Please arrive about 15 minutes early for your appointment. You will be asked to fill out a health history form, listing all health concerns, allergies, and medications so the therapist can adapt the session to your specific needs without doing any harm. Please refrain from using scented products like perfume, oils, and other strong scents before your appointment.

You will be given a tour of our clinic and have a chance to use the bathroom before your appointment begins. The therapist will begin your session by asking you general questions to establish what areas you would like worked on, eg, if there are any conditions that need to be addressed, and to determine what type of massage is appropriate for you. Your massage therapist may perform certain assessments and testing to evaluate your condition and to see if you have any presenting imbalances.

The therapist will leave the room to give you a chance to undress to your comfort level and get under the sheets. Once you are ready, the therapist will knock on the door before entering the room to start the hands-on portion of the session. When the session is over the therapist will let you know and will leave the room so that you can get dressed.

You can choose to be fully clothed in loose comfortable clothing or undress to the level of your optimum comfort. Many people choose to get completely undressed, while others choose to keep undergarments on. Shiatsu, Thai massage, and some sports massage are done clothed.

Draping will be provided and modesty will be maintained at all times. The therapist will only uncover the part of your body being worked on, the rest of you will be covered with a sheet.

Our bodies need therapeutic touch to survive and to thrive. How often you schedule an appointment will depend on your goals, stress levels, work-out routine, finances, and whether or not you’re injured. Talking to our licensed massage therapists can help you determine what the right frequency is for you, and it might change over time!

Increase the Benefits with Regular Visits

Getting a massage can do you a world of good, and getting massages regularly can do even more. This is the beauty of bodywork. Taking part in this form of regularly scheduled self-care can play a huge part in how healthy you’ll be and how youthful you’ll remain with each passing year. Budgeting time and money for bodywork at consistent intervals is truly an investment in your health. And remember—a massage is so much more than a pampering treat. Consider massage appointments a necessary piece of your health and wellness plan, and work with your practitioner to establish a treatment schedule that best meets your needs.

Massage also called bodywork can help with the following:

• Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion.
• Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body’s natural defense system.
• Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
• Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
• Improve the condition of the body’s largest organ—the skin.
• Increase joint flexibility.
• Lessen depression and anxiety.
• Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
• Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
• Reduce post surgery adhesions and swelling.
• Reduce spasms and cramping.
• Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
• Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body’s natural painkiller.
• Relieve migraine pain.
• Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays.
• Ease medication dependence.

Perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. In fact, experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress related. While eliminating anxiety and pressure altogether in this fast-paced world may be idealistic, massage can, without a doubt, help manage stress. This translates into:

• Decreased anxiety.
• Enhanced sleep quality.
• Greater energy.
• Improved concentration.
• Improved digestion.
• Increased circulation.
• Reduced fatigue.

Further reading about the benefits of massage:

Clinical research studies

Information from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health

The terms massage therapy and bodywork are often used interchangeably. However, bodywork is an ‘umbrella’ term which includes many techniques/styles including massage. Here’s a look at some of the more common types of massage and bodywork, starting with massage.

Swedish Massage – Probably the most common type of massage, a Swedish Massage uses five basic strokes to increase circulation, decrease muscle tension and increase relaxation. An oil, lotion, or cream is applied to the skin to reduce friction.

Deep Tissue Massage – This form of massage uses techniques to reach deeper layers of muscle and fascia. Sometimes called deep pressure massage, deep muscle massage, or even deep tissue sculpting, these techniques require that the therapist have a good understanding of anatomy, physiology, and myology. Superficial muscles need to be relaxed to reach the deeper layers, so other bodywork techniques are often mixed in throughout the session. Deep tissue massage can help relieve chronic muscular pain and help achieve better postural alignment.

Pregnancy Massage (or Prenatal Massage) – Perfect for the mother-to-be, pregnancy massage helps to decrease stress and swelling, reduce aches and pains and relieve muscle cramps/spasms all while helping prepare your body for labor. Your therapist should have additional training in this area to better understand the changes your body is going through and what techniques are safe to apply and how to properly position you throughout the nine months.

Sports Massage – Specific techniques are applied to enhance performance and speed recovery. Pre-event sports massage will focus on increasing circulation to warm up muscles (gentle stretching may be included as well). Post-event sports massage focuses more on calming and helping flush metabolic waste from muscle tissues to reduce recovery time. Sports massage can help to not only prevent sports-related injuries (cramps, spasms, pulls) but can help reduce recovery time if an injury does occur.

Medically Prescribed Massage – Medically prescribed massage and manual therapy involve a different process than a standard massage session. There is a more lengthy intake, and an in-depth consultation and assessment to understand and assess your condition. Strong knowledge of the human body and the recovery process is required. Different modalities will be used depending on your condition. This type of massage is common for Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVAs), Workers Compensation Cases (WCs), and some health insurance covered bodywork.

Myofascial Release (MFR) – This technique involves the application of sustained pressure and movement of the connective tissues in the body known as fascia. After an assessment of fascial movement, a sustained pressure/traction is applied to the tissue to release areas of restriction and immobility. It is these areas of restriction and immobility of fascia that can cause pain and decreased range of motion in the body.

Thai Massage – Traditional Thai Massage is a unique healing art that includes acupressure, assisted yoga, and stretches. It is done on a mat while fully clothed, preferably dressed in loose fitting comfortable clothing. Unlike traditional western table massage the practitioner uses their hands, feet, knees and more to address a wide variety of issues. The client and practitioner work together to encourage healing and growth.

Shiatsu – A Japanese form of bodywork that literally translates to ‘finger pressure’. Shiatsu practitioners use their fingers, hands, and thumbs to apply pressure to specific points and sections of the body to correct imbalances and promote health. It can help adjust the body’s physical structure as well as its natural inner energies. When points are pressed, the body’s natural healing abilities are enhanced, releasing muscle tension and increasing circulation.

Most people float first.

That said, there are different benefits to both and we encourage you to try the combo both ways to find out which you prefer. Either way, you will feel less sore after a deep tissue massage when combining a float and a massage together.

Float then Massage – Floating first hydrates your tissue and relaxes your mind, body, and nervous system. The massage therapist will then be able to work more deeply and/or loosen tight areas more effectively because your body is not guarding.

Massage then Float – Getting a massage first will allow your body time after the massage to integrate the bodywork. The therapist will have unwound layers of tension, loosened tight muscles and ligaments, and released adhesions (aka muscle knots). Float after a massage allows the nervous system to reset before going back into your daily routines where most of our muscle tension comes from. Additionally, for some people massage is relaxing for the mind and is a great way to quiet the mind before a float.

The Trifecta! – The Trifecta! is a 3 hour long package that gives you the option to float, then receive a massage, and then receive 30 minutes of sound therapy. You can do these 3 treatments in any order. Many people decide to float first, get a massage, then do the sound therapy because the sound therapy has similar benefits to a float. Many people fall asleep on the sound therapy table after their float massage.

Float Massage Float – The best of both worlds! Float, get a massage, and float again to get the most out of the bodywork. This package will leave you feeling like a brand new person. Plan to be at Float North for 3.5 – 4 hours.

Give us a call if you have questions or would like a recommendation on what would be be best package for you.