Appropriate Behavior and Boundaries

It’s your choice. Most massage and bodywork techniques are traditionally performed with all or most clothing removed. You should undress to your level of comfort. You will be properly draped at all times to keep you warm and comfortable. Only the area being worked on will be exposed. In fact, much more of your body is exposed at the swimming pool than on the massage table. You will be properly draped with a soft flannel sheet during the entire session, as required by state law. The practitioner will leave the room while you undress, relax onto the table and cover yourself with the sheet.    

You and the practitioner will discuss the desired outcome of your session.  This will determine which parts of your body require massage or body work.  A typical full body session will include work on your back, low-back/glutes, arms, hands, legs, feet, neck, and shoulders. If there is any area you DO NOT want touched or massaged, please tell your therapist. You will NOT be touched on or near your genitals (male or female) or breasts (female). It is against the law and if you request inappropriate touching you will be asked to leave.

It depends on the techniques used. Many massage therapists use a form of Swedish massage strokes, which is often a baseline for practitioners.  In a general Swedish massage, your session may start with broad, flowing strokes 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.  You should communicate immediately if you feel any discomfort so that another approach may be taken. Massage and bodywork are most effective when your body is not resisting. Use of the smooth surfaced Hot Stones will feel like the therapist hands are wonderfully warm and comforting.

We use a non-greasy, non-staining massage gel to facilitate massage of muscles and tissues without causing excessive friction to the skin.  Our Bio-Tone Advanced Therapy Massage Gel helps hydrate your skin and leaves no greasy residue afterwards.  This is a non-allergenic  lotion with NO NUT oils, perfumes or chemical preservatives. As massage therapists we have this product on our hands and arms for hours every week for years and none of us has ever had a bad reaction to this gel.  Our Therapists also will do a body pat-down at the end of your session with the sheet to pick up any excess massage gel. You will NOT feel the need to shower afterwards as we do not use cheap, greasy massage oils.

The average full-body massage or bodywork session lasts approximately one hour.  A half-hour only allows time for a partial massage, such as neck and shoulders, back, legs and/or feet. Many prefer a 60-to-90 minute session for optimal relaxation. We also have a variety of “Focus Relief” massages for 30-45-60 or 90 minutes to address specific issues. We allow ample time to get undressed and redressed and do not deduct this time from your actual service time. For 1 hour or longer sessions we add a 30-minute turnaround time to allow for getting undressed, redressed, checking in and out, using the restroom etc. We are NOT a fast-food massage place, rather more like the slow pace of a gourmet restaurant. 

Many of the big-box McMassage chain stores advertise a one hour Massage "Session” but in reality, it ends up being a rushed 45 or 50-minute massage at the most. They include the time YOU TAKE to complete their paper forms, surveys AND the time you take to get undressed and redressed. Yes, you will be conveniently in and out of their door in one hour, but will you have truly received an exceptional, high quality massage? Kind of like “speed dating” they offer “speedy massage” leaving little time for specialty work on problem areas. You get what you pay for! At Sound Stone Massage an hour massage means 60 minutes... the clock starts when our hands begin massaging, not when you walked in the front door.

Make yourself comfortable, close your eyes, relax and drift away. The practitioner will gently move you at various points or tell you what is needed, like when it is time for you to turn over. For FULL relaxation benefit, we recommend that you do not engage the therapist in conversation for the entire session. Feel free to ask the practitioner your questions at the beginning so you can then receive the full relaxation benefits of your session. 

Will my hair look like a bird's nest when I leave?  If you want to maintain your hair style and NOT have massage oil introduced into your scalp PLEASE TELL THE THERAPIST at the beginning of the massage. When working on the upper neck face down, ask to have a small towel placed over the back of your head to prevent the transference of oil from the therapist’s hands into your hair. If you do not care about your hair, also tell us and we can give you a little scalp massage.

There are numerous types of massage and bodywork; various techniques utilize different strokes, including basic rubbing strokes, rocking movement, posture and movement re-education, application of pressure to specific points, and more.  Ask the practitioner about the methods he or she uses

Generally a face massage is not included during a typical hot stone or body massage. Reasons are that female clients may have make-up on they do not want disturbed during the massage. Additionally, the skin of the face is more sensitive to oils and lotions and some therapists feel a face massage is better served in a separate session, such as the Stone Facial Clenz offered at Sound Stone Massage. During the Stone Facial Clenz, your face is first cleansed to remove make-up, debris etc.  Then a special, skin safe oils and lotions are used that are designed for the face primarily. It takes up more time to properly work on the face during a regular body massage (which includes the therapist’s hand washing). We have found that many people prefer to have this time spent on the over-all body massage instead.

Most people feel very extremely relaxed and mellow. With the heated stones, the powerful effects of the music and vibrations you may feel as if you just awoke from a deep, deep afternoon nap.  Some experience freedom from long-term aches and pains developed from tension or repetitive activity.  After an initial period of feeling slowed down, people often experience increased energy, heightened awareness and greater productivity which can last for days.  Since the waste by-products of metabolism are released at a greater rate during massage of soft tissues, it is recommended you drink plenty of water following your massage. 

Yes… that's why it's imperative that before you begin your session, the practitioner asks general health questions.  It is very important that you inform the practitioner of any health problems or medications you are taking.  If you are under a doctor's care, it is strongly advised that you receive a written recommendation for massage or bodywork prior to any session.  Your practitioner may require a recommendation or approval from your doctor.

If you have any "open skin" issues such as rashes, sores, scabs, wounds, skin lesions, poison ivy, scabies, herpes, head or body lice some of these may preclude you getting  a massage which could cause you further damage in injure the health and safety of the therapist.  We reserve the right to refuse service to you for any of these conditions and if you fail to  inform us in advance.  Best advice is to call in advance.