Clients often have questions about Massage that may be uncomfortable to talk about. The bravery comes in being bold enough to ask the difficult questions. In order to ease the tension a bit, I will do my best to address these issues head on, right here, so you have the facts before you decide to make the appointment.

What if I talk too much?? Am I supposed to talk at all?

There is never any such thing as too much talking. I sincerely enjoy sharing the time that I share with my clients. It is important to remember that, as humans, we are social creatures. We thrive when we feel heard and understood. Now, here’s the disclaimer… I am not a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist, and I may not be able to provide advice, however, sometimes just the simple act of listening is more than enough to leave feeling rejuvenated and revived. I do have a second disclaimer.. Sometimes I will use cues to bring you back to your breath or to what is going on in the session so that we are able to release tension that gets built up in specific areas where we tend to hold stress. An article featured by the Association of Massage and Bodywork says, “Our job as massage therapists is to help people integrate into their bodies. We are here to help people not only heal from physical pain and injury, but also from emotional traumas that can be held in the body.”

On the Converse, what if my Massage Therapist talks to me the whole time??

There are 3 kinds of people in this world. Some enjoy chatting and asking questions, some like a mix of “sometimes we chat sometimes we don’t”, and yet others are the “for-the-love-of-God I am not paying you to talk to me” type… I connect with all three! That being said, I will always let the client lead the conversation. I do try to keep talking to a minimum until I figure out which category you fall into. Basically, I’m happy to engage in conversation if you initiate it, however, I will never be the one to initiate the conversation until after your session. This is your massage. I cater to you.

Let’s talk bodily functions…

I believe there is value in being open and frank with the difficult conversations in our lives. It gives us a sense of security when you know how uncomfortable situations will be handled. Erections, needing to use the bathroom in the middle of a massage, passing gas, menstruation, and nausea are all natural bodily functions. I’m not saying Massage causes these things to happen, but they can happen during a massage. (i.e., massage does not lead straight to nausea and erections.) However, the goal of a massage is to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, aka our “rest and digest” rhythm. During that cycle, it is very common to hear tummy rumblings, and relaxation causes gas expulsion, and erections. It is a natural part of life.

 An article in Massage and Bodywork Magazine states the following:

 ‘Pia Poulsen, a massage therapist living in France, maintains a blog called Massage and Wellness . After writing about massage and nudity, she received many questions about involuntary erections and ejaculations during massage. “It is one of those questions only a very few dare ask openly,” she writes. “When a person receives a massage and trust exists between the therapist and client, oxytocin is released into the blood. High levels of oxytocin can lead to erections and, in some cases, ejaculation (the hormone is needed for the contractions during an ejaculation).” Our job as massage therapists is to help people integrate into their bodies. We are here to help people not only heal from physical pain and injury, but also from emotional traumas that can be held in the body. We are here to accept clients’ bodies so they can accept their whole selves. While erections may be an uncomfortable topic to address in the context of a professional massage, we as massage therapists should practice enough understanding and empathy to encourage well-behaving, well-intentioned clients to return to the table.’

 In short, anatomy and functions of the body are the facts of life. It is not weird or unusual and you shouldn’t feel embarrassed if something happens. If you need a glass of water, a tissue or to get up to use the restroom, please let me know, otherwise I won’t even notice nor will it be mentioned. This is a safety and comfort zone.

I’ve had so much going on in my mind lately, what if I have an emotional release?

First of all, a cool science-y fact is that with just 15 minutes of therapeutic touch, Massage Therapy releases the same amount of dopamine and serotonin as antidepressants… for the giver as well as the receiver. The benefits greatly outweigh the fears here.

I will say, it is not uncommon, especially in deep tissue massage to experience random bursts of laughter or tears. We store incredible emotion in our muscles. I didn’t exactly believe this until it happened to me.. Once, when I was fairly fresh out of massage school, a senior therapist gave me a massage and she came to a particular place in my mid back that I hadn’t felt since I had rolled my car 2 years prior. It was a very emotionally traumatic car accident and I hadn’t been able to let go of the guilt I had experienced in losing my dog because of it. I couldn’t help myself, tears just welled up and expressed all down my cheeks. While, I’m sure the therapist was a bit caught off guard, she was very compassionate. Should this happen, I vow to allow you the emotional release, you have so greatly needed. Admittedly, as miraculous as it sounds, I no longer experience the “Locked up” feeling in my back muscles that I once did. It truly is incredible. (Thank you, Dar!)

Do I really have to get naked?!

No. You do not. Most therapists will tell you to “Undress to your comfort level,” but what exactly does that mean? There are all kinds of different massage modalities, a vast majority actually take place completely clothed! In the style of Massage that is most prevalent in the US, it is helpful to have the shirt, bra, and necklaces removed so that we are able to glide with long strokes to permeate the muscle tissue in the back, neck and shoulders. Pants typically come off, just because it is more comfortable between the bedding to not have bulky fabric, if you’d like you can substitute with shorts. Underwear can most definitely be left on. There is really not much reason that they need to come off. Some people are more comfortable that way, which is perfectly fine. Some therapists can do greater hip work if they are unclothed. For me, I am able to work the hip effectively over the sheet. This means that whether you leave your undies on or not, has very little significance because you will remain securely draped with the sheet at all times.  In fact, clothing can help signify areas that you would rather not be touched. For example, extremely ticklish feet are welcome to stay “socked”. 😉

“Do you prefer a Male or Female Therapist?”

There are cultural and religious implications that may determine whether or not you choose a therapist based on their gender. The way I view it, male massage therapists are no different than chiropractors or physical therapists. They are professional, compassionate healers that care about the work that they do. Some believe male therapists are stronger than females, however I debate that due to the fact that massage is about leverage, not brute force. In the end, it is truly your preference.

Is it going to Hurt?

Massage Therapy should never hurt. I will apologize on behalf of the entire profession if you have ever walked away bruised. Massage should always be on the threshold of “It hurts so good” but not cross that threshold. If you ever experience sharp pain, pressure on bones, uncomfortable stretching, too deep of pressure, please speak up!  It is very important for you to communicate if anything is uncomfortable during your massage session. A quality massage therapist should always perform a thorough intake with you before the treatment begins. We will go over things like: Do you have any range of motion issues? Any surgeries, injuries, or spinal implications? Are you sensitive or allergic to product, nuts, essential oils? If you are uncomfortable with the volume or quality of music, if you get cold, if anything ever hurts, please please say so. Sometimes people think, “Well, she’s the professional, she knows what she is doing.” To a degree this is true, however I do not know what it feels like to be in your body. Some areas are much more sensitive than others. Clear communication is imperative.

 On the converse, deeper isn’t always better. A common misconception is that it needs to hurt so that tomorrow I will feel better. Not true. Please don’t over do it by asking for more and more pressure. There is a fine line between an effective massage and too deep. If you don’t say anything, you may end up sore and sick the next day and shy away from future massages. If the pressure is genuinely too light, there is a perfect place to ask for more pressure, but brute force will not break up your knots or leave you feeling at peace – which is the goal.

How do I know what to ask for in a massage?

I always start my Massage sessions with the question: “What is it that you are most looking forward to in this massage?” Sometimes therapists will ask what your goals are in this massage? Goals can be intimidating, but what they are looking for is quite simple. We want you to tell us:

• Are you looking to simply relax and have an hour to yourself in peace?

“Oh my gosh, we have been traveling and I just need a break from the kids.”

• Is there an area (or two or three) that has really been bothering you?

“Oh man, the left side of my neck has a kink and I can’t turn my head!” or “My sciatica is killing me, I can barely function!”

• Maybe you are an athlete or a guide and your calves and back are killing you from climbing and carrying gear.
• What about looking for a way to destress? You don’t drink, you don’t smoke pot, you are looking for a safe, healthy outlet…

We want to know why you are here. It gives us context to know what type of healing you are seeking.

 I sincerely hope this provides some comfort and security around the delicate topic of being vulnerable around a stranger. If you allow yourself to try something new, you may find that it is just the stepping stone you were seeking on your journey.

 Now that we have covered the insecurities surrounding massage, check out “8 Reasons Massage will Change your Life” to give you a better understanding of the power healing can hold.  

 

 

At The Colorado Kur, we strive to be a resource for the community to receive regular Massage Therapy appointments.

“Here’s the beauty of bodywork: its benefits are compounded when massage is utilized as a frequent therapy. The more you get, the more it does.Taking part in this form of regularly-scheduled self-care can play a huge part in how healthy you’ll be and how youthful you’ll remain with each passing year. Budgeting time and money for bodywork at consistent intervals is truly an investment in your health. And remember: just because massage feels like a pampering treat doesn’t mean it is any less therapeutic. Consider
massage appointments a necessary piece of your health and wellness plan, and work with your
practitioner to establish a treatment schedule that best meets your needs.” This is in accordance with The Association of Massage and Bodywork Professionals, and I wholeheartedly agree. 

To learn more about the benefits of Massage Therapy, click here.

If you are already sold on the incredible assets Massage provides, here is what you need to know about the Punch Card Special.

Annually, in April and November, we release The Punch Card Special to be purchased online. You choose either 3 60 minute sessions or 2 90 minute sessions, which pans out to be “Buy 2 hours, get 1 half off.”

We do this to provide our loyal clients with an opportunity to utilize affordable massage throughout the year.

When you purchase the package in April, you are able to schedule the Massages whenever you would like, with whichever Therapist you prefer. In Novemvber, the Punch Card Special goes back on sale!

For example, purchase 2 Punch Card Specials in April and you have 6 massages ready and waiting for you throughout the next 6 months! This way you are guarenteed to a massage on a 4 week regimen (or however you would like to space it out).

Please do your best to use the treatments on your account within one year of purchase.

To take advantage of this incredible sale, please follow these steps:

• Go online to ColoradoKur.com/contact-us
• Scroll down to the Punch Card Special. Please pre pay at this time.
• You will input your email and create a password to view the remaining massages on your account.
• In this booking widget, you will see a menu drop down, for future appointments, please sign in here to book the sessions you have remaining on your account.

If you need help, or have questions, please do not hesitate to call/ text or reach out on this provided form and we will assist you as quickly as possible.

970-633-0309

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Do not hesitate to take advantage of this remarkable offer, as it will expire at the end of April!

We need to talk about massage and safety.

If you haven’t already heard, Buzzfeed recently broke a story about abuse occurring in Massage Envy franchise locations. There has been a lot of conversation about the story online and in the news, which you may have seen. What you probably haven’t seen (unless you’re a part of our profession) is the uproar it has caused in the massage therapy community. Horror is a common emotion: who would do such a thing? Sadness: for the people who will be too fearful to receive the bodywork they need out of fear for their safety. And anger. Plenty of anger.

To be clear, this anger isn’t for the thousands of ethical massage therapists, managers, and support staff at Massage Envy. Whether you care for their business model or not, the vast majority of Massage Envy employees are out there doing their jobs, caring for clients, and earning a living, and they deserve our support. The anger is for perpetrators who violated the faith placed in them by trusting clients; the franchise owners, managers, and employees who allowed it to happen; and the organization that provided neither sufficient guidance nor real consequences for the people they allow to work in their name.

We want you to know that we as a community of massage therapists are trying to do our best to hold ourselves and our organizations accountable, and work for changes at Massage Envy and elsewhere to make sure this never happens again.

But we also want you to know that we care about you. As a client and as an individual. Because you have a right to feel safe while getting a massage. And this goes whether you’re receiving a massage here or anywhere else.

So here are some promises to you:
Our promise

We will be vigilant in our hiring. This includes extensive reference checks as well as basics such as double checking claims regarding certifications and licensure.

We will give you access. We will publicly post information on how to check the license of any massage therapist in the state. If you need help finding information on out-of-state therapists as well, you can ask and we will direct you to the appropriate resources.

We will be proactive and regularly solicit feedback from clients about their experience. Big or small, positive or negative, we want to know your experience so that we can do our best and stop major issues before they start.

We will have formal processes in place for handling ANY complaint of therapist misconduct, and share this process openly with you.

And as part of this, you have our word that:

● We will investigate any report of misconduct.
● We will not permit a massage therapist under investigation to work with clients until the investigation has concluded.
● We will maintain written records of every report and investigation.
● We will report the incident to the licensing board, law enforcement, and other agencies as appropriate.
● We will publicly post information on clients’; rights and the procedures for reporting an incident.
● We will support clients in whatever course of action they choose to take.

The power is yours

There is a natural power differential when a person decides to get a massage. When one person is trained, familiar with the environment, standing up, and fully dressed, and the other has none of those advantages, it can be easy to feel like someone receiving a massage has no power at all. But it’s important to know that, no matter how much of an expert a person may be in massage, you are the expert on your experience. And as the expert on you:

● You have the right to tell your massage therapist to change or stop what they are doing for any reason.
● You have the right to end your massage session at any time for any reason.
● You have the right to stop seeing your massage therapist, or to choose a new massage therapist, for any reason.
● You have the right to report any misconduct to your massage therapist’s supervisor, to their licensing agency, to law enforcement, or to all three.

Again, you have a right to feel safe while getting a massage.

And since we’re having an open conversation about safety, we also need to be clear about one more thing: massage therapists also have a right to feel safe while giving a massage.

Ensuring the safety of massage therapists from clients who would harass, assault, or otherwise harm them is another conversation that you might not always be privy to as a client, but is a major point of discourse in the massage therapy community. For whatever reason, there are still people out there who confuse (or choose to conflate) massage therapy with sex work, and feel free to act on that impulse regardless of the wishes of the therapist in question.

If this is obviously problematic to you, like it is to 99% of the people in the world, then you don’t really need the following reminder.

But if you’re in that 1% and believe you’re owed sexual favors by virtue of existing and rely on that sense of personal entitlement while preying on massage therapists, especially those who are inexperienced or economically disadvantaged, here’s a wake-up call for you:
Your massage therapist also has rights

● Massage therapists have the right to refuse to provide any service they feel would be inappropriate, out of their scope of practice, uncomfortable, or unsafe.
● Massage therapists have the right to end a session at any time if they feel unsafe with a client.
● Massage therapists have the right to no longer see a client they feel unsafe with or unqualified to treat.
● Massage therapists have the right to report a client’s inappropriate behavior to their supervisor and to law enforcement.
● Massage therapy business owners have the right to stop scheduling a client for inappropriate behavior, to ban them from the premises, and to warn other local therapists about them. (And massage therapists do talk to one another. It’s a small profession.)
In the end, everything is better off in the light.
It’s better to have a major expose; in the news than for abuse to go on unaccounted-for. It’s better to ask hard questions before choosing a new massage therapist than to go into a session anxious or afraid. And it’s definitely better for massage therapists to address the issue of safety head-on, rather than pretending the concern doesn’t exist.

We all have a right to feel safe.

Hopefully, if we continue to work together to shine light into the dark corners of the world, all of us will.

Body image. Almost everybody has something about their body that they don’t like. For many people it’s a minor issue, no big deal. But some people have a major issue with their body image. It affects how they live and their happiness.

 

When I tell some people that I’m a massage therapist it can cause a strong reaction. They tell me, whether verbally or through their reaction and body language, that massage is not for them. Their body image is such an issue that they don’t think anybody else can accept them.

The paradox here is that massage can really help with body image issues. In massage school we were all nervous about taking off our clothes and letting somebody else touch us. It didn’t take long for us to discover that bodies are just bodies and become much more comfortable with our own. We also experienced how good receiving a massage made us feel. Something unexpected happened – when our bodies felt better we felt better about our bodies.

I think there are three options to consider. Let’s look at the risk versus reward for them.

1. Don’t get a massage.

This is the easiest because it involves doing nothing. The risk is low since you are not letting another person see or touch you at all.

 

The reward is zero. You didn’t get a massage so your body doesn’t feel any better, and you still have the stress you had before.

2. You get a massage, but the massage therapist either makes note of how you look, as if it matters.

 

If this has happened to you, I’m sorry. You got a crappy massage therapist. That’s a bummer, and I’m really sorry. You took a risk, and even if the rest of the massage was decent, got very little reward. 

This is not going to happen if you come to me. Never. No way. I can’t say this strongly enough. It goes against the very nature of who I am, how I treat people, and what I believe.

3. You get a massage. A great massage. And the therapist does nothing to make you feel uncomfortable about your body. In fact, you feel pretty good about your body after the massage.

 

In this option your risk is low. I don’t care how your body looks. That’s none of my business. I just want to help it feel better. Your reward is high. Again your body will feel better from the massage and you can start feeling better about it.

I have no idea how your body got to be in the condition that it’s in. You may be dealing with something that you can’t control, such as a medical condition or an injury or accident. You may be in a lot of pain or are limited in what you can do physically. Since I don’t know what caused your body to be like it is now I can’t make any judgments about you.

I’ve worked on hundreds – maybe thousands – of people. Each body is interesting and I’ve yet to come across one that I could not help.

If you have been avoiding massage because you feel uncomfortable about your body, let’s find an option that works for you. You don’t even have to explain anything to me. Leave your clothes on. Stay sitting up or face down or lying on your side or however you want. It’s up to you.

It’s my job to help you feel better. That’s it. Together let’s find a way to help you relieve your pain and stress. Don’t let your body image keep you from feeling good.

 

Yes, please. Cancel if you are sick. Great! We’re done here.

 

Nah, we’ve got a bunch more to cover. There are lots of variables to being sick. What does that even mean and why does it matter? Let’s dig in.

What is ‘sick’?

 

For determining your ability to receive massage, ‘sick’ means one or any combination of the following:

• Fever and related symptoms
  • Chills
  • Aches
  • Unusual fatigue
• Respiratory issues
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Very runny and/or stuffy sinuses
  • Sore throat
• GI issues
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

If you have any of the above happening, it’s best to cancel.

Massage isn’t going to help you get better

A sick body needs rest. Receiving massage is an active task. Massage causes change in the body and your body has to work to maintain stability. Getting a massage when you are sick takes attention away from rest and recovery. That’s not helping.

 

You’re not going to be cozy on the massage table. Sure, it sounds like a warm squishy massage table would be great. But the moment you put your already-stuffy head into that face cradle, you’ll realize the error of your ways. Gravity and pressure are not your friend here. Even if I do a great face massage to drain your sinuses, you’ll likely feel worse when you get off the table.

 

If you’re feeling at all dizzy or loopy, laying face down can make that sensation even worse. Remember getting ‘the spins’ when you drank a little too much? That. Only worse because you’ll be worried about puking on my office carpet and not just your terrible dorm comforter.

There is often some gray area, especially if you are in the recovery phase of a virus or bacterial infection. You may have that lingering dry cough well past the stage of contagion or actual illness.  Or you could have seasonal allergies that make you a runny mess.

 

If you’re unsure about your situation, please call me before your appointment and we can make a decision together. 

It’s really, really easy to spread those germs

If you come in sick, you may get me (and my other clients) sick. Even with the best handwashing, coughing into your elbow, and precision skills depositing your dirty tissue into the trash bin, you’re likely to leave a few germs hanging in the air and I’m likely to breathe them in.

Fun fact, when you sneeze the little droplets of doom can travel up to 8 meters and can stay suspended in the air for up to 10 minutes. Yikes.

 

There’s a lot we just can’t control about cold and flu season. We may have been exposed without knowing and be contagious for a few days before symptoms show up. That’s just part of living in a world with other people.  But we can control where we go and who we see while we are symptomatic. I know it’s a bummer to delay your massage, it’s also the right thing to do when you are contagious.

Stay healthy

You already know the best ways to stay healthy through cold and flu season. (But I’ll remind you.) Get a flu shot, wash your hands, get enough sleep, get out into the fresh air when possible.

 

If you feel something coming on, do your best to cancel whatever you can, keep your activities to a bare minimum and just rest. Stay hydrated. Ask for help. That’s hard to do, but worth the effort.

 

Here’s to staying healthy through this season and the whole year!

 

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More sources on contagious factors, etc

https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/how-long-flu-contagious

https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/contagious#am-i-contagious

https://www.medicinenet.com/how_long_is_a_cold_or_flu_contagious/article.htm#how_will_i_know_if_i_am_cured_of_the_flu_or_a_cold