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General FAQs.
Do I have to choose a technique before scheduling an appointment?
Not at all. All you need to do is book an appointment with one of our Registered Massage Therapists. During your session, your RMT will create a tailored plan of various techniques designed around your specific needs.
This is my first massage – what can I expect?
Firstly, good for you! Here are some notes about getting started at Knead.
- Please fill out your intake form online prior to your appointment time (it will be emailed to you directly).
- You are welcome to wear relaxed clothing, or come as you are.
- Enter the clinic a few moments early to check in with reception.
- After you check in, your RMT will join you shortly to guide you to the treatment room.
- Your RMT will go over your intake form with you. You will both have time to ask questions and get a clear idea of what will be taking place during your session.
- You and your RMT will discuss what clothing may need to be removed, and how to get on the table.
- Each treatment includes an interview/assessment, hands-on treatment, and there may be a few minutes at the end of the session to go over some homecare exercises.
If you have any other questions about your first visit at Knead, please get in touch!
What happens if I need to cancel an appointment?
We understand that you may sometimes need to cancel your appointment, so we’ve tried to make our cancellation policy simple.
Our policy depends on how much notice you provide:
- Provide 24+ hours notice and there is no charge for cancelling your appointment
- Provide less than 24 hours notice and we charge $30 fee for the missed appointment
- Provide less than 2 hours notice OR don’t show up and we charge 100% of the cost of the missed appointment
We encourage you to use our online booking calendar to book, reschedule, or cancel your appointments.
You cannot cancel or reschedule online if your appointment is less than 24 hours away. Please call the clinic at 250-753-6322 instead.
What’s the difference between an RMT and a masseuse?
Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) are governed by the province that they are working in, and work hard to uphold the standards of practice set out by their college and provincial association. In British Columbia, these standards are monitored and upheld by The College of Massage Therapists of BC and the Massage Therapists Association of BC.
RMTs operating in British Columbia must have over 3000 hours of training – the highest requirement in North America.
A masseuse, conversely, can be anyone from a student with basic training to someone with a personal, general interest in massage.
What’s your no-show policy?
If you do not show up for a scheduled appointment, or if you provide less than 2 hours of notice that you’re unable to come, you will be charged for 100% of the cost of your missed appointment, without exception.
I am short/tall/large/small – can I still get massage therapy?
Absolutely. Your size doesn’t matter. Our tables are powerful, and we have lots of options for pillowing all lengths of humans.
Can I fill out an intake form before my first appointment?
For sure! It’s not mandatory to fill out the intake form out before your first appointment, but it will save some time. If you have any questions about any of the fields on the form, just leave the area blank and we will go over it in person.
Billing FAQs.
Do you offer direct billing?
Yes, we are able to bill select insurance companies directly. All you need to provide us with is the policy number and ID for your extended care company and we’ll take care of the rest.
Currently we offer direct billing for Pacific Blue Cross, Green Shield, Great West Life, Sun Life and Manulife. Learn more on our dedicated insurance & direct billing page.
How much does massage therapy cost?
Massage therapy rates vary depending the length of your session, and some people will be fully or partially covered by their health care plans.
For current rates, please refer to our rates & billing page, and for more details on insurance coverage check out our insurance & direct billing page.
Do I tip my practitioner?
No. We appreciate the thought but absolutely cannot accept any form of gift or gratuities for our services.
The best way you can show appreciation for our services is by referring us to other people in need. Writing us a positive review on Google or Facebook also goes a long way to helping new clients learn about our clinic.
Is massage therapy covered under my health plan?
Whether or not massage therapy is covered depends on your specific plan. There are other considerations as well, such as if you are eligible for MSP, or if you are member of the RCMP.
For more detailed information about insurance coverage, please see our insurance & direct billing page.
Technique FAQs.
Re: Systemic Deep Tissue Therapy
Does “Deep Tissue” mean there is a lot of pressure?
Systemic Deep Tissue Therapy® is considered heavy-handed work, but the style is more about speed of the work, and not the pressure per se. And don’t forget, speed and depth can be changed any time you ask.
Re: Neuromuscular Therapy
Could these “trigger points” be the reason for my headaches?
Yes! In fact, trigger points may be the little culprits for a number of different conditions, and are found in muscle, tendons, and fascia (the bands or sheets of connective tissue).
Remember, trigger points are usually worked on no matter what: when we find them, we try to remove them.
Re: Muscle Energy Technique
Is MET performed before, during, or after the application of oil?
Muscle Energy Technique can be done at anytime, but is usually done before oil is used. That said, each RMT may have different ideas after assessing you.
Re: Muscle Energy Technique
What does it mean when you say “actively” contract?
It means we are asking you to do a little work! In this case we will move your body (or joint space) into the position required, and then ask you to gently move back to your neutral position while we gently resist the return. It’s really fun!
Re: Myofascial Release
I slump… a lot. Would Myofacial Release be helpful?
Absolutely! The Myofacial Release technique opens up the contracted fascia and stimulates the over-stretched (and equally important) tissue.
Re: Sports Massage
2 years ago I injured my hamstrings, and now I can’t squat as heavy as I’d like. Would Sports Massage help?
Yes. If there is anything that is impeding your performance we consider it an important issue, and Sports Massage can help. Regardless of the sport or the age of the injury, we will look at your goals and get you back to form.
Re: Pregnancy Massage
I am pretty huge at this point – can I still get Pregnancy Massage?
Of course, and you definitely should. Really. We can pillow you (imagine more pillows!) and we have two different sets of supports that may allow you to be on your tummy.
Re: Pregnancy Massage
I see you have male RMTs – are they ok with seeing me for Pregnancy Massage?
You bet they are. They have had their own kids, they lived it, they get it.
Re: Pregnancy Massage
I am still very early in my first trimester, is it ok to have a massage?
Yes, women do amazing things ALL THE TIME while pregnant. We will avoid a few areas until you’ve hit your 12 week marker, but please come in and enjoy!
Re: Therapeutic Exercise
I’ve been given exercise before and I never do them, why would this be different?
Put plainly, the more YOU do, the less you will need US.
We know it’s difficult to fit time in for exercises, so we don’t usually give you too many. We like to give one at a time, and follow up. If you’re doing it, we can tack on another. If not, we’ll try another one that might work for your lifestyle. No pressure, no guilt, just options.
“I love going for my massages each month. They make me relaxed and have less pain from my Cerebral Palsy spasticity.”
Haley
