Kneading Wellness Massage & Skincare

If it’s your first time seeing me, you will be asked to fill out a Health Intake Form. We need to know about your current physical condition, medical history, life style and stress level, experiences with specific areas of pain, and whether there is any specific need you want addressed during the massage. First and foremost, we need to make sure there aren’t any conditions present that rule out having a massage due to any health risks. If there are, we will need to speak with your doctor before you can receive treatment. Second, I need to know what your needs are regarding the massage and be sure to discuss what your expectations and goals for the session are. Third, the information you provide helps me determine what techniques to use and how to structure the session.

Next, you will be directed to a dressing room and bathroom facilities. I will leave the room so that you may have privacy while you undress. There are large terrycloth wraps in the dressing room if you need one while walking into the treatment room. You should take off only as much as you are comfortable removing, and this is discussed prior to your session. When you enter the treatment room you will get under the sheets and blankets on the massage table. Additionally, the table is heated and that level will be adjusted to your comfort. I will then knock on the door of the room and ask if you are under the covers (draping) so that we may reenter the room. I uncover only the part of the body being massaged, insuring that modesty is respected at all times. The draping also keeps the person receiving the massage warm. You should also remove any jewelry or other articles that might interfere with the massage. The massage takes place on a comfortable, padded massage table. I will tell you what position to lie in on the table. The table may have some extra attachments or cushions, such as a face rest (which allows you to lie in a face down position without turning your head and neck).

Expect a peaceful and comfortable environment for the massage. I may play music and environmental/nature sounds during the massage. Some people find music playing to be relaxing, some find it distracting. If you don’t like music playing, ask me to change the music or turn the music off. Before the massage begins, I may offer some advice that will improve the quality of your massage. A common one is to breathe, especially during deep tissue therapies.
I use only Certified Vitamin E lotion on your skin, which also reduces drag on the skin while performing the massage strokes. If you are allergic to some oils or lotions, be sure to answer that question on your Health Intake Form so that we may adjust accordingly.
Depending on your needs, we will massage either the full body or only specific areas that need attention. For example, general relaxation or stress reduction sessions usually include all the major areas of the body, while a session for a localized injury, pain, or tightness will be focused on a specific area. It is possible to spend most of an entire session on only one area. After the massage is finished, you will once again be provided with privacy in order to get dressed. If there is time to do so, you may ask the massage therapist any questions you have. The usual length of a session is an hour. A massage session on a table generally should be a minimum of 30 minutes and maximum of 120 minutes. A full body therapy requires a minimum of 60 minutes.

The body and the mind work together. Mental anxiety causes muscular tension. A massage relieves muscular tension and signals the brain to tell all your muscles to relax. Massaging even part of the body can help whole-body relaxation, leaving you soothed, re-energized, and better able to tackle challenges. Stress-reduction massage requires no effort or active participation. A massage therapist does all the work while the client unwinds, enjoying a massage that reduces stress and melts away tension throughout the body.

Deep tissue massage is a type of massage aimed at the deeper tissue structures of the muscle and fascia, also called connective tissue. Deep tissue massage uses many of the same movements and techniques as Swedish massage, but the pressure will generally be more intense. It is also a more focused type of massage, as the therapist works to release chronic muscle tension or knots (also known as "adhesions.")

Will A Deep Tissue Massage Hurt?

It shouldn't hurt, but it's likely to be a bit more uncomfortable than a classic Swedish massage. You should always feel free to speak up if the pressure is too much for you.

It's important to drink a lot of water after a deep tissue massage to help flush lactic acid out of the tissues. If you don't, you might be sore the next day.

It's possible that you might feel some soreness the day after a deep tissue massage even if you DO drink water. This just means a lot of waste products were flushed out of the tissues. It should pass within a day or so.

How Fast Will I Get Results With A Deep Tissue Massage?

It's important to be realistic about what one deep tissue massage can achieve. Many people ask for more pressure, thinking that if the therapist just pushes hard enough, they can get rid of all their knots in an hour. This just won't happen.

In fact, undoing chronic knots and tension built up over a lifetime is best achieved with an integrated program that includes exercise, work on your posture and ways of moving, relaxation techniques and a regular program of massage.

A license means that a massage therapist has met the requirements and paid the fee to legally practice massage in that area. In North Carolina all massage is regulated by the state and by the town or municipality (Raleigh). To get a license, a massage therapist will usually have to have a minimum hours of training at an accredited or accepted school or training center. This varies widely, from 100 hours in some places to over 1000 hours in others.

Certification means that the therapist has successfully passed a specific course or test and been granted a certificate to bear out that fact. This may range from courses in pregnancy and neo-natal massage, to different modalities like Deep Tissue or Trigger Point. There is also a written national certification test for massage therapists. For more information, please click the button below:

Consumer's Guide to Massage Therapy & National Certification