FAQ

Whether you haven’t had your first massage yet, or if you’ve had one every week for the past six years, you may have some questions about massage. Sometimes we massage therapists forget that not everyone is as familiar with massage as we are, and what is normal to us isn’t so routine to our clients!

Below are questions that many people have about receiving massages, but are too shy to ask, followed by our honest answers!

Do I call you a masseuse?

Honestly, we prefer massage therapist! As the decades have gone on, masseuse (female) and masseur (male) now refer to unprofessional and unlicensed individuals who give massages. In other words, these are the people that you might see on the evening news getting arrested for illegal services mislabeled as “massage.” In efforts to keep our blog Rated G, we’ll leave out extra details!

That said, some states do have masseuse and masseur as legal titles for individuals practicing relaxation-only massages (relaxation-only means that the “masseuse/masseur” cannot do any therapeutic work, such as deep tissue massage, trigger pointing, etc.). These are legit positions that are often (but not always) filled by students going to school to become licensed massage therapists. We do wish states using those terms, however, would use other titles (eg, Relaxation Practitioner sounds great, right?). True massage has never been, is not, and will never be unethical, risqué, or anything that you may have seen on the TV series The Client List.

So in short, massage therapist, MT, massage practitioner, licensed massage therapist, and LMT, are all appropriate references!

How much of my clothes should I take off? Do I leave on my bra? Underwear?

A good massage therapist will never insist that you remove more clothing than with what you are comfortable. However, if you are comfortable, completely removing all articles of clothing (including bra and underwear) will optimize the fluidity of the massage.

Massage therapists are trained in proper draping, which is not only ethical, but a legal mandate in many states. This means that genitalia, female breast tissue, and the gluteal cleft (aka, “butt crack”), will not be exposed. The therapist will be able to navigate through an entire massage with fluidity, while maintaining your dignity, and his/her professionalism.

Where should I put my hands & arms while I’m on my back or belly?

When you are lying on your back, place your hands & arms wherever is most comfortable for you! Your therapist will gently move them if s/he needs to. When lying on your belly, the same “whatever is comfortable” rule still applies, except for hanging your arms over the sides of the table. This makes it awkward for the therapist to lean in and give you the pressure you need, since your arm is in the way. Most of the time we will never ask you to move your arms, because it’s your hour, so we end up using poor body mechanics and being in pain for a while. For an optimum experience for both of us, place arms to your sides.

Does the therapist care if I don’t shave my legs?

Nope. Chances are, her legs aren’t shaved, either. Just sayin’. Furthermore, it actually makes us feel warm & fuzzy (no pun intended) when you come to us with unshaved legs, because that tells us you’re comfortable with us!

If the massage therapist is about to massage my legs, and I realize that my legs are closed against each other and unreachable to be massaged, should I let her open my legs, or should I open my own legs? –I don’t want her to think I’m sending an inappropriate signal.

We won’t think that! Promise! If you open your own legs, we probably won’t even notice. If you do not open your own legs, we are trained in moving around arms & legs to give you the best massage possible. Even if your legs are twisted into a pretzel, we will reposition your legs in such a way that your relaxed state will not be disturbed, your dignity will be maintained, and neither of us will think that the other is attempting inappropriate behavior.

I’m a guy, and I truly have no inappropriate intentions, but I’m worried that my body will react in ways that the therapist might think otherwise.

Much of a massage therapist’s training deals with anatomy and physiology. We are well aware of, and familiar with, physiological responses! We only become concerned if your behavior and choice of words become inappropriate. If your body reacts in a physiological way, we are quite experienced in ignoring it, and hope you can ignore it, too! Only inappropriate behavior and/or words will not be ignored; in this case the massage is ended abruptly, and the client is liable for full payment. Intentions, not physiology, are the more weighty issue, either way!

I may fall asleep. And snore. And if other *sounds* leave my body, I’m going to be mortified.

Here’s some trivia for you: In some countries (India, Hungary, China, France, etc.), it is a compliment to the host/hostess or chef if you belch after finishing your plate. Keep this in mind if you catch yourself snoring during your massage! Your snoring tells us that you are so relaxed that you have drifted into the Land of Wood Sawing. As far as those *other* noises, we’re used to it. Seriously. And again, it speaks to the deep level of relaxation in which we put you, which in a weird sense, is also a compliment!

Should I talk during a massage, or is it rude to just be silent during the massage?

A good massage therapist will leave that up to you; again, it’s your hour. The rule of thumb is for the therapist to speak when spoken to, so it’s actually rude for the therapist to be chatty during the massage without determining if you’re a talker or not. You will certainly not offend us if you choose to be silent your entire session. Neither will you offend us if you choose to converse during the session!

Am I supposed to shower after the massage?

If you get your massage at The Oil Bar, it’s more beneficial if you do not shower immediately after your massage. We use high quality products that absorb into your skin, so hold off a few hours before you shower!

I don’t like the music playing in the massage room.

It is not a problem at all to ask for a change of music! It is important to all quality massage therapists that our clients enjoy their massage experience completely, including atmospheric effects!

What’s up with massaging the butt cheeks??

Firstly, a quality therapist will maintain ethical and legal boundaries, which states that the gluteal cleft, or “butt crack,” will not be exposed. Gluteal massage is very beneficial especially for issues such as low back pain, and the gluteal muscles are what make up your buttocks. Some therapists will expose one side of the buttocks at a time with your permission as an extension of your leg and hamstrings massage; others perform a gluteal massage through the sheet, and can just as effectively achieve the massage.

As with all aspects of massage, it is your hour (or hour & a half; or two hours!), so if you are not comfortable with gluteal massage, it is important to communicate that to the therapist.

I have more questions about massage. Who can I ask?

We love questions! Please send your questions to susan@theoilbar.com.

Now that you have clarification on a few issues, give us a try! 

At The Oil Bar, we staff experienced, compassionate, and knowledgeable practitioners that participate in our new VIP program, which makes massage therapy and esthetics more practical and feasible for your life. As a VIP you will always enjoy perks, and never pay full price for any esthetic or massage service! 

Enjoy the coupon below for $10 off your full-price massage or esthetic service, with a free aromatherapy upgrade using an essential oil of your choice. Our practitioners will help you make the perfect choice for your massage! Take home your essential oil choice for 15% off! 

Call 614-880-3950 to schedule your esthetic service, or visit www.theoilbar.com and click on the Massage link at the top of the page to schedule online!

Massage & Esthetic Services

Last week we formally announced our VIP program, which is the red carpet we have rolled out for our VIPs! Massage and Esthetic services will never cost you full price as a VIP. Most of us are quite familiar with massage services, but what exactly is an esthetic service, and why is it so important?

Wannita Card is our licensed esthetician at the Polaris branch of The Oil Bar, and she says, “Our physical and emotional wellbeing are worth our attention. Diet and exercise play a very important role in how we feel and respond to life around us. However, did you know that what you put on your skin is as important as what you put in your body? 

Healthy skin is our body’s first line of defense against infections. Proper skin care is as vital to your daily routine as drinking enough water. Layers of protection can be stripped away if the wrong products are used on your skin. We are here to help you find the right product and daily routine for your best skin care.”

We now have three esthetic services available at The Oil Bar: Back Treatments, Facials, and Shiatsu Eye Treatment.

o   30 Minute Back Treatment

This treatment is great for decreasing anxiety, and relaxing back muscles that are tight. Ideal focus for essential oils, as their application on the back directly and positively affects the body through spinal nerves and central nervous system. Includes cleansing, toning, mask, moisturizer, and relaxing back massage.

o   60 Minute Facial

This treatment is great for decreasing anxiety, relaxing facial muscles that are tight & drawn, and ideal for reducing lines formed by years and stress! Includes cleansing, toning mask, moisturizer, and relaxing facial massage.

o   90 Minute Facial with Shiatsu Eye Treatment

      

      This treatment is great for decreasing anxiety, relaxing facial muscles that are tight & drawn, and ideal for reducing lines formed by years and stress! Helps to restore vitality, and promotes therapeutic drainage for the eye area. Recommended especially for puffiness and/or sinus pressure. Includes cleansing, toning, mask, moisturizer, and relaxing facial massage.

Isn’t it time to really take your care of your body’s largest organ – your skin? Winter’s harsh reality is just around the corner, and what better time to start a glowing routine than before that bitter cold actually get here?

Give it a try first!

  

Our aromatherapy upgrades cost just $5 more, but is you use the coupon below, you will receive a free aromatherapy upgrade using an essential oil with your esthetic service.

At The Oil Bar, we staff experienced, compassionate, and knowledgeable practitioners that participate in our new VIP program, which makes massage therapy and esthetics more practical and feasible for your life. 

As a VIP you will always enjoy perks, and never pay full price for any esthetic or massage service! Want to give it a try first? Enjoy the coupon below for $10 off your esthetic service, with a free aromatherapy upgrade using an essential oil. Take home your essential oil choice for 15% off! Call 614-880-3950 to schedule your esthetic service, or visit www.theoilbar.com www.theoilbar.com and click on the Massage link at the top of the page to schedule online!

VIP Program

Before comedian George Burns passed away at the age of 100, he was asked the secret to his longevity, to which he answered that he gets a massage every day. Most of us can’t afford a daily massage in our time or budget, but at The Oil Bar, we’re making it feasible to include more massage in your life!

We do have periodic discounts, but do you want to know how to receive discounted massages and esthetics all the time? Become a VIP with The Oil Bar’s massage program!

Your monthly fee of $55 will cover 1 relaxation massage or one 60 minute facial to be used that month. While our competitors are charging $75-$80 for a facial or 50 minute massage, our already competitive price of $65 is discounted even more for you! Oh, and we give you a full 60 minutes of hands-on time.

If you choose to get another massage or esthetic service (eg, Deep Tissue, Detox Spa Treatment, Shiatsu Eye Treatment, etc.), your $55 will go toward that. You will only owe the difference, which is also discounted at 25% for our VIPs!

You also have the option to enjoy FREE aromatherapy upgrades and FREE foot scrubs during your massages and esthetic services!

Want more than 1 service per month? Want your monthly massage to be 90 or 120 minutes instead of 60? That’s great! Every extra massage and esthetic service you receive will be 25% off.

As a VIP, you will also get first-dibs scheduling! If there is a specific day & time that consistently works best for you, you can reserve that time slot for weeks, even months in advance!

OK, so what’s the fine print?  …not much, just 4 points!

1. A credit card is required, and will be charged the same day every month – but YOU get to choose the day!

2. No refunds or credits issued for unused monthly services. But really, who would want to skip a massage or facial? This does mean that you can’t skip massages or facials to save for later, but it’s all good, because you really shouldn’t go longer than a month without a massage, anyway. George Burns said so.

3. Monthly massages and facials cannot be transferred to another person as a gift. You can, however, as a VIP, purchase a gift card at 25% off to use as a gift!

4. We require a 1-month notice to exit the VIP program, if you choose to opt out early. However, if you stay and renew your term another 6 months you will receive one free 20 minute upgrade on your first service, and another 20 minute upgrade on the last month of your term! This applies to renewals that have not been interrupted, and the upgrades recur with each renewal!

There is absolutely no start-up fee, and the benefits are out the Ylang Ylang! (See that? See what we did there? That play on words? Ylang Ylang is an essential oil; as a VIP you get free aromatherapy upgrades.)

We may not be able to guarantee you a 100 year life, but we can guarantee that our massages, facials, and related services will help improve the quality of your life. Improved skin health (your skin is the largest organ of your body, ya know, and your body’s first line of defense against outside pollutants & toxins!), pain relief, stress relief, better circulation, improved immunity, increased range of motion & joint flexibility, decreased depression & anxiety, and customizing your care are just a handful of things that we do through massage and esthetics. Ready to get started? Come see us at our Polaris location at 1500 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, OH 43240. We’re on the second level of the mall by JCPenny.

VIP PROGRAM SUMMARY.....

• Monthly fee of $55 will cover 1 relaxation massage or facial to be used that month.

• 6 month term

• All additional massage and esthetic services are 25% off.

• Free aromatherapy upgrades and foot scrubs during services.

• A credit card is required, and will be charged the same day every month – clients pick day.

• No refunds or credits issued for unused monthly services.

• Monthly massages or facials cannot be transferred to another person. VIP can, however, purchase a gift card at 25% off to use as a gift.

• We require a 1-month notice to exit the VIP program, if you choose to opt out early.

• When VIP renews term another 6 months, VIP will receive one free 20 minute upgrade on first service, and another 20 minute upgrade on the last month of the term. This applies to every renewal that has not lapsed.

• No start-up fee