Frequently Asked Questions

How does massage help with overall health and well-being?

There are many benefits to massage that go beyond working out knots or inducing a relaxed state. Overall benefits also relate to relaxation and stress reduction. When you receive massage, your body has the opportunity to engage its parasympathetic nervous system, enabling release of hormones to help your body repair and rejuvenate.

Stress Reduction

In our daily lives, most of us are so busy and so stressed we continuously engage our sympathetic nervous system which triggers our "flight-or-fight" response. This is a natural chemical response to our perception of danger. When in fight/flight mode, the blood stream is flooded with excitant hormones. Triggered by stress, your body responds instantly:

• Pulse speeds up
• Breath rate increases bringing extra oxygen to our lungs, which provides additional fuel for your muscles.
• Blood sugar spikes, providing a burst of energy

  This is not a "normal" state for humans. Our bodies were designed at the dawn of humanity when it was necessary to outrun predators or to kick into high gear to capture food. In our world today, we can easily go into fight/flight mode while driving to work, giving a presentation or shopping for groceries - far cries from the intended purpose of the rush.

  Stress inhibits release of parachute chemicals that help us come down and return our bodies to a state of homeostasis (homeostasis: balance within your body. Balance of heat, water, oxygen, blood, heart rate, etc.) Stress also works against the immune system, opening us to catching more viruses and diseases.

Massage is something to integrate into a holistic lifestyle. We all need to slow down, recharge and take time for ourselves. How can we take care of others if we are not at our best?

How often should I get a massage?

The answer varies depending on the person. It would be ideal to get a massage once a week.

It depends whether your personal goals are:

• General health and well-being
  I suggest at least once per month, but every two weeks is better.
• Therapeutic treatment for a particular acute or chronic condition
  Because massage therapy has a cumulative effect, you should initially see your massage therapist at least once per week if not more. Once the issue resolves, a maintenance schedule can be determined. The maintenance schedule will depend upon the circumstances which necessitated treatment. For instance, if you have a profession which routinely aggravates your body, you might decide on every two weeks and adjust from there depending upon how you feel.
• Some clients receive massages regularly when they are not feeling their best and then return sporadically.
• I get regular massages every two weeks and often schedule an additional massage or two as time permits.
  

What is the difference between deep tissue massage and Swedish?

• Sometimes Swedish can be "deep", meaning the therapist can use very firm pressure.
  
• In true deep tissue massage, the therapist works a particular area - for example a sore shoulder or neck - and warms each layer of muscle until it becomes pliable. The work goes deeper with each successive layer of muscle that becomes loosened. This can be a time-consuming process because it can take up to 30 minutes or more to warm a section to the point that the muscles become workable.
  

Why do my muscles get tight?

The response is as unique as you are. There are many reasons muscles become tight, stiff, sore, or adhered.

• Repetitive motions that stress or over-stress particular muscles can cause pain if you do not counter the motion with a stretch that works the reverse muscles. For example, if you work on a computer all day, you likely spend your time with your arms in front of your body and your shoulders rounded toward the front. What this does is over stretch the muscles between your shoulder blades and shorten the muscles on the front of your chest. There is a stretch that will counter this, which if done regularly will be able to help you maintain the proper balance of your muscles.
  
• Stress (mental/emotional) can cause your muscles to become tight, for example, grief, job pressure, relationship problems, etc.
  
• Injury can cause muscles to become tight, stiff, sore, etc, for example, whiplash from a motor vehicle accident, the impact from a fall, moving in two directions at once as in playing a sport, or an improper lift/twist with weight.
  
• Lack of proper hydration can cause muscles to become tight, as well.
  

Why should I drink plenty of fluids?

• When your body is well-hydrated, your muscles will respond well to massage.
  
• Drinking plenty of fluids after a massage will help your body flush out substances, such as lactic acid, that build up in your muscles and tissues. The "toxins" are released because massage increases your body's circulation, bringing blood and oxygen to your tissues. Once released, it is best to flush them from your system. This will prevent or greatly lessen soreness the day following the treatment.
  
• A well-hydrated body does not tend to become as "stuck" as a non-hydrated body. Picture the difference between a piece of filet and a slice of jerky - one is pliable and supple, the other is hard, stringy and tough.
  
• Water is the best liquid, but almost any liquid is better than none. Excessive intake of caffeine or alcohol does not benefit the body in the same way that water, juice, or even soda will.
  

What is the difference between a chiropractor and a massage therapist?

• The short answer is that a chiropractor manipulates hard tissue (bone) by moving/adjusting it into place. A massage therapist manipulates soft tissue (muscle, skin, tendons, cartilage, ligaments) by coaxing it toward its natural position.
  
• Some people believe that the bones pull the muscles, others believe that the muscles pull the bones out of alignment. In any event, the two practices work well in conjunction with each other.
  
• Another difference is that chiropractic is usually covered by medical insurance, where massage generally is not.

Can you feel "that"?

This is a question I get frequently when working on an area where there is a "knot", an adhesion or a tightness. Usually, the answer is yes. As a professional, it is relatively easy to feel the difference between smooth muscle and that which is in distress. As I warm the area and additional layers of muscle become pliable, I can feel subtle as well as dramatic differences in texture and flexibility. I can also feel when there is a release of an adhesion or trigger point.

When is the best time to get a massage?

The answer depends upon the context of the question.

• The best time of day is when you can relax afterward and not have to rush back into your daily grind.
  
• With regard to incurring an injury or experiencing pain, the sooner the better. The caveat is that if you have sustained an injury which requires medical attention, such as a broken bone, inflammation, a sprain, etc, ask your doctor before booking your massage appointment.
  
• When you wake up stiff, seeking massage that day or the following day will help you recover more quickly than waiting a week for it to go away on its own. Generally speaking, we favor areas that have pain and avoid moving them. The less we move when we are stiff, the more we reinforce reinforce the lack of mobility and tightness of the muscles. If left unchecked, this tightening can cause additional problems in the body.
  
• Massage has a cumulative effect when the sessions are close together. For instance, if you get treatments within a time frame that the muscles have not returned to the pre-treatment state, the therapist can build upon the progress of each session.

  Case study:
  A client describes symptoms of pain, numbness and tingling going down the arm. This is a recurring condition that becomes intolerable every few years. After suffering for many weeks, the client seeks treatment asking for a 30 minute session. After three 30 minutes sessions approximately 2-4 days apart, the therapist suggests that the client come for an hour due to the severity of the tightness of the muscles and the length of time it takes to get them warmed. The client then comes twice a week for two-and-a-half weeks to finish the treatment. Once the primary issue is resolved, the maintenance schedule is determined. Maintenance sessions can occur every 2-4 weeks, depending on whether or not the client performs self care. During maintenance, it often comes up that additional areas are tender, painful or referring pain to other areas of the body.

How long will I feel better?

• The answer depends upon the person, their issue(s) and the type of treatments given. Generally speaking, if your issue was caused by something that is a one-time occurrence, such as pulling a muscle while lifting an object, you can usually have it cleared up within one to two sessions and feel better.
  
• If your issue is caused by something that is part of your job, a hobby, or activity you do regularly, the length of time the symptoms abate will be relative to the amount of time you do the activity that causes you pain. For example, if you have a tight neck and shoulders from sitting in a cubicle working on a computer for 8-10 hours daily your symptoms may only dissipate for a few days. If you perform appropriate self-care in conjunction with your massages, you may be symptom free the majority of the time.
  
• Most people who receive massages do best when they get them on a regular basis to maintain the positive benefits of receiving treatment. A regular basis could be once a week or once a month.
  

How does massage complement my workouts?

• Massage is a great compliment to working out because it removes the lactic acid that builds up from using your muscles steadily and consistently. This happens because your blood brings fresh oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and tissues, carrying away used blood for cleaning.
  
• Massage can also help improve flexibility, range of motion and relieve soreness after working out.
  

It is necessary/appropriate to tip a massage therapist?

First, tipping is OPTIONAL!

Common ranges are:

• Half hour $5-10
• Hour $10-20
• Hour and a half $10-30

Is it normal to feel "spacey" after a massage?

During massage, most people enter a deep state of relaxation. The body releases chemicals like endorphins that make you feel good. Your body engages the parasympathetic nervous system in charge of bringing you down from stressful situations. In our society, we are all so busy being pulled in many directions our bodies respond as if in fight/flight mode. Getting out of this mode can bring about a feeling of euphoria.

Why do I feel a pulling sensation in an area other than where you are working?

• The short answer is that everything is connected. You have many forms of connective tissue, one of which is called fascia. Fascia runs throughout your entire body, creating compartments, lining organs, separating muscles and so on. When fascia becomes adhered or stuck in one area - for instance in your neck, during the process of releasing it, you may feel a pulling sensation that can go as far down as your foot or up into your scalp. It's not an uncommon occurrence.
  
• Another reason is that there is a phenomenon called "trigger points". What happens when you have them is that a muscle has areas of hyper-irritability and when those areas are stimulated, they produce a pain referral pattern. The patterns are predictable and treatable with the input/feedback of the client.
  
• Whenever you have a sensation that feels good, bad, or strange, always alert your therapist. The more information we have to work with regarding you and your treatment, the better the outcome is likely to be.

Can I get a "happy ending" ?

Not from innerStasis. I specialize in therapeutic massage for which I have trained and studied more the 600 hours. I have more than 5,000 professional massages to my credit. Solicitation and/or requests to be worked on without draping will not be tolerated and will result in immediate termination of the session. True massage therapy is not prostitution.

To Contact innerStasis:

• Call 862-202-9474
• email
• Located at 80 Hill Street in Bloomfield, NJ just blocks from the Garden State Parkway Exit 148 View Map
• Please Note: Hours are by appointment only, walk-in clients can not be seenl

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