Northwest Medical Massage

What are the massage types offered?

All clients can either choose a traditional massage (some level of disrobing and use of massage creme)* or clothed massage. 

What is the difference?

The traditional massage will feature an element of disrobing and incorporate Swedish relaxation techniques and specific holds (see How I Work below) to achieve both a relaxing traditional experience and enhanced gentle deeper work provided by the holds. 

A clothed massage will  require you only lay down on the table fulled clothed (removal of shoes is preferred, but not required). I will use palpation and holds to work all the areas needing a reduction of muscle tension. This is still very relaxing and highly effective. It is best for highly detailed work on clients not comfortable with disrobing and/or those who prefer not have any massage medium used. It is also a great choice when disrobing is too difficult or painful due to shoulder pain or limited mobility. 

How I work

I will palpate** to ascertain what specific muscles or muscle groups need my attention to meet your needs. I will frequently stop and use holds (for example gently moving the scapula in a specific direction and holding it there for 20 to 45 seconds). During the hold you need only relax and breathe. You do not need to help or move anything yourself. Once the hold is complete I will recheck the area and either repeat, move on to a new area or use other techniques to archive the therapeutic goal of getting an area to relax. For example, while working the back, you will feel that I am stopping at an area, use a hold, move on, switch sides and often go back to area already worked. There is not a specific flow dictating that once an area is worked I move on to the next without revisiting.  As muscles relax, tension changes and an area may need to be rechecked and require further work to keep the entire area in balance.  This approach may different than you are used to, but I find it works best. 

During your first visit, I will check in frequently regarding comfort level with the work. You are free to talk, ask questions or remain quiet during your session. I will follow your lead on this. On subsequent visits I will have a better idea of works best on your body and how to interpret your signals on what is comfortable. 

What Equipment is Used

Both of the treatment rooms have electric left tables for both the therapist and client convenience and safety.  One of our tables can go very low and the other table can be widened for clients needing more table surface. Please let me know if you have special needs on either table surface or height so your appointment can placed the best treatment room.  

Each table has extra memory foam padding and a table warmer which can be used or turned off at the client’s request.  The treatment spaces are kept at roughly 73 degrees. Blankets and table warmer are all available at the clients’s request to ensure comfort of both the therapist and client. Please let me if you need more heat or less to be comfortable. Preferences are noted in your client file.

Warm  moist towels are be added to the therapy where appropriate. They are typically used for traditional massage, but can use used on neck and extremities on a clothed massage if appropriate/desired. 

How Client Safety and COVID-19 are handled

I am masked at all times a client is in the office and during treatment.  Clients are required to be masked under Pima County regulations while in the office and during face up portions of a massage. During face down portions of the massage, clients may lower/remove the mask for ease of breathing. 

Each treatment room and the reception area have HEPA filter air purifiers operating during business hours. Due to COVID-19, the purifiers will not be turned off in the treatment rooms during a session.  Unfortunately, there can be no exceptions. If the white noise of the purifier is a concern, you will need to cancel your appointment. 

The suite HVAC fan runs during business hours to ensure air flow in the treatment rooms is constant. A humidifier is also running during business hours in each treatment room. 

Clients are generally placed in treatment rooms in a serial manner. For example, the after the first client’s treatment is complete in treatment room 1, the following client will be placed in treatment room 2. After each client, the treatment is cleaned and allowed to air out. 

Footnotes/Clarifications

* I do not use lotion or oil. I prefer massage creme due to its thicker nature and grip versus glide qualities on the body.  I will not use other types of massage medium or medium provided by clients as I do not know what is in the substance which may cause an allergic reaction to my skin.  If you require a specific type of massage medium we can discuss this several DAYS prior to the appointment.

** Use of hands to determine tension, muscle fiber direction and mobility of tissues.

Massage Therapy Certificate from Cortiva Tucson (2017)

Medical Massage Certificate from Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (2018)

Full Body Certified with Spontaneous Muscle Release Technique (2018)

30 Min - $45

60 Min - $65

90 Min - $95

120 Min $125

My interest in bodywork began 20 years ago shortly before the birth of my daughter. 

I earned my degree from the U of A in the mid 90's and worked in the technology field for a few years. During that time, a friend recommended I get a massage to help deal with stress and tension. I took them up on the advice, and scheduled my first massage with a local therapist in Gilbert.

I was amazed how much better I felt! Mental stresses melted away with 60 minutes of letting the therapist work out tension I did not even know I had been holding for years. I was hooked!

I wanted to leave technology and start massage school as soon as possible.  I was attracted to a field where the entire focus is on making people feel better, improving the quality of their lives and sense of well being. 

My wife was pregnant at the time and we felt, as a family, retooling and starting a new career and new family at the same time was not the most responsible choice. It would be best pursue a new career at a time in the future when we did not have a small child. 

The choice proved prophetic! My daughter was born with a life threatening heart condition that required open heart surgery when she was nine days old and a month in the hospital. Had I left my full time job with benefits, we would have been left without the insurance needed to treat my daughter's condition. 

With my daughter recently graduated from high school and beginning her career as an EMT, my wife and I felt NOW is the time to pursue my vocation in bodywork! I enrolled in Cortiva and started a journey in a new career unlike anything I had done before!

Most of my clientele are active adults 55+ which seek to maintain thier physcial activity level with less pain and feel better. My work reduces pain, improves sleep and increases activity choice for those dealing with joint replacements, painful shoulders, knees, hips or neck.  

I recently worked on a client that comes in only when she hurts, but she told me I got her hip feeling 90% better after one session.  I have many stories where my work has helped cleints feel better and be more active. Every single one of those stories push me to be better!

It is important to feel comfortable with the person working on you. Take the time to talk a bit before getting on table. Share what worked about previous massage sessions and what did not. While you want give the therapist enough information to tailor the session to your needs, also be aware each therapist works diferently. Always be honest and communicate clearly and compassionately with the therapist. All of us want to help you and our work comes from our sincerest desire to help you feel better. 

What exactly are you looking to accomplish with the session?

Are you comfortable disrobing? It is not neccessary, as some therapists can do everything you need through the clothing. 

Share your prevoius positive and negative experiences with the therapist about massage. It can make a world of difference in having an amazing session.