Massage Therapy

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. I've been specializing in medical massage (manual therapy) for my clients for over a year now. A little bit of a different goal - not as relaxing as a therapeutic massage - but extremely beneficial for those who have been in pain from over-use injuries, previous surgeries, and more. I also do regular therapeutic massages that focus on decreasing stress and boosting the immune system by aiding the flow of lymph fluid in the body's lymphatic system. Short-term, therapeutic massages do aid in pain relief.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Don't be afraid to ask questions! Massage is a very subjective service. There are many different styles, pressures, and backgrounds that make up each individual massage. What is perfect for one person may not be perfect for you - so don't hesitate to specify exactly what you're looking for. Often times, if a therapist can't provide you with what you need, they may know someone in the field that will suit your needs perfectly.

Even as time goes on, your needs may change. A more active lifestyle may require a deep tissue massage vs. a Swedish massage to work out some of the tension. Each massage should be tailored to fit your needs, every time.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Like I mentioned earlier, speaking up is key. Many massage therapists are intuitive and can gauge pressure well enough to have perfect pressure throughout the massage. Sometimes they may be off... if at any point the massage is too deep or too light, correct it immediately so that 5 minutes of your massage doesn't go by without you getting what you need.

Also, massage will push viruses through your lymphatic system. If you have the beginnings of a scratchy throat or a runny nose - stay away from massage! You may feel like you were hit by a truck the next day. When beginning to get a cold, best thing to do is stay at home. You're most contagious at the beginning of exhibiting symptoms.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. I would ask them about their background, their preferred style (just like you prefer receiving a certain style, therapists have a preference to certain styles), and if they can help you (if you have a specific condition that you're seeking therapy for).

Asking how long they've been licensed can sometimes be misleading - just because they're licensed doesn't mean they've been practicing continuously. A better gauge may be to ask about their certifications and the approximate amount of procedures they've completed. Many certifications will add to their basic skill set years after schooling.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. Before even thinking about becoming a massage therapist, I volunteered as a student athletic trainer beginning in high school. Since the age of 14 I learned about anatomy, physiology, injury prevention and rehabilitation, stretches for common injuries and more. That continued through college where I got to volunteer as a S.A.T. for UCF, the New York/New Jersey Hitman (XFL) and the Orlando Predators (AFL), so seeing muscles not only in health but also in injury gave me a better understanding of physiological limits, how far to push the body while avoiding injury. It also allowed me to observe differences in healthy tissue vs. strained, hypertonic, or atrophied tissue.

Since becoming a massage therapist, I became certified in pre-natal and reflexology massage, and also underwent the medical massage practitioner certification. Needless to say, I use any and all techniques to fully customize every single treatment I do. No 2 people are the same, so why should your treatments be?