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Our Modern Approach to Massage
In recent years therapeutic massage has become a mainstay of healthy living. No longer viewed as just an occasional “special indulgence,” massage is now widely recognized for both its immediate and its long-term therapeutic benefits. At Knead a Massage, we believe that therapeutic massage should be an integral component of your active lifestyle. Whether you want to boost your immune system, detoxify your lymphatic system, improve your athletic performance, or just reduce the effects of stressful living, therapeutic massage can be an invaluable tool in your regimen of a healthy life.
Convenient
To be most effective, massage must be a consistent part of your wellness routine. For that to be possible, massage should be convenient, affordable, and approachable, with highly qualified, friendly staff. At Knead a Massage we are passionate about providing the best therapeutic massage—in the most convenient locations, at the most affordable rates, all day, every day. We are open days, evenings, weekends, and even most holidays because we want to be available for you, whenever you need a massage. We staff our studios to accommodate same-day appointments and walk-ins so that you don’t have to plan very far ahead to get a great massage whenever you want one.
Affordable and Approachable
We keep our overhead low so that our rates stay affordable. At Knead a Massage you won’t find steam rooms, saunas, locker rooms, or elaborately furnished waiting areas. You won’t find hushed, meditative quietude. You will find an approachable, helpful, and friendly atmosphere; clean, straightforward, functional spaces; and a focus on optimizing the quality of your massage experience.
Friendly
We welcome everyone—massage aficionados as well as first timers—and ensure a comfortable, relaxing session. We see equal numbers of men and women at our studios. And we love to see families and friends come into the studio together. We will happily book groups as well as individuals— our studios can accommodate up to seven appointments at a time. Because we focus on therapeutic work, we do not offer couples massage or any other form of sensual massage; we do however, offer “buddy” massage: meaning that you can still enjoy your massage with a friend or a loved one. “Buddy” massage is offered currently at our Foothill Village Studio only; please call and ask if you have any questions.
“Best of Class” Staff
Our greatest single asset at Knead a Massage is our outstanding team of massage therapists—the largest and most skilled team of its kind in the region. Our therapists are selected based on their passion for therapeutic massage, the skill with which they practice, and their ability to listen to and interpret client needs. Once they join our team, Knead a Massage therapists receive continuing education in updated massage techniques and wellness training. They are cross-trained in a number of therapeutic massage modalities so that they are able to mix and combine modalities based on client preference and specific therapeutic needs. Every Knead a Massage therapist is expected and encouraged to improve constantly and to update his or her approach to therapeutic massage in order to meet and exceed client expectations.
Custom Massage: Our Clients’ Needs Come First
We understand that each client has unique and specific needs. To best serve our customers, we customize every massage. While one client may need a deeply relaxing experience, another may want an intense, detoxifying regimen. We know that some clients have complicated medical histories while others have relatively simple medical backgrounds. To ensure that we understand your individual needs we begin every massage session with a consultation between client and therapist. Based on a brief discussion of expectations and needs, and informed by notes from any previous massage sessions, you and your massage therapist together will determine the best approach for your session. Each massage will be specifically customized to fit your needs, every time you visit any of our studios.
Our Rates Are Based on Session Length, Not Massage Modality
Because we encourage our therapists to customize massage sessions to meet client needs, our rates are not based on the types of massage incorporated into each session. Instead, we keep it simple and charge based on session length. This approach gives our therapists the freedom to choose the modality or combination of modalities that will best address your needs during each session. If there is a particular modality you prefer, be sure to mention it when you book your appointment and during your consultation. Each of our therapists is fully trained and certified to perform most of the common modalities (trigger point, deep tissue, sports massage, etc.). All of our sessions include time to consult with your therapist, to relax, and to prepare for and conclude your time on the massage table—usually about seven to ten minutes of your total session time. You won’t feel pressured to hurry.
Special Requests
If you are looking for something specific—such as pregnancy massage, cranial sacral, Reiki, or reflexology—please make your request known when you book your appointment. Regardless of the modalities used during your session, your rate will reflect the length of your session only. Don’t hesitate to tell us if you prefer a male or a female therapist—many people have a preference. Also, feel free to let us know if you are celebrating a special occasion. We never sing, but we’ve been known to pull off birthday gags, anniversary celebrations, and the occasional engagement surprise. Tell us what you have in mind, and we’ll play along. We are very comfortable working with special-needs clients, particularly if we are informed of any particular constraints at the time of booking. For clients under the age of eighteen, we need an accompanying parent to sign release and waiver forms. We will always do our very best to match you with the massage therapist most able to meet your expectations. To that end, not only will we be happy to book you with the therapist you request depending upon availability, but we will also tell you if we believe that we will in any way be unable to meet your expectations. We are happy to recommend alternate spas in the area if our approach is not consistent with your wishes. In short, you can count on an open and honest dialogue with us.
Tipping and Feedback
There is no more consistent and immediate way to communicate your level of satisfaction with the work your massage therapist has done than through tipping. Because our rates are so affordable, our therapists rely on tips as a core component of their compensation. Whether you tip in cash, by check, or with a credit card, your therapist will receive your tip on the day of your service and will know that the tip is from you specifically. We provide a tipping guide in our studios for those clients who are seeking guidance; however, we strongly encourage you to tip in accordance with your level of satisfaction. Clients commonly tip between 15 percent and 30 percent. We appreciate any and all communication from our clients—positive, negative, and everything in between. Should you want to provide specific feedback about your massage session or any other aspect of your time at the studio, be assured that we want to hear from you. Our front-desk manager can always make time to speak with you about any concerns you have, or you can ask to be contacted by studio management. Our studio email addresses are listed on our website and on all business cards. We provide all feedback—negative and positive—to our therapists and staff members within twenty-four hours of receiving it from clients. If clients are comfortable with being identified, we provide client-specific feedback. If a client prefers to remain anonymous, we respect their wishes and keep identities confidential, providing the therapist with more general feedback. In every case we look for immediate improvements following feedback sessions.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
There is no question that being hydrated when you arrive for your massage leads to more beneficial effects. Thus, we encourage you to drink a lot of water in the twelve to twenty-four hours before your massage. We do more than encourage you to hydrate after your massage, however. You will receive a bottle of water at the conclusion of every massage you receive at one of our studios. Sometimes—if we think you need it—we will even load you down with a couple of bottles! Good therapeutic massage always releases toxins that have built up in your system, and in order to flush those toxins out of your system, you should drink eight to twelve ounces of water in the first twenty minutes following your massage. Depending on the levels and types of toxins released, you may experience a little soreness in the days following your massage. But remember, the more water you drink, the less sore you’ll feel. In any case, we’ll remind you to drink that bottle of water we’ve just handed you. And should you begin to feel aches in the first hour after your massage, drinking an additional bottle of water immediately will likely reduce or eliminate the symptoms of your detoxification.