If you haven’t yet made massage a regular part of your fitness routine, then you may look at it as a luxury. But Columbia Basin Racquet Club recognizes that massage can be a key component of self-care and health.
Jaime Reagan has worked at CBRC since 2018, with a short absence this year for maternity leave. Now she’s back and seeing clients midday during the week. She specializes in therapeutic massages that include a combination of deep tissue, Swedish, myofascial, and sports massage.
BENEFITS
She discovered the benefits of massage in preventing injuries when she was a Division I volleyball athlete at Ball State University. After graduating with a degree in business administration, she immediately enrolled at Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School in Iowa where she completed a 625-hour program and received her massage license.
Jaime says there are other wide-ranging benefits from massage. It can relieve stress and chronic pain, reduce tension and headaches, increase circulation, and lower blood pressure. It can also lead to a better range of motion, improved sleep, a boosted immune system, and increased mental alertness.
When Jaime gives a massage, her mind is focused on what is happening below the skin’s surface. She says, “I analyze how the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia are responding to the treatment along with what could be causing imbalances in the body.”
CLIENTS’ NEEDS
The length of a massage varies, but it’s typically 30 to 90 minutes long. When you come to your scheduled appointment, be prepared to share what specific areas you’d like massaged. You can focus on your upper or lower body, or have a full-body massage. A full body massage usually begins on the back and then moves down to the legs. You will then be asked to turn over so you are face up. The massage continues on your arms, legs, neck, and abdomen.
The experience is completely private and catered to the clients’ needs and comfort levels. You’re not required to undress, but if you do, you’ll be covered by a sheet and/or blanket at all times. Only the part of the body that is getting worked on at that moment is uncovered.
It’s best if you don’t eat beforehand, but it’s helpful to drink water both before and after getting a massage. You may experience soreness during a massage, but it shouldn’t hurt. A key to positive massage is good communication – if something is too intense or doesn’t feel right, then speak up so you can get a massage that’s tailored to your needs.
SELF-CARE ROUTINE
Jaime sees massage as a calling and she gets tremendous satisfaction from being part of her clients’ self-care routine. She also loves to work at CBRC because the respect and care she feels for her clients are reciprocated. She says CBRC supports and encourages work/life balance: “They realize I’m not just a massage therapist but a wife, mom, athlete, and individual too. We operate as a family which translates to our members and creates an atmosphere where everyone feels at home.”
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT
Making a massage appointment is simple. You can schedule an appointment online, stop by the front desk, or call CBRC at 509-943-8416. Massages at CBRC are affordable – a 30-minute massage costs $30 – and your insurance may reimburse the cost