Frequently Asked
Questions
Thank you for being an educated consumer!
General Massage Therapy (MT) Questions
Massage therapy is the application of positive touch through techniques like pressing and kneading to affect soft tissues of the body which include muscles, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue. It is a recognized healthcare option for managing pain and stiffness associated with tension, stress, injury and other conditions. It not only alleviates soft tissue discomfort, but also positively contributes to one’s general health and wellness.
Massage therapy helps alleviate the soft tissue discomfort associated with everyday and occupational stresses, muscular overuse and many chronic pain conditions. If sought out early enough after trauma or injury, massage therapy can have a positive impact on healing. While massage therapy brings many benefits to our muscles and connective tissues in terms of managing pain and decreasing muscle tension it has profound affects on the many other parts of the body. Massage helps to improve mobility, stimulate circulation, promote sleep, ease breathing difficulties, lower blood pressure, reduce headaches, decrease stress, and manage anxiety & depression. Regular massage helps to enhance both your mental and physical well being as well as positively contribute to your overall health and wellness!
Yes and no. Massage therapy is appropriate and effective for individuals of all ages, including infants, children, adults and the elderly, however, there are some conditions for which massage therapy is not recommended. In some instances, massage should not be employed to protect the safety of the client (e.g. hemophilia, endocarditis) or the therapist and subsequent clients (e.g. infectious diseases). When we complete the screening for the first appointment, we can discuss these further if you have any questions.
Many Massage Therapists treat a wide-array of diseases and disorders while other Massage Therapists concentrate on a particular niche. This could mean working with populations that have certain conditions (e.g. anxiety, multiple sclerosis) or similar interests (e.g. runners, fitness) or certain stages of life (e.g. women during pregnancy, children). When booking your first appointment, we can discuss whether I am a good fit for you.
Yes. The practice of massage therapy is regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) and is therefore a Regulated Health Profession. Only individuals who have completed the requisite training and have met the strict competency requirements of the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) can call themselves a “Massage Therapist (MT)” or a “Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)”. All Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) have photo ID cards, issued by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, showing the Therapist’s registration number. All clients of massage therapy services have the right to view this ID card in order to be assured that you are being treated by a Registered Massage Therapist. (From the Position Statement of the Registered Massage Therapists Association of Ontario).
Yes! As a regulated health professional, I am required as a part of the standards set by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario to maintain the information you provide, both verbally and in written form, in the strictest of confidence.
In addition, we as Registered Massage Therapists are covered by Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004. As a result, information that I collect about my clients may be collected only with their consent, may only be disclosed with their consent, and must be secured.
General Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) Questions
Fascia has always been there, but until recently has not been getting much attention in the anatomy texts. Fascia is a thin but strong, fibrous web of connective tissue much like a tight-fitting bodysuit. It surrounds your organs, muscles, nerves, circulatory vessels, and joints and holds them in place. Due to its intimate involvement with every structure of your body, it is a critical part of shock absorption, proprioception and most of all, communication throughout your body.
Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) is a stretching system that concentrates on the fascia system of the body instead of the individual muscles. As such, it takes a global approach looking at the body as a whole, taking into account the health of nerves and joints as well.
Typically an FST session has you clothed, lying on your back or side on a massage table. The therapist uses straps to keep parts of the body down while they work on others by gently guiding the legs, arms, and torso through assisted movements.
During the session, you will also be instructed to conduct a series of deep breathing exercises which will help to lower cortisol levels in the body, improve concentration, and increase relaxation. Manipulating the fascia surrounding the nerves in a rhythmic fashion also creates a calming effect to the nervous system.
Patients tend to feel longer, leaner, and more relaxed almost immediately after fulfilling a session and with continuing sessions can make lasting gains in mobility and stress reduction.
Fascial Stretch Therapy has many benefits including:
- calming the part of the nervous system responsible for the “fight-or-flight” stress response
- supporting the part of the nervous system responsible for rest and healing
- increasing mobility
- helping to achieve normal balance of elasticity and structure
- improving posture
- decreasing muscle tension and soreness
- maintaining joint health
- improving sleep
We have a detailed description below in Questions Specific to Homebody Brooklin, but in short, you will be dressed in comfortable clothes throughout the treatment and we just need a space big enough to move around the massage table.
Questions Specific to Homebody Brooklin
Payment – If you would like to stay in a fully relaxed state and not have to worry about payment at the end, payments are accepted online before the treatment day or right before treatment begins. We also accept them when the treatment ends for those who are more comfortable with that.
Screening – To ensure that I can provide the type of treatment you need and want, I will contact you by phone after you complete the online booking for the first time.
Health History Forms – Following the phone call, a Health History form will be emailed to you. I ask that you fill it in prior to the appointment so that we can maximize our time together.
Policies – Please read over and sign the policies that are attached to the Intake Form that will be emailed to you upon confirmation of your appointment (i.e. Covid policy, the preparation policy which includes a smoke-free policy, and the cancellation policy).
Covid 19 Screening Form – 28 hours in advance of your appointment, a Covid 19 Screening form will be sent out which you will need to complete prior to our appointment time.
Don’t forget to prepare the massage space!
All you need is an open space for the massage table, preferably on the ground floor (approximately 10′ x 15′), and a blanket. We take care of the rest! If you have particular music you would like to listen to you can have it ready, otherwise we’ll take care of that too.
A little pre-treatment anxiety is normal for your first time, so I will let you know a bit about how things typically go.
Covid Precautions and Set-up
Safety first! When I arrive at your home, I will ask you some final Covid questions. I will change into my inside shoes and then ask you to show me to the space you have prepared where I will set up my equipment. While I set up, you can attend to whatever you need to or sit back and relax! I’ll let you know when I’m ready.
Assessment
We will then begin your assessment which begins with discussing the Health History section of the Intake Form that you completed prior to the appointment. This informs me of any health conditions and medications that may affect the treatment, as well as helps me identify any factors that may be contributing to your condition or discomfort (e.g. lifestyle, occupation, etc.). Depending on the reason for the visit, physical assessments may be performed, with your consent of course, for me to garner more information. Together, you and I will develop a plan for how this day’s treatment will progress, as well as a plan for how often subsequent treatments are indicated. We will take into account your goals for treatment, as well as what body parts you want treated. This is when you put me to work answering your questions and addressing any of your concerns so that you can be completely comfortable on the table.
Treatment
Once the treatment plan has been determined, I will leave the room to wash my hands with my own soap and towel while you undress and get comfortable on the table between the sheets. If you are having a Fascial Stretch treatment, you will remain clothed instead. Before re-entering the room to begin the treatment, I will knock or call out to you to ensure that you are ready. While on the table, I will be periodically checking in with you to ensure that the treatment is everything you want it to be.
Post Treatment
After the massage, I will give you privacy again to get off the table and get dressed. If indicated, I will recommend some self-care strategies that you can do to increase the effectiveness of the treatment or to increase comfort over the long-term. Then I will pack-up while you go about your day or relax! Don’t forget to drink water during the rest of the day to help reduce any post-treatment stiffness.
Not a problem! One of the benefits of having me come to your home is you can attend to what you need to in the moment. If you need to nurse your baby, comfort your toddler, visit the washroom, just let me know!
The answer depends on your goal for treatment. Some people require a few sessions in a row to fix a specific problem while others come in at regular intervals for maintenance. Through our discussions, we can establish a program which fits your needs and lifestyle. If your specific need or condition requires it, I will recommend a customized treatment plan that may include using massage therapy or fascial stretch more or less frequently. Because both of these therapies have such an impact on decreasing stress and improving overall wellness, I am a big proponent of using regular maintenance massage and stretch treatments as both proactive and preventative measures!
That’s completely understandable! It is very common for clients to be apprehensive especially with the personal nature of massage therapy or the unknown of fascial stretch therapy. With some clients, it will only take a few minutes to lose this apprehension; with others, it may take a few sessions. I will do my very best to go slow and help you feel more comfortable.
Not if you don’t want to. Your ability to relax and feel comfortable is paramount to the success of an effective treatment session with me. For a Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) treatment, you will be asked to wear comfy clothing to be able to move in. For a Massage Therapy (MT) treatment, the decision is yours. You can remove only the articles of clothing that you are comfortable with removing. That being said, most often clients remove everything except their underwear, as it is easiest for me to work directly on your skin without the barrier of clothing. During a massage session you will be fully covered with a fresh sheet and blanket and only the area of your body that is being worked on is uncovered. Before and after the session, I will leave the room and you will undress and dress in complete privacy. If you are uncomfortable due to the draping, temperature, etc., as always, I want you to let me know right away!
When a treatment plan includes the treatment of a potentially sensitive area of the body, Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) are required by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario to follow a Standard that upholds the RMT’s professional boundaries at all times. Potentially sensitive areas include the intra-oral area (jaw muscles inside the mouth), upper inner thigh muscles, buttocks (gluteal muscles), breast and chest wall musculature. To protect the client’s safety, the Standard states that the treatment of the sensitive area has to be clinically indicated, that proper draping must be used, and that the Consent for the Assessment and Treatment of Sensitive Areas Form must be discussed and signed. This form must be completed at the onset of each treatment plan requiring treatment of sensitive areas and must be signed and dated at each subsequent session involving those areas.
For an in-home session of Massage Therapy or Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST), please allow an extra half hour of time that I will be in your home. I will take this time to set up and pack up.
Our base rates include service within 15 km of Columbus Road in Brooklin. This includes Brooklin, Ashburn, Myrtle, Columbus and North Whitby areas. If you are outside the area, contact us and we will see if it can work.
Yes, if the therapist is coming to treat you in your home please ensure that your environment is smoke-free. We are unable to service homes that smell of smoke. This is for the health and protection of the therapist and other clients. We reserve the right to terminate service if we arrive and your home is not smoke-free. The full fee of your appointment will be charged.
Children's Treatment Questions
People of all ages can receive massage therapy and fascial stretch therapy (see Can anyone receive massage therapy?). However, at Homebody Brooklin, we offer treatment for massage therapy to children 0-18 years old and Fascial Stretch Therapy to children 7-18 years old.
Massage and Fascial Stretch can benefit a child’s physical and mental health.
- awareness of positive touch
- decreased levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) which helps to alleviate stress and anxiety
- increase dopamine (the happy hormone)
- decreases muscle tension and increases joint mobility to aid in preventing injuries
- increase quality of sleep and concentration
- helps to foster a positive body image
- helps teach them the importance of taking an active role in their health and wellbeing from a young age
For some children a massage or fascial stretch treatment may look much the same as what we would receive as adults, and for others it can appear quite different. Young children often don’t have the ability to lie still for long periods of time. In those cases, we could accommodate them by massaging the child in a seated position as they play with a toy and perhaps decrease the duration of the treatment. Taking into account that a child’s nervous system is still developing, the techniques we use are often much lighter than what an adult would receive and at a rate that the child is most comfortable with. Perhaps one of the most important elements in our treatments with children though, is asking for the child’s permission prior to commencing. I believe this is one of the key ways to show respect for the child and teach the child about positive boundaries.
Contraindications to massage therapy for children are similar to adult contraindications. Massage is not recommended for a child with a fever, open sores, recent surgery, and acute infections. That being said, if you have any questions specific to your child and massage feel free to contact us.
Payment Questions
No. Massage Therapy and Fascial Stretch Therapy treatments are not covered under OHIP, regardless of whether or not the treatments are required by a physician. However, most extended health benefit plans do cover massage and fascial therapy treatments when provided by a Registered Massage Therapist.
Yes, most extended health benefit plans cover some or all of the Massage Therapy fees. If you receive Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) from a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT), it is in our scope of practice and will therefore be covered also. Keep in mind though that some insurance providers require a physician’s referral before the appointment so it’s best to check with your health benefits provider first if you are unsure.
Yes we do! Do you know someone that could use a little comfort and me-time? Gift certificates can be purchased by sending us an email at homebodybrooklin@gmail.com
Please note the following in regards to Gift Certificates:
• Gift Certificate purchases may not be claimed against any third party insurance plans for reimbursement.
• Gift Certificates are not redeemable for cash value and cannot be returned for a cash refund.
• On the purchaser’s invoice, the description of the service is “gift certificate” with the treatment duration and the dollar amount paid. The redeemer’s invoice will state “gift certificate redeemed” with no dollar amount given as per the regulations set out by the College of Massage Therpists of Ontario (CMTO).
• Gift Certificates must be redeemed by the expiration date indicated (please see Expiration Date below).
• Homebody Brooklin requires that Gift Certificate recipients book the total time and value amount specified on the Gift Certificate when booking the appointment.
• If the amount due exceeds the amount listed on the Gift Certificate, the redeemer is responsible for paying the difference at the time of redemption.
• For security purposes and the avoidance of identity theft, the recipient may be required to show valid ID before he/she can redeem the gift certificate.
Expiration Date
Gift certificates are not valid after the expiration date indicated on the gift certificate. The Ministry of Government Services of Ontario states “Gift cards for specific goods and services, such as massage or manicure or dinner for two, are exempt from the law even if a dollar amount is specified on the card.” (Ontario Regulation 17/05)
Not yet! But it is coming soon!
We accept e-transfers, and Visa and Mastercard via Square Payments (swipe only, no tap).