What is Massage and what are its Benefits?
There are more than 150 variations of massage, bodywork, and somatic therapies and many practitioners utilize multiple techniques. The application of these techniques may include, but is not limited to, stroking, kneading, tapping, compression, vibration, rocking, friction, and pressure to the muscular structure or soft tissues of the human body. This may also include non-forceful passive or active movement and/or application of techniques intended to affect the energetic systems of the body. The use of oils, lotions, and powders may also be included to reduce friction on the skin. Massage does not include skeletal adjustments.

The Benefits of Massage
Massage provides relief to people of all ages from infants to seniors and from allprofessions, the weekend or competitive athlete to the home gardener, or the overstressed, overworked executive. Massage affects the body, mind, and soul of the recipient. Massage addresses a variety of health conditions, the most prevalent being stress-related tension, which, experts believe, accounts for 80%-90% of disease. Massage has been proven beneficial in treating cancer-related fatigue, sleep disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes, low back pain, immunity suppression, spinal cord injury, autism, post-operative surgery, age-related disorders, infertility, eating disorders, smoking cessation, and depression, to name just a few. Massage and bodywork offers a drug-free, non-invasive, and humanistic approach based on the body natural ability to heal itself. Massage has many physiologicalbenefits, such as:

Increasing circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs.
Stimulating the lymph system, the body natural defense against toxic invaders. Relaxing and softening injured and over-used muscles.
Reducing spasms and cramping.
Increasing joint flexibility.
Reducing recovery time for strenuous workouts and eliminating subsequent pains of the athlete at any level.
Releasing endorphins, the body natural painkiller. For this reason, massage is being incorporated into treatment for chronic illness, injury and recovery from surgery to control and relieve pain.
Reducing post-surgery adhesions and edema and reducing and realigning scar tissue after healing has occurred.
Improving range of motion and decreasing discomfort for patients with low back pain.
Relieving pain for migraine sufferers and decreasing the need for medication.
Providing exercise and stretching for atrophied muscles and reducing shortening of the muscles for those with restricted range of motion.
Contributing to shorter labor for expectant mothers, as well as lessening the need for medication, minimizing depression and anxiety, and shortening hospital stays.

Massage also provides another therapeutic component largely absent in today world: tactile stimulation, or, more simply, touch.
http://www.massagetherapy.com/learnmore/benefits.php

What is a contraindication?
There are certain medical conditions that make massage contraindicated (it can be dangerous to the client to get a massage). These usually include fever, systemic infections, toxemia, injuries in acute stage, certain forms of cancer, phlebitis, some cardiac problems, some skin conditions, infectious diseases, etc. These conditions will be determined during the initial consultation with your therapist. In certain occasions, physician approval may be required.

If you never had a massage and are not quite sure what to expect, here is what happens:

Making an Appointment
Walk-in clients are welcomed, although we highly recommend making an appointment in advance., not only can we ensure there will be a therapist available for you without waiting, but we can also match you with the right therapist, based on your expectations from the massage. Just call (808) 941-8101 and press zero for the receptionist. Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment, or even earlier if you plan to use the sauna.

Parking
On the bottom of the Century Center building is an entrance into its parking lot. Take a ticket and ask the attendant in the booth for The Massage Specialists parking pass. There is a map on the reverse side of the pass, find the assigned parking stall and please center your vehicle in the stall. Proceed to the 5th floor, Suite 512, to check in with thereceptionist.

During the appointment
After you are introduced to your therapist, he/she will take you to the massage room. They will advise you to undress to your level of comfort, lay down on the table, and cover yourself with a towel or sheet. Then they will leave the room for a brief period, to give you privacy.The therapist will have a brief consultation with you, to find out about your medicalconditions (if any) and what type of massage are you looking for - what muscles group to concentrate on, how much pressure you like, in order to deliver a massage that will fulfill your expected outcome of the session.

What should I wear?
Most massages are performed unclothed; however, you decide what amount of clothing you prefer to wear. You will be properly draped at all times to keep you warm andcomfortable, only the area being massaged will be exposed.

What parts of my body will be massaged?
You decide what parts of your body you want massaged, how much pressure you would like, and you communicate to your therapist what is your intended outcome of the massage. Is it to get rid of knots and soreness in your muscles? Is it to relax and rejuvinate? Is it your shoulders or head and feet that you want to be massaged? Or is it a full body massage with attention to a particular muscle group? You will discuss all this with the therapist before your massage. Also, if you have any medical conditions that the therapist should be aware of, this is the time to share that.

What should I do during the massage?
Close your eyes, make yourself comfortable, and completely relax. The therapist will either gently move you or tell you what is needed. Light oil is usually used during the massage to prevent friction on the clients skin. If you feel any kind of discomfort, immediately communicate it to your therapist.

What happens after the massage?
When the time is up and the therapist has completed your massage, they will leave the room so that you can stretch and dress. It is customary to leave gratuity for the therapist. You may take a shower or go to the sauna after your session is over.

Why buy a Gift Certificate?
Massage is an appropriate and highly appreciated gift for any occasion (employee appreciation, marriage, graduation, etc.), it is beneficial to every person regardless of age or occupation. A gift certificate for a massage at The Massage Specialist is fairly inexpensive., and it may include gratuity, or not. It can be purchased over the phone and mailed out to either the buyer or the recipient. Our certificates expire two years from the date of issue (who waits two years to get a massage?). It is not a gift that takes up space, and it is easily transferable.

Who is an Apprentice?
An apprentice is a massage license pursuant, who has finished at least fifty hours of human anatomy, physiology, and structural kinesiology, and a hundred hours of theory and demonstration of massage therapy, and is now completing his/her four hundred twenty hours of practical training, before being allowed to take the Hawaii State exam.

Do you accept insurance?
Currently, we do not accept insurance cases. However, we can recommend you to the right therapist for this.