Massage FAQ

Upon arrival, you’ll start by filling out a client questionnaire. Your Somatic Sole massage therapist will then review it and discuss the reasons for your visit, symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and desired outcome of the session. Next you’ll undress and lay under the provided linens as your therapist leaves the room to let you get comfortable. When she re-enters the massage room, she’ll ask about your comfort level and if you have any concerns with temperature, positioning, or anything else. You’ll be encouraged to take deep breaths throughout the massage and assert any concerns if they arise.

After your massage, your therapist will discuss what to expect in the few days following your session. If at any time you feel discomfort, we encourage you to express your thoughts, feelings, or experiences, even if it is after you leave the studio.

Make sure you’re well hydrated if possible, otherwise, just show up and be prepared to be pampered!

Therapeutic touch is beneficial whether it’s from feet or hands, but there are many unique benefits to using feet. Because feet are much broader than hands, this allows for more surface area to be massaged at once and the pressure to be distributed evenly. Consistent pressure is important, and hands, especially fatigued hands, cannot provide that consistency. Not to mention, fingers and elbows can be pointy, sometimes making it uncomfortable. An added bonus to Ashiatsu is that we work on both sides of your body at the same time; this interrupts your ability to concentrate on what we’re doing in any one spot, letting your mind and body completely relax.

In Japanese, “Ashi” means foot and “atsu” means pressure. We are honored and humbled to be certified by the company that created DeepFeet Bar Therapy®. It is the registered title and technique used solely by that company and is the most trusted name in Barefoot Massage. We used to call our technique Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, also known as Ashi, but changed it to DeepFeet Bar Therapy® to distinguish Somatic Sole from other barefoot modalities.

Out of habit, we still call the massage Ashi. Any of the above titles work, but it’s definitely easier to pronounce DeepFeet or Ashi!

Yes! Our feet are actually more sensitive than our hands. For example, think about running a hot bath. Your feet may experience the heat completely differently than your hands. Your hands are always experiencing heat and cold so your feet are fresh and ready to feel. It has taken some practice to identify the details of what our feet are feeling, which is why having tons of experience helps.

The best way to see the benefits of a therapeutic massage is to receive one on a regular basis, if possible. That could be once a week or once a month, whatever fits into your life both financially and timely. Weekly is best since our muscles have memory; they need to be reminded regularly that relaxation is the preferred state. Not to mention the healing power of relaxing your mind and letting go of the stress that normally consumes your thoughts. All of us at Somatic Sole make sure we get them weekly so we stay in top form to provide you the best massages possible. Ready to schedule? Come on in!

Barefoot Massage is especially helpful for chronic pain areas such as stiff necks, low back tightness and sore shoulders. It is a safe, effective therapy that treats everything from pain, tension, immobility, lack of flexibility, inflammation and fatigue; basically the whole mind and body benefits. Barefoot Massage therapy is taking the alternative pain management industry by storm by helping with countless issues.

TMJ discomfort can be caused by many different factors, but the most common is stress originating from your neck and shoulders. This could be the result of many years sitting at a desk with poor posture or simply carrying stress in that area. Using Myofascial Release and other techniques, massage can bring relief to tense muscles and allow your neck and shoulders to relax and stay relaxed. There are also a few things you can do on your own to maintain the state of relaxation in between massages.

Tipping in any service industry is customary in our society. That being said, tips are appreciated but never expected, and they tend to reflect the level of service your received. Also, referrals are always appreciated and another way to show gratitude. Plus, if you’re a member, you get a little bonus for every referral that completes a Somatic Sole massage. We truly enjoy our work and love sharing the world of massage with current clients as well as new people.

This is probably one of the few places that sleeping is taken as a compliment. We encourage complete relaxation so if that includes a little drool or nodding off here and there, by all means be our guest! There is a line where noises can become bothersome to other people in the space, but we will gently remind you if it gets out of hand.

We honestly don’t mind if you talk or if you don’t talk. Many times you are coming straight from traffic or work and it seems natural to continue in that mode. Maybe you’re nervous or just a talker – whatever the case may be, we usually don’t mind. However, we encourage shifting out of that mindset and into a space of receiving relaxation. A very therapeutic aspect of massage is to be in between the state of asleep and awake, and you probably won’t get there if you’re talking. Also, the physical space is not conducive for a lot of talking as it is disruptive to other clients receiving a massage. The one time we do encourage talking is if you experience anything uncomfortable, let us know.

We understand that last minute cancellations are part of our busy, changing lives; however, we ask that you use courtesy in managing your scheduled appointments with us. If you miss an appointment without a 24 hour notice, you will be required to pay 50% of the cost of the missed session or forfeit a prepaid massage.