I have had some clients ask if massage will help them loose weight, look thinner, or reduce cellulite. If this was a direct cause and effect independent of proper diet and exercise, I would probably be able to retire by now. Massage can assist with weight loss behaviors in promoting the above.
I am only going to discuss healhty weightloss as that is the only kind I will promote. When combined with proper nutrition and exercise, massage can aid in the weightloss process.
When increasing your frequency and load in the gym, it's very important to increase your recovery and self-care. Most don't. You need to have your muscles relaxed and elastic to be able to get the most out of your workout. If you're tight, the body is not functioning as well and it is going to affect your form and the amount you can get out of the workout. Massage will make sure that you do not accumulate too many knots, trigger points, or tight bands of muscle fiber.
Massage also stimulates the circulatory and lymphatic systems. While you are working out and eating healthier, massage will aid in delivering more oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and organs, as well as eliminating more lactic acid and other metabolic waste products. This is how it cleans out the "toxins".
Massage will, over time, make your muscles and skin more supple, elastic, and tone. By no means is it a magic wand..... So if you pair regular massage with a proper diet and exercise regime that you actually follow, than massage can aid in having a healthier looking body.
8/07/2009
7/24/2009
"I think I am going to be sick...."
How many times have you said or thought that phrase in times of stress or anxiety? People do internalize stress and we do feel those emotions in our muscles. Keeping with the above statement. some people hold stress in and shows up physically in stomach aches, nausea, etc. Others when stressed voluntarily tighten their muscles. Some common ones are to hold your shoulders upward, or pull your shoulders in an interior position, or tightening up your abs so your torso curls in. Some people even tighten up their hip muscles (Freud knew a few things). This is a normal and common reaction to emotional stress. As a muscle specialist this makes me wince. As if we do not have enough ways to lock up our muscles, we have to worry about worrying? I am not doctor (I know my undergrad psych degree holds zero credit here) but if we could simply find another outlet, maybe our muscles won't be the whipping boy for our brains and hearts... Some things I do to relieve stress to avoid tightening up are: reading, blogging ;), working out, listening to my favorite music while doing absolutely nothing else, gardening, playing a board game with my husband and yes, even journal. I know you are thinking, gee when do I have time for that? I say even just 10-15 minutes of an activity like the above could help your body find another outlet for the stress so that it does not translate into your muscles.
7/10/2009
Ergo, My back!
Sometimes I wonder if my clients feel like teenagers. I have a lecture prepared for everything... whether it's about the importance of hydrating, stretching, posture, or exercising. It is for your own good. Wait, did I say that to a client or was that a flashback from my youth?? I tell you these things because I want you to free your muscles and free your life. Think about how nice life would be if you didn't wake up with a stiff neck or back, if you could run that extra mile, or you could spend longer outside planting flowers with your kids??? Massage only gives you the jump start into the right direction. It is then up to you focus and adjust your self care to really prevent the muscles from tightening up in the first place.
One way you can do this is to take a look at the ergonomics in your life. Having something set up ergonomically correct supports you maintaining proper posture and, in turn, using your body in a way it was designed to function. The reason I decided to take classes on how to advise clients with this, is that I can give sound advice. Instead of just showing you how to sit, I can now give sound and numerically ways to adjust your station. I am sure you read in my last newsletter that I pair this service with massages. It is not a money-making gimmick. It is because I genuinely care about each and every client and want each and everyone of them to eventually not need me. Yes, I want you all to keep seeing me, but I strive those visits to turn into something that you want to do for maintanance and general healthcare. Not because you are in pain and discomfort or cannot move. Since most of us spend a huge portion of our lives at the computer (myself included) I thought it was the perfect way to really be able to assist you in your journey to wellness.
So please, if you are interested in chaning your lot, try my service out! I promise I won't lecture or judge. I will simply list the adjustments to make and how to achieve them.
http://www.dcdeeptissuemassage.com/Ergonomics.html
One way you can do this is to take a look at the ergonomics in your life. Having something set up ergonomically correct supports you maintaining proper posture and, in turn, using your body in a way it was designed to function. The reason I decided to take classes on how to advise clients with this, is that I can give sound advice. Instead of just showing you how to sit, I can now give sound and numerically ways to adjust your station. I am sure you read in my last newsletter that I pair this service with massages. It is not a money-making gimmick. It is because I genuinely care about each and every client and want each and everyone of them to eventually not need me. Yes, I want you all to keep seeing me, but I strive those visits to turn into something that you want to do for maintanance and general healthcare. Not because you are in pain and discomfort or cannot move. Since most of us spend a huge portion of our lives at the computer (myself included) I thought it was the perfect way to really be able to assist you in your journey to wellness.
So please, if you are interested in chaning your lot, try my service out! I promise I won't lecture or judge. I will simply list the adjustments to make and how to achieve them.
http://www.dcdeeptissuemassage.com/Ergonomics.html
6/30/2009
Facia......
For a visual, Fascia is the white filmy "stuff" you see when you prepare chicken. I like to refer to it as the wrapping paper of the body. Fascia is conenctive tissue that warps around your muscles and bones and keeps everything together in a nice not always tidy package. The reason why it is important to work on the fascis is that it is what connects all of our muscles together and is sometimes the tissue that connects the muscles on to their boney insertion. For example, the IT band. Everyone has heard of this structure, but I find most clients have bo idea what it actually is. The IT band is a strip of thick fascia that runs between and around and connects with muscles in the hip (2 muscle groups with 10 muscles), thigh (3 muscle groups with 14 muscles). This thick band of fascia then inserts on to the femur on the lateral side of the thigh.
http://www.paulmanley.co.uk/hip/itband2.jpg
Why is it so sensitive? it is essentially the insertion area of over 2 dozen of the bodies largest muscles!! If your IT is tight, work on loosneing up all of the hip and thigh muscles. Fascia generally works similar to this throught the body. In most circles (including massage therapists, anatomists, physiologists, etc) the tissue of fascia is just as important to work out and loosen up as is the muscles. I am doing this usually when you feel be doing slow long deep strokes (usually with the forarm).
http://www.paulmanley.co.uk/hip/itband2.jpg
Why is it so sensitive? it is essentially the insertion area of over 2 dozen of the bodies largest muscles!! If your IT is tight, work on loosneing up all of the hip and thigh muscles. Fascia generally works similar to this throught the body. In most circles (including massage therapists, anatomists, physiologists, etc) the tissue of fascia is just as important to work out and loosen up as is the muscles. I am doing this usually when you feel be doing slow long deep strokes (usually with the forarm).
6/19/2009
Working out with your massage.
Can you workout before a massage? Sure!
Can you workout after a massage? Why not?
But......
Massage is an excellent way to warm up before a good workout. You will most likely achieve more and repair quicker. There are 2 reasons to be very cautious while work out after a massage session. 1. That pesky reorganization period. Your muscles are reconfiguring to function slightly different than they were before the session. So when you are doing your exercises be quite conscious of your body mechanics and make sure you are doing everything properly. 2. You are so warmed up, you may have the tendency to overdue it. You may feel like you can go faster, push harder, lift more. Don't. Most likely you had a deep tissue massage with trigger point work. Your muscles do have to repair from this work. Adding an intense workout on top of that brings up the possibility that you will wake up quite sore the next day. So just take it easy with your workout. So stay hydrated and simply listen to your body.
Working out before a massage is great way to warm up for me! I will most likely be able to get deeper faster and easier leading to more work being accomplished. Again, you run the risk of being slightly sore; avoid this by staying hydrated and keep stretching!
Can you workout after a massage? Why not?
But......
Massage is an excellent way to warm up before a good workout. You will most likely achieve more and repair quicker. There are 2 reasons to be very cautious while work out after a massage session. 1. That pesky reorganization period. Your muscles are reconfiguring to function slightly different than they were before the session. So when you are doing your exercises be quite conscious of your body mechanics and make sure you are doing everything properly. 2. You are so warmed up, you may have the tendency to overdue it. You may feel like you can go faster, push harder, lift more. Don't. Most likely you had a deep tissue massage with trigger point work. Your muscles do have to repair from this work. Adding an intense workout on top of that brings up the possibility that you will wake up quite sore the next day. So just take it easy with your workout. So stay hydrated and simply listen to your body.
Working out before a massage is great way to warm up for me! I will most likely be able to get deeper faster and easier leading to more work being accomplished. Again, you run the risk of being slightly sore; avoid this by staying hydrated and keep stretching!
6/05/2009
Twice a week? Perhaps.
Some people have requested to come in twice, sometimes 3 times a week to tackle a very specific issue. I usually do not allow this. There are some instances in where coming twice a week is suitable for the work we are doing. But this entails extremely specific and deep work.
The reason it is not necessary or even the best idea to make sessions so close, is that your body needs to adjust to the work we just finished. Like I said before, when our muscles are tight, the fibers are in constant contraction and therefor shorter. When this happens, the muscles are not able to function up to par and this is when other muscles help compensate the motions and you get a chain reaction of tightness and tension. During a massage, I work on loosening up the muscle fibers and releasing the Trigger Points. This will relax the muscle and therefor elongate the fibers, hopefully back to homeostasis. At this point, the muscles go thru what I like to call a "reorganization period". Basically, the original tight muscle is letting the other muscles know that it can do its job without any help. During this time your body has to adjust functioning differently in it motions. I like to give the body a few days to do this. Plus, I would like your body to get used to its new posture and being stretched more often. (Hopefully you are listening to my lectures and implementing them).
That being said, there are always exceptions to the rule. If you feel you need more constant work to keep up with a life-altering muscle issue, then we will discuss it and come up with a treatment plan.
The reason it is not necessary or even the best idea to make sessions so close, is that your body needs to adjust to the work we just finished. Like I said before, when our muscles are tight, the fibers are in constant contraction and therefor shorter. When this happens, the muscles are not able to function up to par and this is when other muscles help compensate the motions and you get a chain reaction of tightness and tension. During a massage, I work on loosening up the muscle fibers and releasing the Trigger Points. This will relax the muscle and therefor elongate the fibers, hopefully back to homeostasis. At this point, the muscles go thru what I like to call a "reorganization period". Basically, the original tight muscle is letting the other muscles know that it can do its job without any help. During this time your body has to adjust functioning differently in it motions. I like to give the body a few days to do this. Plus, I would like your body to get used to its new posture and being stretched more often. (Hopefully you are listening to my lectures and implementing them).
That being said, there are always exceptions to the rule. If you feel you need more constant work to keep up with a life-altering muscle issue, then we will discuss it and come up with a treatment plan.
5/23/2009
Policy
Along with a health intake, every new client signs a sheet listing my policies. It's posted on my website as well as framed in my office. Some of the policies I am quite strict, and some not so much. I fully support the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have done to you. I have specific policies so you know where I stand. Yes, I expect you to be on time and call in advance if you have a scheduling conflict, but you can also expect me to be there for you. I am always on time for you and you can depend on that. I thought I would go into each one explaining my reasoning for them and why they are so important.
Time - My policy is that if you are late, there may be an adjustment in time without an adjustment in payment. I am making a commitment to you by guaranteeing your appointment time and refusing all other requests once you have made the appointment. I appreciate your respect of my valuable time which has been saved just for you. Not only do you pay for my service, you are paying for my time. I am there to create a place just for you during that time. It takes time to do that, and it takes time to make sure you are properly educated in what is going on with your body and to answer all of your questions. My time is just as valuable as yours. Just as you expect me to be there for you at the time of your appt, I expect you to be there as well. If your appt. is at 3:30pm, I would ideally like you at my office a few moments prior to 3:30 so that you are on the table only a few minutes after 3:30. Of course, there are always exceptions and I do make them on occasion. It also depends on how late you are and if anyone is after you. If you are 5-15 minutes late and I have a break after you, no big deal, you'll most likely get the full amount of time. If you are later than 15 minutes, I won't give you any extra time on matter of principle. Also, if someone is right after you, it's not fair to make them late.
Cancelling an Appt - Please call me on my cell phone if you have to reschedule. I don't always have the opportunity to check my email during the day and my cell is not always reliable with keeping up. I know that sometimes you cannot make an appt. or you have to cancel. I do require at least 24 hours notice otherwise a 30% fee is charged. This is b/c I usually have a waiting list every day and if you cancel at the last minute, not only do I lose a portion of my salary for that day, but most importantly, someone else could be getting the care that they need. Again, exceptions are very occasionally made, but please call me as soon as you know and we will work it out. If I have time to fill the slot there will of course be no penalty. If you cannot make your appt. at the last minute, is there a friend or coworker that may benefit from the session? Have them take your place!
These policies may seem a bit strict, but I think it is important to be on the same page and have a mutual respect. I do have certian expectations of my clients, but you can have those same expectations of me. If I am sick I will get in touch the very moment I know it is too much to be able to work on someone.
You can always depend on me to be on time and waiting for you with a smile.
Time - My policy is that if you are late, there may be an adjustment in time without an adjustment in payment. I am making a commitment to you by guaranteeing your appointment time and refusing all other requests once you have made the appointment. I appreciate your respect of my valuable time which has been saved just for you. Not only do you pay for my service, you are paying for my time. I am there to create a place just for you during that time. It takes time to do that, and it takes time to make sure you are properly educated in what is going on with your body and to answer all of your questions. My time is just as valuable as yours. Just as you expect me to be there for you at the time of your appt, I expect you to be there as well. If your appt. is at 3:30pm, I would ideally like you at my office a few moments prior to 3:30 so that you are on the table only a few minutes after 3:30. Of course, there are always exceptions and I do make them on occasion. It also depends on how late you are and if anyone is after you. If you are 5-15 minutes late and I have a break after you, no big deal, you'll most likely get the full amount of time. If you are later than 15 minutes, I won't give you any extra time on matter of principle. Also, if someone is right after you, it's not fair to make them late.
Cancelling an Appt - Please call me on my cell phone if you have to reschedule. I don't always have the opportunity to check my email during the day and my cell is not always reliable with keeping up. I know that sometimes you cannot make an appt. or you have to cancel. I do require at least 24 hours notice otherwise a 30% fee is charged. This is b/c I usually have a waiting list every day and if you cancel at the last minute, not only do I lose a portion of my salary for that day, but most importantly, someone else could be getting the care that they need. Again, exceptions are very occasionally made, but please call me as soon as you know and we will work it out. If I have time to fill the slot there will of course be no penalty. If you cannot make your appt. at the last minute, is there a friend or coworker that may benefit from the session? Have them take your place!
These policies may seem a bit strict, but I think it is important to be on the same page and have a mutual respect. I do have certian expectations of my clients, but you can have those same expectations of me. If I am sick I will get in touch the very moment I know it is too much to be able to work on someone.
You can always depend on me to be on time and waiting for you with a smile.
5/09/2009
Massage Guilt
Too often, a client announces that they have not done anything strenuous, or have laxed with their workouts and end up feeling guilty coming for a massage. OR they are in no pain or discomfort and are not sure why they are on my table. This massage guilt that they bring up actually makes me happy. If the client expresses that they do not have anything in particular to work on, this makes me believe that they actually listen to me and just might be implementing some of the adjustments I recommend.
Massage is an excellent way to assist in eradicating your aches and pains. It is also a wonderful tool in healthy body maintenance! If you come in with pain, it is too late and we both have to work extra hard to make you feel better. If you are already feeling great, then your tightness is much more manageable and we can then prevent it from getting to a point where it interferes with your life.
I understand that some like to use their massage sessions as part of a reward system for working out, meeting with a trainer, getting work done, etc. If you feel guilty getting the massage but not working out, think about this: Massage is the next best thing to working out. It aids in circulation of blood and lymph and helps remove the metabolic waste just as if you worked out. If you didn't finish that project, but you still came to your session, no worries. Massage has a number of psychologically boosting benefits. Chair massage in the workplace has had numerous studies showing that massage increases productiveness, alertness, motivation, etc. So after you get the massage and chill for a bit, you may be ready to tackle that project even better than before!
So please, don't ever feel guilty about coming in to see me. Your body and mind will greatly benefit from the session one way or another.
Massage is an excellent way to assist in eradicating your aches and pains. It is also a wonderful tool in healthy body maintenance! If you come in with pain, it is too late and we both have to work extra hard to make you feel better. If you are already feeling great, then your tightness is much more manageable and we can then prevent it from getting to a point where it interferes with your life.
I understand that some like to use their massage sessions as part of a reward system for working out, meeting with a trainer, getting work done, etc. If you feel guilty getting the massage but not working out, think about this: Massage is the next best thing to working out. It aids in circulation of blood and lymph and helps remove the metabolic waste just as if you worked out. If you didn't finish that project, but you still came to your session, no worries. Massage has a number of psychologically boosting benefits. Chair massage in the workplace has had numerous studies showing that massage increases productiveness, alertness, motivation, etc. So after you get the massage and chill for a bit, you may be ready to tackle that project even better than before!
So please, don't ever feel guilty about coming in to see me. Your body and mind will greatly benefit from the session one way or another.
4/28/2009
Epson Salts
Epsom Salts ware originally from the waters of Epsom, England and named for the mineral compostition of Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate. Everyone wonders why Epsom Salts are always so highly recomended by doctors and alternative healthcare providers.... It is a natural way to feel better, and it is backed up by scientific facts. Epsom salts have been documented to reduce aching muscles, reduce infections, heal cuts, reduce colds and congestion, detox metals out of the body, and creates feelings of calm and relaxtion.
Quick facts on Magnesium:
~ second-most abundant element in our cells
~ fourth-most important positively charged ion in the body
~ regulates the activity of more than 325 enzymes
~ is needed for muscle control, electrical impulses, energy production, and elimination of harmful toxins
~ natural stress reliever - necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of calm and relaxation
Quick facts on Sulfates:
~ brain tissue formation
~ joins proteinsin the digestive tract
~ stimulates pancreas to help detox the body
I was recently critisized for not personalizing my blogs.... I have a huge container of Epsom Salts in my bathroom closet. The first time I used the salts in a soak was when I aquired an infection in a cut-too-short nail. My family Dr. gave me some antibiotics and told me to soak my finger in Epsom Salts. I thought he was crazy, but tried it anyways. My finger did feel better; the inflammation and soreness went down away. Since then, I pour a little into my baths when I want to relax. My tired feet wake up and my muscle aches slip away.
These minerals are hard to find and consume, but luckily, our skin can absorb them. So draw a nice warm bath, light a few candles, put on some soothing tunes and soak up!
Quick facts on Magnesium:
~ second-most abundant element in our cells
~ fourth-most important positively charged ion in the body
~ regulates the activity of more than 325 enzymes
~ is needed for muscle control, electrical impulses, energy production, and elimination of harmful toxins
~ natural stress reliever - necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of calm and relaxation
Quick facts on Sulfates:
~ brain tissue formation
~ joins proteinsin the digestive tract
~ stimulates pancreas to help detox the body
I was recently critisized for not personalizing my blogs.... I have a huge container of Epsom Salts in my bathroom closet. The first time I used the salts in a soak was when I aquired an infection in a cut-too-short nail. My family Dr. gave me some antibiotics and told me to soak my finger in Epsom Salts. I thought he was crazy, but tried it anyways. My finger did feel better; the inflammation and soreness went down away. Since then, I pour a little into my baths when I want to relax. My tired feet wake up and my muscle aches slip away.
These minerals are hard to find and consume, but luckily, our skin can absorb them. So draw a nice warm bath, light a few candles, put on some soothing tunes and soak up!
4/14/2009
Post Partum Massage
Out of all the people I work on, there is one job that stands out. Motherhood. Not just being a mother, but more specifically, being a new mother. Caring for a baby is the most physically demanding job. Construction workers? Delivery people? Furniture moves? None come close...... The list of contorted positions a mother has to put herself in is endless. There is no ergonomic way to breastfeed, change diapers, lift your child, and place in and out of the car. Not to mention that all this is being done with a 15 pound infant. New mothers can acquire excruciating lower back pain from all of the lifting and turning, usually at the same time. This pain comes from low back muscles like the spinalis group (along the spine), quadratus laborum, and all of the many hip muscles. More common are upper body spasms in the shoulder, neck and arms. I have had clients flare up their Thoracic Outlet Syndrome while caring for their newborn (see blog on 2/3/09 for details on TOS).
Obviously massage can help alleviate all of the pain and discomfort due to these spasming muscles. Massage can also assuage the mother's emotions. Women go thru a whole gamete of feelings post partum and having the time and space to just be with oneself can help to relax and ground her during this time.
Obviously massage can help alleviate all of the pain and discomfort due to these spasming muscles. Massage can also assuage the mother's emotions. Women go thru a whole gamete of feelings post partum and having the time and space to just be with oneself can help to relax and ground her during this time.
3/31/2009
Session Lengths
30, 60, 90 minutes. These are the typical lengths of a massage. Each 30 minute increment completely alters the type of massage one receives. 30 minutes is only enough time to work on 1 muscle group. This type of appt. is for someone that does not have the time for a full massage, but still needs work done. It's also a good alternative for those that need/want bodywork but do not want spend as much money. 60 minutes is the standard length of a massage session. There are a number of things we can do in an hour. We can do a full body and work on everything and also be able to focus on one area. I can focus on more than 1 area in the hour, however it depends on the muscle groups. 1 hour is not enough time to focus on the shoulder AND legs. There are 2 other options when receiving a 60 minute massage. 1. You can delete muscle groups to spend more time on others. For instance, if you are a desk worker and a runner, you may opt for me to not do your arms so I can apply that time on your legs. 2. We can spend the whole hour on one group. I do recommend this to some clients that need a lot of work done let's say on their upper body. If I spend the full hour on their shoulder, back, and neck, I can achieve more from deeper and more specific work. 90 minute sessions are for people that need/want a lot of deep work done on multiple muscle groups. You know that desk worker/runner I mentioned? They may not want delete any muscle groups from the session, in fact they may want deep work done on every group. 90 minutes is perfect for that. You do not have to be an athlete for 90 minutes, it is about what kind of work you want done and how detailed you want me to get at it. I have recently added a 75 minute session to the options. This is for somoene that needs a little more time than an hour but they don't want to spend the time or money on the full 90 minutes. This is an excellent way to get a little more work done without the lengthy commitment. Everyone always wants to know what I do. I get 90 minutes, always. Besides being a full time massage therapist, I work out a lot and also spend quite a number of hours on the computer doing work for my practice. I need/want deep and specific work done on all the muscle groups and I am not willing to give up any of them; 90 minutes it is.
There has developed an industry standard that has really disturbed me. There are places that do not give the full amount of time, in fact, that is their policy. Let's say you book a 60 minute massage. There are places that will refer to the session as 60 minutes, but fail to mention that the time includes your interview with the therapist as well as getting on and off the table. This can reduce the table time to 45-50 minutes!! This is not enough time to do a good job, nor is it ethical. This is done mostly in spas and chiropractor offices. I will give some spas credit, for they sometime mention in their brochures and sites that one's massage time includes what I have listed above, or they simply refer to a 60 minute massage as a 50 minute massage. At least you know what you will be getting... For the chiropractors I believe they shorten the time b/c of a different mindset. They see it as being in a doctor's office, so you are paying for 60 minutes with the therapist, not a 60 minute massage. In this circumstance, you are pretty much at the discretion of the therapist and what they seem as fit for your time. I strongly disagree with this practice. When I book a 60 minute massage, you better believe that I expect 60 minutes on the table getting work done. That is what I booked, that is what I am paying for, that should be what I get. If a place stipulates otherwise, that is fine, you are aware. But for those that just charge for the full time and cut it, that's false advertising and unethical.
In my office, if you book a 60 minute massage, you will be on my table receiving bodywork for a full 60 minutes. The time it takes for me to discuss your session and you getting on and off the table is booked into the appt. as extra time. I book a full 20 minutes extra w/ each appt. and 30 minutes for new clients. This is really how it's typically done and any deviation of this is poor service if you ask me. if you are late for your appt, depending on my schedule and how late you are, I may be able to give you the full time but chances are I won't. This will be specifically discussed before you get on the table so you are aware of what you will be receiving.
What I want you to take away from this is to be an educated consumer. If you pay for a certain service, you should receive it. If you are not sure, ask.
There has developed an industry standard that has really disturbed me. There are places that do not give the full amount of time, in fact, that is their policy. Let's say you book a 60 minute massage. There are places that will refer to the session as 60 minutes, but fail to mention that the time includes your interview with the therapist as well as getting on and off the table. This can reduce the table time to 45-50 minutes!! This is not enough time to do a good job, nor is it ethical. This is done mostly in spas and chiropractor offices. I will give some spas credit, for they sometime mention in their brochures and sites that one's massage time includes what I have listed above, or they simply refer to a 60 minute massage as a 50 minute massage. At least you know what you will be getting... For the chiropractors I believe they shorten the time b/c of a different mindset. They see it as being in a doctor's office, so you are paying for 60 minutes with the therapist, not a 60 minute massage. In this circumstance, you are pretty much at the discretion of the therapist and what they seem as fit for your time. I strongly disagree with this practice. When I book a 60 minute massage, you better believe that I expect 60 minutes on the table getting work done. That is what I booked, that is what I am paying for, that should be what I get. If a place stipulates otherwise, that is fine, you are aware. But for those that just charge for the full time and cut it, that's false advertising and unethical.
In my office, if you book a 60 minute massage, you will be on my table receiving bodywork for a full 60 minutes. The time it takes for me to discuss your session and you getting on and off the table is booked into the appt. as extra time. I book a full 20 minutes extra w/ each appt. and 30 minutes for new clients. This is really how it's typically done and any deviation of this is poor service if you ask me. if you are late for your appt, depending on my schedule and how late you are, I may be able to give you the full time but chances are I won't. This will be specifically discussed before you get on the table so you are aware of what you will be receiving.
What I want you to take away from this is to be an educated consumer. If you pay for a certain service, you should receive it. If you are not sure, ask.
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