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16 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • December 2014 Ask the Expert Massage Envy Spa is the leading provider of therapeutic massage in the United States. The national franchise is dedi- cated to providing professional and affordable therapeutic massage and spa services to members and guests with busy lifestyles at convenient times and locations. Founded in 2002, Massage Envy Spa has more than 1,000 locations in 49 states and more than 1.5 million members. Through its national partnership with the Arthritis Foundation, Massage Envy Spa has raised more than $3 million in four, one-day Healing Hands for Arthritis events. Charles Fisher, seven-year franchisee, is owner and operator of four out of the 37 Massage Envy Spas in the region. Along with Massage Envy Spa Fredericks- burg, Fisher is a franchisee of Massage Envy Spas Stafford, Dumfries and Manassas. Massage Envy Spa At the time of your appointment, you will complete a 10-minute wellness consultation with your therapist. Following your session, you will have a few minutes of fol- low-up to discuss how you feel, how the session went and your therapist will recommend next steps. Q: What are the types of massages available? Refer to infographic (pg. 17): trigger point therapy, Swedish, deep tissue, sports, reflexology, cranial sacral ther- apy, hot stone, prenatal, geriatric. Q: Why get a massage? How does it work? Massage therapy helps you relax, re-align and rejuvenate. There are many positive aspects to receiving massage therapy on an ongoing basis such as stress relief, relax- ation, improved posture and circulation, pain management and more. In fact, The Inter- national Journal of Neuroscience studied a group of people with spinal cord injuries who were also suffering from depression. Twice a week for five weeks, half the patients received two 40-minute sessions of motion exercises while the other half received two 40-minute massages. Both groups improved their physical abilities during that time, but the people who received massage therapy also became less depressed. Q: I've never had a massage. Which one should I try first and what happens when I show up for the appointment? Many who are new to massage start with a Swedish massage, as it rejuvenates and re- freshes while loosening tight muscles. Swed- ish massage is exceptionally beneficial for increasing the level of oxygen in the blood, decreasing muscle toxins, improving circula- tion and flexibility. a sk t h e e x p e rt Have a question you'd like to ask Charles Fisher? He will be hosting our Ask The Expert session on December 11! Ask The Expert is a live discussion on our Facebook page between you and a local expert. Join us every Thursday at 8 p.m. a sk t h e e x p e rt facebook.com/FredericksburgParent