Wholistic Bodywork

What will my first session be like?

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Your very first massage will start with an assessment which will last about 5 minutes. This is an opportunity for you to share details of your wellness goals, current condition and past injuries. Discussing health history is important so that precautions or modifications can be made if necessary.

 

A postural assessment and range of motion tests often reveal imbalances that massage therapy can restore.

We will also determine whether your pain is originating from muscular, neurological or inert tissue.

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After the assessment Ariana will instantly formulate a treatment plan and explain her ideas for your approval. You will be asked if there are any concerns or questions and then we'll be ready to get started!

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Table or Mat?

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Depending on your preference we can work on either a massage table or a traditional Thai mat.

Often Ariana likes to utilize the benefits of both, depending on the work needing to be done.

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What should I wear?

 

The answer to this has evolved over years of experience. While incorporating more Thai massage and joint mobilizations into her practice, Ariana prefers clients to wear loose or stretchy clothing. Yoga or exercise clothes are perfect. Bringing a pair of shorts to the session is often beneficial if you would like to stay clothed while having cupping around the ITB/hip joint/sacrum, however there will be sheets and blankets to accommodate proper draping techniques if you would like to undress to your briefs and get between the sheets.

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What should I expect while in session?

 

 

After a brief assessment it is beneficial to decrease the sympathetic nervous system response (stress state) and increase the parasympathetic response (relaxation state), a necessary state for healing.

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Unless specifically requesting to have a full body relaxation session, Ariana is outcome oriented. She will immediately begin to perform the necessary manipulations to achieve your treatment goals. This will involve any combination of the techniques and tools she blends together to create the most effective and best treatment, unique to you.

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Privacy and confidentiality are strictly respected.

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Frequent check-ins for comfort ensure a safe and effective treatment. Sessions are never meant to be painful, yet some may be at first. Tendonitis treatments can be painful initially yet the results are immediate and well worth it.There is such thing as 'good pain' that has benefit! This feels very different from pain sensations when injury is being caused.

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Ariana will do her absolute best to work within your range of comfort while providing a highly effective and enjoyable treatment.

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When oil is used it is pure organic coconut oil.

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Remember that you may ask to stop or modify anything at anytime.

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Enjoy!

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After the session, what next?

 

Try to take it easy for the rest of the day to allow adjustments and changes to integrate and the body to adapt. Gentle movement like walking is encouraged, but nothing strenuous or fast paced. Please no sudden or abrupt movements such as vigorous sports, grappling or intense labor for a few hours after your session. It is also not advisable to lock into any position such as when watching TV so that the structural changes are not replaced by new tension patterns while your fascia is still malleable.

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There may be a slight soreness if an especially tense muscle or old pattern was released, or if deeper work was indicated on an area of adhesion. If this occurs, expect it to dissipate over the next day or two and to be replaced with a new sense of ease and openness, with decreased or eliminated pain and enhanced mobility. Gently moving the area by smoothly circling the nearest joints  in both directions every so often will be helpful for residual soreness or initial tightness.

Feel free to contact Ariana if any questions or concerns arise.

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