3. Where will my massage session take place?

We have a quieter area for massage and spa treatments.  The massage room has a wonderful heated massage table, dim lights and soft music.  It is located on the 2nd floor taking the stairs up and turning to the right.  It has a sign on the door saying "Quiet Please, Massage session in Progress".

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4. What should I wear during the massage?

You can choose to wear either nothing at all, just bottom underwear (panties, briefs,boxers), a bikini, or bottom and top underwear (bra).  Most people just opt to leave their bottom underwear on.  A bra does interfere long flowing strokes of the back and interrupts the flow of massage.  A good compromise is to add towels rolled up to cover the sides of breast tissue.   Another option is to wear a sports bra and loose shorts.  A sports bra is better than a regular bra since it is loose and movable from the back.  If there are any others clothing that needs to remain, please discuss this with your massage therapist.  They are very caring individuals and respect a clients right to choose what level of dress they prefer.  If you have any bruises or skin conditions, let your therapist know if you are wearing clothes to cover that up.  There may be conditions that a therapist may have to handle differently and will not be able to see them.

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5. What do I do during a massage therapy treatment?

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is just relax and let the massage therapist work.  A good way to relax is to concentrate on deep breathing.  You may talk if you like.  Some folks find talking a good way to relax and not be so nervous.  It is also a way to find out more how your massage therapist was trained and how they work.  It is your hour and you therapist will just listen or respond appropriately.  You do not need to help the massage therapist by lifting your leg or moving your arm.  The massage therapist is trained to lift each body part carefully with good body mechanics so they will not injure themselves.  There are ways to lift the leg that no matter how heavy or muscular, and can be done with little effort on the massage therapist.  

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6. How will a massage feel?

Most people report being able to relax better and deeper during a massage than at any other time.  A few fall asleep or drift consciousness from wakefulness to a deep trance state of relaxation.  Not every
massage is exactly the same. Each massage therapist has their own unique style that emphasizes what they have learned.  Each massage therapist uses their skills differently based on the type of massage and the result that the client and therapist are working to achieve.

How a massage will feel will depend on what a client is wanting to achieve and how they are feeling at the time..  If they are looking for a relaxation massage,  a Swedish massage is the best choice.  It is comprised of:

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7. Will the massage oils/lotions/creams used make me break-out?

Most massage lotion use as much natural cream with blended oils that are natural and therapeutic to the skin.  Massage lotion has more oil than regular lotions that you can buy in the store.  The reason is add more glide to the massage strokes than regular lotion.  Regular lotion will also gump up while doing a massage.  When combined with loose skin cells, it leaves behind particles that may not feel comfortable getting a massage.  

Massage lotion does not gump up or leave particles behind.  It is more oily than regular lotion but the oil is very natural your skin.  As your massage therapist works they will take the sheet (drape) and wipe massage lotion and oil off your skin after they are done working in an area.

If you have skin allergies to some lotions or certain types of oil, please let your therapist know.  We can look at the labels and make sure there is not a ingredient that will cause a reaction.  

If have very sensitive skin and have your own lotion, please bring it.  It does not matter if your lotion is a massage lotion or not.  It is preferable if you bring a lotion that you are comfortable with and we will make accommodations for your comfort and peace of mind.  Information on the massage products we use can be found here with links back to the manufacturer.

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8. Is a massage always appropriate?

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9. How long will a massage treatment last?

Most people report that a good massage will last for 4 weeks before they start losing the effects of the massage.  Clients with muscular issues (bad backs, sore and achy muscles, chronic conditions), need a massage everyother week.  During high stress times, it is helpful to get a massage as needed. It helps to get the stress out of the body of muscles and most report a reduction in headaches.  With after injury or surgery, it may be necessary to incorporate massage from every 3 days to a week after the initial injury has healed sufficiently.  This helps to unlock the muscle and facial tissues that are restricted.  

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10. How will I feel after the massage therapy treatment?

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11. When should I get a massage?

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14. What is not included in a therapeutic massage?

Sex. Let's get it right there out in the open. We all know that there are tons of places that call themselves massage parlors, and probably the last thing you'll get there is a real massage. It is pretty obvious from the ads these places have, and the way they present their businesses, that they are offering sex. They are not to be confused with therapeutic massage.  These massage parlors may have licenses, they have taken the minimum hours of training to become a professional therapist to get that license, but massage is not what they're selling. That's not the place to go complaining about tight hamstrings.

Many phone books have listings for therapeutic massage, and most of the people or businesses listed there are serious bodyworkers, not prostitutes. If you're unsure, make the call and ask. They will be up front with you about what not to expect from the massage. Most practitioners of therapeutic massage call themselves massage therapists, because the titles masseur and masseuse have sexual connotations associated with massage parlors. Massage therapists work out of their studios, spa or offices, not parlors.

Don't even think about going to a serious bodyworker under the guise of wanting a therapeutic massage, and expect something sexual to happen. If you insist on any inappropriate behavior, the therapist is likely to end the session immediately, and you'll be required to pay the full price whether the massage lasted two minutes or an hour.

The world would be a much better place if we all could learn to accept touch in our lives without assuming that all touch is innately sexual. In the confines of professional massage therapy, you can receive a massage that is relieving, pleasureful, sensual, and if you try to make it into a sexual activity, you will rob yourself of the experience of enjoying it for what is offered. There are no happy endings in legitimate therapeutic massage just wonderful therapeutic massages.

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15. Does the gender of the massage therapist make a difference?

Some people thinks so.  Typically, male massage therapists are stronger than females.  Female massage therapist are more nurturing and have a better flowing swedish massage.  In our experience at Salon du Monde, we have wonderful male massage therapist that has a very nurturing and gentle massage as well as a strong sports or deep tissue massage.  We have a found that female massage therapist that can deliver the pressure where you want it. Many females have a good swedish massage too.  For most people, the gender of a massage therapist is more of a preference of the client and not a lacking of ability.  There are some techniques of massage that can accomplish the same results with less pressure.  It is just a matter of education and experience and preference when it comes to gender differences.

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16. Can I request a specific gender of massage therapist for my massage?

You can always request a specific gender of massage as long as one is available.  Currently we have 1 male massage therapist and no female massage therapist.  As far as getting a specific gender of massage therapist at a specific time, it is subject to the availability.  You can schedule a male massage therapist on his schedule as well but there is no female massage therapist at this time at Salon du Monde.  Be sure to let the person taking your appointment, that you have preference for a specific gender.  We will be glad to accommodate as long as one is available to your time specified.

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17. What if I'm overweight or embarrassed about my body?

All of us have something that is imperfect, a blemish, or something we are embarrased or wish we didn't have.  It is not our perfections that make us human but our imperfections that make us unique.

"You see, imperfection is the key. Imperfections make us individuals, that's what makes us unique. See my nose, how it is all bulbous and pock marked, well, I am the only one with my nose. -Rupert Burns (Bicentennial Man (film))"

 Everyone is different in one form or another.  Some of us have a different build,overweight, underweight, big, skinny, a tattoo, lymphomas, fatty deposits, moles, skin discoloration, extra hairy, and many other things as well.  How one looks in the mirror makes a big difference on how we think other perceive us.  

Massage therapist have things about their body that they are embarrassed about too.  We do not want it known to the world that we have a mole in an odd spot on our back.  Massage therapist in NC fall under Medical Regulations of the NC Massage Board.  As such any medical knowledge cannot be shared with anyone else under the rules of HIPAA.  We will not share anything about your body without you specific request and written permission.

Part of a massage therapist's training is in somatic psychology.  We understand how someone can feel uncomfortable about their body.  There are even massage therapists that do not liked to be touched.  I have worked on them and felt honored that they have trusted me with their massage.  Massage therapist on the whole are accepting of everyone and everything about their body.  At no time will we laugh, make fun of or embarrass you about your body.  Our goals are to help you accept your body as it is, help you to make changes you desire, and help you relax no matter what condition you are in.  

If you are ever uncomfortable, let the massage therapist know immediately.  If you cannot continue the massage for any reason, you have a right to terminate the massage at any time.  A massage therapist will ask if there is something they could do to make a massage session better for you.  If you are not willing to discuss it, just let them know it is personal and not anything the massage therapist did or said.  If you feel comfortable talking about the issue, stop the massage and tell the massage therapist what they need to know about you to make the massage better for you.  If you are unsure, ask the massage therapist questions about the massage.  There may be things that occur in a massage that is normal in a full body massage session but may make you uncomfortable.  

Let the massage therapist know if there are area you would rather not have them touch or is too sensitive.  Sometimes all is needed is a change of pressure of massage or to use a different technique.

Communication is the key here to feel comfortable in a massage.

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18. How much will a massage cost me?

Most massages from a reliable massage therapist will average for an hour of $70 to $90.  Some types of massage can be more expensive due to the amount of training and expense it took to get the training.  Some massage types take over 250 hours to get certified in that particular modality.  Other types of massage take a lot more cleanup and setup time to perform and accounts for the added expense.  Some massages (like Deep Tissue), are difficult to do and take a lot of strength from the massage therapist (therefore more work).  

If you find massage cheaper at other places and wonder why the difference in price, usually it can be attributed to the experience of the massage therapist.  Most hire only recent graduates from massage schools. Some cheaper places do not deliver consistent quality of massage from one therapist to the other.  It takes a good year to incorporate and refine the techniques learned in massage school.

At Salon du Monde, our massage therapist has more than 4 years of experience and many massage techniques to add variety to each massage.  Each one incorporates individual and unique massage skills catered to the needs and wants of their clients.

For more information on our prices of massage: --Click here.

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19. What does a massage therapist's license or certification mean?

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