Tag Archives: coronavirus

Massage in a Time of COVID: Week 2

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This past week, I saw 15 massage clients. That may have been a few too many appointments during COVID times – because I was pretty much dead by the end of the week. Mostly because Thursday and Friday both had four appointments each. By the time you spend half an hour cleaning and resetting the room after each one, it makes for a very. long. day. Everyone was still awesome and helpful and I truly appreciate that! Most everyone remembered their masks and got their health information filled out ahead of time, which definitely makes life a little easier. 

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK

massage COVID-19 lessons week 2

I learned that between “COVID Brain” and generally having to re-learn and change my routine, I’m still kind of scattered and forgetful. It’s equal parts hilarious and embarassing. I’ve messed up a couple of appointment lengths, ending a little too early, which of course I didn’t charge for the part I forgot. The people I messed up with were gracious and understanding.

Since I have to let the disinfectant air dry for 10 minutes, my most frequent thing is forgetting to go back in and put the sheets on the table. I *mostly* catch that before you arrive, but a couple of you had to watch me put the sheets on (insert facepalm here). I’ve started setting a reminder alarm so I’ll get them on BEFORE your appointment. 

Did you know there is an art form to disinfecting a yoga ball? You do now!  Hold it between your feet, spray and wipe one hemisphere. Rotate and repeat on the second hemisphere! Or chase it across the room, a less efficient option.

THINGS I AM CHANGING A LITTLE

INTAKE PROCESS: I now have a second laminated form that I go over with you when you arrive. I’m asking the same COVID-19 symptoms & exposure questions plus a few that are screening you for potential clotting risks. The good news is, it seems like clots are potentially less of a risk for those who have had mild to moderate cases of COVID-19, so some of my anxiety around that is lessened a little.

massage COVID-19 lessons week 2

HEALTH INTAKE FORM: Everyone will need to go in and review/update their intake form on MassageBook prior to each appointment. If you’re coming in weekly and we’ve been in contact, then we can do it bi-weekly. Other than that, I want to keep an ongoing track of any health changes and also make sure you’re looking at the COVID-19 policies each time. 

30 MINUTE MASSAGES: I’ve decided to stop offering 30-minute massages for the time being. It takes at least a half an hour to clean, disinfect and reset the room between appointments, and I feel like a half-hour of massage followed by 30-40 minutes of cleaning and prep just doesn’t make sense at this time. If you have a gift certificate for a 30-minute massage or study break, you can apply it towards an hour massage. If you’re truly in pain and can’t afford an hour, contact me and we’ll talk.

SCHEDULE YOUR MASSAGE TODAY!

I have opened up online booking for all existing clients (this means if you have been in within the last year) through the end of August. I encourage you to book online. It’s still the fastest way to get your appointment. Playing text/email/message tag takes forever, more so now than before.

Meanwhile, wash your hands & stay negative!

THANK YOU AGAIN!

Back to Massages: The Plan (So Far)

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I’m so excited that you’re so excited to get back to getting massages! Here’s a little information to help keep things calm:

back to massages
  • I have not picked an opening date yet. Don’t worry. It’ll come to me eventually, I’m considering a lot of different things (including Maine COVID-19 data) before I start scheduling.
  • I’m going to start with those of you I had to cancel three or more times over the last few months. I know a few of you have elected to wait a little longer, and that’s fine! Please take any health risks you may have into consideration.
  • I will reach out to you to schedule. I’m not ready to open up online booking just yet. It may be a little fussy, to begin with, but once we get going, I’ll open up online booking!
  • Since I’m going to start with an hour between appointments to clean and reset, this means probably only 3-4 appointments a day, 2 on Sundays. Once I get a feel for the cleaning routine, I may be able to shorten the time between appointments again.
  • If you have pre-scheduled appointments into late July & August, chances are we will keep them. I may just need to ask you to shift the time a little to allow for cleaning.
  • Please be patient and we’ll get back to massages again soon ❤️
  • Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions!

Massage Changes in a Time of Changes

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Okay friends. We’re getting serious now, and I need you to know some things. Massage in the age of COVID-19 is not going to be the same as it was before we closed, changes are afoot. Things are going to be pretty different, and probably a pain in everyone’s butt.

But here’s the thing… I’m adjusting my mindset to think about these changes as adding to the existing culture of care at Birch Tree Wellness. This is about taking care of you. It’s about doing what I can to help you with your pain and stress, PLUS having you arrive healthy and leave healthier.

There Are No Guarantees

In lieu of a cure, vaccine, or other intervention for COVID-19, there is no way right now to reopen a massage practice without changes & protocols to protect all of us. Until that changes, there is no guarantee that that we will come away from our interactions unscathed. As I write this, COVID-19 cases in Orono & Old Town are estimated at 1-5 probable/confirmed cases.  In Bangor, 43 probable/confirmed cases. In Penobscot County, 101 confirmed, 2 deaths. We’ve been pretty lucky so far, but it’s far from over.

What I’ve Been up to Recently

research wellness massage changes COVID-19

My previous newsletters/posts have been mostly about the supplies that I’ve been putting together in order to provide a safer massage experience. But let me tell you, that was just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve climbed out of my gardening cocoon and really started diving into all of the information out there.

I have taken two online continuing education courses outlining all that is entailed in creating a safer (note: not SAFE, just SAFER) massage practice. To give you an idea of what we’re working with here, here are some of the main sources I am referencing. I’ve also been reading numerous articles & books.

PPP: Protocols & Procedures in Progress

Information overload, right? Tell me about it! In a nutshell, this is what I’m doing to ensure your safety (and my own) while continuing to deliver the pain & stress relief you need. What I’m asking of all of you is to remember, I’m not doing it to be a pain in your ass.

research protocols safety wellness massage changes massage

We’re all in this together. I love you all, and I will be beyond heartbroken if any one of you contracts COVID-19 as a result of your visit to my office. So, please… brace yourselves for a new norm for a time. It’s not forever, it’s just for now. Here are a few of the protocols I’m working to put in place:

Before Your Appointment

  • Update your online health intake form
  • Health check in 3-7 days before your appointment
  • Health check in 24-48 hours before your appointment
  • Wait in your car or outside until 5-10 minutes before your appointment

At the Office

  • Mandatory face masks worn for the entire time you’re in the office
  • Hand sanitizer will be made available for use upon arrival and any time you need it during your appointment
  • COVID-19 symptom screen upon arrival for appointment
    • If you have ANY symptoms, or your temperature is over 100.4°, we will need to reschedule your appointment
  • Signed informed consent about the risks associated with COVID-19

On My End

massage changes wellness face mask safety
  • I will be wearing a mask during your entire appointment
  • Daily self-screening. I will have a white board posted with:
    • My morning & afternoon temperature
    • If I have any COVID-19 symptoms (even if it’s *just an allergy cough)
    • How many people I have been in contact with, in the last 5-7 days
  • Protocols for what to do if I or a client have been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19
  • Closing protocol in the event of COVID-19 exposure
  • Cleaning checklist for after every appointment

I’m pretty sure there’s more, but I think you get the idea! As the new policies are written, you’ll find them on my Policies Page. I know you’re probably freaking out about the face masks. There’s a way I can set up my face cradle so that you don’t have to wear the face mask when you’re face down. BUT you need to wear it the rest of the time. Also, yes, I will be using a touchless thermometer to check your temperature. Keep that in mind if you’re biking, walking, or running to the office.

I Repeat: We’re All In This Together

community COVID-19 small business massage changes wellness

I know this is a lot of stuff. That’s why I wanted to get it out now, while I work on my end to make it all happen. On your end, it’s mostly just being patient with me, being willing to jump through a few hoops, and being willing to keep that mask on. Be honest with me about your health and your risk of exposure to COVID-19.

I also need you to weigh the risks for yourself before you schedule. Watch the numbers of cases in our community. Think about your own health risk or the risks to those you are caring for. As I said in the beginning, there are no guarantees, we can just do the best we can to try to be safe, and maybe get a little massage in the process.

I still don’t have a firm date that I’ll begin scheduling appointments. I’ll be starting with many of you I had to cancel over the last several months. Stay tuned for more details, information, and to get an idea of what the appointment schedule will be like. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Stay safe. Wash your hands. Be good.

To My Empathic Friends

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These are stressful, scary times. And, as I am wont to do, this didn’t occur to my empathic self until I suffered the effects a few times. If you HAVE to go out in public, be prepared energetically.

What On Earth Does Empathic Mean?

Empaths, or highly sensitive people, are those who are very attuned to the energies and emotions of the people around them. This often makes them very caring, loving people, but it also makes them vulnerable to the negative energies and emotions of people around them.

Am I An Empath?

Dr. Judith Orloff, assistant clinical professor of Psychiatry at UCLA, wrote an article “Are You An Emotional Empath?” that helps people recognize the traits of an empath, and gives great suggestions for dealing with the effects. I created this list of 10 signs you’re an empath based on her article and my own experience. If three or more of these signs apply to you, you’re very likely empathic.

10 signs you are empathic: 1. You feel/react to the emotions of others 2. When others are happy, you're happy 3. Groups of people make you tired/exhausted 4. You feel drained by negative people 5. You require alone time to recharge 6. Your nerves get frayed by noise, smells, or excessive talk 7. People come to you for advice 8. You feel drawn to heal/help others 9. You overeat to deal with emotional stress 10. You develop strong first impressions of people

Well Great, Now What?

So, what tends to take me a few times to catch on to are the situations that really drain me as empath. I finally realized that going out on essential errands during this COVID-19 crisis is kicking my butt. Just stopping to buy milk & toilet paper made me want to take a nap when I got home.

I live in a fairly sparsely populated neighborhood, so I do get a break when I get home. Empathic people living in towns and cities may not get the opportunity to “socially distance” themselves from the stress and anxiety of those around them. So, while I plan to heed my own advice the next time I need to go out, here are some tips on how you can protect yourself whenever you’re around others who are stressed & anxious:

Empathic Friends How to protect yourself in public: 1. Take a Deep Cleansing Breath 2. Visualize A Sphere of Loving & Protective Energy Around You 3. Set The Intention: "I Allow only that which is for my highest good to enter"

What Do I Do If I Still Get Bad Vibes On Me?

You can clear yourself of these negative energies and stressors with a little creative visualization. As you’re getting back into your car, or walking in your front door, take a moment and physically brush yourself off. Brush your hands from the top of your body down, and imagine flinging the energies into the earth to be absorbed and cleansed. If you’re really wiped out, consider taking a shower and visualizing the emotions and energies washing down the drain.

I’m Here For You (You Know… Empathic)

If you feel like you’re still being affected by the stress & anxiety around you, you can contact me for some suggestions. We can also schedule a guided meditation or Reiki session to help you center and manage stress.

Be well & stay well… ~Tricia

Announcing a Temporary Suspension of Appointments

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UPDATE 4/3/2020: The Governor has ordered all non-essential businesses closed, and issued a stay at home order for the month of April. As a result, my office will continue to remain closed until the end of April. I am working my way through my appointments, contacting each person individually. Staying closed in May is also a probability, but let’s keep hoping. Meanwhile, wash your hands, stay home, stay healthy, and stay tuned to my website/blog, Facebook, and Instagram for health and wellness tips and other updates.

ORIGINAL POST 3/19/2020: The decision about whether to continue seeing clients or have a suspension of appointments has been weighing heavily on me the last few days. The rapidly changing news, new information coming to light, and the changing of professional opinions — as well as my concern for the well-being of my clients — have all been taken into consideration. For everyone’s safety, I have decided to close my office until the end of March and see where the coronavirus heads in the next couple of weeks.

Weighing the Factors

As of this afternoon, one case of coronavirus has been confirmed here in Penobscot County, likely right in Bangor. This reassures me that I’ve made the right decision. Here are a few other things that were red flags to me:

maine COVID-19 coronavirus massage suspension of appointments
  • Reports of summer people coming to Maine early, and therefore tracking their germs from home through our airports and grocery stores.
  • Massage Educator Ruth Werner, author of “A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology” originally stated she felt that it was okay to continue to see clients as long as we took precautions, but has recently revised her opinion to state that she feels that it’s just too difficult to confine the virus.
  • My own general stress and anxiety levels, and not being sure if I’m just stressed or actually feeling sick.

What’s Next

massage COVID-19 schedule Maine suspension of appointments

By now, I have emailed all of my clients who were scheduled through March 31st. You do not need to go in and cancel your appointment, I’ll do that for you, so I can track carefully who I’ve had to cancel.

Don’t get too excited and run to schedule a new appointment in April. I’ll be watching what the virus is doing, and in a perfect world we would be able to continue business as usual in April, but I’m feeling cautious about that. I’ve blocked any available appointments the first three weeks of April, and the people I’ve had to cancel this month will get first dibs on them in the order they were canceled. I’ll contact you to schedule.

IF it seems like I need to stretch the closure out into April, I will update you all on my plans via email, Facebook, Instagram, and my website blog.

In the Meantime

massage social media COVID-19 suspension of appointments

If you’re hurting, feel free to email me, and I’ll see if I can help you with stretches, self massage techniques, or Reiki.

Some plans I’m formulating to keep us all busy, informed, or entertained:

  • Blog posts & social media health and wellness tips
  • Videos of self massage techniques & tips to get the most out of your massage session
  • Possible guided meditation recordings/videos
  • Possible distance Reiki shares
  • I will also be providing distance Reiki appointments, with focused Reiki sessions for stress, anxiety, health/immune system support, or whatever you need help with – 30 or 60 minute sessions. Stay tuned for details on how to schedule.

Meanwhile, take care of yourselves and each other, and wash your hands!

Be Well, & Stay Well
Tricia