Accessibility Statement & faq
Intake
We start every appointment with a short verbal intake, asking you basic, non-invasive questions like: Have you had a massage before? Are there areas of your body you want us to focus on or stay away from? Do you have any recent injuries or acute health conditions we need to know about? Some massage therapists ask you to fill out forms that include highly personal (and often, irrelevant) questions about gender and medications. We don't need to know the specific medications you're on unless it affects how your body will respond to massage (think heart medications, blood thinners, or pain meds). We don't need to know details about surgeries or treatments unless they are relevant to your session (if, for example, there is post-operative pain or swelling, it was a result of an injury, or the operation was very recent). We encourage you to schedule using whatever name you want to be called, and to share your pronouns with us.
Draping
In massage school, we are taught to drape men and women's bodies differently, which forces us to make inappropriate decisions based on our assumptions about their bodies rather than their identities (because we aren't allowed to expose breast tissue, for example, but taught to work on an undraped “male” chest). To combat this, we use gender-neutral draping with all our clients, keeping the chest fully covered.
You are always welcome to wear as much clothing as you need to feel comfortable. We will either work over your clothing, or avoid that area of your body, depending on your comfort level.
With all our draping, we uncover only the area of your body that we are working on.
Confidentiality, Respect, and Consent
Everything that is said in our office stays in our office. We don't discuss our clients, disclose their names, or reveal any details of their sessions with anyone else (unless there’s a safety concern). As long as we are not worried for our safety, or our client's safety, we maintain complete confidentiality.
The basis of our practice is healthy, respectful boundaries. This is reflected in the relationships we have with our clients, in the dialogue we have before or after your session, and in the work we do on the table. You are always in charge of a session. Unless you are asking us to do something we cannot ethically or legally do, we will listen to your requests. Every part of a bodywork session, from the amount of pressure used to the areas of the body worked on to the volume of the music, is within your control. We encourage our clients to ask for what they want and need. We respect all our clients, and know that as they are the ones inhabiting their bodies, they are the experts on what feels right.
Bathrooms and Accessibility
Please let us know if you have any accessibility questions or concerns. Our table is rated for 500 lbs, and we are always open to brainstorming ideas to make any accommodations for physical accessibility we can.
Tipping and Payment Policies
We don't expect tips. Often tips received will go toward our continuing education, or to a pay it forward fund
We want to be a regular, affordable part of your self-care regimen, and we find that the anxiety surrounding whether or not to tip and how much can be a deterrent for clients. We also know that cost can be a barrier to getting regular bodywork, and members of our community often don't have a lot of discretionary income.
We offer student and military discounts as well as a limited number of sliding scale sessions with no questions asked.
Sensory
Lotions, oils, aromatics
We know some people have aversions or allergies to certain lotions or scents, if there is an ingredient you need to avoid or any textures, sounds, smells you need to avoid we have options for you, don’t be afraid to advocate for your specific needs.
Take off your armor
hang up your mask
rest and heal
You are safe here
You belong