We're happy to answer some of your most frequent questions. If you don't see your question listed below, contact us and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Massage FAQs

What should I expect during my first appointment?
At the beginning of your first session, you will be required to fill out a Medical Intake form, giving your practitioner a history of recent ailments, injury, medications and areas of discomfort or tension in the body. There is time set aside to go through this paperwork with your practitioner and further discuss what you’re looking to gain from your treatment or session.

We refer to the first session as a “consultation”. It is an opportunity for us to assess what’s going on in your body and what areas will need further attention. After the session, you will have the opportunity to discuss the session with your practitioner, given some helpful tips on how to achieve the best results from your session and look at setting up further sessions.

Do I need to talk during my treatment?
We encourage our clients to be silent during their treatments, allowing for the opportunity to focus on breath. In our noisy and often chaotic world, it is rare to have the opportunity to be silent and this is when a lot of healing actually takes place. Allow yourself this time of pure restoration.

If in fact you find that you relax better by being chatty, please realize that your practitioner is focusing on his/her work and may not be fully present to engage in conversation. Our work is better when we are quiet.

Do I have to get naked for my massage?
Your therapist will always step out of the room, while you disrobe down to your comfort level. Some clients prefer to be au natural on the table, knowing they will be securely covered and draped professionally at all times during the session. Other people prefer to leave their underwear on and by all means, this is very appropriate too. It is best, however, to remove all other articles of clothing, including jewelry and eyeglasses.

Acupuncture FAQs

Is acupuncture painful?
Most treatments are pain free. Although there can be the occasional sharp or achy reaction, this is usually momentary. If, on the rare occasion a person is "needle sensitive", the practitioner at Therapeutic Bodywork is trained in non-needle techniques and other modalities to create a relaxing, beneficial treatment.

Does acupuncture work by using nerve endings?
Western medicine doesn't entirely understand acupuncture and some of the energy meridians do correlate to the nervous system. In general an acupuncturist uses needles to work with your bodies natural energy (Qi) to balance your body, remove stagnation and release pathogens.

Is acupuncture good for anything besides pain?
Absolutely yes. Acupuncture is an entirely different system of medicine, that has been practiced for over 2000 years. It has been used to help with stress, seasonal allergies and much more.

How many sessions are required to correct a problem?
This depends on the situation. If the problem is acute then usually it can quickly be eradicated with an aggressive course of treatment. If a problem has reached a chronic stage then the practitioner will help create a plan to correct the problem as fast as possible but it may take time.

Are the needles clean?
The needles are sterile. They are used one time only. They are classified as a type 2 medical device and are disposed of after treatment.

How often should I get Acupuncture?
As the saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". Making acupuncture a monthly if not weekly practice, along with healthy diet and exercise, can go a long way in improving quality of life, preventing injury and illness over the course of a lifetime.

Skin Care FAQs

Why Organic Skin Care is important?
Your skin, the largest organ in your body, absorbs over 60% of what you put on it. The FDA does not have regular safety standards in place for the beauty product industry, leading to the fact that what you're putting on your skin could be loaded with toxins that are hazardous to your health and the environment. Study after study has revealed a connection between some of these chemicals and long-term health conditions such as; infertility, cancer, eczema, anxiety + more.

What is Organic Skin Care?
Organic Skin Care means that these products are made of plant derived ingredients along with some other naturally occurring ingredients. These ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, GMO and so on and often come with an Organic certification. The integrity of these unadulterated ingredients is maintained in the best way possible with little to no additives. From here the best ingredients for the specific goal are chosen and a natural preservative system is used for longevity. This process keeps you AND our earth healthier.

What Skin Care products do you use?
At Therapeutic Bodywork, we are proud to offer Ilike, a skin care line that is both 100% organic and offers incredible skin nourishing results.

Made in small batches from organically grown and handpicked herbs, fruits and vegetables, Ilike contains the highest possible levels of natural active ingredients. Every Ilike product is full of vitamins, fruit acids, bioflavonoids, and other active ingredients to treat, nourish and beautify the skin, from the inside out.

What is the benefit of getting a facial?
Not only does a professional facial feel amazing and leave you with radiant skin, it is also very important for the overall health of your skin. Regular facials increase circulation of the blood under the skin allowing for optimal health & the facilitation of skin cell renewal. Facials also aids in detoxification and can promote collagen production, which is essential to decrease premature aging, wrinkles and sagging. While an at home skin care regimen is important, a professional facial will cleanse the pores and exfoliate the skin on a much deeper level than can be achieved at home. Regular facials will leave your skin healthier, smoother, and look more radiant.

How often should I schedule a facial appointment?
Getting a routine facial is important to the overall health of your skin. The general recommendation is that you should aim to have a professional facial every 4-6 weeks. It takes your skin about 3-4 weeks to move through a full life cycle of cell growth and exfoliation. A regular, professional facial helps with that process and keeps your skin healthy and radiant. It is best to work with your skin care specialist who can help create a maintenance plan specific to your needs.

Reflexology FAQs

What is reflexology?
Reflexology is a form of natural healing which has been practiced for centuries. Reflexology works off of the principle that your body is mapped on your feet with reflexes corresponding to organs, glands and the musculoskeletal system. With over 7,000 nerve endings per foot, reflexology is a very relaxing therapy with a strong communication to the nervous system.

Using fingers and thumbs and other specialized techniques, your therapist will make small movements applying alternating pressure along with thumb and finger walking on various pressure points. Reflexology promotes relaxation, and encourages the body, mind and spirit to function optimally.

Reflexologists do not diagnose, prescribe or treat and we are not a substitute for other medical professionals.

My feet aren’t a problem for me so does that mean I am not a candidate for a session?
One of the biggest misunderstandings of reflexology is that it is a therapy for the feet.

Actually reflexology benefits the whole body. There is an array of reflexes on the feet that correspond to organs, glands and the musculoskeletal system so the whole body is worked via the feet. I have had many a client come for sore feet but far more clients have sought this therapy for the full-body effect it can generate.

Does reflexology hurt?
Reflexology should not hurt to the point of unbearable pain. The pressure used by the reflexologist should always be tailored to the personal preference of the client. Some clients prefer deeper pressure while for others a lighter touch is more conducive to relaxation. “Sweet pain” or “hurts so good” are good gauges. Ultimately, we encourage our clients to be comfortable in communicating the pressure they desire. Reflexology is effective even if a lighter pressure is used.

What can reflexology do?
We start life with the potential for good health. Most illness is the result of improper maintenance of the body. The resulting imbalance creates a buildup of toxins in the system, which inhibits the free flow of energy essential to our well being. Beyond relaxation, reflexology restores the body’s balance and assists its own healing system to take over. As more and more people look towards holistic and complementary methods to add to their health care armament, reflexology is a perfect discipline to include.

What happens at my first session?
We suggest you arrive ten to fifteen minutes before your appointment to complete a confidential client history. After reviewing your information, you need only remove your shoes, socks and make yourself comfortable on a reclining leather chair. Nestled under blankets in a room with soothing music and soft lighting, the pampering begins.

Depending on your session length, your feet will either receive a warm foot bath or be cleansed with fragrant, warm towels to start. Next, using an all-natural lotion, an array of reflexes is worked on both feet with specialized techniques employed to address your individual needs. We suggest that after a session you take your time getting up and enjoy a soothing glass of cold water.

How will I feel after a session?
Often you may experience tenderness and sensitivity on your feet. The release of high level of tension in the body can be felt in a number of ways. You may feel twitching in your body or feet as the energy flows through previously blocked areas. Others feel a shooting or prickling sensation as the energy re-establishes its path in your body. Often many of our clients experience a floating, relaxed almost euphoric feeling. Reflexology views discomfort as a natural expression of what is happening inside the mind, body and spirit. The most important function of reflexology is to activate and harmonize your body’s own life forces and healing powers.