Frequently asked questions...

What style of massage do you perform?
I predominantly use Swedish massage in my practice, though I also borrow from many other modalities including Deep Tissue, Myofascial, Hot/Cold Stone therapy, and energy work. Swedish is what most westerners think of when they envision a massage session—it generally includes long, sweeping motions combined with kneading and compression of the tissue, all with varying degrees of pressure. For a step-by-step example of a typical Swedish massage session, click here.

Deep Tissue has many levels of application, from subtle to driving force. It is highly effective in working out chronic muscle tension and improving mobility, when used appropriately. Utilizing the body's own bone structures and adequately warming up the tissue are two of the most important principles to performing pain-free Deep Tissue work.

Polarity Therapy is mainly an energetic form of massage, based on the principle that the cells of the body emit faint electromagnetic impulses. Polarity uses gentle pressure and rocking to tap into the body's parasympathetic nervous system, allowing the body to become aware of energetic and physiological anomalies. Most clients find it immensely relaxing, and it often generates a dreamlike state in the receiver.

Myofascial Release is a subtle technique that works with freeing the body's connective tissue, or 'fascia'. Fascia is prevalent in our entire body, around every muscle and every organ, and even between your skin and muscles. Therefore, if one area becomes stuck, it can affect all the areas around it. It is very important to work with the body's fascia to allow the muscles to relax, especially in areas of chronic discomfort.


What are the positive effects of massage therapy?
Massage is highly versatile, and is suitable for every body from babies to clients nearing the end of life. It has been proven to improve circulation of blood and lymph fluid, as well as decrease stress and help muscles to relax. Massage therapy can help mobilize and/or improve joint range of motion, or help release areas of chronic discomfort. It is increasingly being used as an accompaniment to physical therapy and chiropractics, to decrease muscle hypertension and assist in the healing process. Each client is of course treated according to their situation and desired outcome.


Do I have to be naked?
Absolutely not. Massage therapy can be performed on a client who is fully clothed, though typically the therapist will work on a (fully covered) nude client. Many clients will choose to leave on undergarments until they feel completely at ease in the atmosphere of the office.

Out of respect for personal boundaries, a therapist will work on a client at whatever level of undress they feel comfortable at. Swedish massage is usually performed on a raised massage table, with a sheet and/or blanket covering the client. The massage therapist will only uncover the specific area being worked on, which is called ‘draping’ the area. Oftentimes compression of a muscle can easily be done through the sheet, making draping unnecessary.


Isn't massage therapy just a glorified backrub?
Though many people who have not experienced it think that massage is only performed on the client's back, massage therapy can benefit the entire body — from the tips of the toes to the crown of the head. Even the arms and fingers can profit from massage, especially in today's world of computers and other repetitive tasks! See our step-by-step example of a Swedish massage for clarification.


I've heard some stories about shady massage practices...are they true?
In a legitimate practice, massage therapy is completely NON-sexual, in any way. In fact, any sexual activity between therapist and client is highly illegal and should be reported immediately to the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists. This is the reason why many practitioners nowadays prefer to be called "LMT" (in Oregon — Licensed Massage Therapist) or just "massage therapist" instead of "masseur" or "masseuse". Language and terminology is very important to the public viewpoint, and we like to remind people that we are working in a therapeutic capacity at all times.


What kind of training do massage therapists have?
The amount of training therapists need to become licensed in the USA depends on the state. In this state, the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists—the OBMT—regulates massage therapists and their licensure. Massage therapy students are required to take at least 500 classroom hours of schooling from an accredited school, of both direct massage and sciences courses. When they have finished school, massage therapy students must then pass an OBMT hands-on practical test as well as a written National Certification test and a written test on Oregon Law as it pertains to massage therapists. The OBMT also requires therapists to take continuing education classes throughout their professional career, while maintaining high standards of ethics, boundaries, and public safety.

I attended East-West College of the healing arts, an established massage school in Portland. There, I was trained by Chiropractic Doctors, Naturopathic Doctors, Occupational Therapists, and Licensed Massage Therapists alike. Classes included Kinesiology, Anatomy/Physiology, Pathology, Business practices, and 300 hours of Massage training: ethics, modalities, techniques, hydrotherapy, etc. I passed all of my Board tests with ‘High’ ratings of understanding in all possible categories. I am currently licensed by the State of Oregon as an LMT, a professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and have an up-to-date certification in CPR. My extensive training in all of these categories and experience since gives me confidence that I can serve you as my client in the most effective and appropriate fashion possible.


Is Swedish the only type of massage?
If you go to five different massage therapists, you're likely to get five different assessments and strategies for relieving your discomfort. This is because there are as many styles of massage as there are practitioners. Even without individual styles, the various categories of massage therapy vary widely — from performance-focused Deep Tissue and Sports massage, to gentle CranioSacral therapy, to yoga-like Thai massage, to energy-based therapies like Reiki, Acupressure, or Polarity. Massage therapists can specialize in any one of these, or mix several styles up in an eclectic approach. They can even choose one disorder or condition and specialize in that, such as treating Trigger points or Fibromyalgia. This arrangement is a lot like the medical or psychiatric care fields.

Before your head starts to spin with the amount of choices available, know this: as the client, your only responsibility in choosing is to find a therapist who you work well with. You may not know Swedish from Shiatsu, but what you WILL know is if your body and spirit responds or not. If you have done some research into a preferred style, it is perfectly acceptable to ask around for a therapist who specializes in that style. Otherwise, choose your therapist by how well they respond to your requests and your body's needs. Massage therapy is all about positively affecting the client! In fact, I believe that much of what we do, regardless of style, is simply to make the body aware of its dysfunctions and give it a push (press) in the right direction. And remember: ANY touch is therapeutic, so whatever modality your therapist works in, take a deep breath and listen to what your body is telling you.