COVID-19 Information and Procedures

If you have COVID-19 symptoms or exposure, late cancellation and rescheduling fees will not apply.  Please see my office policies for more information. 

 As a healthcare provider, I have had both of my vaccines plus both boosters..  Nevertheless, I will continue to observe all "best practices" -- i.e., I will not be less careful with my behavior or disinfecting because I have received the vaccine.  

•  No extra people.  Only the client will be allowed into the office, so please don't bring anyone else with you expecting them to sit in the waiting area. This reduces our risk by limiting the number of people/germs in my office to 3 to 4 a day plus myself. 
• Face masks must be worn at all times by both therapist and client.  
• Fogging between clients (in addition to surface cleaning, not instead of) with aerosolized hydrogen peroxide (safe for people and breaks down into water and oxygen). I'm using Rejuvenate.
• Air Filter-- a high-quality HEPA filter/air purifier will be run at all times (on max speed/noise when clients are not present and quieter when they are)
• Floor Coverings -- hard vinyl floor coverings that can be cleaned between clients have been added to the office (to avoid the problem of sanitizing carpet)
• Anti-Viral Essential Oils will be diffused (more info at bottom of page)
• Many furnishings and decorations have been removed (to make disinfecting as easy as possible).  It's definitely a more clinical look.
• Facial massage will not be included in your session. (I'll still get your head and anterior neck though.)
• Hot stones and cupping will be unavailable until the COVID-related blood clotting issues are better understood in the context of massage therapy
• 3 clients per day*

*  My new routine will require 45 to 60 minutes of time between one client's departure and the next client's arrival, mostly to allow for the fogging and the air filtration. Because of this additional time commitment, I will only be seeing 3 clients per day and that will affect how soon you can get in for an appointment.  Please be patient as I adjust to my new schedule, knowing that I am working to keep us both as safe as possible.

 Masks are required for both of us at all times.  If you forget yours, I can meet you in the parking lot with a disposable surgical mask.  

Erring on the side of caution:

• Please put on a mask before arriving at my suite door.   I'll be masked for your entire session. 
• I will meet you at my suite door and use a touchless thermometer to take your temperature. (Clients at/above 100 will be asked to reschedule)
• I'll have you sanitize your hands at the door and we'll proceed directly into the treatment room.
• I'll leave the room.
• Clients will undress keeping your mask on and get unto the massage table while I go down the hall to wash my hands. 
• After I enter the treatment room, I'll use a hand sanitizer
• We'll then do your massage with me pausing to sanitize my hands after working near your head or on your hands or feet.  You will wear your mask while face up, and you will be able to choose between wearing your mask facedown or breathing through a one-layer enclosure around the face cradle. For sidelying work, you will keep your mask on the entire time.
• I'll sanitize my hands upon leaving the room
• You will get dressed and open the door.
• After you checkout, we'll both use hand sanitizer again before you depart.

 Between clients:

• (as always) there will be lots of hand washing
• all hard surfaces in the waiting room and treatment room will be wiped down with an EPA-approved COVID disinfectant and left wet for the required time
• the massage table will be wiped down
• the face cradle and the metal "holder" for it will be HEAVILY disinfected
• my rolling stool will be wiped down
• hard vinyl floor coverings will be mopped
• fogging (in addition to surface cleaning, not instead of) with aerosolized hydrogen peroxide (safe for people and breaks down into water and oxygen). I'm using Rejuvenate. If the floor sounds a little sticky, it's the Rejuvenate.
• I will change my shirt or my apron
• (as always) sheets and blankets will be changed between clients
• HEPA filter will be set to maximum air volume until the next client's arrival

Cinnamon bark oil, thyme, lemongrass, oregano, tea tree, clove, rosemary, basil, lemon, orange, bergamot, and eucalyptus essential oils all have anti-viral properties.  (PubMed and the NIH websites have lots of studies, so you don't just have to take my word for it.)  I'll be diffusing a combination of organic antiviral essential oils in my office until further notice. 

All these oils are safe for pregnancy when diffused in the air.  

Allergy sufferer? Essential oils do not contain the plant proteins that cause histamine responses. Therefore, I'm not expecting anyone to have allergic reactions.  Case in point:  I'm horribly allergic to lavender as a plant and as an ingredient in many products but have no reaction to it as an essential oil. So far, I've not found an essential oil I'm allergic too and I'm allergic to many lotions, shampoo, perfumes, cleaning products, etc. 

But please call me to discuss your situation if you expect difficulties with the essential oils.  Perhaps you could see if the "plant protein" theory is accurate for you?