About massage

The physical benefits of massage therapy go well beyond relaxation and tension relief.  An educated and experienced massage therapist can effectively treat injuries (new and old), postural deviations, muscular imbalances, and chronic pain conditions. Long-term regular clients of such therapists may experience increased range of motion, improved function and decreased pain in activities of daily living.  Athletes may achieve improved performance, faster recovery times, and a decreased risk of injury.  The professional sports industry has begun to recognize the benefits of massage therapy and many professional teams now employ full-time massage therapists.

As though that were not enough, the physical benefits of massage therapy are only the beginning.  We store memories in our muscles.  Touch deprivation can magnify the negative effects of abuse and anxiety.  Counseling and psychotherapy are beneficial and important, but recent studies by the University of Miami School of Medicine's Touch Research Institute have shown that skin touch is also beneficial for balanced emotional and mental health.  As a massage therapist, I bear witness to the powerful effect touch can have on a person’s wellbeing.

I completely understand and sympathize with people who describe themselves as “not touchy-feely,” or who have an aversion to skin touch by others.  But I now see these reservations as symptoms of a tactile-deprived culture that has forgotten how to give and receive touch in healthy ways.

What to expect

If you have never had a professional massage before, or if you have and it wasn’t a great experience, you may want to know exactly what can be expected during your first visit to New Albany Massage Therapeutics.

If you are a first-time client, your therapist will schedule enough time with you to allow for your desired length of massage plus an intake interview, to be held before your massage session.  During the interview portion, you will be asked to fill out a medical background form to determine if massage is safe for you.  Common contraindications include first trimester pregnancy, uncontrolled hypertension, and recent surgery.

During the session, you are the boss.  Feel free to fall asleep (snoring is a compliment).  Communicate as much or as little as you like, but if you are uncomfortable with a certain technique, feel too cold or warm, or need more or less pressure at any time, please let your therapist know.  We want you to be as comfortable as possible, and we can’t feel what you’re feeling.

We trust our clients to manage their treatment by setting their own schedules.  We’ll never schedule you for an appointment without your consent, or pressure you to reschedule.  Come as frequently or infrequently as your health and goals require.