FAQ

At Evergreen Therapeutic Massage all massages include hands on massage time for the length of massage time booked. For example a 60 minute massage is 60 minutes of massage with additional time before and after the massage for consultation and assessment by the massage therapist. All massages are booked with an additional 15 minutes added for that reason, so a 60 minute massage will be for a 75 minute time period with 15 minutes divided before and after for consultation with the 60 minute hands on massage in between. A 90 minute massage is booked for 105 minutes or 1 hour and 45 minutes, again with consultation before and after and the 90 minute hands on massage in between.

Your massage therapist will require you to fill out a health history or intake form. Usually this is emailed to you and can be filled out online. If not completed when you arrive then the therapist will complete the form with you in the initial consultation prior to your massage. The massage therapist will ask questions to establish what areas you would like worked on, if there are conditions needing to be addressed, and if massage is appropriate for you. 

Your therapist may perform certain assessments and testing to evaluate your condition and see if you have any presenting complaints. Additionally your therapist will be checking in with you during the massage as to the comfort level of the massage pressure, the warmth of the table and room and other factors to ensure you have the best experience and outcome. 

A health history form is required to customize your massage to your individual needs. We establish what areas you would like worked on, any conditions that need to be addressed, and determine if massage is appropriate for you. It is important to list all health conserns and medications so the therapist can adapt the session to your specific needs without doing any harm. It is also improtant to list any allergies so the therapist is aware if any different lotions, oils, or essential oils are needed during the session.

At Evergreen Therapeutic Massage we use only the finest massage products. Our motto is if we wouldn't want it used for ourselves then we will not use it on you.

Jojoba Oil

We use only pure Jojoba oil for your massage. Jojoba oil is extracted from the seeds of the jojoba plant. Pure jojoba contains no triglycerides as do grape seed oil and coconut oil. Jojoba oil both structurally and chemically is very similar to human sebum or our own natural skin oils. It is non-comedogenic (will not clog pores), is non-allergenic, and naturally antibacterial which makes it extremely safe to use. Additionally it is very moisturizing for our skin containing beneficial minerals and Vitamin E known for promoting healthy and clear skin. Jojoba will not leave the skin feeling greasy.

Essential Oils

We use only the finest medical grade oils 100% Certified Organic and Natural. We source our oils from Florihana a family owned distillery near the Grasse region of France. We are certain you will notice the difference these essential oils will make in your treatment.

You should undress to the level you are comfortable. For a full body massage most get completely undressed. Your massage therapist will give you privacy to undress and get comfortable on the table in between sheets known as draping. Draping is always used both for your privacy and to adhere to legal requirements in the massage profession. The therapist will only uncover the part of the body being worked on. The genitals (women and men) and breasts (women) will not be uncovered. If you are not comfortable being completely undressed under the drapes you may leave on whatever clothing makes you comfortable. The therapist will work around the clothes you leave on as best as they can.

If you want to talk, go right ahead. This treatment is all about you relaxing and enjoying the experience. In your initial massage your therapist will explain the treatment and get some feedback from you but will not talk to you the entire massage unless that is your preference. Music and sounds are customized to your taste so no forced listening to whales if that is not your preference. Although we love the whales in Star Trek IV The Voyage Home :)

This depends on the type of massage and the depth of strokes. A light relaxing massage shouldn't hurt. With that being said there is a "feel good hurt" and an "ouch stop it!" hurt. A good massage, even a really deep tissue should stay in the "good hurt" range.

Pain can be an indication that the muscle is injured or inflamed and pressure needs to be adjusted. Also pain can cause the muscles to tighten up or hyper-contract and negate the relaxing and therapeutic effects of the massage. Our therapists are highly experienced in St.John Neuromuscular techniques which facilitate deep work into muscles without triggering a pain response. The most effective and deepest massage always works with your body's natural response, not against it.

There are few conditions that would prevent you from enjoying massage. You should not book a massage if you have a fever, cold/ flu, or contagious skin infection. That's it.

There are conditions where the therapist may need to adjust techniques (arthritis, osteoporosis) or avoid an area (cuts, burns). With some conditions it is good to get an approval from your physician before receiving massage (cancer, certain heart conditions, and pregnancy).This doen't mean you can't get massage. In fact there are spcific massage treatments tailored for some of these conditions. But it is always better to err on the side of caution and get your doctor's approval first.