Come visit one of our THREE LOCATIONS in East Vancouver!
Come visit one of our THREE LOCATIONS in East Vancouver!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Paper Cranes?
Cranes are an auspicious symbol in many cultures throughout the world. The paper crane, specifically, is symbolic of hope and healing during challenging times, longevity, and good fortune. We thought this was quite fitting - both for opening a new massage therapy clinic, and the work we do here each day.
If you'd like some in your space, too, the paper cranes you see hung from the ceiling were commissioned from Yukiorigami-Canada & Aiko's Family Origami and Crafts.
Massage & Your Appointment
The most important thing? It feels good! You don't need to have anything that needs "fixing" to get a massage. Other wonderful things massage can help with:
- stress reduction or an addition to your self-care routine
- learning more about your body and how to better care for it
- recovery from sports injuries & activities, such as strains and sprains
- physical assessment to support your athletic goals
- managing chronic injuries/chronic pain
- you slept the "wrong way" and now you can barely move
- you sit/stand for many hours every day and need a reset
- feeling more connected to your body
... and so much more!
Please note that many extended health insurance providers offer coverage for massage therapy for a therapeutic or medically indicated purpose - check with your insurer if you have any concerns.
Your appointment time includes a discussion of your health history, relevant physical assessments, treatment, homecare recommendations, and education, as appropriate.
Initial appointments usually have a bit more time spent on health history and assessments as well as a review of informed consent.
Please ensure you fill out any intake forms you receive by email prior to your appointment.
It sure is! This is your time - we encourage you to unplug and tune into your own body. However, we will still check in a couple of times regarding pressure and comfort during your treatment.
If you would like to talk, we are happy to - we'll follow your lead.
It depends. If you have a specific injury/issue that you want to address we may suggest a series of several massages 1-2 weeks apart. Your body is doing most of the work to get you better, it needs time between treatments to do that.
For maintenance treatments or general relaxation, once a month to a few times of year will give you a lot of benefit.
Generally, longer term concerns will take longer to treat. Your therapist can provide you with more case-specific information.
Safety & Accessibility
Massage doesn't need to be painful to achieve good results. How much pressure/discomfort should there be? As much as you want.
While we do not believe in the "no pain no gain" mentality, our goal is that you feel both comfortable and that we're appropriately addressing why you came in. We will always check in with you during your treatment to make sure the pressure we are using feels appropriate.
Massage is absolutely safe (and deserved!) at all stages of pregnancy - even high-risk pregnancies.
Positioning for comfort is one of the main considerations. Did you know we have a pregnancy support cushion? This cushion is also great for anyone who can’t lie comfortably on their stomach.
We encourage everyone to undress to their own comfort level - this can mean as little or as much as you'd like. We can massage over clothing!
If you choose to undress, you will be covered by a sheet and blanket at all times during treatment. Your therapist will communicate with you, and only undrape the area they are working on while they are working on it.
We drape all bodies the same, regardless of your gender identity: for example, the chest always remains covered, unless you seek breast massage treatment and have had a thorough consent discussion with your therapist.
Trauma-informed practice is a popular term that can mean many different things to different people. There is no official course or program that certifies someone as "trauma-informed."
At Paper Crane, we care deeply about ensuring our patients feel safe and cared for. To us, this begins with using informed consent, communicating openly and proactively, being present and attentive, and continually investing in our own learning and well-being to best show up for you.
We understand that safety is subjective and that trust is earned. Our hope is that each person finds a practitioner who is the best fit for them.
Both our Commercial Street and Parker Street locations are wheelchair accessible.
Please note that, depending on your mobility, the washroom at the Commercial Street location may not be accessible. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at info@papercranemassagetherapy.com
Paper Crane Massage Therapy
3589/3593 Commercial St, Vancouver or 3195 Parker Street, Vancouver BC
info@papercranemassagetherapy.com - appointment cancellations are not accepted at this email address.