FAQ's

Q:  What types of massage do you do?

A:  I have trained in a wide variety of modalities, including:

Deep tissue                           Cranial-sacral (not certified)                                         
Sports massage                     Injury rehabilitation
Trigger Point                         Positional releases and unwinding
Swedish                                Chair Massage
Reflexology                           Pregnancy massage

I also work on spiritual, shamanic, energy and chakra levels.  Through the continuum of my practice, I have learned how spirit and soul are intertwined with our bodies.  I have studied shamanism, chakras and the energy body, clear-seeing and healing on deep spiritual levels.

I combine my massage training with spiritual intuition, allowing me to individually tailor each and every session. 

THIS IS WHY I CALL MY PRACTICE  "WHERE EAST MEETS WEST."

Q:  How often should I receive massage?

A:  People vary on their intervals.  Some have a session every week, especially if they have an acute problem they are trying to address, or come for maintaining their health and vitality.  In times of high stress, it is good to remember to take care of yourself this way.

Others come every two weeks, every three weeks or once a month.  I and my clients have learned over the years that, if you're trying to INCREASE your level of functioning, once a month may not be enough. 

Think of it as peeling the layers away from an onion.  If you have a muscular issue that's been nagging you for months or even years, the cumulative effects of massage therapy don't get a chance to take hold if sessions are weeks apart.  I always tell folks, if you really want to work on a particular problem, I'd rather see someone once or even twice a week for a short span of time, rather than the same number of times spread out over months.  You won't see the same positive effect the latter way.

Our bodies have muscle and emotional memory.  We learn to hold ourselves in particular patterns.  Regular massage helps re-educate our brains AND our bodies to establish healthy patterns.


Q:  What is a Patient Navigator?

Patient Navigators are an emerging field in health care, as the Health Care Reform Act works to create a paradigm shift to foster prevention and healthy living.  I am trained in:
--motivational interviewing and behavior modification
--cultural sensitivity
-- specialties in senior care and elder issues as well as
--chronic disease issues and prevention

With a degree in biology/social sciences and almost two decades of working with diverse needs and health issues, I can:

Work with you to identify your needs for achieving or maintaining your own personal health goals.  Health issues can be overwhelming; I assist you in creating achievable goals to help you on your path.

I can direct you to appropriate resources--including the gamut of community-based services, emotional and/or spiritual support and other complementary/alternative therapies.  I will work with you if you need research to understand your diagnosis or ways to self-manage symptoms.  I can help you better communicate with your care team to achieve true patient-centered care.

My mission is to work with you to create and/or sustain the various components of health, so that you can lead the vibrant, conscious life you want.

Q:  What is a Certified Senior Advisor® ?

From the CSA website: 
"The Society of Certified Senior Advisors educates professionals to work more effectively with their senior clients. We believe that the right kind of planning, recommendations and referrals can make aging a state to be savored instead of a fate to be feared. For those who work with seniors, that means understanding the key health, social and financial factors that are important to seniors—and how these factors work together. CSAs are able to integrate this into their professional practices, no matter what field they’re in. They’ve learned how incredibly gratifying it is to help seniors achieve their goals, and the seniors they’ve worked with have learned how important it is to work with someone who truly understands their age-related circumstances."

Learn more about my being a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) at:
http://www.csa.us/AboutandContact.aspx


Q:  What sort of lotions or oils do you use? 

A:  I do not use massage oil, but a hypo-allergenic, non-scented herb-based lotion designed to allow me to do deep-tissue or swedish work and anything in between! 

While I do not do much aromatherapy, I do have a select few oils that I might feel are beneficial at a particular time.  I will ask you about an oil before ever using one.
 
Q. How can I understand the background or education of a massage therapist?

The California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) has recently begun enforcing CA law SB 731, establishing the titles of Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) and Certified Massage Practitioner (CMP). 

These titles signal to consumers that the CMT or CMP meets or exceeds quality standards established by law, including, but not limited to, anatomy and physiology, contra-indications, health and hygiene, business and ethics.  Generally, a CMT has massage education of 500 hours or more; a CMP has 250 hours of education. 

For anyone not “Certified’ by CAMTC, SB 731 makes it an unfair business practice for a person to state, advertise, or represent that he or she is certified or licensed by a governmental agency as a CMT or CMP.  So, beware if someone talks about being licensed, or uses CMT without a state certification number/proof.

For more info or to check a certification:   www.camtc.org  




707.322.6540 
eleanor@east-west-massage.com