Frequently Asked Questions
(Here is a list of FAQs arranged by category. Scroll down for answers to these questions. Have another question? E-mail us at nancy@animawellness.com)
BODYWORK PROTOCOL
- What can I expect during a session?
- Why do you wash my feet at the beginning and end of each session?
- Do I need to remove my clothes when I receive reflexology?
- Do I need to remove my clothes when I receive massage?
- Why is it important to drink water before and after a bodywork session?
- What is the ideal session length for reflexology or massage?
- How often should I get reflexology or massage?
- Is “no pain, no gain” true with regard to bodywork?
- I’m sick…should I get bodywork?
- What do you mean when you refer to your "scope of practice"?
REFLEXOLOGY
- What’s reflexology?
- Is reflexology a type of massage?
- Ouch! That hurts! What reflex point is that?
- What are those gritty-feeling "crystals" I feel in my feet and hands when you do reflexology?
- There's a lot of information on your site about reflexology...is reflexology better than massage?
- Can you diagnose with reflexology?
MASSAGE
- What parts of the body are included in your full body massage?
- I came to get a massage because my back hurts. Why are you working on other parts?
- I’ve never had abdominal massage before…why do you do it and what is it like?
- I have very sensitive skin...do you use lotion on the face during facial massage?
- Does massage need to be really deep in order to be beneficial?
- What is lactic acid? Is that why my muscles feel so sore after heavy exercise and will massage help?
- Can you diagnose with massage?
ANIMA WELLNESS POLICIES
- Why is your practice called "Anima Wellness"?
- What do you mean when you refer to your "scope of practice"?
- What happens if I'm late for my appointment?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- Can you recommend vitamins and supplements?
BODYWORK PROTOCOL
What can I expect during a session?
It is advisable to use the restroom prior to your session so as to avoid excusing yourself to do so during the session.
Prior to your session you will fill out a confidential medical history form (as well as an informed consent/policies form).
Your practitioner will then review your medical history and discuss with you any contraindications (conditions or factors in which bodywork as a whole or in a particular area is NOT advised). At this time you have a chance to ask your practitioner any questions you may have. You may also share any problem areas or areas where you'd like any extra attention. Additionally at this point you may advise your practitioner as to any areas that you do NOT want addressed.
After this discussion, your practitioner will step out of the room to allow you to dress down to your level of comfort. You can take this opportunity to remove your jewelry as well. Your practitioner will knock before re-entering the room.
The practitioner will inquire as to your level of comfort prior to the session and will provide you with bolsters (under knees or ankles) for support. Your feet will be washed with hot towels at the beginning of the session.
During a massage, your practitioner will address your face, scalp, neck, upper chest, arms, hands, abdominals, legs, feet, back, and gluteals (buttocks). The gluteal area will be worked over the drape.
During a reflexology session, your practitioner will address your feet, hands, ears, or all three, depending on the type of session you request.
The lights in the room will be dimmed to facilitate your relaxation. The atmosphere will be calm and quiet, with the exception of some relaxing music.
If you become too cool during a session, your practitioner has blankets available to warm you. During massages (and as requested during reflexology) there will be a table warmer (heating pad under the sheets) to keep you warm and to encourage your muscles and tissues to relax.
If at any time during the session you would like more or less pressure or you are not comfortable with a specific stroke or technique, you are encouraged to advise your practitioner right away. We rely upon your communication in order to provide you with the most excellent bodywork experience.
The session will conclude with your feet being washed again with a warm towel so as to remove any excess lotion. Your practitioner will step out of the room. You should feel very relaxed and can take your time getting up and getting dressed.
Why do you wash my feet at the beginning and end of each session?
When a client comes into a reflexology or massage session, we always begin with washing his or her feet. This serves to remove any lint, sand, dirt, or debris from the feet so as not to spread that to the rest of the client's body. Additionally, we wash the clients feet at the end of the session to remove any lotion so the client does not slip or get lotion or oil on their socks or shoes. From an energetic perspective, the foot washing routine is also very "grounding" for the client and a great way to begin and end a session.
Do I need to remove my clothes when I receive reflexology?
In reflexology, only footwear is removed with the client otherwise staying fully clothed.
Do I need to remove my clothes when I receive massage?
In massage, clients dress down to their level of comfort when the practitioner steps out of the room. Some clients choose to wear their underwear, while others prefer not to. The client is modestly draped at all times and only the area that is currently being worked on is uncovered. Client comfort, privacy, and security is of the utmost importance to the practitioner and the client can rest assured that his or her modesty will be honored at all times.
Why is it important to drink water before and after a bodywork session?
During bodywork, muscles and tissues are stimulated and therefore release a number of accumulated materials, which many believe to be toxins. Because bodywork induces increased circulation, these materials are naturally flushed out during and following the bodywork session. When the body is well hydrated, this process runs smoothly and the client is less inclined to feel a "detox reaction" which occurs when the system is overwhelmed by the release of toxins.
Symptoms of such a reaction may include nausea, light-headedness, or flu-like symptoms, in addition to potential pain and soreness in the areas that have been addressed during the session. Rehydrating after a session and throughout the rest of the day--in addition to coming to the session properly hydrated--dramatically decreases the likelihood of a detox reaction.
What is the ideal session length for reflexology or massage?
A full body massage includes the face/scalp, neck, chest, arms, hands, abdominal region, legs, feet, back, and gluteals (buttocks, done over the sheet), unless otherwise requested by the client. The 75 minute session is denoted as "Standard" because it allows the practitioner time to devote adequate attention to all areas of the body. A full body massage can be completed in 60 minutes, but it tends to limit the amount of time spent on any one area. Because the body is physiologically, anatomically, and energetically, and "myofascially" connected (for further information on the body's myofascial system, click here), massage that addresses the entire body (as opposed to just the back, for example) effectuates the greatest benefits.
The same principle applies to Integrated Reflexology sessions. With so much "ground to cover" while addressing the feet, hands, and ears, it is ideal for the practitioner to have ample time to address the blocked reflexes that "present themselves" mid-session. These are areas where the practitioner feels congestion and needs time to give the area extra attention in order to break down that congestion. 75 minutes allows the practitioner the flexibility to spend more time on a specific reflex and/or a specific body part (feet, hands, ears) in response to that particular client's needs on that particular day.
With that being said, sometimes clients schedules or budgets do not allow for longer length sessions. Even 30 minutes of bodywork can provide many benefits to the receiver and clients should not underestimate the value of shorter sessions.
How often should I get reflexology or massage?
If you are not experiencing pain and are seeking bodywork for relaxation and wellness purposes, Anima Wellness recommends reflexology or massage once a month. In the event you are under a lot of stress and you feel you need to "decompress", more frequent bodywork may be appropriate. Some clients choose weekly massage simply because it helps them feel better throughout the week and improves their quality of life.
If you are in pain or are dealing with a chronic condition, more frequent bodywork is usually appropriate. This may mean 2-3 times a week initially, then tapering down to once a week, then biweekly, on to monthly for regular maintenance.
Ultimately, clients will need to discern for themselves and their budget which frequency is appropriate for their personal situations. We are happy to discuss your own situation with you and make recommendations, as well as suggest packaging options which provide a substantial cost savings.
(Please note that in the case of a client under medical care, a doctor's written consent may be required prior to treatment.)
Is “no pain, no gain” true with regard to bodywork?
Anima Wellness subscribes to the relaxation model of bodywork, which asserts that when the client achieves a state of relaxation, the body's own innate intelligence, intuition, and inclination towards healing and balance begins to work at an optimum level.
With regard to reflexology, in the 1930s it was discovered by the Nobel Prize-winning Dr. Edgar Adrian that the electrical intensity of a nerve impulse depended on the size of a nerve rather than upon the strength of a stimulus (i.e. pressure). Therefore, deep pressure is NOT necessarily required to effectuate benefits. Applying light pressure with reflexology will also help the client remain more relaxed and probably enhances the body's own ability to heal. (Information courtesy of the American Reflexology Certification Board.)
With regard to massage, very deep pressure can sometimes cause a client to tense up, a protective mechanism which the body activates in response to a perceived threat or danger. When we are tense, we are--by definition--NOT relaxed. Because we subscribe to the relaxation model, we want to avoid any situation where the clients feels anything past the "good hurt" sensation and therefore encourage clients to communicate with us regarding pressure.
Because clients know their own bodies best, we encourage them to share their pressure preferences with them. In cases where clients feel they need a deeper pressure than we are prone to deliver, we are happy to refer them to colleagues in the field who specialize in deeper work, such as Rolfing.
I’m sick…should I get bodywork?
Massage is NOT recommended in the cases of local and systemic infections (i.e. influenza, the common cold, fever, inflamed lymph nodes, chicken pox, measles, scarlet fever, nephritis, hepatitis), bacterial infections (staph, impetigo, tuberculosis), viral infections (herpes simplex, warts, chicken pox), parasites (scabies, fleas, lice, ticks), or fungal infections (athletes foot, ringworm, yeast infections).
In addition to the fact that a client who comes in for bodywork while infected may expose their practitioner--and potentially other clients--to illness, the client whose is fighting an infection has a compromised immune system and bodywork may be too stressful on the body. If you have any questions or doubts regarding your particular situation, please address them with your practitioner.
What do you mean when you refer to your "scope of practice"?
"Scope of practice" refers to the procedures, actions, and processes that are permitted for the licensed individual.
The American Massage Therapy Association defines the massage therapy scope of practice as follows:
"Massage or massage therapy is any skilled manipulation of soft tissue, connective tissue, and/or body energy fields with the intention of maintaining or improving health by affecting change in relaxation, circulation, nerve responses, or patterns of energy flow.
Massage or massage therapy may be accomplished manually with or without the use of the following: movement, superficial heat or cold, electrical or mechanical devices, water, lubricants, or salts"
The Reflexology Association of American defines the reflexology scope of practice as follows:
"Specific techniques and areas of application define the unique quality of reflexology as opposed to any other practice. The traditional practice of reflexology primarily focuses on the theory of reflex maps and their representation on the feet, hands, and outer ears. Reflexology as a manual practice consists of working with specific finger, thumb, and hand techniques in order to stimulate reflex points on the feet, hands, and outer ears."
The following actions are OUTSIDE the scope of practice of massage therapy and reflexology and therefore will not be performed by any Anima Wellness practitioners:
- Prognosticate (make prediction(s) regarding a disease)
- Diagnose
- Prescribe
- Change medications
- Treat specific conditions
REFLEXOLOGY
What’s reflexology?
Reflexology is the study, art, and science of applying specific touch techniques to the feet, hands, and outer ears where theory suggests there is a pressure map resembling a shape of the human body. For more information about reflexology and its array of benefits, visit our About Reflexology page.
Is reflexology a type of massage?
No, reflexology is not a type of massage, but rather an entirely different type of bodywork which works with the central nervous system to bring about profound relaxation and facilitate the body's inner intuition toward healing. For more information about reflexology and its array of benefits, visit our About Reflexology page.
Ouch! That hurts! What reflex point is that?
This is a very common question that clients ask during reflexology sessions. They feel a pain in their foot (hand, or ear) and want to know which body part corresponds to that painful area. As practitioners, we are very hesitant to answer this question definitively because first and foremost, we cannot know for sure. In addition, we are not medical doctors and therefore cannot diagnose. If you ask the question, you will likely receive the following explanation.
1) Sometimes a pain in the foot is just a pain in the foot...the source of your pain may be from your foot (or hand or ear) itself.
2) The source of the pain MAY be from anywhere in the corresponding region of the body (i.e. digestive region, as opposed to the specific organ, such as gallbladder).
3) The source of the pain MAY be from something along "that" vertical zone in your body (at this point the practitioner would point out to the client which zone they were referencing). Based on reflexology theory, the body is divided into 10 vertical zones and sometimes a congestive area can correspond to an imbalance anywhere along the entire vertical zone of the body.
Generally, you will not receive a definitive answer. If something comes up during the session that concerns you, the best course of action is to consult your medical doctor or other qualified healthcare specialist.
What are those gritty-feeling "crystals" I feel in my feet and hands when you do reflexology?
Those "crystals" or deposits you sometimes feel during the session are referred to as "congestion." They are believed to be the accumulation of chemicals around the nerve endings. The job of the reflexologist is to breakdown this congestion to facilitate better nerve function which ideally leads to a decrease in pain/imbalance in the corresponding reflex area.
There's a lot of information on your site about reflexology...is reflexology better than massage?
Anima Wellness believes that reflexology and massage are both incredibly beneficial in facilitating relaxation and supporting our clients in their own wellness journeys. The reason why we address reflexology so much on our Website and in our other promotional materials is that clients generally are less familiar with reflexology and we feel strongly about our duty, as reflexology practitioners, to educate clients about the practice of reflexology, and its many benefits.
Can you diagnose with reflexology?
No. Unless you have been through medical school and are licensed to diagnose, in most countries of the world, it is illegal to diagnose. Consequently, it is illegal to diagnose with reflexology. More importantly, it is unethical, in the opinion of Bill Flocco, Director of the American Academy of Reflexology and industry leader, to diagnose with reflexology for two additional reasons.
Irregularities (such as tenderness) in a reflex area can be caused by many different factors, such as a bone out of alignment, a strained muscle, or poor circulation in the feet or hands.
Secondly, a number of research studies conducted to determine if reflexology could be used as a dependable diagnostic approach, give different results with a couple of studies in China showing some favorable results while another study conducted by medical doctors and reflexologists in England, demonstrated that reflexology is not effective for diagnosis. Any diagnosis of conditions is outside the scope of practice of reflexologists.
MASSAGE
I came to get a massage because my back hurts. Why are you working on other parts?
In bodywork training, practitioners have the opportunity to study in depth the complexity of the human body and the way its various parts interact with and affect each other. Because the body is physiologically, anatomically, energetically, and "myofascially" connected (for further information on the body's myofascial system, click here), we believe it is important to address the body as a whole, as the pain may be in your back, but the source of the pain may be elsewhere.
I’ve never had abdominal massage before…why do you do it and what is it like?
Many clients are surprised to receive abdominal massage and at first wonder why it is included as a part of the full body massage. Abdominal massage, done in a soothing clockwise fashion, promotes digestive health by stimulating peristalsis (the muscular contraction of the intestines) and encouraging elimination which is key to bodily health.
Additionally, abdominal massage increases circulation to the abdominal region. Improved circulation in turn increases the amount of oxygen and nutrients being brought to the organs of the region and facilitates the release of metabolic wastes which are carried out of the region and ultimately released from the body.
During abdominal massage, the clients chest region and lower body is securely draped so that only the abdominal region is exposed. Most clients find the experience very soothing. If you are uncomfortable with the idea of abdominal massage, please share your concerns with your practitioner. You are by no means obliged to receive it, but for many who experience it, it becomes an integral part of the massage
experience.
I have very sensitive skin...do you use lotion on the face during facial massage?
We do use a special Biotone facial massage lotion when we are doing facial massage. If you have sensitive skin, we also have a sensitive skin dermatologist recommended lotion (Eucerin) that can be used in place of the regular facial massage lotion.
Does massage need to be really deep in order to be beneficial?
As outlined above, Anima Wellness subscribes to the relaxation model of bodywork, which asserts that when the client achieves a state of relaxation, the body's own innate intelligence, intuition, and inclination towards healing and balance begins to work at an optimum level.
With regard to massage, very deep pressure can sometimes cause a client to tense up, a protective mechanism which the body activates in response to a perceived threat or danger. When we are tense, we are--by definition--NOT relaxed. Because we subscribe to the relaxation model, we want to avoid any situation where the clients feels anything past the "good hurt" sensation and therefore encourage clients to communicate with us regarding pressure.
Because clients know their own bodies best, we encourage them to share their pressure preferences with them. In cases where clients feel they need a deeper pressure than we are prone to deliver, we are happy to refer them to colleagues in the field who specialize in deeper work, such as Rolfing.
What is lactic acid? Is that why my muscles feel so sore after heavy exercise and will massage help?
(Answer forthcoming.)
Can you diagnose with massage?
No. Diagnosis is out of the scope of practice of massage therapists and all body workers (unless they have a medical degree). Only medical doctors are qualified and licensed to diagnose.
ANIMA WELLNESS POLICIES
Why is your practice called "Anima Wellness"?
“Anima” (pronounced AH-nee-mah) is the Italian word for soul. Your anima is first and foremost the immortal part of your person, the part that remains long after you die. Your anima is God-given. But your anima is also your emotional energy; it is the spirit and passion you bring to your relationships, your artistic endeavors, your work, your life.
“Wellness” is more that just the absence of disease. Wellness goes beyond one’s physical condition. Wellness is a healthy balance of mind, body, and spirit that results in an overall feeling of well-being. Our physical health, therefore, is inextricably linked to our mental, emotional, and spiritual health or “soul health.”
Our goal is for Anima Wellness to create for you a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual sanctuary where your body's own natural inclination towards healing and wellness will be nourished. Our name, Anima Wellness, expresses our commitment to you as a whole person: mind, body, and spirit (soul).
Diseases of the soul are more dangerous and more numerous than those of the body. ~Cicero
What happens if I'm late for my appointment?
If you are not present for your scheduled session during the first 15 minutes (unless having telephoned us you might be late), you will receive a inquiry/reminder call from your therapist. Depending on how late you arrive, your therapist may need to adjust your session to accomplish the greatest results given the limited amount of time (i.e. in the case of a massage, the therapist may work only on certain parts of the body, as opposed to rushing while trying to provide a full-body massage). Regardless of the length of the treatment actually given, you will be responsible for the full session.
Out of respect and consideration to your therapist and other clients, please plan accordingly and be on time.
In a very rare instance when an Anima Wellness therapist begins a service late, you will receive the following in compensation for our tardiness: a) the full length of the service, though lasting beyond the scheduled time that session was supposed to end (provided the therapist does not have another appointment immediately following yours), OR b) a complimentary 15 minute "reflexology add-on" included in your next appointment.
What is your cancellation policy?
At Anima Wellness, we understand that unanticipated events happen occasionally in everyone's life and that this may affect your ability to keep your appointment with us. In our desire to be understanding and fair to all of our clients while also being considerate of our therapists' time, we maintain the following cancellation policy:
*24 hour advance notice is required when canceling an appointment. This allows the opportunity for someone else to avail themselves of our services.
*If you are unable to give us 24 hours advance notice and we are unable to fill your time slot, you will be charged the full amount of what would have been your service fee. At our discretion this charge will be either automatically deducted from the outstanding balance of an existing "package" or gift certificate; otherwise, it must be paid in full prior to your next appointment.
*On the other hand, if we are able to fill "your" time slot with somebody else, you will not be charged for that missed appointment.
NO-SHOWS
*Clients who either forget or consciously choose to forgo their appointment for whatever reason will be considered a "no-show". They will be charged in full for their missed appointment and payment must be received in full prior to their next appointment.
Can you recommend vitamins, herbs, and supplements?
No. It is outside the massage therapist's and reflexologist's "scope of practice" to recommend vitamins, herbs, or any other type of supplements. While our education and training contains some nutritional information in the curriculum, we are nonetheless not properly qualified or licensed to recommend (or prescribe) such items.
For nutritional inquiries, please see a medical doctor, chiropractor, licensed acupuncturist or herbalist, licensed dietician, or other qualified health care professional.
*****
By Appointment Only
Monday, Thursday, Saturday
808-347-4747
NEW LOCATION AS OF JULY 2010
3221 Waialae Ave, Ste 330, Honolulu, HI 96816
