A growing body of research supports the health benefits of massage therapy for conditions such as stress, fibromyalgia, low-back pain, headaches, depression, and chronic pain management, plus much more. Brush aside any thoughts that massage is only a feel-good way to indulge or pamper yourself. To the contrary, massage can be a powerful tool to help you take charge of your health and well-being, whether you have a specific health condition or are simply looking for stress relief. Find out how you can benefit from adding massage therapy to your health and wellness routine by booking a massage today.

When you book your first appointment, you will be asked to fill out an intake form to determine your overall health. This will inform the therapist of any contraindications and will help form goals. It is important to list all health concerns and pertinent 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 she needs to use a different oil or lotion during the session. You will also be asked to remove your clothing to your comfort level. The therapist will leave the room while you undress and you will lie on the massage table underneath the sheet. You will always be covered except the area being worked on. It is easier for the therapist if you remove your jewelry if possible. After the massage, your therapist will leave the room so you can slowly get up and get dressed.

Bring yourself and your payment! That’s it! You’ll be most comfortable if you avoid a heavy meal right beforehand and if you use the restroom right before your treatment. Give yourself plenty of time to do that before your appointment. Please wash your hands in our restroom or use hand sanitizer when you arrive. It is also appreciated if you have showered recently.

The address is 906 NE 45th St, Seattle WA 98105, located inside RET University Physical Therapy. Enter the building off 45th Street and wait in the waiting area for your therapist to escort you to the treatment room.

Diamond Parking on the corner of 45th and 9th offers free 1 hour 15 minute parking (for those with 1 hour appointments) A code with instructions will be given upon booking.

Affordable metered 4-hour street parking can be found on 9th, Roosevelt and other close streets.

You should undress to your comfort level. During a full body massage, most people completely undress as this is easier for your therapist to work, but if you would like to leave your underwear on, the therapist can work around it. Remember you are securely draped during the entire session. Some people who are just getting a specific area worked on, such as their back or neck, may choose to wear comfortable work out type shorts or pants but remove their shirt. For areas that are clothed, different techniques will be used as no oil or cream will be used and the therapist will not go under clothing. It is also easier to work on a client with their jewelry and watches removed when possible.

You will be covered at all times with a sheet or towel. This is called draping. Only the area being worked on will be uncovered. Private parts will be covered at all times. If the abdomen needs to be worked on, you will receive a separate drape to cover the chest.

Our pressure scale is between 1-5. This is subjective. 3 is just right, 1 and 2 means it could be firmer, 4 is too firm, getting really uncomfortable, and 5 is ouch, stop. A massage should never be a “bad” hurt. Depending on the type of strokes being used some pain might be felt, but there is a difference between “feel-good” hurt and “ouch-stop” hurt. Some strokes are light and relaxing and feel good while others are deeper into the tissue and may produce a “feel-good” hurt. During deep myofacial work, you should be able to breath through the sensation and not pull away in pain. It is ok if it is on the brink of too much, but should never be too much. Always communicate with your therapist, so they can adjust pressure accordingly. You may verbally tell them, or you may with your hands, signal the number your sensation level is at.

This depends on your goals. If occasional treatment or relaxation is your goal, then a session every 3-6 weeks is recommended for general body maintenance. However, if you are looking to address a specific condition, then it is recommended to go more frequently at first and then slowly taper down to a maintenance schedule.

If you have an allergy or sensitivity, be sure to write it in the intake form so we can accommodate you with something else. We use 100% pure cold pressed unrefined jojoba oil that has not been treated with pesticides, or a combination of coconut oil and beeswax.

Jojoba is nontoxic, nonallergenic (the extract is pressed from a seed, not a nut, and is safe for consumers with nut allergies), and noncomedogenic, meaning it will not clog the pores thanks to its compatibility with our sebum. Being a liquid wax with very low levels of triglycerides, jojoba does not easily oxidize, making it remarkably shelf-stable and able to withstand heat without any loss in its properties, unlike most plant oils. During Sarga bodywork or other myofacial methods, less oil is used to create more grip on the tissue so that a stretch can happen.

Relax! Some people prefer to shut their eyes and not talk. Some people even fall asleep. Other people prefer to talk. It’s completely up to you. Make yourself comfortable and if the therapist needs to adjust your position they will, or they will ask you to. Try not to “help” the therapist with movements unless asked. It actually makes it harder for them and less relaxing for you. But feel free to shift around as you need for your comfort. Please ask questions at any time.

There are certain conditions where massage therapy is not recommended at all. See our INFECTIOUS DISEASE policy. Examples are acute infectious diseases when there are signs and symptoms of sickness, or vomiting and diarrhea, acute flare ups of rheumatoid arthritis, thrombosis (blood clots), certain bleeding disorders, and aneurysms to name a few. Other conditions require the therapist to adjust the type of massage or the strokes being used, or they may need to avoid a certain area of the body. Be sure to thoroughly communicate your health conditions to your therapist so they can be sure to treat you safely.

Sometimes it happens. It is an unfortunate deterrent for men to receive any therapeutic massage at all or they get a massage but are unable to relax because of this fear. But there is no reason to be embarrassed. Massage can be very relaxing when any area of the body is touched and the parasympathetic nervous system is activated. Even when there are no sexual intentions, erections can happen physiologically without men even realizing it. Sometimes men get a partial erection during a non-sexual, therapeutic, full body massage. An educated, professional massage therapist understands this and it will not be an issue. If you are uncomfortable you may ask your therapist to avoid your upper legs or hips, or you can wear more fitted briefs to feel more supported. You may also ask to lie face down on the table. See our Inappropriate behavior policy.

Note: If the therapist feels that the session has turned sexual for the client, they may end the session immediately. Full price for the treatment will be charged and rebooking will not occur.

A lot of pressure is being placed on the body during a massage. Pressure causes gas to move around and flatulence may happen. Also the parasympathetic nervous system is activated during a massage and your guts are active while relaxed. You may notice that your stomach will rumble more during a massage. This is a good sign that you are relaxed! There is no need to be embarrassed as your therapist understands this.

Communicate with your therapist and they will adjust their strokes or move to a different area so you can relax.

A tip is never expected or required. If tipping makes massage unaffordable to you, we would rather you not! If you would like to, it is appreciated, but the best compliment is to re-book and refer!

Acceptable forms of payment are cash, credit/debit/FSA/HSA cards, and Venmo. When booking an appointment, a credit card number is required. There is no charge to this unless there is a fee related to our cancellation policy which you will be notified of. To pay with a credit card, please bring your card of choice to be inserted or tapped.

See my cancellation policy here.

We accept personal PIP/auto accident only. No third party claims at this time. A PCP, Chiropractor, or DPT will need to give you a referral for PIP.

While we do not bill regular insurance companies directly, we are happy to provide a receipt with the information needed for you to submit it for reimbursement. Please contact your insurance to find out if they cover out of network service and what information they need on the receipt. Please note: we cannot provide the diagnosis code that some insurance providers require. That comes from a prescribing PCP, Chiropractor, or DPT.

If you have an FSA or HSA card, we can run it through our card reader.