Wednesday, December 21, 2011

New Services

We are excited to announce the addition of 2 new services - tandem massage (also sometimes known as "Four Hand Massage") and something very unique we call a "50/50 Massage"!

The tandem massage utilizes 2 therapists, each working on the client simultaneously. You can request they mirror their movements (for example, they each massage your back, one on each side) or they can work in different, but complimentary areas (one might be massaging your head and neck while the other is working on your feet). Either way, you receive twice the massage is half the time! Choose from either 30 or 60 minutes (actually giving you 60 or 120 minutes worth of traditional massage time!).

Our other new service we like to call "50/50 Massage". One therapist works on you for 50 minutes, then a second therapist seamlessly transitions in and works another 50 minutes, giving you a total of 100 minutes. You can choose 2 different types of massage (Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports, relaxing vs. therapeutic, etc) or just be able to benefit from 2 different therapists with varying techniques and styles. Choice is yours!

Both of these new services are available now and can be booked by calling our store, or as always, by visiting our website and booking online. Gift certificates are also available for these and any other service we offer.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Meet Anli from The Massage Store!

Anli Llego

Anli is originally from the Philippines, but has been in the United States for almost 7 years.

In addition to being a massage therapist, she is also a licensed psychiatric technician, working at a local Grand Junction facility.

Anli says "I feel I am always learning and as a massage therapist, the continuing education courses I take give me the opportunity to learn other modalities that use in my session. I feel strongly drawn to energy work, which I incorporate into my sessions. I love doing massage because I act as a conduit in helping a body heal itself. I am at my happiest being that."

To book an appointment with Anli, click here or call 243-3934.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Infrared Sauna

We recently introduced an infrared sauna as a new service we offer. Infrared saunas offer a lot of health benefits including lowering high blood pressure & cholesterol, increasing blood flow and circulation, your immune system and so much more!

We have posted a great article on our website about some research studies on the benefits and use of infrared saunas. We are in the process of adding more.

Call and set up a session today! You will love it!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

On Site / Employee Chair Massage

Now more than ever, stress is a major factor in most people's lives. It can be caused by work (or being unemployed), finances, children, marriage problems, and much, much more.

Stress is a contributing factor in up to 75% of doctor's visits. Keeping stress levels to a minimum allows everyone to be more productive, healthier and generally happier.

But how does stress affect employees at work? Whether most of us will admit it, many people carry their stress and let it affect other aspects of their life. Employee stress affects employers each and every day and can potentially have severe consequences.

Employee stress can lead to: absenteeism/sick days, accidents & worker's comp claims, errors in judgment, poor customer service, conflict with other employees, reduced productivity, decreased morale, and much more! Each of these can have a dramatic and costly effect on a business if left unaddressed.

So, what can you do? Recognize that stress is a factor is many of your employees' lives and provide them an outlet of relieving some of their stress on a regular basis.

On-site chair massage is a great way of accomplishing just that. We send 1 or 2 highly trained massage therapists to your office with portable massage chairs. We ask that you provide us a conference room, empty office, break room, or some place away from their normal work areas, if possible. Employees, if they desire, will receive a 5-20 minute seated, chair massage, while remaining fully clothed. The therapist will focus on the employee's neck, shoulders and back, but as necessary, other areas such as arms, hands and legs can also be worked.

We offer 2 options for payment. The preferred method is the employer pays an hourly rate for each therapist, and employees sign up ahead of time. More employees tend to take advantage of the massage when their employer is paying for it, but it is also advantageous to the employer to have as many employees as possible de-stress.

The other option is to have each employee pay for their own massage. This method is not as preferable because we usually see less participation from the employees, but we still see many take charge of their wellness and take advantage of the massage.

The frequency we come to your office is up to you. Maybe you want once a week, every other week, or even once a month. Sometimes the frequency is determined by the size of your staff. If we can't accommodate everyone each time, then have us come more often so we each employee is able to participate and no one is left out. If your business is seasonal, we can alter our visits to you accordingly.

In these economic times, everyone is watching their bottom line, and we fully understand that. But please remember, healthy, productive, loyal employees are a very profitable asset to your company. Can you afford to not take care of them?

Call or e-mail us for more information!

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Cancellation Policy

This is not our favorite topic to bring up, but sometimes we just have to.

When you book your appointment, we are reserving a specific amount of time with a specific therapist just for you. Due to the amount of work it requires and the actual time it takes, massage therapists generally only see 3-5 clients in a day. The therapists work based on pre-scheduled appointments, and not walk-in business. They are also not like doctors or chiropractors who may see 40-50 patients in a day.

When a client no-shows or cancels their appointment with little notice, we are usually unable to re-book that time, leaving the therapist with an empty time slot and without any pay. And that is significant when they only see 3-5 clients/day.

We understand there are times when something comes up unexpectedly, and a short notice cancellation may be unavoidable. But just as you are busy and your time is valuable, the same is true of our therapists.

Our cancellation policy is this - If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, you must call 24 hours prior to the appointment time and we will be happy to make any changes you need. Failure to do so, or failing to show for your appointment, will result in the full appointment being billed to the client.

The best way to be reminded of your appointment is to sign up for our automatic e-mail or text message notification system. When you book, change or cancel an appointment, it will send you a confirmation immediately. Then, 24 hours before your appointment, it sends out a reminder to you. The people that utilize this feature rarely no-show or cancel last minute and find it very helpful.

Ultimately, it is the client's responsibility to call ahead and make any necessary changes to their appointment time. If we don't hear from you, we will expect you at the scheduled time.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us! If you would like to sign up for our email/text notification feature, please e-mail us! Make sure to include your preferred e-mail address or wireless number & wireless carrier's name.

The Massage Store

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Benefits of Therapeutic Massage for Elderly People

Elderly massage offers numerous benefits to our senior citizens which can greatly help to improve their health and well being. This article looks at what is elderly massage, why it is valuable to society, and the benefits of massage for elderly citizens. Read the article on our website.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Father's Day is coming!

Father's Day is less than 2 weeks away.

When it comes to people buying loved ones massage gift certificates for holidays, Valentine's Day, Christmas and Mother's Day are the most popular - mostly from men buying their wives or mothers gifts. However, Father's Day is also gaining in popularity.

We find that when people give massage as a gift, they are usually doing it to provide a gift of relaxation, luxury, pampering, etc. However, most of our clients come to us out of necessity and prevention, instead of luxury. By this, I mean most of our clients come in because they have injuries, chronic pain, or are use massage as a preventative health measure against injury and illness.

Many people don't think of massage as a gift for a man - however, men make up about 40% of our clients. Most of them suffer from low back and/or neck/shoulder pain, often caused by work and stress. Men also generally don't come in as often as women, because they don't take the time for themselves.

But whether the man in your life works in an office or as a truck driver or on the oil rigs, regular massage can be very beneficial for him and helping him address body aches/pains and stress.

So, for this Father's Day, give the gift of massage! We have put together a couple special packages just for the guys to encourage them to come in regularly! Visit our website to find out more! You can buy gift certificates online or in our store!

We look forward to seeing you!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Choosing a massage therapist

If you like to receive regular massages, choosing the right therapist is critical! It isn't always about who has the strongest hands, the best education, or whether they are male or female.

So what should you look for?

First and foremost, you want someone that listens to you and what your needs and goals are. It doesn't matter how skilled the therapist is if they don't work on your low back pain as requested! The therapist should ask you questions, talk with you, and most importantly, listen to you in order to best meet your goals for each massage session.

Next, a complimentary personality. You are going to be with your therapist an hour or more each time. You want to be able to talk and get along, and not have stressful tension between you two.

Skillful and strong hands are a must too! Your therapist must be trained in many modalities in order to tailor each massage to you. A standard Swedish or standard deep tissue is rarely applicable for an entire massage, without other techniques blended in.

Finally, look for a therapist with strong ethics and professionalism. There are many bad apples in the massage industry, but there are even more great, terrific therapists out there. Look for one that holds themself to a high standard and high level of professionalism.

The last thing to look for? Price! Usually a cheap price means mediocre service! You will always find a range of prices, but if most people are charging $50-65, and someone charges $25-$40, be leary! In our experience, most people that charge very low prices do not succeed in their business. If you find someone that meets all the other criteria, price is your last consideration. An awesome massage from an awesome therapist is worth exponentially more to you than an average massage.

So - how do you know where to find these therapists? That is not easy. First, start by asking friends, family and co-workers. You can also call some providers and ask questions about the services they offer, how they can help you, etc. Also, look online. Look for reviews and other comments from previous clients!

We have a staff of 7 therapists currently, and while they are all excellent therapists, they each have their own specialties, techniques and personalities. Feel free to visit our "Reviews" page on our website for comments from many of our clients, and then call us! We'd be happy to talk with you and find the right match for you!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Mother's Day Specials!

Mother's Day is this Sunday! Give that special mother in your life (your mom, wife, daughter) a well appreciated gift - the gift of massage!

We have 3 special packages available just for Mother's Day, as well as our normal services and packages.

Feel free to come in and buy your gift certificate, or visit our website and purchase an instant, online gift certificate!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Cancellation Policy

This is not our favorite topic to bring up, but sometimes we just have to.

When you book your appointment, we are reserving a specific amount of time with a specific therapist just for you. Due to the amount of work it requires and the actual time it takes, massage therapists generally only see 3-5 clients in a day. The therapists work based on pre-scheduled appointments, and not walk-in business. They are also not like doctors or chiropractors who may see 40-50 patients in a day.

When a client no-shows or cancels their appointment with little notice, we are usually unable to re-book that time, leaving the therapist with an empty time slot and without any pay. And that is significant when they only see 3-5 clients/day.

We understand there are times when something comes up unexpectedly, and a short notice cancellation may be unavoidable. But just as you are busy and your time is valuable, the same is true of our therapists.

Our cancellation policy is this - If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, you must call 24 hours prior to the appointment time and we will be happy to make any changes you need. Failure to do so, or failing to show for your appointment, will result in the full appointment being billed to the client.

The best way to be reminded of your appointment is to sign up for our automatic e-mail or text message notification system. When you book, change or cancel an appointment, it will send you a confirmation immediately. Then, 24 hours before your appointment, it sends out a reminder to you. The people that utilize this feature rarely no-show or cancel last minute and find it very helpful.

Ultimately, it is the client's responsibility to call ahead and make any necessary changes to their appointment time. If we don't hear from you, we will expect you at the scheduled time.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us! If you would like to sign up for our email/text notification feature, please e-mail us! Make sure to include your preferred e-mail address or wireless number & wireless carrier's name.

The Massage Store

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Research Continues to Show the Benefits of Massage Therapy

By Allen B. Ury

Although many people enjoy massage therapy just for the sheer pleasure of it, massage also has many measurable therapeutic benefits. Many in the mainstream medical community have embraced it for its ability to help patients manage pain, relieve anxiety and improve overall health.

Peer-reviewed research continues to show significant benefits of massage. For example, in the last three years:

  • Researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, published a study in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology (2009) that showed how massage therapy can be used to reduce pain, anxiety and depression in children suffering from Sickle Cell Disease.

  • A study sponsored by the Institute of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (2008) revealed that a therapeutic massage can immediately reduce pain and improve the mood of people suffering with advanced forms of cancer.

  • The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) reported that classic massage, Thai massage and acupressure can help relieve lower back pain (2010).

  • A first-of-its-kind study published in the Journal of Patient Safety (2010) revealed that 50 percent of hospital patients can enjoy significant relief from postsurgical via "non-traditional" methods such as massage therapy.

  • An issue of the Mayo Clinic Health Letter (April 2010) cites massage techniques as an effective treatment for fibromyalgia.

  • Researchers in Cedars-Sinai's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences have reported in Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (2010) that people who undergo massage experience measureable changes in their body's immune and endocrine response.

According to O*Net Online, the online employment resource sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, job growth for massage therapists is projected to be "faster than average" for the 10-year period between 2008-2018.* During this period, demand for massage therapists is expected to increase 14 percent to 19 percent nationwide. Local demand will, of course, depend on local economic factors.

-Author, Allen Ury, writes on the benefits of therapeutic massage therapy for Everest Colleges, Institutes and Universities. Find out more about how massage therapy training can help jump start careers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Allen_B._Ury

http://EzineArticles.com/?Research-Continues-to-Show-the-Benefits-of-Massage-Therapy&id=5201209

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Please be patient....

Due to a family emergency, Scott & Vivien have to go out of the country for a short time. While we are gone, we are still open, taking appointments, and usually have 3-4 therapists working each day. However, if you call and get our answering machine, please leave a message. Our therapists are likely in appointments and unable to answer the phone. They will return your call as soon as possible.

Next week, it should be easier as our receptionist will be back from vacation.

Thank you for your patience and understanding!

Vivien & Scott

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Changes in Montrose

We have some changes to announce for our Montrose office. Our therapists that have been working there for awhile have decided to purchase that location from us and make it their own business.

Brenda and Gloria are renaming it "All About You Massage". They are maintaining the same focus we did, providing clients with a relaxing, yet therapeutic massage, focusing on stress, tension, and injuries!

They will continue to offer a 75 minute massage, as well as hot stone, reflexology, couples massage, prenatal, and more.

They are still in the process of transitioning, but are hoping to hold an official grand opening party in the beginning of February! But, they are accepting appointments until then and look forward to hearing from you!

They can be reached at (970) 252-1111 (same phone we had), and the office is still located at 1020 S. Townsend Ave, Montrose, across from Dairy Queen. Their new website will be launched in a couple days, showing their services, prices, etc.

For all of our Montrose clients, we appreciate the opportunity to meet you and serve you. We know you will be in good hands with Brenda and Gloria!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us in Grand Junction at (970) 243-3934, or them in Montrose at (970) 252-1111.

Thank you,

Scott & Vivien