following policies:24 hour advance notice is required when cancelling an appointment. This allows the opportunity for someone else to schedule an appointment. If you are unable to give us 24 hours advance notice you will be charged the full amount of your appointment. This amount must be paid prior to your next scheduled appointment.
 

No-shows:
Anyone who either forgets or consciously chooses to forgo their appointment for whatever reason will be considered a “no-show”. They will be charged for their “missed” appointment and may be asked to pre-pay for any future treatments.

Arriving Late:
Appointment times have been arranged specifically for you. If you arrive late your session may be shortened in order to accommodate others whose appointments follow yours. Depending upon how late you arrive, your therapist will then determine if there is enough time remaining to start a treatment. Regardless of the length of the treatment actually given, you will be responsible for the “full” session price. Out of respect and consideration to your therapist and other customers, please plan accordingly and be on time. WE LOOK FORWARD TO "KNEADING" YOU. 

 

Should I Cancel if I'm Ill?

The answer is yes. If you have a fever or an infectious sickness, even a common cold, that is good reason to postpone your massage appointment. For one thing, touch may not feel good. For another thing, you may be contagious, especially in the first stages of a cold or flu. This is usually when you are feeling the worst, when you are coughing and sneezing frequently. The more you limit your contact with others, including your massage therapist, the less you will spread it around. For example, if you don’t “pass” a cold on to your massage therapist, he or she won’t spread it to all the other clients. Studies show that you can transmit a cold or flu to others one or two days before your symptoms appear, and up to five days after first being exposed to the virus. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), colds are most contagious two to four days after original exposure, when there is plenty of the virus present in nasal secretions.

 

There is another reason to avoid massage when you have a cold or flu. Because one of the major impacts of massage is on the circulation (including the removal of wasteful by-products and infectious materials), it is thought that massage can actually increase the spread of infection in your body. If you are sick, your immune system is already working hard. One of the best immune supports may truly be resting and drinking plenty of liquids. And, remember, whenever you have any questions about the appropriateness of massage, be sure to talk with a massage therapist when you schedule the appointment. And, if you are under the care of a physician for any reason, let them know you are receiving massage therapy.

Between Massage Sessions:

To get the most out of your massage, practice these self-care tips regularly.

• Stretch.  If you are getting massage for pain and discomfort, stretching is essential for you. Frequency is more important than length of a stretching session.
   

• Try setting up a reminder sound like a chime on your computer to remind you to stretch for two minutes every hour, or five minutes every two hours.
   

• Follow this simple routine. Exhale as you stretch whatever feels tight or uncomfortable to a feel-good position, and inhale as you return to a starting position. Ask about stretches for specific areas.
   

• Exercise regularly. Even very moderate exercise can help relieve pent-up muscle tension and improve your circulation, two benefits you may have also noticed after massage. Walking, gardening, golfing and tai chi are all ways to get your heart pumping and your muscles moving, and can also help shift your attention from your worries to relaxation and the enjoyment of life.
   

• Take time to relax. Change your schedule to include more down time, even if it’s only 15 minutes for deep breathing or a walk after work or at lunch. Get away from chores on the weekend for a morning or afternoon to enjoy some time in nature or a pot of tea with friends

 

 

 

Massage has its greatest benefits over time. The therapeutic effects of massage are cumulative, so the more often you get a massage, the better you will feel and the more quickly your body will respond. From one session to the next, relaxation deepens as the chronic patterns of stress in the body are affected and released. If you’re getting massage to address chronic muscular tension or recovery from a soft tissue injury, more than one session is usually needed.