We put out the call, and you answered! We wanted to give away a special 60 minute 4-Hand massage with aromatherapy and host stone spot treatment enhancements to a very special man chosen by you, our clients and friends. We wish we could have put more men up for a vote on this. Whomever is the lucky guy to win this prize, we’re grateful for all the great guys in our lives who quietly hold the world together without a boast, without asking for a word of thanks, and who’d blush to be recognized. We see you. We appreciate you.
Read the nominations below carefully! They’re in the words of loved ones who know them best. Think it over. But don’t think about it too long. Cast your vote on the poll on our Facebook page before June 14, 2018.
May the best man win!
Steven
I would like to nominate my husband, Steven Haase, to win the Fathers Day massage. He is so supportive and such a hard worker, he deserves it!
We met five years ago through a mutual friend. We fell in love quickly and I was sure he was The One only weeks into our relationship!
Let me tell you, chivalry is not dead with him. To this day, he still holds doors open for me, opens the car door for me, tells me how much he loves me and says how beautiful I am every day. He makes me feel so special!
We recently had our first baby in February. While I was pregnant, I had morning sickness for seven months! He always would hold my hair back and say something soothing. I would nap on the couch, falling asleep to Harry Potter DVDs and he would change out the DVDs once one movie ended while I was still sleeping. He helped with the chores and always made sure I was as comfortable as possible. He cooks dinner and makes sure that I get something healthy (meat protein and veggies. I don’t cook). Once having our baby, his continued support is still strong! He was able to take paternity leave with me for two months. He is such a good father, I as a mommy, look to him because he is a natural.
He deserves this massage and I hope he wins! I can’t say enough good things about my best friend, husband, and partner in crime for the rest of my life.
Robert
My husband Robert is so selfless. He married into a remodel of my 111 year old home. His honey-do list has been unending, and he tackles every project with enthusiasm and craftsmanship. He suffers with back problems, yet endured the pain to achieve our dream home. He is always readily available for our blended family, and has embraced my children as his own. Robert truly deserves the incredible massages you provide.
Best of luck to both these good men!
Choose the good life.
Tom Gunn is the marketing director and blog editor for The Good Life Massage. You can reach him via email at tomgunn@gmail.com
We do a lot to at The Good Life Massage to help our clients feel relaxed, and to create an atmosphere of calm and healing. This can be done with all five senses–our specialty being touch, of course. But our second favorite way? Follow your nose.
Our aromatherapy session enhancement is the ideal way to give your massage a little dose of emotional healing. Massage already has great benefits for mental health, particularly depression, negative body image, and others, but adding the aromatherapy enhancement gives that aspect of your treatment a powerful boost.
Skeptical?
It’s understandable. There are no studies or evidence that aromatherapy can heal or cure disease. But that’s not what it’s for, and we make no claim to that. It’s undeniable, though, that aromatherapy has an impact on emotional health and well-being.
Still skeptical? When was the last time you smelled fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies after a hard day? Or coffee as you try to wake up on a rough morning? Smell is potent in shifting mood, and in activating memory and emotion. You might be surprised what the right aroma can do to activate your senses and metaphorically turn your world from black and white to living color.
Our treatment
Our aromatherapy enhancement is simple, but highly effective. You can add the enhancement at any time, even at the last minute. You’ll be offered a wide selection of essential oil blends to choose from. All our oils are naturally sourced. Some of the oils have been blended for a certain effect, or diluted for safety, but each is a natural product of real plants. There are no artificial fragrances added.
You may find that you have too many choices to pick in only a minute or two! Talk to your massage therapist about the different aromas, their qualities, and what they’re good for. Also, this blog isn’t a bad start for learning more about what we have to offer.
Your therapist will begin your session as usual, but will have you lying face down. You’ll be prompted to take a deep breath while the therapist holds a small pool of the essential oil under your face. This gives you a powerful hit, and instantly helps you relax before your therapist has even begun working. In fact, your therapist will be able to go deeper in less time if deep tissue treatment is what you’re after.
The therapist then works the essential oil into your skin throughout the massage, allowing the aroma to interact with your body heat. This causes the aroma to linger over and around you, embracing your senses with comfort and a feeling of well-being.
In my personal experience, when I’ve had this done, I’ll be face down on the table with my eyes closed. I keep thinking the therapist is holding their hand under my face again, because the smell comes back to me, ebbing and flowing in waves. But they’re not! It’s interesting to observe the little tricks your senses can play on you.
Tom Gunn is the blog editor and marketing director for The Good Life Massage. You can hire Tom to help you boost your brand or logo design, or manage your social media and content marketing needs by emailing him at tomgunn@gmail.com
Let’s rip a bandage off right now: there’s no miracle cure for weight loss. Any doctor worth their salt will tell you the truth: to lose weight, there’s no real substitute for exercise and diet. This easy to say, much harder to do. Most people need a strong social support system, and must be willing to commit to long term change to achieve permanent results.
Now for some good news: Massage can play a key role in helping you achieve your weight loss goal.
No miracles, just healing
While some have tried to find in massage some kind of miracle weight-loss cure, massage isn’t that. Massage does nothing directly to burn fat or calories or reduce your waistline.
But massage can be a great supplemental treatment to give your efforts a vital boost to your brain chemisty and morale as your body transitions to a healthier way of living. Massage can help you transition your mindset from self-loathing and punishment to self-worth and healing, all while providing real physical benefits that accumulate over time.
True recovery
As a mode of touch therapy, massage has been shown to have measurable mental health benefits. Studies have shown that regular massage can help improve body image generally, and can be an effective treatment for depression.
It’s been well established by multiple studies that massage reduces cortisol levels–the stress hormone–and helps increase production of dopamine and norepenephrine–the hormones that give us a feeling of happiness and well being.
This really isn’t all that surprsing when you think about it. Humans have evolved to be connected, social creatures. We thrive on personal connection, and struggle in isolation. Touch gives a sense that we’re going to survive, that we’re not alone, and that we’re an individual with value.
And for many, sugary and fatty foods serve as a way to medicate against feelings of isolation and depression. These foods can trick your brain into wanting more by releasing those pleasurable hormones as you eat. Massage can be a healthy alternative to get that dopamine fix as you try to get your brain chemistry back to a healthy balance.
And when you consider the fact that retaining body fat has been linked to high levels of the stress hormone cortisol, massage is a no-brainer for helping you lose weight.
Reward yourself
It’s key to your efforts to set up rewards for doing the hard work of behavioral change. The challenge is to find rewards for yourself that don’t involve food–a reward that could derail your efforts to change.
Massage is the ideal reward for making progress towards your goals. Let’s say, for instance, that you set a goal to work out three times a week for a month. If, at the end of that month, you’ve reached your goal, go ahead and book a massage for yourself! You might even consider a session enhancement or two. (Who knows? Maybe, for you, aromatherapy will become the sweet smell of success.)
Whether your weight loss goals are major or modest, regular massage therapy could mean the difference between success and failure.
If you’d like to get regular massage, but are concerned about the cost, a pre-paid package can save you 10% or more, and can help ensure you’re getting the care you need over time.
If you’re struggling with weight, The Good Life Massage would love to be on your team, both cheering you on and giving you a supportive push along the way.
As with everything on this blog, none of this information should be construed as medical advice or care. The employees of The Good Life Massage, including the writers of this blog, are not medical doctors. Consult with your physician before making any changes to improve your health.
Tom Gunn is the marketing director and blog editor for The Good Life Massage. You can learn more about his freelance writing and editing work by contacting him at marketstediting@gmail.com
In the last post we reviewed a few of the session enhancements available at our clinic. These are a fantastic way to make a great massage experience even better, so if you haven’t already read it, check out that post.
What we haven’t covered, however, are the spa treatment enhancements that are also available. Like any spa treatment, these must be reserved in advance. Don’t ask your therapist for these on the day of your massage, because these require extra time on the schedule and/or prep time that make it impossible to prepare on-demand.
As you’ll see, however, it’s well worth the effort to plan ahead and schedule one of these with your session.
Fancy Feet
If you like the hand or foot sugar scrub, you’ll love this! This is quite a full pedicure, but it’s the next best thing. For 30 blissful minutes, your hardest working body parts get the TLC they deserve. We start with a gentle exfoliating sugar scrub and follow that with hot stone massage. This is a perfect add-on for someone who spends a lot of time on their feet, or who just need some extra attention in that area.
HFS Upgrade
HFS stands for hands, feet, or scalp. You’ll get 15 extra minutes in one of these targeted focus areas. We’ve posted on this space before about how amazing this upgrade can be, but briefly, this adds time to your session dedicated to one of these areas.
Hands. You may not realize just how hard your hands work until you try this. The therapist will spend time on each joint of the finger, soothing all those tight muscles and connective tissues with focused touch therapy. This is highly recommended for anyone who works with their hands, or even just uses a computer a lot (which is pretty much everybody, right?).
Feet. Is there any part of your body that needs more attention than your feet? This enhancement adds 15 blissful minutes of attention just on your feet. This is considerably more than the 3 to 5 minutes your feet would each get in a full body massage, and will have you dancing out the door.
Scalp. It’s counter-intuitive, but the scalp is a great place to get some focus work done. It’s deeply relaxing and can even help relieve headaches. This is ideal for stress relief or to aid with mental health or addiction recovery.
Chocolate Hydrating Face Mask
Good news: this one involves chocolate! Not so good news: it doesn’t involve eating any. It turns out that the flavonoids in cocoa are great for your skin. It smells great, has been proven to leave your face feeling smooth and moisturized, and most of all, gives you that feeling of being treated like royalty.
Again, whichever of these enhancements you decide to go with, remember that each of them require extra time be added to your session. That means these must be booked in advance and can not be added at the last minute. For enhancements that can be added on the fly, see our last post.
Tom Gunn is the marketing director at and blod editor of The Good Life Massage. You hire him to help with your content marketing and social media tasks by contacting him at tomgun@gmail.com.
Our chocolate hydrating face mask session enhancement is the perfect way to add an extra touch of spa luxury to your massage. Not only is it great for your skin, it’s actually a lot of fun to get.
Why chocolate?
Chocolate–or, more specifically, cocoa–has been shown to benefit both physical and mental health. The flavonoids in chocolate have been shown to lower blood pressure.
But should you really be putting chocolate on your face? Doesn’t too much chocolate make you break out?
Actually, eating too much chocolate causing breakouts can more readily be attributed to the fat and sugar you’re also taking in when you eat most chocolate candy.
Our chocolate hydrating face mask is made with pure cocoa powder, giving your skin the optimal benefit. According to Doctor Jessica Wu, MD, a Los Angeles based dermatologist, chocolate, when applied as a mask, can help keep your skin clear and hydrated.
It’s also made with our hydrating face mask, available right here in our clinic. Take home a bottle to repeat the treatment at home!
The fun part
It feels good to wear, but it’s also a treat for the senses, surrounding you with a delicious, rich chocolate smell. You’ll swear someone was baking brownies.
Add the chocolate hydrating face mask when you book your next session, but remember that it can only be added in advance. You won’t be able to add it at the last minute. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Tom Gunn is the marketing director and blog editor for The Good Life Massage. You can find him online at tgunnwriter.com
Massage can be a great help, especially when the stresses of life–good or bad–become more intense than usual. Pregnancy is one of those times of life that, for most, is an exciting and anticipated event, but which brings with it challenges that massage can help you handle.
Christie Ellis, LMP, formerly of The Good Life Massage, is an expert in prenatal and post-natal massage.
Our resident expert in prenatal massage, Christie Ellis, LMT is a former employee of The Good Life Massage and has special training in prenatal massage. As a prenatal massage expert we consulted with her to share some of the fundamentals and benefits of prenatal massage.
What exactly did your special training consist of, Christie?
“Most people don’t get a lot of training other than just very basic contraindications (signs that prenatal massage should be avoided). So I actually got extra training in prenatal techniques at Bastyr University. Carol Osborne was my instructor there, and she is one of two or three national experts on training massage therapists in prenatal massage. So I took her training, which was four days, and it was all just exclusively prenatal and post-partum massage. So I’m certified in that, and I just have more experience in working with that population than most.
You’re a mom. Did you have any experience getting prenatal massage during that time?
I did, once. That was for my first pregnancy. It was actually my first-ever professional massage. I don’t think I even began to understand the positive impact that massage can have on the pregnant body. I think I totally thought of it as a luxury service, just getting pampered. But I didn’t know it would have an impact on my bodily structures. I think that was something I didn’t really understand until after I had my second child and was post-partum and was having all kinds of problems after having two babies.
What are some of the major benefits of prenatal massage?
I would say that there is stress relief, which is really valuable. It effects the nervous system, and is able to calm down everything when there’s anxiety, potentially, about becoming a parent, giving birth, and just preparation for the big event–it lets the brain kind of take a break for a while.
And then, I think, dealing with common pre-natal concerns like psiatica, low back pain, and pain in the shoulders can be alleviated or mitigated with prenatal massage.
What’s the value of one session versus regular sessions for expecting mothers?
Essentially, there is value in one treatment. When you’re doing fewer treatments, the value is more for the nervous system. It takes longer for lasting value and lasting change for the muscles.
I think weekly massage is very reasonable for pregnancy, and is not overkill. Definitely monthly, weekly, or twice a month is great to be able to address issues and kind of help compensating muscles as the baby’s growing and putting stress continuously, increasingly over the pregnancy.
Are there any safety concerns?
Prenatal massage completely safe. Our bodies are protective, and there are a lot of protective structures in between the outside of our body and the baby.
Having said that, there are precautions that need to be taken. Someone adequately trained should be taking those precautions, such as using a side-lying position later in pregnancy or elevating the side of the pelvis, and avoiding areas of inner-tension, such as the inner-thigh. That is, the inner thigh should be an area where caution is used in late pregnancy and post-partum. When you have a practitioner who is trained, and who knows those caution areas, it’s just as safe as any other time. There shouldn’t be any alarm about it causing any harm to the baby.
There’s an increased volume of blood in the inner thigh during prenancy, and most women have a good amount of blood clots in the inner thigh. The hormones released in giving birth cause those to dissovlve on their own, but heavy pressure on the inner thigh can dislodge them and cause problems. It’s better to just keep the pressure light. And then, a few months post-partum, regular pressure can resume.
Are there a lot of signs or contraindications women should be aware of to avoid prenatal massage?
Very few.
If there is a complication, such as preeclampsia, that is probably the biggest red flag to not proceed. Some of the indicators of preeclampsia include high protein in the urine, and high blood pressure to the point where it could cause fetal demise. It’s a highly managed complication. If someone has it, they’re in with their doctor a few times a week, probably.
Where there’s high blood pressure, massage would have to be at the discretion of the healthcare provider as to whether or not the person could tolerate that.
But for the bulk of people who just have aches and pains, maybe a little nausea, but no medical complication: with proper positioning, there are no concerns.
What session enhancements would go particularly well with prenatal?
I think one of the things that is most helpful is hot stone spot treatment. This is because, especially with late pregnancy and the positioning being on their side, getting on the deep pressure can be more challenging. But if the practitioner has a tool, such as a stone, to really go into the muscle with added heat, it can really get to a deeper muscle change than without it. Those are really nice. For work along the spine and pelvic work, it’s really nice to get to those with hot stones.
I also think aromatherapy is a nice enhancement for stress relief and also, again, since the positioning forces us to use less pressure, and because pregnant women are more sensitive to pressure, aromatherapy using something like the deep blue fragrance, or something that will relax the muscles is a nice way to still get the muscle change you want with the limitations on pressure.
Are there any myths about prenatal massage that are worth dispelling?
That it can put you into labor! That is a myth! Massage does not cause labor. Acupressure can precipitate labor, and that would be on the level of applying direct pressure on a very specific spot for two or three minutes every fifteen minutes over the span of about forty-eight hours.
So there’s no way to come in for a prenatal massage and come out a mother?
(laughs) No! And to be clear, acupuncture and acupressure are very different than massage. We’re using much broader strokes with massage and there’s absolutely no concern that a nice foot massage could put a woman into labor.
Another myth I would point out is that abdominal massage can cause miscarriage. That’s out there, too, especially for people who are concerned about the first trimester.
I do think it’s important to have someone that’s trained for any sort of abdominal work, but massage in general is very safe for expecting mothers.
As with everything on this blog, none of this information should be construed as medical advice or care. The employees of The Good Life Massage, including the writers of this blog, are not medical doctors. Consult with your physician before making any changes to improve your health.
Tom Gunn is the marketing director and blog editor at The Good Life Massage. Find him online at TGunnWriter.com
We do a lot of treatment work at GLM, fixing people’s bodies and promoting a healthier lifestyle. But massage walks a line between medical treatment and spa treatment. Massage can be both of those things, but today we’re emphasizing the spa aspect of massage, and how a good thing can be made even better when experienced as a group event.
The only thing better than a day at the spa is a day at the spa shared with friends.
Bring your friends!
Imagine you and your group of friends going out, not just for dinner or drinks, but for a spa experience you can share. A spa night or a big group massage can be just the thing to kick off a wedding celebration, celebrate a birthday, or just ring in a long-awaited weekend. You and your group can have a fantastic experience at GLM, but there are some things you need to be aware of first.
Plan ahead
The single most important thing you can do to help us make your evening a memorable one is to plan ahead. We want more than anything to fulfill your request, but we have limits. Depending on the size of your party, your event could essentially shut down our business for a few hours. This brings with it some commitments and obligations you need to be aware of.
Groups of three or fewer require minimum planning on your part, generally. If all three of you want to have a massage in the same treatment room, that’s the easiest possible event to arrange. We’ll need about a week of notice to ensure we can get three practitioners to work on your group at the same time, but for the most part this kind of event proceeds like a normal massage booking.
For groups larger than three, think of it like this: if we were a restaurant, you’re not reserving just a banquet room, but possibly the entire place.
Commit! (for groups of 4 or more)
You may know about our 24 hour cancellation/no-show policy. Similarly, if you’re reserving our space and services for more than three people, we’ll need you to commit to the event at least a week in advance.
A deposit is required amounting to half of the total bill. If all the services you and your party are planning to purchase total $500, for instance, you’ll need to pay $250 up front to secure the reservation. This will go towards your final bill and can not be refunded or returned.
If you need to cancel or alter the event between a week and two days prior, you’ll lose your deposit. If you cancel or alter the event less than two days in advance, you’ll lose the deposit and be charged for the full remaining balance on the bill as though everything had gone forward as planned.
If this seems drastic, remember that you’re asking us to clear the schedule for several of our tables and rooms all at once. We often bring on extra staff. All that comes with a cost, and a risk, which you’ll be expected to take on. This kind of policy is typical of events of this nature, whether you’re talking about a spa, a restaurant, or an event hall.
Services
With the technicalities out of the way, let’s talk about what you and your guests can enjoy when you arrange a group event.
Massage
Massage is our specialty, of course, and most of our requests are for massage. You and your group will all walk away feeling deeply relaxed and ready for even more fun together.
Session enhancements
A few of our great session enhancements can be taken alone, but most are intended to supplement a regular massage session. Adding these can help the event feel extra special, and help you and your guests feel even more pampered and relaxed.
Keep in mind that while all our enhancements are intended to improve your massage experience, some are more suitable for treatment work than for relaxation, so keep this in mind when selecting the services you want. An example would be ice treatment. This enhancement is ideal if your event is taking place after a friendly game of basketball, but not if you’re just looking to relax for the weekend.
Spa treatments
Thanks to our partnership with aesthetician Natasha Allen of Rain City Beauty Bar, we are able to coordinate with her for your event and offer even more services, including facials and eyelash extensions. These can be a great way to keep your guests occupied if your event is too large for everyone to be having their massages at once.
Is there a discount?
Yes! We can discount our services by as much as 15%. It all depends on what services you want and how many people are in your party.
Talk to us!
If you have questions about the event you have in mind, we would be more than happy to go over the options, costs, and terms with you in detail.
The best way to start is to contact us by email at thegoodlifemassage@gmail.com and include the phrase Group Event in the subject line. And again, the more time before you event you contact us, the more we can do to ensure you and your party have an unforgettable experience.
We look forward to seeing you and your group soon!
Tom Gunn is the director of marketing and blog editor for The Good Life Massage. Find him on Twitter @tomgunnpoet.
Massage seems expensive, and for many it’s difficult to afford. While we make every effort to deliver value while keeping our business viable, there are several ways you can save money on massages at GLM. In fact, we checked, and there are at least ten ways you can save money on regular massage.
1. Prepaid packages
Your employees or co-workers can all share one redemption code, getting everyone more massage and saving everyone money.
Yes, we’ve covered this before, but it bears repeating. Prepaid packages are far and away the best way to save money on massage at GLM. Prepaid packages are somewhat like the memberships you may be familiar with at chain clinics, but without the monthly billing and tight restrictions. Packages allow you to save by pre-paying for your massages at a lower rate. In fact, you get a free massage if you buy 5 or more sessions at once. These allow you to go into your session without even the slightest concern about what it costs and whether it fits in with your finances at the moment.
Packages can be shared with as many people as you like. We highly recommend getting together a pool of friends or co-workers to go together on a package and share it among yourselves. This can be a great little employee perk or gift for the family. We’ve previously written with much greater depth about how these work, so be sure to check out previous posts or our Services page on the website.
Bottom Line: Get free massages! Who can say no to that?
2. Military discount
We’ve just unveiled a great new benefit for members of the armed services and their families. You can now get 15% off single sessions when you present your military ID at checkout. Keep in mind that this discount does not apply to prepaid packages and can’t be combined with any other offer.
Bottom Line: Save up to $24 on a single session!
3. Boeing employee discount
We’re proud Renton natives with strong ties to the community–not unlike a certain airplane manufacturer in the area you may have heard of. We are a part of the network of companies that accept the Boeing employee discount card, and we’re the only massage clinic on that network in the Pacific Northwest. While we’re not officially affiliated or partnered with Boeing, this one is dear to our hearts: almost all of us here at GLM have family ties to this major local employer.
The Boeing employee discount allows for 15% off single massage sessions when you present your Boeing ID or employee discount card.
Bottom Line: Save up to $24 on a single session!
4. Featured enhancements
Every few months we highlight one of our session enhancements. These are little extras you can add to your session. Which one you choose really depends on what you hope to get out of the session. While many have been designed to enhance relaxation, many of them have also been created with muscle therapy and treatment in mind. Normally these range in price from about $5 to $30, depending on what you choose. These can make a huge difference in your massage experience, and can be a great value even at full price.
Our current enhancement as of this post is aromatherapy, and is on sale for $3, which is 40% off. For those of you reading this after February 2016, check our Facebook page or website for information on which enhancement is available at a discount right now.
The featured enhancement discount is a great way to try our different available session enhancements without spending as much, so you can decide whether you’d like to try it again in future sessions.
Bottom Line: You may only save a few dollars here or there, but the added value here could be incalculable.
5. Last minute bookings
Did you know we have a Twitter feed? We use it for all kinds of things, but its primary purpose is to give our clients a timely update on last minute massage openings. Every morning, we look at at the schedule. If there are any slots that have not yet been booked, we’ll announce it on the Twitter feed. If you book the session, either online or over the phone, and mention that you saw it posted on Facebook or Twitter, you’ll get $5 off your session. This discount is perfect for those who have flexible and unpredictable schedules.
Bottom Line: Save $5! If you do it that way regularly, that could really add up over time.
6. New practitioners
As of this posting, we’re growing very quickly. We have a lot of space to use, and we’re doing our best to make the most of it. Whenever we take on a new practitioner, we make an effort to promote their availability. We recruit only the best practitioners, but when they’re first hired, they’re still not known to our clients.
To entice you to give them a try, we often provide a discount for a period of a few months. The amount of the discount may vary, but it’s usually considerable. When we first brought on Christie Ellis, for example, we offered a $15 discount on all her sessions. On a 60 minute massage, that’s about 20% off a one hour session!
While we don’t have any deals running for new practitioners as of this posting, we are definitely going to be hiring more in the coming months and years, so watch the website, Facebook, and Twitter for announced deals.
Bottom Line: You’ll be saving in the neighborhood of $15 or more!
7. Regular promotions
We routinely offer discounts on certain services. For instance, November is always Hot Stone month. Last November we offered $30 off 90 minute hot stone massages booked during for that month.
You never know when something else like this will come up. So, again, be sure to keep an eye on the website, Facebook, and Twitter.
If you have any questions about our discounts and would like to know more, please feel free to give us a call during our normal operating hours of Monday through Friday 9 AM to 9 PM, and Saturdays 8 AM to 8 PM.
Bottom Line: It all depends on the specific promotion, but the savings here is usually a significant percentage off.
8. Insurance reimbursement
We don’t directly bill health insurance, but that’s not to say you can’t have insurance pay for your massage. Some insurance companies will pay for medical massage even if it isn’t offered under your plan. To hedge your bet, we highly recommend getting a referral from your doctor along with a billing code for a diagnosis of what you need treated with us. We can then generate a receipt after your session which you can submit to them for reimbursement.
Also, if you have a flex spending account or a health savings account, massage is usually eligible for spending using one of these alternatives to traditional health insurance. These typically are available through some kind of debit card you can charge, but see your insurance provider for more information on how to use these instruments on your specific plan.
Bottom Line: You might be paying full price at first, but can you jumping through a few hoops could get you the low, low price of FREE.
9. Upgrades
Four hands are better than two!
We love our clients, and want everyone to at least try some of the services we offer. In that spirit, the more you upgrade your session from the standard session, the more you save.
Allow me to explain:
A single standard massage session for 60 minutes is $70. Not bad, but have you considered that a session twice as long is only $120? That’s $10 off per hour of massage!
Consider also our Four Hand sessions. With two practitioners working on you at the same time, they’re able to accomplish twice as much in the session. A sixty minute Four Hand session is $140–just as much as two one hour sessions. But consider how much time and gas that saves you! You’re using half the fuel and time out of your schedule, which is money in the bank. You also get not one, but two free enhancements with the session, adding much more value and saving you even more money.
Couples sessions are also a great way to save, especially if you and you and a friend or a significant other both come in regularly. Why not come in together? And since our couples packages include a free enhancement and a chocolate truffle for each of you, you’re getting $160 worth of service for only $120 in a 60 minute couples session.
Bottom Line: Your mileage may vary, but upgrades are definitely a great value.
10. Insurance claims: personal injury/L&I
We also take worker’s compensation claims or bill your session to auto insurance if you’ve been in an accident and have a doctor’s referral. To book a session under these circumstances, be sure to call us at 425-243-7705, email us at TheGoodLifeMassage@gmail.com, and take a look at our previous blog post for more information.
Bottom Line: Again, does FREE sound like a low enough price for you?
When you get your first massage, you may be coming in as a blank slate, not totally sure what you should be expecting from the experience. After that first session, out of sheer habit, you may be taking everything as it comes with little additional thought. That’s totally understandable, especially if you’re new to massage.
But if you keep going like this, you may be missing out on an amazing experience.
There are many ways your therapist can customize your experience to your liking, many of which are absolutely free. All you have to do is ask.
Music
Did you know you can decide what music is playing during your session?
Music, like massage, is a very personal experience. You have the right to make it your own.
We typically play soothing music, white noise, or both on a small set of speakers in each room. We have chosen music to please, or least not offend most people. But everyone has their own taste; if you don’t like it, don’t tolerate it for a second! The therapist would be happy to turn off any music or white noise at any point in the session.
You can even bring in your own tunes! Some of our clients have been known to make their own massage playlists on their phones and then have those played during their sessions.
Keep in mind, though, that not anything goes. The music you choose shouldn’t be disruptive to the clinic environment. Death metal, for instance, probably wouldn’t be appropriate. This is, after all, a massage clinic, not a crossfit gym.
We’ll also need to keep the volume low enough so as not to disturb any other clients. Please also avoid lyrics or subject matter that are explicit or overtly sexual.*
Rule of thumb: if it’s not safe for work, it’s not safe for the massage clinic.
Alternatively, you’re also welcome to bring in headphones. However, please keep the volume low enough that your massage therapist can ask you questions without having to shout at you.
If you decide to bring in headphones, just make sure you can hear and understand your massage therapist while you listen
Personalized care
Before you’re left alone in the room to disrobe and get under the sheets on the table, your massage therapist will ask you about what areas you want worked on and any areas you would like them to focus on. This is the time to speak up! Our massage therapists are not mind readers.
One of our clients says: “Once I was getting a massage from Nicolle, and at the end she rubbed my feet through the sheets just as part of her finishing move. I loved that! I’ve always had sensitive feet, so I’ve asked for that with every session since.”
You may not be experienced and may not really know what you want. Over time, however, you’ll find that there are certain things that make a massage extra good for you. If you know what that is, please ask for it!*
Do you like your head and face worked on? Ask! That isn’t usually considered part of a full-body session, but we’ll be happy to skip another area of your body to fit it in for you. If you want it added to your full body massage, be sure to book an HFS upgrade ahead of time.
Is there an area you’d prefer your therapist avoid all together? Say so!
Enhancements
We offer a number of great enhancements to improve your massage experience and make it a little different every time. If you’re an experienced massage client and want to change things up a little, these can be a great way to do that. Some are designed more as little extra indulgences, while others have a more therapeutic function. These range in price from $6 to $40. Some of them lengthen your session time or involve special equipment, so those will need to be requested in advance of your appointment.
Otherwise, though, you can add many of our enhancements upon arrival. Just ask!
Little indulgences
Foot or Hand Scrub – leaves skin on hands and feet smooth and soft
Fancy Feet Treatment – perfect for those on their feet all day, this adds 30 extra minutes of focus for your feet alone, and includes your choice of special treatments to make your feet feel like new.
Book your next session today, and this time be thinking about how you want to customize your massage and make it your own.
*WARNING: The Good Life Massage is a legal, licensed massage clinic, and does not provide a sexual service. If you ask for sexual touch (on breasts or genitals) or attempt to initiate sexual touch, your session will be instantly terminated, and you will be charged in full. We will report you to the authorities and you will then be asked to leave the clinic permanently.
Tom Gunn is the marketing director and blog editor at The Good Life Massage. You can follow him on Twitter @tomgunnpoet
Share the power of touch with our couples massage treatment. Our couples massage packages allow you and a friend or loved one to come in and get massages in the same room at the same time. Each of you can request a therapist, or one can be assigned to you. This service is a great way to put each of you in the same relaxed frame of mind. Whether the rest of your plans involve going out or staying in, it’s the perfect way to kick off an evening or a day together.
Our couples massage package includes a free enhancement for both you and your guest. The enhancements available in a couples massage include:
* Hands or feet sugar scrub
* Hot stone spot treatment
* Ice Treatment
* Aromatherapy (essential oils are applied during the massage)
* Tension Release Treatment (Massage oil is applied on high tension areas of the body)
You also receive a complimentary hand dipped chocolate truffle after your session.
Please note that the free enhancement and chocolate truffle are not available for those redeeming promotional coupons from Groupon or Amazon Local, or who are using prepaid package credits for their massage.
Not seeing anyone?
A Couples Massage is still for you! Though the treatment is named “couples” massage, you don’t need to be married or in a relationship for this service. If you want to do something fun with a friend, the couples massage is your ticket to a relaxing day or evening together.
You don’t need to worry about being undressed in front of others, either. Here at The Good Life Massage, we respect your privacy and will skillfully keep you covered throughout the session.
A Couples Massage is best for:
An evening date between you and your spouse
A night out with a best friend
A surprise gift for a friend
Touch: our specialized love language
Touch is one of the five ways people best express their love or feelings of appreciation. You might have felt it when you received a much needed hug from a friend or when a parent held your hand to comfort you when you were child. Feelings of peace, happiness, comfort, and appreciation can all come from the language of touch. Since we are certified massage therapists here at The Good Life Massage, we understand perfectly the power of touch. Rekindle this love language with the couples massage
What if I’m tense and my partner isn’t?
In our couples room, two of our skilled massage therapists will be able to work on both you and your friend on separate tables. Our therapists will be able to help you with any particular body work you need to have done. And don’t worry! If your spouse is having back pain, whereas you’re in for simple relaxation, we are more than capable of accommodating both of your needs.
How do I book a couples massage?
When you book online, add the couples massage for whatever length you desire: 60, 90, or 120 minute sessions are available. When you complete the booking, you’ll receive an email confirming your request for a couples session. If we can accommodate your request, you’ll receive another email confirming the appointment with the names of both therapists you’ll be seeing.
It’s best to plan for a couples session at least a few days in advance. This is because we may not be able to arrange two therapists to be on the schedule at the time you’ve requested. We do our best to fulfill every request, but your patience is appreciated as we try to arrange the logistics of these kinds of sessions. Bottom line: you’re more likely to get the day and time you want for a couples session if you plan ahead.
If you request a session online and have any questions about scheduling, please feel free to call us at 425-243-7705 or email us.
Tanner Zornes is a blog contributor for The Good Life Massage and a student at Brigham Young University.
Do you like your head and face worked on? Ask! That isn’t usually considered part of a full-body session, but we’ll be happy to skip another area of your body to fit it in for you. If you want it added to your full body massage, be sure to 
Share the power of touch with our couples massage treatment. Our couples massage packages allow you and a friend or loved one to come in and get massages in the same room at the same time. Each of you can request a therapist, or one can be assigned to you. This service is a great way to put each of you in the same relaxed frame of mind. Whether the rest of your plans involve going out or staying in, it’s the perfect way to kick off an evening or a day together.
The Good Life Massage 