Client Rights and Informed Consent

Posted Michelle HebertPosted in My Practice

Just like with all other medical practitioners, you have rights when it comes to a massage therapy session. Some people may think massage just involves lying down on a table for an hour while a massage therapist does her thing. Well, there is more to it than that and you have the right to be informed. I recently had an experience that made me reconsider how important transparency, informed consent, and personal rights are to clients. Here is my story- I have a thing about ears. It’s weird, I know. Maybe blame it on trauma caused by chronic ear infections […]

How Massage Can Help Athletes Year-Round

Posted Michelle HebertPosted in Conditions treated

You’re a true athlete. You’re used to working hard, exhausting your body, and developing your mental stamina— as well as your physical stamina— year-round. Even in the off-season, you don’t quit. You’re used to spending your downtime preparing for the next season, and getting faster, stronger, and better at what you do. The idea of using massage to improve your game might sound silly. Who needs a spa day to improve your game on the football field? But the truth is, more and more professional sports teams are employing full-time massage therapists to work with their athletes. Why? It really […]

What It Means to be Called a Licensed Massage Therapist

Posted Michelle HebertPosted in My Practice

Have you ever wondered what is required to be a licensed massage therapist in Oregon? Ever wonder what the “licensed” part even means? I know how incredible it is to find a massage therapist that you love but finding one who is licensed is so much more important. Massage therapy is not regulated or governed by a national board or policy. There is a national certification called the NCBTMB, but that certification does not allow a massage therapist to practice in every state. The profession is governed by individual state laws that vary. In Oregon, massage is governed by the […]

Massage for Knee Surgery Rehab

Posted Michelle HebertPosted in Conditions treated, Healthy Living

Ouch! What did I do to my knee? If you’re experiencing knee pain, you’re not alone. Most Americans will have knee pain sometime in their life, whether from an accident, overuse, or general wear and tear as they age. Besides being uncomfortable, it’s often debilitating and holds you back from doing the activities you enjoy most. That’s why it’s important to seek prompt treatment. There’s as many different types of treatment for knee pain as there are types of knee pain, and in many cases the best treatment is surgery. It’s ironic, however, that while surgery is meant to cure […]

Understanding Plantar Fasciitis

Posted Michelle HebertPosted in Conditions treated

Foot pain? It must be plantar fasciitis! Right? Let’s start with the basics. Plantar means the sole of your foot. Fasciitis is inflammation of fascia. Plantar fascia is the fascia on the bottom of your foot. Fascia is connective tissue. The fascia on the bottom of the foot spreads from the heel to the toes. Its purpose is to provide arch support and absorb the force that is created from your foot hitting the ground. Got it? Good, but keep reading because there’s more. What’s in a Name? The name plantar fasciitis is a little deceiving. Once treated as an […]

Should I Cancel My Massage if I’m Sick?

Posted Michelle HebertPosted in Healthy Living

Yes, please. Cancel if you are sick. Great! We’re done here. Nah, we’ve got a bunch more to cover. There are lots of variables to being sick. What does that even mean and why does it matter? Let’s dig in. What is ‘sick’? For determining your ability to receive massage, ‘sick’ means one or any combination of the following: Fever and related symptoms Chills Aches Unusual fatigue Respiratory issues Coughing Sneezing Very runny and/or stuffy sinuses Sore throat GI issues Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea If you have any of the above happening, it’s best to cancel. Massage isn’t going to help […]

All-Inclusive Massage Therapy Pricing

Posted Michelle HebertPosted in My Practice

There are two aspects of massage therapy- the service side and the healthcare side. I will preface this by saying there is absolutely nothing wrong with the service aspect of massage therapy. One of my favorite ways to spend a day is at a day spa getting every possible treatment I can afford added on to a facial and massage. As a self-employed massage therapist, however, this is not the type of service I offer. All-inclusive massage therapy pricing means that for the one fee you get every gram of knowledge in my head, every technique that is applicable to […]

Pain and the Brain

Posted Michelle HebertPosted in Healthy Living

An estimated 20%, or 50 million¹, US adults experience chronic pain, which is pain that affects and limits life or work activities. Many people who reach out to me for massage are those looking for relief from chronic pain, so I went down the rabbit hole of pain science to better understand what is happening in the mind and body of people who suffer from chronic pain. During the beginning of my research I found Dr. Greg Lehman’s free eBook called Recovery Strategies Pain Guidebook. It is brilliant and written in plain language for everyone to understand. I took the […]

How to Have a Good Massage

Posted Michelle HebertPosted in My Practice

There is absolutely nothing better in this world than to hear that someone enjoyed their massage. I’m not going to lie- it’s good feedback to hear. Recently, I was given what was probably the best feedback and compliment that I have ever received. And it got me thinking- why was this person so happy? My goal is to always be present during a session, to always pay attention to the person receiving the massage and how their body responds. But that can’t be the only reason that someone likes the work. That led me to think about this particular client […]

Guide to Gifting Massage

Posted Michelle HebertPosted in My Practice

When you’re relaxing on a massage table, it’s easy to see massage as a gift. Whether you’re there to reduce pain, to ease anxiety, to help you recover from the physical and mental stresses work or athletic training or parenting or simply being alive, massage is a moment of freedom in an occasionally crushing world. If you’re thinking of gifting massage with someone else for a special occasion or “just because,” you are almost certainly doing so from a place of love and generosity. Obviously, I’m a big fan of gifting massage as a present! But just as with choosing […]