Frequently Asked Questions
WILL MASKS BE REQUIRED?
No, masks are optional in the office. If you would like your therapist to wear a mask, we are happy to accommodate your request.
WHAT IF I'M NOT FEELING WELL ON THE DAY ON MY SESSION?
We insist that you cancel. During this time, we are waiving cancellation fees as long as you notify us first thing in the morning that you are ill. If you wait until just before your session, you will be charged a cancellation fee.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AT MY FIRST VISIT TO EMBODY WELLNESS?
Once you have booked an appointment, via our website, text, or phone call, you will automatically be sent a confirmation and an in-take form to fill out. be required to fill out a "New Client Intake Form," which will ask you for contact information and general questions to establish what areas you would like worked on, if there are any conditions needing to be addressed, and to determine if massage is appropriate for you. Your massage therapist may perform certain assessments and testing to evaluate your condition and to see if you have any presenting complaints. It is very important to list all health concerns and medications so the therapist can adapt the session to your specific needs without doing any harm. It is also important to list any allergies so the therapist is aware if he/she needs to use a different oil or lotion during the session.
DO I HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY UNDRESSED?
You should undress to your level of comfort. For a full body massage, we suggest that you at least undress down to your underwear. The therapist will work around the clothes you left on as best as he/she can. If removing all your clothes makes you too uncomfortable and unable to relax, then you are not getting the optimal benefit from the session. Your massage therapist will give you privacy to undress and get comfortable on
the table.
WILL I BE COMPLETELY COVERED AT ALL TIMES?
This is known as draping and Embody Wellness therapists will insist on draping, without exception. Once you are undressed and on the table under the sheet and blanket, the therapist will only uncover the part of your body being worked on. The genitals (women and men) and breasts (women) will not be exposed at any time. If the therapist is going to work on a woman’s abdomen, a second towel or pillowcase will be used to cover the
breasts so the main sheet can be moved to expose the abdomen. We are aware that some people run hot and if you are too warm at any point during your session, please let your therapist know. We can accommodate appropriately by turning off the table warmer, removing the blanket, and uncovering your legs and arms.
WHAT DO I DO DURING A MASSAGE THERAPY SESSION?
Make yourself comfortable. If your therapist wants you to adjust your position, she or he will either move you or will ask you to move what is needed. Otherwise, change your position anytime to make yourself more comfortable. Many people close their eyes and relax completely during a session; others prefer to talk. It’s up to you. It is your massage, and whatever feels natural to you is the best way to relax. Do not hesitate to
ask questions or voice any discomfort at any time. We do ask that if you like to talk, please keep your voice low. We have thin walls and drop ceilings and voices carry easily in the office. If your therapist ever asks you to lower your voice, please do nottake offense, we are just trying to be courteous to the other clients and therapists in sessions next door. We all get carried away in the moment and forget to keep our voices low.
HOW WILL A MASSAGE FEEL?
It usually depends on the techniques used. In general, your session may start with broad, flowing strokes (effleurage) that will help calm your nervous system and relax exterior muscle tension. As your body becomes relaxed, pressure will gradually be increased to relax specific areas and relieve areas of muscular tension. Often, a light oil or lotion is used to allow your muscles to be massaged without causing excessive
friction to the skin. Do not hesitate to ask questions or mention if you feel any discomfort so that the massage therapist can use another approach or technique. Your therapist will ask you how the pressure feels throughout your session.
WILL THE MASSAGE OILS USED MAKE ME BREAK-OUT?
Most massage therapists use hypoallergenic massage oils or lotions. However, if you have sensitivity to certain types of oils or lotions, please bring it to the massage therapist’s attention as most practitioners have an assortment of oils and lotions on hand.
HOW CAN I JUSTIFY TAKING TIME FOR MASSAGE?
You can’t pour from an empty cup. It is essential to take time for yourself. It helps you recharge your battery and keep your body functioning properly. Unfortunately, we do not live in a world conducive to optimal health and wellness. We live in a culture focused on reacting to symptoms as opposed to prevention or healing the cause. We are also consistently bombarded to work harder and faster and consume as much as possible.
We all must take an active role in our health and sanity. Ideally everyone is eating nutrient dense foods, moving our bodies regularly throughout the day, stretching daily, and staying well hydrated. Unfortunately, that can seem daunting to a lot of us. Embody Wellness is here to meet you where you are. If all you can do for yourself is to commit to 1 hour a month to come get a massage and decompress, we will meet you there. If you
want more, we are happy to make recommendations, such as frequency and duration of session, at home stretches, Community Classes offered at our office, and endless tips and tricks we have picked up along the way. If we aren’t qualified to help in a specific area, we can recommend someone who is. We are here to help you feel just a little better and to better function in your life. With consistency comes change.
WHY IS A PROFESSIONAL MASSAGE BETTER THAN WHAT I CAN DO AT HOME?
Naturally we rub what hurts. When you self-administer massage at home with tools or having a partner massage you, you can sometimes do more damage than good. As licensed, professional therapists, we have training in anatomy and various styles and modalities. Pain is often caused by compensation of surrounding muscle imbalances and rubbing the spot that hurts is not always the most beneficial or effective solution. We are able to assess your pain and address the cause as well as the symptoms. We also have all the right equipment, the ability to maneuver and reach all areas of your body, and an environment designed for relaxation. If you know you want to focus on a particular area, or even a specific modality like Sports massage or Trigger Point Therapy, mention that when scheduling an appointment. This will ensure getting a therapist who specializes in that type of massage, and whose experience will likely include techniques you never thought of trying at home.
CAN MASSAGE THERAPY ACTUALLY RELIEVE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY?
Yes, and here's why: Cortisol is the hormone your body needs for a fight-or-flight response, but when stressful events don't require you to fight or flee, it can build up in your system and create problems. Studies have shown that massage lowers cortisol levels by as much as 50% -- while also increasing levels of dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin. These are the natural chemicals your body produces to stabilize your mood and lower stress. Regular massage therapy makes it easier to slip into a more relaxed state, which helps you breathe easier and sleep better. So, massage is as beneficial to your mental health as it is to your physical health.
HOW OFTEN DO I NEED A MASSAGE?
Think of once every 4-6 weeks as the minimum for maintaining optimal form and function. The way we look at it is this; your body will tell you how frequently you need massage. If you come in with acute, daily pain, we recommend that you come in weekly. Once you come to your session feeling good, that’s the time to push your session out a week. Once you start coming to that session, feeling good, we push it out another week
and so on until you reach a level of maintenance where you can come every 4-6 weeks to ensure you remain feeling good. We strongly recommend scheduling your next session before you leave the office, even if you are unsure of your upcoming schedule. You can always reschedule your appointment if something comes up. Inevitably, life takes over once you exit our doors and you’ll probably think about rescheduling several
times before finally making that call and it’s usually when your pain and stress have built up to a level that you can no longer push out of your head. When you wait until this point, your therapist is pretty much starting from scratch and any progress made in your last session has been long gone. When you make massage a regular part of your schedule, we are able to consistently chip away at that tension, making more and more
progress each time we see you. The human body is incredibly efficient at adapting to whatever we do to it consistently. If we are consistently de-stressing and training your tissue to lengthen and soften, your body will be able to do this more and more efficiently over time. With consistency, comes change.
DO I NEED TO LEAVE A TIP?
Just like with any service, tipping is never required. Think of getting a massage the same as eating at a restaurant, where tipping 10 to 20% of the pre-discounted price is customary. If you really enjoyed your session and feel your therapist went above and beyond, tip more. The quality of your session will never be dependent on how well you tip. Our therapists give 100% to every massage they do, no matter how much you tip. Whenever possible, our therapists appreciate a cash tip and often refer to tips as their gas and food fund. Please don’t ever feel guilty about the tip you do or do not leave. Our main focus is to make sure you can afford to come consistently.
I'VE NEVER HAD A MASSAGE BEFORE. HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?
The most important thing to keep in mind is that the massage is for your benefit. It’s best to arrive a few minutes early so you can use the restroom and take a few breaths to decompress from the outside world before getting on the table. If possible, come in after a shower when you feel cleanest. If you can’t, that is fine too… just try not to come into your session right after intense exercise, working a dirty job, etc. Wear clothes that
can easily be removed and you will be asked to remove your jewelry as well. We want to address your specific goals for your session so please let your therapist know exactly what you are looking for. For example; “I’m just looking to have an hour of quiet to
destress and relax.”, “I’d prefer you spend the whole hour on just my upper body, with focused attention on my right shoulder.“ You can even be as detailed as asking for spot work only “I really only want you to work on my left shoulder, right hip, and left big toe.” Remember this is your session and our only goal is to make you feel better. We need you to speak up and we do not take offense. Massage is a very intuitive art, but we can’t
read your mind and every person and massage is different. Some people run hot, and some run cold, some people like nature sounds, music with words or no words. Some people like to talk, some people don’t. Some people like a gentler approach, some people want a more aggressive approach. If you are experiencing any discomfort, please let us know. We can adjust to your specific needs and preferences, but only if we know what they are.
COULD MASSAGE BRING OUT PROBLEMS THAT WERE LYING DORMANT BEFORE OR RELEASE HARMFUL TOXINS?
Massage increases circulation in the tissue. With an increase of circulation, cell waste “toxins” are then naturally flushed out of our bodies through normal bodily function. This is why we say to drink a lot of water after a session, the water helps you pee, which is one of the ways the body naturally expels waste. If you are having structural issues, as we begin to correct muscle length and alignment, you may experience a change in
where the pain is or how it refers. After your session, please pay attention to how you feel and share this information with your therapist so they can better understand how to proceed.
IS IT NORMAL TO FEEL TIRED OR SORE AFTER A MASSAGE?
Feeling pleasantly tired and relaxed is very common after a massage. You might feel some sensations in muscles that haven't felt stimulated in a while, because massage wakes them up with freshly oxygenated blood. It is normal and common to feel a little sore the day after you receive a massage. This is due to a few factors. If it was an intense, deep session, it can be compared to a strenuous workout. In all cases, massage increases circulation which leads to your body processing more cell waste. We encourage you to drink a lot of water after a session, so this cell waste has
someplace to go. Often, a person will have tenderness and pain due to a build up of waste in the tissue. A gentle walk can sometime ease this discomfort as well. If your soreness is ever intense or lasts more than a day and a half, please let your therapist know. This usually signifies that they may have been a little too aggressive. We are able to make adjustment while still remaining effective.
HOW DO I CONTACT THE OFFICE AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT?
The best way to contact us is through text message, but there are many ways to contact us. You can call or text our office at (805) 217-3307.
If you call, please leave a message, we get lots of Spam calls and do not call back every missed call. Please understand that we may not always be able to answer the phone right away if we are helping other clients.
You may also send a direct message to our Facebook or Instagram account or email us at embodywellnessventura@gmail.com
Skip the back and forth and go directly to our online booking. If you are booking online, please be aware that we only allow bookings 24 hours out. If you would like a same-day booking or to make sure you are matched with the best therapist, please call or text the office.