Massage FAQs

Even if you don’t have a specific health issue, massage therapy can provide many benefits, such as:

• Increased circulation
• Stimulation of the lymph system, the body's natural defense against toxic invaders
• Release of endorphins, the body's natural painkiller
• Improved range of motion and decreased discomfort associated with lower back pain
• Relaxation of injured and overused muscles
• Reduced muscle spasms and cramping
• Increased joint flexibility
• Help recover from strenuous workouts
• Pain relief from migraines
• Reduce post-operative adhesions and edema, as well as reduced scar tissue

The added benefit of massage therapy at Elements Massage™ is something we call The Elements Promise™. If your massage doesn’t live up to your expectations, let us know — and the next one is on us. 

Please call the local studio where the membership originated or where you had your last massage if you have trouble logging into your online account. One of the studio’s Wellness Membership Advisors will be able to help you gain access to your account.

The massage therapist's time has been reserved especially for you. Please follow the local studio’s policies to reschedule or cancel your appointment to avoid any late cancellation fees.

After your massage that same day, there are some easy, pleasant things you can do to help prevent some of the next-day soreness:

• Be purposeful about your water intake, both before and after your appointment. As mentioned above, hydrated muscles are more flexible. Also, there are some strongly-held beliefs that drinking water after a massage can help to flush away the toxins released by massage. Staying hydrated is never a bad idea, and before or after a massage session is no different.
   
• Do some gentle stretching that evening, paying special attention to your trouble spots that received the most attention during your massage. 
   
• Take a warm bath, ideally with Epsom salts (1/2 cup to 1 cup for adults), and soak for 20-40 minutes. Epsom salts are an inexpensive and effective way to further help your body rid itself of toxins and reduce muscle inflammation. You also get the added bonus of absorbing the beneficial magnesium found in Epsom salts through your skin.

 As your body becomes accustomed to regular massages, you’ll experience the next-day soreness less frequently, making the experience that much more pleasurable.  If you are looking for a wonderful massage, contact your local Elements Massage.

Coupons or discounts cannot be combined with any other offers.

If using a gift card to pay for the session, you must present the gift card at the time of service. Some gift cards are valid only at the independently owned and operated Elements Massage studios identified on the card. Session-based gift cards cannot be split into shorter sessions and are redeemable for the session type identified on the card’s front. Gratuity is not included. Gift Cards cannot be used toward membership autopays or other gift cards. There is no cash value for gift cards and they cannot be replaced if damaged, lost, or stolen. There is no cash redemption for gift cards unless required by law and then only to the extent required by law.

• Studios service minors under the age of 18 with written consent (Minor Consent Form & Client Intake Form) from a parent or guardian prior to performing the massage. Parents/Guardians must remain in the massage room during the entire session.

• All minors must keep their undergarments on for the entire duration of the session and clients of minor age will be matched with the same-sex therapist. If a parent/guardian or minor client wishes to have a massage therapist of the opposite sex, the parent/guardian will be required to acknowledge permission on the minor intake form.

Many clients are unsure if and/or how much they should tip their massage therapist. We recommend you think of your massage therapist as you would a waiter in a restaurant. Our studios’ therapists love what they do and your tip may reflect your appreciation for their service. We recommend tipping percentages be based on the full price of a regular massage, rather than the discounted price.

You should undress to your desired level of comfort. About half of our clients prefer to be completely undressed, while the other half prefers to keep their undergarments on. This is completely up to you. You will undress and dress in the privacy of your massage room and will be securely covered by a blanket and a sheet during your massage session.

A Master Massage Therapist has completed the Professional, Elite, and Master level training or other additional education and has a minimum of 2 years of employment with Elements Massage studio. These massage therapists demonstrate the highest level of mastery of hands-on massage and well-being skills, and continue to maintain high performance standards across all client satisfaction metrics.

For those who use massage as preventative care or to manage daily stress, one massage a month is common. Weekly sessions may be desirable if you are receiving massage for injury relief or to relieve chronic tightness that is interfering with your daily life. There are many people who incorporate massage therapy at least twice a month for optimal therapeutic relief.

If redeeming a gift card for a service, a valid credit card  must be provided to book a session. At the end of the service, please present the gift card for final payment.

An Elite Massage Therapist has completed at least a one year tenure with an Elements Massage studio and consistently demonstrates mastery of The Elements Way. To reach this level, they have successfully completed both the Professional and advanced Elite Massage Therapist training, continuously have performed various session enhancements for individual client needs, and are consistently achieving high client satisfaction metrics.

Studios strive to maintain a comforting and calm environment for clients and staff, so as a courtesy, it is asked that you do not bring in infants or toddlers in. Children may not at any time be left unattended and unsupervised in the lobby and are not allowed to accompany you into massage rooms.

A license means that a massage therapist has met the requirements and paid the fee to legally practice massage in your city, county and/or state. To obtain a license, a massage therapist will usually have to complete a minimum number of training hours at an accredited or accepted school or training center and will have to undergo a full background check prior to receiving that license. Each state has specific licensing and/or certification requirements for massage therapists.

You will be properly covered or draped at all times to keep you warm and comfortable. Only the area being worked on will be exposed. No areas will be exposed without your consent. You should always let your therapist know if you are uncomfortable for any reason during your massage session.

A session consists of massage, time for you to dress and undress and time to communicate with the therapist to make your massage truly customized. Each time you visit an Elements Massage™ studio you will go through our service path called The Elements Way®. This is done to ensure each and every massage session you receive from us meets or exceeds your expectations.

• You will be asked to complete an intake form the first time you arrive to the studio.  Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment.
• Your therapist will greet you in front lobby.
• You will be asked to silence/turn off your cell phone.
• You will be directed to proceed quietly to one of the treatment rooms.
• After reviewing your intake form, your therapist will ask you what your specific wants and needs are for your massage.
• You can request a full body treatment or very specific work.  You should also specify the level of pressure that you would like to receive.
• If you are having a hot stone, prenatal or sports massage, more specific instructions will be given to you in regards to that particular modality.
• Once the treatment plan has been determined, your therapist will direct to you to undress to your comfort level, show you where to place your clothes and personal items, such as jewelry, and how to get on the table under the sheets and blanket. (Hair ties are provided for those who need them.)
• The therapist will then step out for a couple of minutes and will always knock and seek permission before entering.
• Upon entering, the therapist will make adjustments to the face cradle and table height, add support where needed, and proceed with the treatment.  
• The lights, music, face cradle, and table warmer are all adjustable.  Your therapist will be happy to adjust any or all of them at your request, any time during the session.
• At any time during the treatment, you can and should communicate with the therapist if you feel you need more or less pressure, or if you wish for your therapist to work on a particular area more or stay off a particular area.
• You will be asked 2 or 3 times during the session if you are receiving the appropriate pressure and if your needs are being met.
• At the end of the session, your therapist will ask you how you are feeling and to be mindful of light-headedness when you are getting up.
• Your therapist will leave the room to allow you to dress and will instruct you to open the door when you are ready so that they can give you a bottle of water to hydrate yourself and briefly discuss the session and a treatment plan for continued pain or stress reduction.
• You will be walked to or directed towards the front lobby for rescheduling and/or payment.

Gift Cards Used by Another

It is the recipient's responsibility to pay for services rendered if the gift card has already been used by another.

Please note that when gift cards are purchased by the gifter the recipient's name is not provided to our studio at the time of purchase.

Paying with A Gift Card

The physical gift card must be presented at the time of checkout.  We can not accept the gift card number to redeem purchase.



Do you contribute to a Healthcare Savings Account (HSA) to help pay for your annual medical needs?  Does your employer offer you access to a Healthcare Reimbursement Account (HRA) to pay you back for your co-pays and other medical expenses?  These new programs are available through many employers as an added benefit or can be managed through those with individual insurance programs.  The idea is that the money that you anticipate needing to use for medical expenses is put aside before it is taxed. At the moment, about 50% of businesses offer these types of plans to their employees, but the popularity of these programs is growing every year.

So why is there an article about HSA’s and HRA’s in your massage therapy newsletter, you ask?  Well, in many cases, the companies that manage these accounts consider Clinical Massage Therapy a valid expense.   Most plans require the session be related to a medical condition or that a medical doctor recommend the therapy.  However, many of the clients that I see who currently use their HSA to pay or their HRA to reimburse them for their massage sessions have not come via doctor’s recommendation.  How tightly managed or restricted an HSA or HRA is depends on the company handling the program.

There are a few ways to determine if your HSA or HRA will pay for your sessions at Elements Therapeutic Massage.

I would suggest starting off by calling the customer service number for your program and asking for details about “Therapeutic Massage” with your plan.  If a doctor’s referral is required, follow the necessary steps to obtain that referral.

Very often with HSA’s in particular, the company issues the participants a debit card to use for their medical expenses.  If your company has issued you such a card, we can try to use this to process you payment for your session.  If the charges are declined as a non-medical charge, then we will know that massage is not an immediately covered charge.  If the charge is accepted, then in most cases the fund will pay for the expense.  However, they may always come back and ask for documentation to validate the expense.  We can provide office notes (or SOAP notes) to document, but a referral from your doctor may be required.

Ask your fund manager is reimbursement is possible.  Healthcare Reimbursement Accounts (HRA’s) do just that.  They reimburse you for your medical expenses.  The good news about this is that even though it often requires more work on your part (submitting the necessary paperwork) very often the funds are provided by your employer and are not your pre-taxed income.  That’s right.  I’m talking about FREE MASSAGE here folks!!!

So, check with your Benefits Coordinator at your office to see if these options are available to you.  Depending on when your business has their open enrollment for insurance, you may want to consider implementing one of these plans with your existing  insurance program if it is available.These types of plans have been around for a little while, but they are gaining great popularity.  It is very appealing when you think of it as paying 25-40% less or getting your care for free… especially your massage therapy.