Dawn McKee

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It depends on what all is going on with your body.  If you're looking for general preventative maintenance, once a month is ideal.  If there are some muscular issues that need to be addressed, then I might recommend 1-4 times per month. This is something that will be discussed after you've received your first massage treatment and I have a better idea of what is going on with your body. 

There are several contraindications to massage. A contraindication is anything that is a reason for a person to not receive a particular treatment or procedure because it may be harmful. You should avoid getting a massage if you have any of the following common conditions or symptoms: 

• An infectious virus or disease (including the common cold or Covid)
• High fever
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Unstable hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Organ failure (for example: kidney or liver)
• Hemophilia

For temporary but contagious contraindications like a fever or cold, you can undergo massage therapy after the condition has subsided. 

Local contraindications are complications that will require modification of your massage therapy session. Usually, this includes avoiding affected areas of the body. Common examples are:

• Open sores or wounds
• Recent burns
• Recent surgery
• Acute flare-up of inflammatory conditions (like rheumatoid arthritis)
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Osteoporosis
• Varicose veins
• Recently ruptured or torn muscles 

Generally, no the massage shouldn’t hurt. Sometimes it can be intense when therapeutic work is being done. If there is pain, the natural reaction is to hold your breath and tense up which is counterproductive to healing. Taking slow, deep breaths can make a huge difference in how the muscle tissue responds and also how the recovery is after your session. If it's still painful after doing that, don’t be afraid to say to use less pressure. 

The last thing any therapist wants is for you to be in pain during and after your session. 

Absolutely! I have a Bluetooth speaker but may be able to accommodate other sources as well. If you have something you would like to listen to, by all means please let me know.

I respectfully ask that you provide us with a 24 hour notice of any schedule changes or cancellation requests. Please understand that when you cancel or miss your appointment without providing a 24 hour notice, we are often unable to fill that appointment time. This is an inconvenience to your therapist and also means our other clients miss the chance to receive services they need. For this reason, you will be charged 50% of the service fee for the first missed session and 100% of the service fee for each session after that. We also reserve the right to require a credit card number to be given to book future appointments so that appropriate fees may be charged if a late cancellation does occur.

Unfortunately I do not take insurance. But may be able to use your HSA or FSA card to pay for your massage treatments.

You should only undress down to your comfort level. This means taking off whatever articles of clothing you're comfortable with. Just know that you will be properly draped at all times. If you have opted for hot stones with your massage, it's advised to remove most articles of clothing, since the stones are more effective when they have stone-to-skin contact.

The answer is yes. Many people just want to "zone out" and relax, therefore talking can be a distraction. Do not feel obligated to make small talk, however if talking during your session makes you feel more comfortable, helps you achieve a greater sense of relaxation, or helps to occupy your mind while getting more intense therapeutic work done, then go ahead and talk away.    

During your session, I will only talk when it pertains to the massage itself, like giving directions for certain stretches, asking about pressure, and prompting you when it's time to turn over. I am not a big talker during the massage, but I am a great listener. 

This is very common and completely normal. A lot of times when someone comes in for a session, they're stressed or sleep deprived. Taking a nap is a good thing! Plus, if you snore it lets me know that your mind and body are in a good place, you are completely relaxed, and that you feel safe and comfortable.  

Not one bit. A leg is a leg, whether there's hair or no hair. I wouldn't judge you for having armpit hair either or for any other aspect of your body. I would rather you be on time for your appointment than late because you felt the need to have to shave your legs. 

It's completely common to have the urge to pass gas. When you are receiving a massage, one of the side effects is that your digestive system is able to start to relax, resulting in food being broken down, which in turn can have the gas needing to be released. Please just let it go instead of holding it in, otherwise you'll be miserable and tense which is the exact opposite of what we are trying to accomplish.