FAQ

Massage Therapy is the manipulation of the body’s soft tissue by an accredited Massage Therapist. The word massage comes from the French massage, “friction, or, kneading,” possibly from Arabic massa “to touch, feel, handle” or from Latin massa “mass, dough”.  An older etymology is the Hebrew me-sakh” to anoint with oil.”

Massage involves manipulating the body with pressure applied by the hands, fingers, elbows and forearms.  There are over eighty different modalities of massage. Most often, the client is treated while lying on a massage table, sitting in a massage chair, or lying on a mat on the floor.  The client may be fully or partially undressed and throughout the massage and covered with towels or sheets according to the modality

Only an accredited Massage Practitioner or Massage Therapist should perform any type of massage therapy.  You can and should ask for your Practitioner’s credentials prior to receiving massage.  What’s the difference between a Massage Therapist and a Massage Practitioner?  Certification in Quebec differs from elsewhere in Canada; In Quebec, a Massage Practitioner needs 400 hours of theory and practice to be certified, whereas a Massage Therapist needs at least 1000 hours of theory and practice to be certified.  Our practitioners have over 1000 hours of training and practice and has been certified in the following disciplines:  Swedish, Californian, Chair and Pre-Natal Massage and Reflexology (Foot), Deep Tissue, Baby and Toddler Massage, Shiatsu, Cranial Sacral Therapy,  and are certified at the Reiki Grandmaster.  One should always verify that your practitioner has accreditation from a reputable organization that can attest to the therapist’s training and education.  Our practitioners have accreditation from both the RMQ (Regroupement des Massothérapeutes du Québec) and the ANQ (Association des Naturothérapeutes du Québec) and can issue receipts as a Massage Therapist and as a Naturopath.

We know that massage can reduce neural activity by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system which reduces heart rate, respiratory frequency and induces the uptake of serotonin and ‘good’ hormones.  This has proven to be beneficial for stress and anxiety reduction and has shown to promote deeper sleep cycles in those suffering sleep disturbance (and the rest of us who just want a better night’s sleep).  Massage Therapy has also been shown to stimulate the lymphatic system and blood circulation, promote digestive stimulation, reduces congestion in those suffering from allergies and help with the detoxification process of the liver and kidneys (metabolic waste elimination).  When focused on the belly and intestines, it is especially helpful for those with bowel and stomach problems such as IBS.

While Massage Therapy is virtually risk free and each treatment at Arco Iris is designed for the individual client, it is of the utmost importance that you discuss your medical history with your Arco Iris Practitioner.

All Arco Iris massage and Reiki therapies can be performed on-site at the Arco Iris studio, in-home or at one’s place of business.  Arco Iris practitioners can be booked for group sessions (meditation or Reiki), corporate work (on site or at a retreat site of your choice) and for a variety of individual and small group sessions.

All clients are asked to fill out a brief medical health history form before engaging in any bodywork or energy work.  Prior to a session, clients are expected to be recently showered.  For first time clients, approximately 15 minutes is allocated prior to the massage for a consultation with the practitioner.  During this consultation any questions or areas of concern are addressed.  All clients are given total privacy before a massage to undress and get comfortable with the environment prior to settling onto the massage bed.  After a session, clients are encouraged to drink in order to flush toxins from their system.

Absolutely! Arco Iris Practitioners can be booked for corporate and private events. We offer a range of workshops from Meditation and Reiki sessions to Chair Massage for the office party.  Give your friends the treat of relaxation and book us for a birthday party!  We’re happy to help you plan your event, so just give us a call and we can build something to your specifications.