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Leaf Pattern Design

Frequently Asked Questions

“All flourishing is mutual.” — Robin Wall Kimmerer

Do you offer couples massage?

Yes, on occasion I team up with another LMT friend and offer a day where couples can book massages together. If you are interested, please let me know and I will add you to a list of folks to contact when we plan to offer this in the future.

What are your aromatherapy options?

All clients may choose from one of three Ayurvedic massage oils made by Bindi. A sweet almond oil base is lightly scented with balancing herbs and essential oils. Fragrance free topicals are also available.

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Level up your massage experience with the Aromatherapy add-on. A nearby diffuser will disperse your blend of choice into a gentle vapor. Your blend is also directly incorporated into the topical oil or lotion used for the massage:​

Choose from three Perennial Therapy custom EO blends:​
 

  • Calm & Grounding:
    Lavender, Bergamot, Chamomile, Copaiba, Cedarwood, Vetiver
     

  • Clarify & Energize:
    Eucalyptus, Mint, Sandalwood
     

  • Purify & Balance:
    Lemon, Lime, Bergamot, Tea Tree

The blend is both added to a nearby diffuser and also mixed with the topical and applied directly during the massage. Alternately, your choice of blend can be diffused and your choice of Bindi oil (Vata, Pitta, or Kapha) can be used as the topical.

What is the customary tipping practice?

Clients customarily tip massage therapists working in a spa or other setting as an employee. Tips are not typically expected from massage therapists who are self-employed and therefore able to set their own prices. As such, I do not expect tips from clients. However, if you feel inclined to, that's fine and I will accept it, but please be assured it is not at all an expectation.

Where are you licensed?

At this time, I am licensed in Virginia only. My license is on display near the door of the Dome.

How warm or cold can the Dome get? What's the environment like inside?

On average the temperature during massage sessions is between 65 and 80 degrees. If it's chilly I turn on the table warmer and can provide extra blankets.

The Dome has both passive and active features to help keep temperature regulated but when it's very cold and cloudy, nights can get as cold as 40 degrees. When warm and sunny the Dome can get over 90 degrees during the afternoon. As a result, I follow nature's lead and gradually change my hours as the seasons change; during winter I normally open booking between 10am and end by 6pm, and during summer I offer morning and evening massage and close for the hottest part of the day, usually between 1-5pm. 

The Dome tends to get somewhat humid in the winter as the vents are closed up, especially after we water the plants. It can also get humid in the summer if the outdoor conditions are cloudy and muggy.

What if I need to use the bathroom?

Guests are welcome to use the first floor bathroom located at the house, a short walk away from the Dome. Let us know first so that we can secure the dog, who is friendly but is still being trained to stay down and not jump.

How much should I undress?

I drape everyone according to Virginia state guidelines. You will be covered with a clean sheet, and then a blanket on top of that, (or a second sheet if it's warm). Each area of the body that I am working on will be uncovered one section at a time and then re-draped. The genitals are never exposed. I always drape to cover the chest, regardless of gender, unless there is a specific indication for breast massage, but most people need a doctor's note prior to this treatment.

I suggest clients undress to their comfort level. I do not put my hands underneath clothing that remains worn. For example, if the client wears their bra, the shoulders and back (where there are straps) are limited to compression work only. About 50% of clients leave underwear on, and 50% remove it. Clothing can potentially cause drag on the sheets when turning over but generally this is a comfort issue. I hold the draping in place when it comes time to turn over.

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Before the client undresses I will leave the platform and wait behind a large privacy screen and wait until the client is on the table and covered themselves.

What if I get emotional as stress is released?

It's not unheard for clients to cry on the table or have strong emotional responses. Touch, and especially massage, can evoke a wide range of feeling. If you think you might cry it would be great to let me know, but unless you want to stop or pause the massage, I can keep working. Often a good cry can be very therapeutic.

What if I have sensitivities to fragrances and chemicals?

All laundering solutions for the blankets, sheets, towels, and face cradle covers are eco-friendly and use minimal or no fragrance. White vinegar is used in the rinse cycle to eliminate any residue.

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All fragrances used in topicals and aromatherapy products (oils, lotions, or creams applied to skin) are herbal or essential oil based. The Bindi oils are based in sweet almond oil, so if you have an almond allergy we can use an alternative, such as on oil of avocado, jojoba, coconut, or a hypo-allergenic cream or lotion.

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If you have any allergies to essential oils, or nuts, please let us know before hand.

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Additionally the sheets are 100% cotton and the blankets are currently polyester fleece. We plan to upgrade the blankets to a natural fiber version soon, once we get enough clients.

Is the Greenhouse Dome building ADA compliant?

Officially no, but there are no steps between the parking area (an ample flat gravel area) and the dome. There is a threshold at the doorway and a couple of short-rise steps to get on the platform.

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Additionally, the table height is electronically adjustable with the touch of a button and can be lowered to ease transitions to and from the table.
 

If you have accessibility needs, please let me know so we can plan to accommodate. I can also step in to help with clients getting on or off the table if needed.

I'm a first time visitor. Where should I park?

From the Berlin Turnpike, we are the 3rd house on the left (a 1924 brick foursquare). Head up the gravel driveway and turn right after passing the small brick garage. You will find parking close to the path to the door of the Dome, as the parking area is gravel between the back of the brick garage and the front of the big metal barn.

Do you accept insurance?

We do not accept insurance at this time. However, we are able to provide you a receipt and appropriate documentation that you can file with your insurance company to seek reimbursement.

What else does Perennial Therapy Do?

We currently offer overnight "glamping" accomodations through HipCamp.

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We are also in the process of establishing a plant nursery and will soon offer native plants & trees, houseplants, succulents, vegetables, flowers, microgreens, and mushrooms.

Please tell me more about your values

Ethics cannot be separated from honest and effective wellness care. In this spirit, Perennial Therapy LLC is pro-compassion, pro-empathy, pro-diversity, pro-LGBTQ, pro-due process, and pro-civil rights. Self care matters, and so do constitutional rights.

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That said, I typically avoid talking about anything serious during a massage session, as the point is to try to keep the vibe as relaxed as possible; deep conversation is generally counter to deep relaxation.

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Based on the detrimental societal, environmental, and moral consequences of Artificial Intelligence use, Perennial Therapy's policy is to completely avoid using AI in our business. The use of AI has adverse impacts including data corruption, privacy breaches, bias and discrimination, job displacement, environmental degradation, resource depletion, externalized costs, emotional distress, and financial burdens to private citizens as we continue to bear increasing electrical and other costs of AI and data centers.

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