The Building of Relationships

Here at H&B Bodyworks we often get asked by clients "how often should I come in?" 

The therapeutic benefits of massage are maximized if you receive it on a regular basis, ideally every couple of weeks.   This assists your body in maintaining a healthy level of circulation, aids in reducing stress and keeps the formation of adhesions and knots in and around your muscles to a minimum.  There are several causes for the buildup of the "crunchy" knots most of us have experienced.  It may be from overuse, micro damage to the muscle fibers or the buildup of naturally occurring metabolic wastes. Regular massage can help address all of these issues.

If we are focusing on the rehabilitation of a specific injury, then your therapist may want to work on you for several weeks in a row.

Another frequent question that is asked is which is better 60 or 90 minute sessions.   Without a doubt it's the 90's.  This is for a couple of reasons.  First being that most of us are pretty harried when we are running to and fro in our day-to-day chaos.  It often takes a bit of "unwind time" after coming through the H&B studio door before clients can start to relax.  Also, if you are brand new to the world of massage there is a bit of coaching that may be needed to explain the process and answer any questions that you may have.  

Therapists prefer 90-minute sessions as well.  This is because most massage therapists have what is frequently referred to as a "foundation routine". Which is essentially a basic template of how we work on a client.  This is then adjusted to focus on specific problematic areas we might discover or to accommodate specific client requests. For a full body massage a typical foundation routine is about 45 to 50 minutes.   However, if we come across a particular "crunchy" spot or a client wants a little extra time on an area, we often have to cut something else out to stay on schedule.   That extra 30 minutes, gives us a bit of wiggle room to spend some extra time on an area without you missing out on some other part of the experience.

H&B Bodyworks is located at 245 W. 13th Ave in Eugene, Oregon.  We are the blue house with the big porch on the north side of 13th Ave between Lincoln and Charnelton streets.   Parking for our clients is either on Charnelton or Lincoln streets and it is about 1/2 a block walk to the studio.

Please do not park in the little lot next to our building or in the large lot to the north of our building.  Unfortunately, you are likely to be towed if you park in these areas.  

We always encourage people to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your appointment time,  especially if it is your first visit with us.  There is a quite a bit of new client paperwork to tackle and we don't want you to miss out on time you could be on the table.  It is important that a massage therapist knows about your medical history and any medications you may be on.  There are certain medical conditions and medications that we may need to adjust some of the techniques we use.  Pain medications, nerve blockers and blood pressure medications are some examples.   Even if you are a regular client, getting here early can make a big difference in your session experience as you have a few minutes to take some deep breaths and "wind down" before getting on the table.  

The answer to that is no.  The idea of being naked or almost naked in a room with someone you met 5 minutes ago freaks just about everybody out.  In massage training we actually spend a lot of time learning how to do some fancy sheet work, so all your personal bits stay covered throughout the entire session.  We will welcome you into the massage room, talk with you a bit about medical history and give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.  We then step out and you can get undressed to your level of comfort.  Some people are quite comfortable being naked, others leave on their underwear or wear athletic shorts. You then get yourself situated on the table and cover up with a sheet and a blanket.  We only uncover the part of your body we are working on.  For general relaxation massages your chest area and your abdomen will not be worked on.  Depending on the issues you have going on, a massage therapist may need to work on your glutes or around the top portion of your sacrum. However, there will be quite a bit of discussion before this happens and it will most likely not be during your first session with us.  Remember this is your session and your comfort level and your consent are of the utmost importance to any respectable massage therapist or studio.

We recognize that there are probably a million "what if?" questions that run through our heads when we try anything new.   Receiving your first professional massage is no exception.  So, here are a few answers to the common "what if's";

"What if I have to use the restroom during the session?"  

Just let your therapist know.  We will step out and there are clean client robes hanging behind each of the massage room doors.  We'll just take a break.

"What if I become aroused during the session?" 

This is not uncommon and nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about.  Your massage therapist is just going to ignore it.  Just know that H&B Bodyworks is an inclusive, therapeutic massage studio and there are some services we just don't offer.  

"Will I be able to take a shower after?"   

We do not have client showers here at H&B.  We do make up some extra warm towels though that you are welcome to use if you need to wipe off any extra oil at the end of the session. 

"Do you tip a massage therapist?  If so, how much?"  

Massage therapy has for a long time been an industry where tipping is customary.  Our therapists certainly appreciate it, however it is by no means required.   The typical massage tip is usually between 10-15%. 

"Is it okay to talk during a session or fall asleep?" 

Absolutely! Massage therapists try to gauge our level of interaction with the client during a session, off of the client's lead.   Some clients love to chat it up for the entire session. Other's will catch up for a bit at the start and then slowly drift away. For some folks this is the only time they are truly able to "unplug" during their week and for 60 or 90 minutes they are GONE.   

You do you...

Everyone here at H&B Bodyworks is looking forward to meeting you and becoming an ally in your efforts to enhance and maintain your holistic wellbeing.