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Questions From You
Q.How often do I need a massage?
A. First and foremost, We always tell our clients when you can afford it. Ideally you want to come in once a month to give your body the break it deserves. We have clients who "treat" themselves once a month, every six weeks or every other month. We have other clients who come in every two weeks and those who come out of necessity. If you want to come in on a regular basis, keep in mind to budget your money.
Q. How much clothing should I take off?
A. This is your personal preference, You will be draped at all times. Each therapist have different ways of massaging. So you may ask yourself who are you more comfortable with, a male therapist or a female therapist. Remember this is YOUR massage. We are just the fascilitators.
Q. What type of massage do I need?
A. Christina, Candice and myself always ask our clients what areas need the focus. We try to incorporate our knowledge by using many different techniques from all the massages we know.
Unless our client specifically asks for one type of massage.
Stress Relief/Anxiety ~ Relaxation, Hot Stones
Tension/low back pain ~ Therapeutic
Muscles that are inflexible ~ Therapeutic, Deep Tissue, Bamboo
Sciatica, Plantar Fasciitis, Frozen Shoulder ~ Neuro-Muscular
Overall well being/Spiritual Healing ~ Reiki, Relaxation, Hot Stones
*This is a basic guideline to go by.
Q. How much session time do I need?
A. 99% of our clientele will take a one hour massage. The one hour massage gives the therapist enough time to go over the entire body, working out any and most problems.
If you don't have much time or need specific work done.You should get the 30 minutes. That allows the therapist to focus their work on that area.
Ninety minute massages are for people who need extra time to enjoy the massage. Not everyone gets fully relaxed in a hour. Also they may feel they need extra work done on their bodies, making sure the focused areas are nice and loose.
Q. Why do I have to drink a good amount of water after the massage?
A. The reason for this is very simple. Toxins that causes muscle tension, stress are released from the muscles into the blood stream. These toxins need "flushed" out, so by drinking water you will do that. Water also helps with muscle soreness. It will alleviate some soreness if you had to get say a Neuro-Muscular massage. You should drink at least quarter gallon or more after the massage.
Q. How long have you been a massage therapist?
A. I graduated from Cincinnati School of Medical Massage in 2005, so six years. I have worked for my school as a clinic director. I have also worked at a salon, and rented a room at a holistic center.Christina graduated from Cincinnati State in 2005, and Candice graduated from Cincinnati School of Medical Massage in 2004.
Q. Don't your hands ever get tired and how many do you do in a day?
A. I can only speak for myself, No my hands do not get tired. Physically I can do massages all day, but I put a limit of 5 or 6 in a day. Mentally is much tougher. After Number 6 I can be mentally exhausted, but I set a limit of 5 in a day. Christina and Candice is about 4 a day.
Q. What made you become a massage therapist?
A. Well I was always good at massaging and fixing my step-dads shoulder. I was at a crossroads of what I wanted to become. I went to see a friend of mine who did tarot card readings. Her name was Tonya and she gave me a reading.
She interrupted the reading half way through and asked to see my hands. She said I had healing hands and she saw higher education with them. I did not tell her anything at all about my intentions, but my mom and I were discussing occupational therapy and I was interested in massage therapy. Tonya told me that I had to do it within a couple of weeks or the opportunity would slip by. Personally I think she knew I was a pracrastinator (laughs).
I visited the school a week later. I filled out a form and was told the administrator would be out to give me a tour. She came out and introduced herself as Tonja (pronounced Tonya). So I thought two Tonya's can't be wrong (laughs). I took it as a "sign" I was proceeding in the right direction. Now I have a career I enjoy greatly!
Q. Can you help alleviate low back pain?
A. Yes, as long as it's muscular. Stiffness and soreness is muscular and we can release the tension from that area. For those who have disc problems. Massage therapy can help by calming down the nerves and receptors in the spinal cord. However, you need to seek other alternative medicines who deal with the spinal cord.
Q. Do you think their are too many massage therapist and do you compete with them? A. There are many massage therapists out there. But no I do not think that the industry is enindated with them. Massage therapists are like doctors in this respect. you have varying degrees of education. All therapists can do relaxation therapeutic massages, but if you need something more specific you will seek someone who has knowledge in that area of massage. You seek out the therapist that you like too, be it his/her personality, their touch and so on. Now for the second part of the question about competing. No I do not compete with other therapists in my area. Yes I am aware of what they charge, but I set a fair price for my clients and give them a first visit discount to try us out. Places like Mitchell's, Identity and bigger corporate companies I don't even try to compete.I am a small business, that provides a personable touch with an intimate setting. I have many friends in the massage business and I would consider them part of a fraternity. You also have to remember that not everyone will like your touch, even though I think we have a great crew of therapists that work here.
Ed Obert, LMT
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