Frequently Asked Massage Questions

How do I know what type of massage is good for me?

Make sure you visit the Massage Modalities section of our website; you'll find information on the various techniques we use as well as which techniques best suit certain ailments and issues.

Still unsure? Don't worry; before each massage session an intake of your physical and emotional state will be evaluated and together we'll determine goals for your bodywork session. I'm here to help you choose the massage therapy or bodywork that will serve you best.

What's the importance of professional affiliations/licensure/certifications and what kind of credentials and affilitations does Melissa Dawe of Namaste Bodywork posess?

It is essential for massage therapists to affiliate themselves with appropriate professional organizations in order to promote credibility to the profession. In addition to being a BCMT Alumni, I am a Licensed Massage Therapist (Colorado license #4329). I also am Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB), a member of the Summit Independent Business Alliance, a member of Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP), and also licensed to practice massage therapy in Oregon.

How does massage work?

Bodywork tricks the proprioceptors in the muscles into thinking there's too much tension, thus forcing the muscle to RELAX.

If you're wondering what proprioception is, just hold your hand above and behind your head without looking at it. How do you know your hand is there without seeing it? Proprioception is your body's ability to know where it is in space.

Through life and its traumas to the body, proprioception may become distorted. This is where massage can be greatly rehabilitative. Massage works by resetting these proprioceptors to restore the delicate balance of standing upright and moving around, which is often underappreciated and taken for granted.

Can massage help with altitude sickness?

Absolutely, massage can ease the symptoms of altitude sickness. Many people suffer from symptoms of altitude sickness when they visit Summit County. From minor dehydration and headaches to vomiting and actual hospitalization, altitude sickness is a serious condition which takes many by surprise.

A few tips to keep in mind that may help:

  • If possible, for those coming from sea level, try staying in Denver or surrounding areas before coming up to the mountains. This jump up to the mile high city can be drastic enough before adding nearly another mile on top of that.
  • Drink more than enough water during travel as well as throughout your visit.
  • Decrease intake of salty foods, caffeine and alcohol as they dehydrate the body.

Is massage an alternative to surgery?

Sadly, many doctors jump to the surgery diagnosis without telling patients about their alternatives. Fortunately, massage is one of those alternatives! Sometimes there really is no need for surgery or surgery can create more of a problem from the development of scar tissue during the post-operative healing process.

Therapeutic massage helps to facilitate the body's innate power to heal and can alleviate and rehabilitate debilitating conditions including Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and Frozen Shoulder.

However, if surgery is unavoidable, massage is an excellent way to keep scar tissue pliable and to greatly speed recovery time.