GENERAL QUESTIONS
No! A massage will likely just make you feel worse (within the first 24-48 hours depending on what you are sick with). If you are sick, you may get your therapist sick and pass it on to other clients. Even if you are giving less than a 24-hour notice, we prefer you reschedule your appointment if you are feeling unwell, so let us know as soon as possible. To reschedule your appointment, call/text (605) 251-3926 or use your Vagaro App.
Please arrive on time for your appointment. Time for your appointment has been specially arranged for you. If you arrive late your session may be shortened in order to accommodate others whose appointments follow yours. We will do our best to provide you with the services you have booked, but we cannot guarantee the full time if you arrive late. ** Full payment for your scheduled services will be expected **
Although we do not accept health insurance, many plans do cover massage therapy with a doctor's prescription and copies of your emailed receipts. You must pay for your appointment at time of service and work things out with your insurance agent to get reimbursed. If you need detailed notes for your insurance on each session, please let us know ahead of time so we can provide you with exactly what is needed to get reimbursed. Most clients save their emailed receipts and pass along to insurance - we do not do this for you. ** We currently accept flexible spending accounts (FSA/FSHA) **
An intake form is only required on your first visit to us so that we may be aware of any medical issues that we need to be aware of in order to provide you with the best service possible. If you have been a previous client and experience a new disease, illness, injury or anything else medically relevant, please fill out a new intake form so we may update our records. It is important to list all health concerns and medications so the therapist can adapt the session to your specific needs without doing any harm. It is also important to list any allergies, so the therapist is aware if he/she needs to use a different oil or lotion during the session. ** If you choose not to fill out an intake form, we unfortunately cannot accept your scheduled appointment due to unknown potential health risks **
Most people feel very relaxed. Some experience a significant decrease or freedom from long-term aches and pains. Many feel a little slowed down for a short period and then notice an increase of energy, heightened awareness and increased productivity which can last for days. If you received a deep massage, you may be slightly sore the next day - much like a good workout at the gym. Sometimes a hot shower, or a soak in the tub can ease this soreness.
You are encouraged to openly communicate with the massage therapist about your preferences and comfort. If anything needs to be adjusted, or if we are almost (but not quite) getting the right spot, just speak up and let us know right away! However, it is a myth that massage therapy needs to hurt in order to be effective! Some of the most effective techniques involve very light, gentle touch. Often, too much pressure can cause muscles to tighten further, and detract from the effectiveness of your treatment.
People get massages for many reasons: • Relaxation • Injury recovery • Athletic massage • Pain reduction • Stress relief • Physical therapy • Migraine headache mitigation • Improved digestion • Fibromyalgia treatment • Insomnia prevention • Heart disease, diabetes, and cancer symptom reduction • And more!
The amount of communication you should engage in during your massage depends on your goals for the session. If you want a relaxing massage, talk as little as necessary and let your mind and body enter a meditative state. You can even practice mindful breathing, which lowers muscular tension and increases the benefits of your massage. On the other hand, if you’ve asked your massage therapist to use increased pressure and deep-tissue techniques to help you recover from an injury, communication is key. Be sure to give your practitioner regular feedback on the amount of pressure you need, and which specific areas feel painful or tight.
If you are looking to use massage as preventative care or to manage daily stress, one massage every 4-6 weeks is common. Weekly sessions may be desirable for injury relief or to relieve chronic tightness that is interfering with your daily life. Many incorporate massage therapy at least twice a month for optimal therapeutic relief is also ideal. We can discuss the best care plan for you if you are unsure of your needs.
You should undress to the level you are comfortable - some get completely undressed. However, if you will be more comfortable during the session if you leave your underwear on, that's perfectly fine. Women usually remove their bras so no straps are in the way of back and shoulder massage. Again, if you are not comfortable with this, we will work around your clothes. The therapist will work around the clothes you left on as best as he/she can. If removing all your clothes makes you too nervous and unable to relax, then you are not getting the optimal benefit from the session. PLEASE NOTE: This is a professional massage setting; any illicit or sexually suggestive remarks or advances made by you will result in immediate termination of the session, and you will be liable for payment of the scheduled appointment. You will also be banned from booking with us again.
It's a great idea to give yourself some additional time after your massage to continue relaxing and to allow your body to fully absorb the benefits of massage. We leave plenty of time in between appointments so that you never feel hurried and can take your time before you head out the door. Yes, it's ok to exercise after a massage, but most people prefer to stay relaxed. After your session you should increase your water intake a bit. Just a glass or two more than normal is usually fine. This helps keep your body's tissues hydrated and healthy.
MASSAGE THERAPY
Most people feel very relaxed. Some experience a significant decrease or freedom from long-term aches and pains. Many feel a little slowed down for a short period and then notice an increase of energy, heightened awareness and increased productivity which can last for days. If you received a deep massage, you may be slightly sore the next day - much like a good workout at the gym. Sometimes a hot shower, or a soak in the tub can ease this soreness.
You are encouraged to openly communicate with the massage therapist about your preferences and comfort. If anything needs to be adjusted, or if we are almost (but not quite) getting the right spot, just speak up and let us know right away! However, it is a myth that massage therapy needs to hurt in order to be effective! Some of the most effective techniques involve very light, gentle touch. Often, too much pressure can cause muscles to tighten further, and detract from the effectiveness of your treatment.
People get massages for many reasons: • Relaxation • Injury recovery • Athletic massage • Pain reduction • Stress relief • Physical therapy • Migraine headache mitigation • Improved digestion • Fibromyalgia treatment • Insomnia prevention • Heart disease, diabetes, and cancer symptom reduction • And more!
The amount of communication you should engage in during your massage depends on your goals for the session. If you want a relaxing massage, talk as little as necessary and let your mind and body enter a meditative state. You can even practice mindful breathing, which lowers muscular tension and increases the benefits of your massage. On the other hand, if you’ve asked your massage therapist to use increased pressure and deep-tissue techniques to help you recover from an injury, communication is key. Be sure to give your practitioner regular feedback on the amount of pressure you need, and which specific areas feel painful or tight.
If you are looking to use massage as preventative care or to manage daily stress, one massage every 4-6 weeks is common. Weekly sessions may be desirable for injury relief or to relieve chronic tightness that is interfering with your daily life. Many incorporate massage therapy at least twice a month for optimal therapeutic relief is also ideal. We can discuss the best care plan for you if you are unsure of your needs.
You should undress to the level you are comfortable - some get completely undressed. However, if you will be more comfortable during the session if you leave your underwear on, that's perfectly fine. Women usually remove their bras so no straps are in the way of back and shoulder massage. Again, if you are not comfortable with this, we will work around your clothes. The therapist will work around the clothes you left on as best as he/she can. If removing all your clothes makes you too nervous and unable to relax, then you are not getting the optimal benefit from the session. PLEASE NOTE: This is a professional massage setting; any illicit or sexually suggestive remarks or advances made by you will result in immediate termination of the session, and you will be liable for payment of the scheduled appointment. You will also be banned from booking with us again.
It's a great idea to give yourself some additional time after your massage to continue relaxing and to allow your body to fully absorb the benefits of massage. We leave plenty of time in between appointments so that you never feel hurried and can take your time before you head out the door. Yes, it's ok to exercise after a massage, but most people prefer to stay relaxed. After your session you should increase your water intake a bit. Just a glass or two more than normal is usually fine. This helps keep your body's tissues hydrated and healthy.
AROMATHERAPY
Aromatherapy is the practice of using the natural oils extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of a plant to enhance psychological and physical well-being.
Essential oils, or aromatherapy oils, are the fragrant essence of a plant. These highly concentrated liquid oils are the foundation of aromatherapy, which is based on the idea that the aromatic oil from a plant has healing properties.
Essential oils are extracted one of two ways either by steam distillation or expression, or pressing. Distillation is the most prominent method used to extract aromatherapy oils, however. This technique involves steaming the plant matter until it breaks down. The byproduct of this breakdown phase is the plant's fragrant oil, which is cooled, separated from the water and finally filtered into its pure essential oil.
Yes, but do so with caution. We recommend avoiding the use of essential oils during the first trimester, and then light use (no more than 1% dilution) through term. Oils like geranium, grapefruit, jasmine, mandarin, neroli, tangerine, and ylang ylang are considered safe oils to use during pregnancy.
Since aromatherapy is a completely natural and organic mode of treatment, it may not produce instant results. The healing process is gradual, multi-faceted and holistic. The outcome of aromatherapy will largely depend on the nature and degree of the health problem, lifestyle factors and individual response.
One of the truly remarkable things about the oils is their ability to alter the way a person feels whilst treating a physical complaint. Many client will say that the day after the aromatherapy session, they feel in a particular good mood or they feel uplifted. This is because the benefits of the oils can be experienced on many levels: • physical complaints can be treated., eg., stomach upsets, headache, bronchitis, sprains, backaches, cellulite • Emotional moods lifted, depression, grief, resentment • Mental states, fatigue, lack of concentration, flagging memory. For every complaint or disorder, there is an oil that can assist in alleviating it.
CUPPING THERAPY
Cupping therapy has been steadily gaining in popularity as a method to reduce pain and allow more effective deep tissue work while promoting blood flow and overall relaxation. At the recent 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, there was significant interest in the round, bruise-like discolorations on the body of Michael Phelps and other athletes. These marks, in addition to unparalleled detoxification and circulation, are a result of an ancient form of Chinese medicine, cupping therapy. This myofascial tissue massage promotes healing and provides relief from inflammation, strengthens the immune system and helps reduce cellulite.
Cupping uses vacuum suction to pull the skin, tissues and muscle below the cup up, improving circulation, relieving pain and pulling toxins out of the body. The cup is strategically placed on the client's body. The suction has the effect of pulling the skin and underlying tissues and muscle slightly up into the cup. This causes the blood vessels in the treated area to expand and some of the capillaries to burst, which reddens the skin thus looking like a bruise. These cups are generally left in place for approximately 3 to 15 minutes per session depending on the goals of the client. Cup placement is decided by the therapist and the client’s ailments. Anywhere from three to sixteen cups may be used during the treatment
Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine in which a local suction is created on the skin with the application of heated cups. Its practice mainly occurs in Asia but also in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.
You may not have heard about cupping therapy until recently, but it has in fact been around for thousands of years. The modern iteration of cupping theory is generally considered to have originated in China, where its use was first recorded between 281 – 341 A.D. But there are mentions of it in the Ebers Papyrus, an ancient medical “book” written in 1550 B.C. There are also records that indicate various forms of cupping therapy were used by ancient Greeks to treat various ailments.
No. Cupping therapy causes mild swelling and bruising on the skin so many people assume it must be painful. This shouldn't be the case however! The marks, or 'bruises' appear because the suction causes the blood vessels on the surface of the skin to expand. The resulting marks are unlike bruises caused by blunt trauma so they shouldn't hurt. The marks can last anywhere between a day and two weeks, but usually they last a couple of days. You may feel a tight pulling sensation as the cups are applied, but again there shouldn't be any pain. If you are feeling pain, be sure to tell your therapist so they can adjust their technique. If your skin is broken or inflamed, the therapy should be avoided as this may cause pain.
They aren’t actually bruises because as we understand it, bruises hurt. The painless spots are just the stagnant blood being pulled to the surface of your skin. Most spots disappear within minutes as your body’s circulation flows it back into your circulatory system.
Cupping should not be used on patients who bleed easily or can’t stop bleeding, have skin ulcers or edema. It is also unwise to cup over large blood vessels. And pregnant women should use cupping with extreme caution and never on their abdomen or lower back.
Cupping Therapy can affect you both physically and mentally. A few benefits included are:
IONIC FOOT BATH DETOX
An ionic foot bath is a machine used to make the body more alkaline by detoxifying it. The body’s alkaline pH level should be 7.35 to 7.45, anything lower is acidic and increases the chance of illness because diseases thrive in acidic environments. By using an ionic foot bath, these toxins and impurities will be drawn out from 4,000 (average) pores in the feet. The process is similar to osmosis – positive hydrogens in the water will attract and draw out negatively charged toxins.
The ionizer emits a low-voltage electrical current to the water to separate its molecules to positive and negative ions. The hydrogen in the water is positively charged, which will attract the negatively charged toxins in the body. The “magnet” effect of the hydrogen pulls the toxins out and draws it from the body through osmosis. The toxins manifest as “sludge” in the water. What distinguishes each foot bath is the debris that collects on top of the water. As we do not make any claims that the foot bath will cure, treat, prevent or diagnose any condition, many clients have claimed that they experience reduced pain, higher energy levels and relief from allergies, insomnia and other conditions after a treatment.
DO NOT USE if you have any of the following:
Use ONLY UNDER THE SUPERVISION of a doctor if you:
During the Session
After the Session
NOTE: Some people become tired, hungry, thirsty, dizzy or get headaches after ionic detox. If this occurs let your practitioner know ASAP and they will try decreasing the frequency OR duration of your next/current treatment. (They may also and/or try decreasing the amperage to 1.1.)
To get the most out of the ionic detox, it is important to take in specific nutrients that will help the body better function to release toxins through urination, defecation, and sweating. The goal is to bring the body back to optimal health.
Required for Everyone:
It is important to consume enough fiber, both soluble and insoluble. This rejuvenates the colon and accelerates the elimination of toxins from the body. It is very important for boosting immunity. The best sources of fiber are whole foods (fruits, vegetables, and grains). Because it is not always possible to get enough fiber this way, one can take a scoop of fiber supplement 15-minutes before breakfast and dinner with a large glass of water. Most likely, some good minerals will become depleted during each detox session. Therefore, it is important to always take a highly assimilable mineral supplement
Our bodies accumulate different types of toxins every day through eating, drinking and breathing, as well as exposure to medications, chemicals, toxic environments, etc. These toxins can cause cells within the body to die faster, which leads to pre-mature aging and diseases. Our bodies have organs and systems to detoxify them. Still, over the years the accumulation of toxins, improper diet, and sedentary lifestyles cause the excretory organs of our bodies to function sub-optimally. This leaves us with lethargic and weak immune systems, as well as a susceptibility to diseases that can often lead to early and painful death. Symptoms such as hormone imbalances, flu –like aches and pains, poor nutrient absorption, constipation, poor digestion, flatulence, fatigue, weight gain, excessive mucus, poor concentration, headaches, edema, memory disorders, depression, inflammation of joints and muscles, skin problems, bad breath and strong body odor are all associated with toxic build-up in our bodies. Diseases such as Chronic Fatigue, Allergies, Fibromyalgia, Thyroid Diseases, and Cancer, to name a few, have been directly linked to environmental toxins in the body. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that there are more than 20,000 chemicals that our body cannot metabolize. The toxic substances that can’t be removed from our bodies are stored in our fat and organs, causing an epidemic of modern diseases and obese patients around the world. The Columbia University School of Public Health reports that 95% of cancer is caused by diet and environmental toxicity. According to the EPA, our bodies accumulate 210 micrograms of just plasticizers (toxic phthalates) every day! Our modern world mandates the need to make healthy choices. The Ionic Detoxification Foot Bath system helps to eliminate toxins and give the body a boost. It is a positive step to sustaining good health! Through proper detoxification, we can significantly reduce the accumulation of toxins, prevent diseases, slow down the aging process, and enjoy a disease free, longer and healthier life. Amongst all the detoxification methods in practice, the Ionic Detoxification Foot Bath is probably the best method.
Many sellers of the Ionic detox foot bath systems have misinformed their customers that the colors that they see in the water are toxins that have exited the body. This is mostly false. During the session, the water in the basin will always change to a brown/orange color due to the electrolytic reaction involving the array, salt, water, minerals and impurities in the water. But when the feet are in the water, the colors are also affected by oils being released from the sebaceous glands, the dead skin cells and the user’s own acidity/alkalinity. Some of the neutralized toxins will also exit the body back out through the pores of the feet (there are 4,000 of them!) due to osmosis.
NOTE: An unusual amount of a particular color may indicate that a person has accumulated toxins in a certain area or from certain conditions and that ionic detox is helping in those areas (Water Color Chart provided during your session to review what's going on with your body!).
Always remember that the presence of negative ions in the body mainly helps the body rid itself of toxins through its normal processes of urination, defecation and sweating. Only some toxins leave the body through the pores of the feet. Therefore, color changes in the water should not be the main focus. Instead, focus on how you feel after your session!
Average Healthy Adult 18 and Over
Average Healthy 13 to 17 years old
Average Healthy 10 to 12 years old
For children with ASD, some hyperactivity is normal due to “die off” reaction. It is recommended that treatments are done early in the day. This schedule allows for a gradual increase in frequency and length sessions.
If you answer “yes” to 4 or more of the following questions, then you are a good candidate for an internal cleansing program and would greatly benefit from an Ionic Foot Bath Detoxification Treatment schedule listed above.
CRANIAL SACRAL THERAPY
Ideal for those looking to improve the functioning of the nervous system, relieving pain and improving mobility.
A gentle, hands-on approach that soothes pain, dysfunctions, releases both physical and emotional tensions deep within the body and improves whole-body health and performance. Using a soft touch which is generally no greater than 5 grams - about the weight of a nickel - practitioners release restrictions in the soft tissues that surround the central nervous system.
Cranial Sacral Therapy (CST) is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and it is effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.
Few structures have as much influence over the body's ability to function properly as the brain and spinal cord that make up the central nervous system. And, the central nervous system is heavily influenced by the craniosacral system - the membranes and fluid that surround, protect and nourish the brain and spinal cord. Every day your body endures stresses and strains that it must work to compensate for. Unfortunately, these changes often cause body tissues to tighten and distort the craniosacral system. These distortions can then cause tension to form around the brain and spinal cord resulting in restrictions. This can create a barrier to the healthy performance of the central nervous system, and potentially every other system it interacts with. Fortunately, such restrictions can be detected and corrected using simple methods of touch. With a light touch, the CST practitioner uses his or her hands to evaluate the craniosacral system by gently feeling various locations of the body to test for the ease of motion and rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid pulsing around the brain and spinal cord. Soft-touch techniques are then used to release restrictions in any tissues influencing the craniosacral system. By normalizing the environment around the brain and spinal cord and enhancing the body's ability to self-correct, CranioSacral Therapy is able to alleviate a wide variety of dysfunctions, from chronic pain and sports injuries to stroke and neurological impairment.
There are certain situations where application of CST would not be recommended. These include conditions where a variation and/or slight increase in intracranial pressure would cause instability. Acute aneurysm, cerebral hemorrhage or other preexisting severe bleeding disorders are examples of conditions that could be affected by small intracranial pressure changes.
Response varies from individual to individual and condition to condition. Your response is uniquely your own and can't be compared to anyone else's - even those cases that may appear to be similar to your own. The number of sessions needed varies widely - from just one up to three or more a week over the course of several weeks.
A typical session lasts from 45-60 (up to 90) minutes, and takes place in a quiet, private setting. CST is performed with the client fully clothed and lying on a comfortable massage table. Using a light touch, the therapist evaluates or “listens to” the body for tension patterns and imbalances. The craniosacral system is accessed and treated using the bones and connective tissue. Skilled CST therapists can enhance fluid flow and balance membrane tension, helping to bring increased vitality to the system. Releasing chronic tension patterns and enhancing fluid motility allows the body’s healing mechanisms to operate more effectively, imparting greater balance and ease. What is experienced during a CST session is highly individualized. Some say they feel deeply relaxed, while others describe feeling unwinding sensations as the body releases tension. Sometimes, circumstances are recalled surrounding a past trauma or injury that caused the body stress. While this doesn’t happen every time, this process called “SomatoEmotional Release” is perfectly normal and helps the body reverse dysfunction and restore optimal levels of mobility.
Just as each individual experiences CST sessions differently, the results can be diverse as well. You may leave in such a relaxed state that you feel like sleeping for hours. Or you may leave full of boundless energy. You may feel a decrease in pain or an increase in function immediately after the session, or the effects may develop gradually over the next few days. Since CST helps the body resume its natural healing processes, it’s common for your improvements to continue weeks after the session. You may also experience a reorganization phase as your body releases previously held patterns and adapts to a new state of wellness.
INFRARED SAUNA
Infrared light is a particular bandwidth/frequency of sunlight. Far Infrared Sauna heater panels are designed to reproduce a specific bandwidth of light energy that perfectly matches the exact frequency at which the human body emits and absorbs the maximum amount of light energy, much like your TV being tuned to a certain channel. This channel of far infrared light is able to safely heat the human body directly without creating high air temperatures in the sauna cabin.
The bandwidth of Far Infrared Radiant (FIR) energy achieves the maximum penetration into body tissues and produces a unique vibration at the cellular level called Resonant Absorption. This process helps to create physical and chemical changes within the human body that have proven to be most beneficial for numerous health problems.
Infrared heat is very gentle. The experience is similar to lying in the sun on a warm day and feeling the heat radiate to the core of your body. Unlike traditional (hot rock or steam) saunas–which operate at well in excess of 200°F. Infrared heat has the benefit of being effective at a more comfortable operating temperature of 90° to 135°F.
Traditional saunas heat the air vs. the body directly. Rather than inducing detoxification and relaxation, this can make the experience unbearably hot and difficult to breathe. Because infrared heat penetrates human tissue vs. simply heating the surface of the skin, infrared saunas are seven times more effective than traditional saunas at detoxifying the body. By raising the body’s core temperature, infrared saunas can produce a sweat composed of 20% toxins vs. only 3% toxins with a traditional sauna.
Yes, absolutely safe!
Far infrared heat is a form of radiant energy. It is completely safe and healthy for all living things. You can be exposed to infrared light for hours without the risk of burning or drying out your skin. Infrared is a naturally occurring output of the sun, but does not contain the harmful UV rays associated with unprotected sunlight. In fact, infrared heat is so safe, it is used in hospitals to warm newborn infants.
Stay Hydrated! It’s the most important rule of sauna use. Most of us don’t drink enough water as it is. To get the most out of your session you must sweat! Your body is only going to be able to sweat out as much water as you give it. A good rule of thumb is to divide your body weight in half and drink that number of ounces in water daily. It is never safe to drink alcohol the day of your session.
Drinking an electrolyte replacement water or sports drink is strongly recommended before and after sauna use.
You can go nude if you would like, but we provide adjustable velcro body wraps if you don't feel comfortable in your birthday suit! We also provide towels for you to sit on and use during and after your session to absorb sweat. Going nude vs. wearing this body wrap will not alter the effectiveness of your sauna session.
Most people spend the full 40-minute session, 1 to 3 times a week depending on your health goals. It is safe to use 6 days a week, with at least one full day without use during a 7-day period of use.
If you are new to using an infrared sauna, we recommend you start out 20-30 mins per session to see how your body responds.
Everyone is different. It depends on what is going on mentally, physically and emotionally with your body. Your bodies response may also vary session to session.
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Catori Wellness // Brandon, SD // (605) 251-3926
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We are now offering Acupuncture! Book with Amy Thompson, CNP!
MAY 1-31st
10% OFF Warm Bamboo Stick Massage (60 or 90 min)
JUNE 1-30th
10% OFF Aromatherapy Massage (90 min Session)
** Choose from the following Aromatherapy Blend Options: Balancing, Calming or Stress Relief
JULY 1-31st
10% OFF Cupping Therapy and Massage (90 min)