North River Body Therapies
905 25th Dr. East Ellenton, FL 34222
(941) 721-4559
(941) 721-0142 fax

NorthRiverBody@aol.com

What should you expect the first time you come in for a massage at North River Body Therapies?

A calm and professional atmosphere, with experienced and caring therapists. 

Please arrive 10 - 15 minutes early for your first appointment, and 5-10 minutes early for each appointment thereafter.

There will be a short case history to fill out so that we may gather important information in regards to your health and well being.  You will then be guided to one of our four serene treatment rooms, and instructed to get undressed only as far as you feel comfortable.  You will then be instructed to get beneath a full length sheet on the massage table.  We use full body draping techniques so that you are warm, comfortable, and in no way exposed.  Your treatment will be for 1/2 hour, 1 hour, or 90 minutes (by your choice) and at the conclusion, you will be given a few moments to relax before joining the world again.

Cancellation Policy

Everyone loses when you miss an appointment . . . your therapist, another client who may have wanted your appointment, and more importantly, YOU!  Please allow 24 hours notice (or more) if you need to cancel or re-schedule.  If you call less than 24 hours prior to your appointment, you will be subject to pay a cancellation fee of $25. If it happens again, you may be subject to pay the full price of the treatment charge.

In the event we have to cancel your appointment less than 24 hours prior to your scheduled time,  and we are unable to schedule you with another therapist for the same day, we will discount your next session up to $25 depending on the length of your session.

In the Hours After Your Massage

After your massage you may notice profound changes in your body and mind. Here are some things that have helped many people get the most from their massage.

• Drink extra water. During a massage circulation is improved, which helps flush irritating waste products from stressed muscles and other tissues. Drinking water aids the functioning of the whole body including the circulation and the kidneys, which are both involved with relieving the body of waste products. Drinking extra water also seems to help reduce soreness and fatigue after a massage.
   

• Schedule time to take it easy after your massage. Rest if you feel the need. If you can, take a nap or get in bed early. If you haven’t been sleeping well, receiving massage may relax you enough that you will want to turn in and catch up.
   

• If the focus of your massage is on a particular injury or body part, remember to stretch, ice, or apply heat to that area with the advice of your massage therapist. Or, you may want to do some gentle movement, such as walking, sometime in the hours after your massage to mildly encourage your muscles to work in a balanced and efficient way.
   

• People sometimes experience some soreness for 24 hours or so after a massage. If you do feel sore or think that you might, stretch gently in a hot shower or take a warm bath with Epsom salts. And remember to tell your massage therapist about your experience so it can be taken into consideration in your next session.

If you have a fever or an infectious sickness, even a common cold, that is good reason to postpone your massage appointment. For one thing, touch may not feel good. For another thing, you may be contagious, especially in the first stages of a cold or flu. This is usually when you are feeling the worst, when you are coughing and sneezing frequently. The more you limit your contact with others, including your massage therapist, the less you will spread it around. For example, if you don’t “pass” a cold on to your massage therapist, he or she won’t spread it to all the other clients. Studies show that you can transmit a cold or flu to others one or two days before your symptoms appear, and up to five days after first being exposed to the virus. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), colds are most contagious two to four days after original exposure, when there is plenty of the virus present in nasal secretions.

There is another reason to avoid massage when you have a cold or flu. Because one of the major impacts of massage is on the circulation (including the removal of wasteful by-products and infectious materials), it is thought that massage can actually increase the spread of infection in your body. If you are sick, your immune system is already working hard. One of the best immune supports may truly be resting and drinking plenty of liquids. And, remember, whenever you have any questions about the appropriateness of massage, be sure to talk with a massage therapist when you schedule the appointment. And, if you are under the care of a physician for any reason, let them know you are receiving massage therapy.
 
Between Massage Sessions

To get the most out of your massage, practice these self-care tips regularly.

• Stretch.  If you are getting massage for pain and discomfort, stretching is essential for you. Frequency is more important than length of a stretching session.

  	Try setting up a reminder sound like a chime on your computer to remind you to stretch for two minutes every hour, or five minutes every two hours.
  	Follow this simple routine. Exhale as you stretch whatever feels tight or uncomfortable to a feel-good position, and inhale as you return to a starting position. Ask about stretches for specific areas.

• Exercise regularly. Even very moderate exercise can help relieve pent-up muscle tension and improve your circulation, two benefits you may have also noticed after massage. Walking, gardening, golfing and tai chi are all ways to get your heart pumping and your muscles moving, and can also help shift your attention from your worries to relaxation and the enjoyment of life.
   

• Take time to relax. Change your schedule to include more down time, even if it’s only 15 minutes for deep breathing or a walk after work or at lunch. Get away from chores on the weekend for a morning or afternoon to enjoy some time in nature or a pot of tea with friends.