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What can I expect from a massage?
You can expect to have your massage in a warm, safe, nurturing environment. You can expect to feel peaceful, totally relaxed, and calm afterwards.
You'll start the session by filling out some confidential paperwork. I'll find out what your goals are for the massage, even if it is just to relax and de-stress and I will walk you over to the treatment room. You will then be left alone in the massage room to undress to your level of comfort. You place shoes and any clothes on the shelf under the massage table or use the hooks on the wall. You'll get on the massage table face down, where you will cover yourself up with the sheet and covers. You ring the bell or call out to indicate you are ready for me to enter. (I don't enter the room until you tell me that you are ready.) Each massage treatment proceeds differently, but generally speaking, here is what will happen in your massage: The massage begins with some light pressure on your back and neck and doing a gentle rocking motion to help relax those muscles and prepare you for massage. There is music playing in the background, unless you prefer to have your massage in silence. When the massage is complete, I gently wake you if you have fallen asleep, then I leave the room for you to re-dress in private. When you come out, I will have nice cold water for you to drink.
How long of a massage session should I book?
First, think about your goals for the massage. If your goal is to "detangle" knotted muscles or if you prefer deep pressure, choose either the Deep Pressure/Triggerpoint Massage or our Signature Massage. If your goal is purely to relax and de-stress and you prefer light to medium pressure, you may want to go with Heated Stone Massage or Aromatherapy Relaxation Massage. If you change your mind during your massage and wish to have some deep tissue techniques applied, just let your practitioner know and we can add it to your massage. Once you determine the kind of massage you want, I find that most people start with an hour massage. That's generally enough time to cover the entire body. Many people like to have 90 minutes, so that they can receive a full body massage with extra time to focus on specific troubled areas such as the back, neck, and shoulders. If you are initially booked for a hour massage but then decide during your massage you'd like to have your session go longer, we gladly increase the time for you if the appointment schedule permits.
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Do I get a full 60 minutes if I book an hour massage?
Yes. When you book a one hour massage, you should expect to receive a full 60 minutes of "table time". The same goes for the 90min, and 120min massage sessions and so on. So, if you have a 1-hour massage that is scheduled to start at 1:00pm, we will want you to arrive at our office no later than 12:50pm to ensure that you have time to have a drink of water and/or a bathroom break, and have time to undress so that your session may begin on time, and your massage session ends at 2:00pm. My regular clients know that I am not opposed to starting their massage sessions slightly early and giving them a few extra minutes of massage time when I can. The booking system inserts a slight cushion between appointments to allow time for intake and finding out what your goals/needs are for that day, and for payment and your questions afterward. The only exception to that is if you arrive late to your appointment, or if you arrive at your scheduled appointment time but have not yet completed the necessary intake paperwork, or if you arrive at your scheduled appointment time and take longer than a minute to prepare for your massage, or if you choose to engage in lengthy side conversations before your session begins. In these cases your session must be shortened to fit into the time we have. Sessions must end on time so that we may be ready on time for our next client. Arriving at least 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment is a good idea, even for veteran spa goers. Please see the products and Policies page.
What should I wear to a session?
Dress comfortably! Some people who come to my office straight from work like to bring a change of clothes to wear after their massage. (We ask women not to wear high heels to or from their spa appointment.) If you prefer to receive massage through your clothing, let us know. In this case, you might want to wear something that stretches or which fits loosely. Sweats are ideal, or lycra workout gear. Disposable undergarments are available for you upon request. You may also choose to be unclothed for your massage. You will be properly draped at all times. We do ask that you leave all jewelry/valuables at home if at all possible, as we cannot be held responsible for forgotten or lost items.
It helps to be well hydrated, so be sure to drink plenty of fluids the day before and day of your massage. If you are coming in for any facial services or for eyelash extensions, please have any make-up removed prior to your arrival. If you are coming for massage after your workout, we ask that you arrive freshly showered. And if this is your first appointment with us (or if it has been longer than 6 months since your last visit) we ask you to read and complete the necessary client forms ahead of time and bring them with you to your appointment. Please see the products and Policies page.
All I can say is you should drink "enough" so that you are adequately hydrated. The best way to tell if you are drinking enough water is to check your urine. If it is clear and odor free, you are probably drinking enough. If it has a strong odor and color, then you probably will want to increase the amount you drink (unless you are on water restriction for medical reasons.) After a massage, we generally encourage you to slightly increase your normal water intake for the next 24 hours in order to help your body rid itself of any toxins which may have been released by your muscles during the massage.
Will I be sore after my massage?
Yes, it is possible, but not everyone has soreness afterward. It is very important for you to let me know if I am using too much pressure at any time, for any massage. I don't believe in the "no pain - no gain" theory, so please don't feel like you have "endure" the massage pressure or tolerate severe pain thinking that it is "supposed" to be that way. Sometimes working with a tight or injured area might be uncomfortable, but even that should be within your tolerance level... think "GOOD hurt" vs. "BAD hurt". On a pain scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the lowest, 10 being the highest) if you are having deep tissue massage are experiencing 9s and 10s throughout your massage, the pressure is too deep for you, so let us know. Relaxation massage should be just that... RELAXING. So if you are experiencing the higher end of the scale, let your practitioner know to lighten the pressure. If you are not used to receiving massage, the soreness you may experience after your massage is similar to the feeling you have after working out after having not working out for a long time. Just as you can feel sore after a good workout, you might feel a little sore after a massage, but that feeling should not last more than a couple of days. Again, communication is key to getting your best massage. Let us know how you are feeling.
That really depends on what your goals are and what your budget allows you to do. For me, my personal goal is to have a massage one to two times per month, as the effects are cumulative. Several of my clients like to come in rouhly once about a week. Some of them come in every other week, some every 3 weeks, and some maybe once a month. I also have some clients I generally see just a few times a year when they receive massage from their friends or family as a gift. All of them recognize the importance of self-care, and the health benefits that they enjoy from receiving massage regularly. If it is within your means to come in once a week for ten weeks and then come back for maintenance massage once or twice a month, that is what I consider "ideal".
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Do I have to disrobe completely when I get a massage?
The best answer is this: ONLY UNDRESS ACCORDING TO YOUR PERSONAL COMFORT LEVEL. You will be laying face down on the massage table, with your face in the face cradle, and will be covered appropriately at all times. Only the part of your body being worked on will be exposed, for example arm, leg, back. If you are not comfortable getting undressed at all, please let me know. I have techniques that I can use through your clothing. It is always your choice on how much clothing to take off or leave on. We have disposable undergarments available at your request. And even if it is within your comfort level lay completely nude on top of the table with no covers whatsoever, please do not do that. We ask that everyone climb under the sheets before asking us to enter the room. No matter what you choose to wear for your massage, you will always be properly draped for your privacy and comfort, as directed by the laws of Washington State.
That is totally up to you. I typically do not initiate conversation except to occasionally encourage you to take nice deep breaths and or to ask questions pertaining to your comfort level and how you are feeling. But if you feel like you want to talk, you are welcome. I have learned that some people relax by talking, others prefer to start and end their massage in complete silence. I find that often people will start out talking and then will quiet down as their mind begins to still and then they "drift off" as the massage continues. Whatever helps you to relax the most is best. I will encourage you to breathe deeply in for the count of three and out for the count of three. Nice steady breaths. And with each exhale, in your mind, encourage your body and muscles to let go of any tension they might be holding.
No, we do not accept insurance at this time.
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What if I'm ticklish?
I've worked with many people who were ticklish. I can show you some breathing exercises and then vary the pressure, depth, and pace of the massage strokes so that you won't feel like you are being tickled. If you are still not ready to be massaged in an area that is particularly “ticklish” for you, let me now and we can move on.
Tipping for the service you receive is a matter of personal discretion in my opinion. Tips are never required, but certainly they are always appreciated! I find most of my clients tip between 10-20%, as they would in a restaurant. Some people choose not to leave a tip, too. I think it is entirely up to you.
My hands rarely get tired because I have learned good body mechanics. But I think that the question behind this question really is, "Will you be able to give me a good massage if you’ve had a full day of massage already and I am your last appointment for the day?" If that is really what you want to know, the answer is a resounding YES! I want my last massage appointment of the day to be just as great as the first massage of the day. I leave a cushion between appointments and will not take on more clients than I can handle in a day’s work. I believe one of the keys to being able to stay in the massage and spa industry long term is taking proper care of myself, avoiding burnout, and delivering consistently great massages.
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What type of massage do you do?
Our primary focus is massage for wellness and relaxation. Stress has a bad effect on our bodies and massage therapy is a great way to help reduce those stress levels and to help the body heal itself. We provide relaxation massage, deep tissue/triggerpoint massage, heated stone massage, pregnancy massage, lomilomi massage, sports massage, and corporate seated chair massage. We offer monthly "web specials" as well. Be sure to check our web site frequently for other monthly web specials, and see our spa menu for the complete list of spa services including cosmetic teeth whitening, facials, body wraps, waxing, and spa packages. Yes, we can arrange an on-site spa party for your small group at your location. Our on-site services include seated chair massage, relaxation massage, and Cosmetic Teeth Whitening. Airbrush spray tanning parties are seasonal -- typically offered in the late spring to early fall when the weather is agreeable. For some services, such as Couple's Cosmetic Teeth Whitening, we can provide for you and your friend at the same time -- which you are welcome to book online. Couple's Massage may also be arranged for you and a friend provide that we can confirm a second massage practitioner is available. For facials, waxing, and other spa services, these appointments would have to be booked back to back (one after the other). We are a very small and private day spa. We cannot accomodate groups in our office for this reason. A Bikini Wax is the removal of unwanted hair on the front bikini line, but not from genitalia. (Removal of unwanted hair from genital area is the Brazilian waxing service.) With a bikini wax, no pubic hair would be visible if wearing regular bikini underwear or bikini swimwear. YES, yes it can. I think you should be wary of waxers who make claims that brazilian and bikini waxing "does not hurt." Let me clarify. For some people, waxing is a mildly uncomfortable experience, but tolerable. And for others, it can be quite uncomfortable. And for some, it is downright unbearable. It depends on your own personal pain threshold, particularly if this is your first time receiving brazilian waxing. Darker, courser hair is far more difficult to remove than thinner, lighter hair and it can be uncomfortable. I will make every effort to make the experience as tolerable as possible, but yes, waxing does hurt more in some areas than in others. It's all about nerve endings --where there are more nerve endings, there is heightened sensation. There is some risk of injury in all waxing services and there are certain people who should refrain from waxing. Please be sure to read the Policies page, including page 4 of the Spa Menu "For Best Waxing Results". You are in charge of your waxing session and we will proceed only according to your comfort level. If you want to stop your service at any time, let us know. Be sure to let us know how you are feeling. Yes, we do Brazilian waxing for men. All of our massage and spa services are for men and women. Facials, wraps, and spa packages can be customized for men -- they are not just for women. Long hair should be trimmed to about a quarter inch to a half an inch before you come in for your waxing appointment. THIS IS FOR YOUR COMFORT. Longer hair can be more painful to wax and can result in hair breakage, rather than removal. We recommend using a personal trimmer, rather than sharp pointed scissors. If you are unable to trim the area to be waxed before your waxing appointment, we can do that for you but will charge an additional $20 per area. And THANK YOU again LMP Becky Lundin of Lacey Massage Therapy for letting me adapt some of your frequently asked massage questions! :) Great to meet you! Cheers! ~Carmen
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Can my friend and I receive a service at the same time at your office?
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WAXING
What is the difference between a Bikini Wax and a Brazilian Wax?
A Brazilian Wax is the removal of unwanted hair in the pubic and anal regions except for a very thin strip of hair in the core of the body. As much hair as possible is removed from the buttocks and anal regions. No pubic hair would be visible if wearing thong underwear or thong swimwear.
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Does Bikini or Brazilian Waxing hurt?
Do you do Men's Brazilian waxing too?
Why should I trim long hair before getting that area waxed?
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