A relaxation massage that doesn’t probe very deep into the muscles, shouldn’t hurt.

With that being said, there is a ‘feels good’ hurt and an ‘ouch, stop it!’ hurt. A good massage, even a really deep tissue massage or bodywork session, should always stay in the ‘feels good’ hurt range.

The body's pain response is an indication that should be heeded and pressure should be adjusted accordingly. While many people have come to believe that deep tissue massage needs to hurt in order to work, the truth is putting your body in unnecessarily high pain levels will up-regulate your nervous system, causing your muscles to go into a state of defense rather than ease tense muscles.

The most effective and deepest massage always works with your body’s natural response, not against it.

Before your first session, your therapist will explain the difference in pain levels so that you know the difference between a ‘good hurt’ and a ‘not so good hurt’.

Your therapist will also communicate with you throughout your session in regards to your comfortability with pressure.

In short, massage is a form of bodywork but bodywork is more than massage.

In general, choose massage for relaxation and well-being.

Those who are looking to address specific issues, such as pain, flexibility, posture, and specific muscular concerns should choose bodywork.

If you’re looking to reduce stress and increase relaxation, choose massage.

Medical massage is the same as clinical bodywork, but to be considered “medical massage”, it must be deemed medically necessary by a physician, chiropractor, or physical therapist. They will then write a prescription for you to receive medical massage. This most often occurs for people who were involved in auto accidents covered by auto insurance, workplace injuries covered by worker’s compensation or personal injuries typically covered by homeowners insurance. The goal of medical massage is to alleviate pain and restore your body’s natural movement.

Regular massage, or therapeutic massage, is most often used for relaxation or to ease stress and tension.

We’ll help you figure that out!

Schedule a free phone consultation in order to have any of your questions answered and/or to discuss your situation in detail prior to scheduling your first appointment.

We are happy to recommend an appropriate first treatment based on the details of your specific situation and desired outcome.

You can also find out more about the difference between medical massage and bodywork here in the FAQs.

BODYWORK

For bodywork treatments, you are able to remain fully clothed. Wear comfortable clothes such as something you would be comfortable working out in. Generally, no lotion is necessary.

RELAXATION MASSAGE

Your massage therapist will leave the room so you can undress and lie on the massage table under a blanket and/or top sheet. You may undress to your level of comfort.

Many people prefer to keep their underwear on during a massage, while others choose to be nude.

Regardless if you choose to maintain some clothing or not, your massage therapist will ensure that you are always properly covered with a blanket and/or sheet — also referred to as “draping”.

In accordance with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, we must “Provide draping and treatment to ensure the safety, comfort and privacy of the client.”

In short, you should feel better!

Though uncommon after bodywork or massage treatments, it is possible that you may be sore for up to 1-2 days. If soreness lasts any longer, it is usually a good indication that too much pressure was applied during your session.

Everyone has different levels of sensitivity to pressure, which is why it’s important to establish an understanding of “good hurt” and “bad hurt” pain levels prior to and throughout your treatment session.

We take great care to follow-up with you after your treatment and get feedback prior to your next session so we can make any adjustments to your treatment plan.

MASSAGE

Since stress contributes to so many health problems, preventative maintenance is key. We all need a good self-care routine to maintain optimal health and well-being.

Depending on your lifestyle and budget, we recommend scheduling a relaxation massage monthly or bi-monthly.

If you are a person who has excess stress and very few ways to rid yourself of negative tension, you may want to consider scheduling more often.

BODYWORK

If you are trying to rid yourself of a particular pain complaint or range of motion issue, I recommend that you start with a 1-hour Bodywork Session in order to do a hands-on assessment of your particular situation and your response to treatment.

Keep in mind that many people often experience a significant decrease in pain symptoms immediately following their first session, but not all.

After your first treatment, we will have a better hands-on understanding of your particular muscular issue(s). At this time, we will discuss an appropriate treatment plan to help you achieve your goal(s).

In short, it’s your session. Please just let your therapist know if you have a preference at the beginning; otherwise, below is a general guide.

MASSAGE

The conversation is led by the client. Once the client is quiet, the massage therapist typically doesn't engage in conversation except to occasionally ensure pressure and temperature are okay.

If for any reason something feels uncomfortable, say something! This doesn’t hurt our feelings, so please speak up. The technique or session can be altered based on your feedback. Our goal is to help you relax and enjoy.

BODYWORK

A deep understanding of what is happening and why is part of the bodywork experience.

As such, your therapist will communicate with you throughout the session regarding your body’s response to pressure and pain levels. Your therapist will also communicate with you for the intention of client education.

Education helps you gain the understanding you need in order to self-treat and leaves you less dependent on others long-term.

There are a number of situations when you should not have massage therapy. To name just a few:

• contagious or infectious diseases/conditions: including (but not limited to) the common cold, flu and covid-19

• severe unstable hypertension

• fever

• intoxication

• kidney disease

• diarrhea

• bruises

• burns

This is not a complete list. Please disclose any health issues/conditions to your therapist prior to the start of your session so that the therapist can discuss any possible concerns or contraindications.

While we appreciate the positive feedback, tips or gratuities are NOT accepted at Revival Bodywork.

Tipping your clinical massage therapist puts them squarely in the service industry, not the healthcare field which is where they belong.

Also, prices are set fairly and we never want you to have to worry about the extra cost of tipping.

We do accept FSA ‘Flexible Spending Account’ cards and HSA ‘Health Savings Account’ debit cards!

Please use your FSA/HSA debit card to book and pay for your appointment prior to your arrival.

For insurance, it’s possible! We are currently working on the insurance process, so please ask us about that when you schedule your visit.