For your first session, please arrive a few minutes before your scheduled time to fill out some paperwork. You can preview the forms here.

If you have access to a printer, you’re also welcome to fill out the forms ahead of time, I just ask that you DON’T send them electronically, as my email is not HIPPA compliant.

It’s certainly not required, but I also recommend booking at least a 90 minute appointment for your first session. My work is facilitated by attunement to your nervous system, and trust takes time. Scheduling a longer session gives us more opportunity to get into deeper work during your first appointment.

Masking is optional, but I’m very happy to wear a mask if you ask me to.

If you aren’t feeling well, please let me know as soon as possible so we can get you rescheduled. This protects me, my other clients, and you; massage can actually make your symptoms feel worse when you’re sick.

“Neuro” indicates the nervous system, “myo” refers to muscles, and “fascia” is a connective tissue that surrounds and supports every part of your body, from muscles to bones to organs to nerves. Many people mistakenly believe fascial work remains at a surface level, when in fact it impacts structures at every level.

While I use “neuromyofascial” as the umbrella term for the work I do, a simple Google search will reveal quite a bit of variation in schools of thought and application of technique among myofascial practitioners.

My approach to this work borrows from craniosacral therapy, somatic therapy, Reiki, liberation psychology, and polyvagal theories of trauma work.

Some of the key points of my philosophical approach are: 

1) orient to the body's innate health and ability to heal itself, rather than from the deficit/illness/disease orientation typical of Western medicine; 

2) work with the body, not on the body, which means "listening" to what the body needs, following its lead, and waiting until its ready before engaging deeply; 

3) patterns of tension in the body can be manifestations of deep emotions and/or trauma, and causing physical pain can be retraumatizing/counterproductive to the intention of massage; 

4) causing pain can also trigger a protective response from the nervous system, reinforcing patterns of tension or even creating new ones; 

5)  pain-free bodywork facilitates co-regulation, which releases oxytocin and reduces stress, tension, and anxiety in the body.

My very simple rule of thumb for determining what level of sliding scale accommodation you “should” pay is: pay the level that makes the difference between you coming in or not. As in, if you would schedule a session right now for $65 but not at $70, pay $65.

Another excellent tool is this tiered scale that JQ of Hearth Witch Medicine (hearthwitchmedicine.com) generously let me borrow, with tweaks to fit my practice:

TIER ONE: SUPPORTIVE

Low income earners, making under 45k/year

60 Minutes: $65-100

90 Minutes: $90-$130

TIER TWO: BALANCED

Roughly 60-80k/year

60 Minutes: $110-$130

90 Minutes: $140-$150

TIER THREE: SUSTAINABLE

85k and above

60 Minutes: $120-$150

90 Minutes: $150-$200

The income levels on the scale are a guide only, as obviously they don’t account for the deeply individual variability of responsibilities and expenses. For reference, I’m personally a solid Tier One!

I haven’t quite figured out the best way to implement the scale yet, so am still having individual discussions with clients in need. If you don’t feel comfortable talking in person at your next session, feel free to email me at WindingCircleMassage@gmail.com

For those with allergies and/or specific sensory needs, please note:

• all of my sheets are made of organic cotton, in two different textures

• I only use plant-based, unscented detergent

• I was my hands before and after sessions with plant-based, unscented soap

• table heat is fully adjustable

• various blanket textures and weights are available

• I use a white noise machine that has multiple sound options, and can be fully turned off by request

• music is low frequency instrumentals, you are welcome to bring your own playlist

• lighting is warm and dim (no big lights are used), but there are uncovered windows at the top half of the front wall

• huggy pillows are always available

• I make my own massage lotion using organic unrefined shea butter, beeswax, vitamin e oil, and comfrey, arnica, st. john’s wort, and plantain—infused organic olive and vitamin e oils

If you have any other sensory needs or requests, please let me know and I’ll do my best to accommodate them.