Ali Salisbury, LMT

Your client profile begins with an intake form which will be completed or updated at the beginning of each appointment. All treatments are kept on file and confidential.
The client will express the purpose for the day's treatment and specify any requests such as "back and neck only" or "no face or scalp" once in the massage treatment room.
Therapeutic massage treatments are given in a professional atmosphere, with soothing background music or therapeutic sounds. Please be sure to turn your mobile phone to silent or vibrate and remove any jewelry prior to treatment.

The therapist leaves the room in order for the client to prepare for treatment. The treatment usually begins lying face-down beneath fresh and comfortable linens/draping on a special massage table. A restroom visit is suggested prior to treatment. It is not in the client's best interest to receive treatment with a full bladder or after a large meal.
Although treatment is given in a quiet setting, it is best to keep good communication. Please communicate any need or discomfort immediately at anytime during treatment. It is ideal to focus upon breathing.
Although undressed to bikini/briefs or shorts during treatment, a client's body will always be draped with towels or sheets for warmth and modesty.
Your massage therapist will knock and ask prior to entering, before making sure the table is as comfortable as possible, as I will. Some pressure may be used in an initial assessment over drapings. Steaming hot towels will be used to help "sol" muscle fascia and expedite tension ease. Oil will be applied while further warming tissue before any deeper work and therapies are continued.
Trigger Point therapy addresses the "knots" of painful and poorly circulated muscle tissue that refer pain to another area of the same or a nearby muscle. Heat or cold therapy may be required to assist in this tissue treatment.
Some discomfort may occur during deep pressure treatment, still no treatment should not be painful. Pressure will only be extended to the client's unique "edge" or less depending on the state of the tissue or fascia. Deep pressure may further fatigue muscles that have just recently been exercised; therefore, light treatment and vibration which is referred to as "tapotement" will be used. Cryotherapy is therapeutic for damaged or swollen muscles. Deep treatment helps to cause effective healing of scarred tissue 72 hours after muscle injury.

Cupping is effective in warming tissue while moving necessary fluids such as blood and lymph and encouraging them to return again once filled with nutrients, feeding muscle and lessening discomfort. The pressure is pulling rather than pushing and ideal for along one's vertebral column.

FYI: Many times muscle groups are effected by their antagonists or "opposite muscles", therefore it is important to treat those muscle groups as well. For example, an achy, lengthened and over-stretched back will benefit with treatment of muscles at the front of the neck and chest (pectorals) where they have become tightened.
Some light pushing, rocking, or shaking and range of motion may also be helpful during your personalized bodywork.
Please feel free to ask questions about muscle function and beneficial treatments; express your likes and dislikes regarding your treatment session. Your confidential session treatment records are available for sharing with your physician or chiropractor by request.

Thank you!

Ali

Pictured above is my in-home studio in SC. 2007-2009