Frequently Asked Question

After Life Massage has a physical clinic inside the Massage Center of Kirkland. Address: 11416 Slater Ave NE, Kirkland, WA 98033 Suite #203 This clinic only accepts scheduled appointments (no walk-ins). There is free/open parking at this building. Inside Suite #203 is a lobby and four rooms. Three of these rooms are unaffiliated with After Life Massage and we ask our clients not to disturb them. After Life Massage is the room to the left when entering, the door directly around the left wall ahead. If the door is closed, please do not enter or knock. Take a seat in the lobby and your therapist will come get you when they are ready. If the door is open, feel free to enter. If your therapist is not in the room, feel free to take a seat and wait for their return (they are likely washing up).

Our base location is where our mobile therapists collect their gear. This location is NOT our clinic. For privacy reasons, we do not state where our base location is, as it is the physical home of the owner and no work is performed in the home. This base location is where items are gathered from prior to a job or in between jobs. This means, all jobs are measured in distance from that location when it comes to mobile. The distance between jobs is based on Base Location to Client Location (home address to home address). This distance is not city to city. For this reason, as well as the above, we have chosen to keep private our base location to avoid confusion about distance time. While the base city to a clients address may be within our time range, from the base location, which could be on the outskirts of said city, may not be.

Masks are not required in our practice. However, upon request, clients can request masks be worn, however, the therapist is only required to wear one if the client does as well. Without both parties wearing a mask, a mask is inefficient.

Due to many of our therapists owning animals, including a service dog, and many of our mobile clients owning pets, we cannot provide a pet/animal allergen safe environment even in office.

For the safety of our clients, we do our best to avoid all products that contain Peanuts and Tree Nuts.

Currently, the oil will vary depending on whether you are with a mobile therapist or visiting our clinic. During mobile, the main oil offered is pure Apricot Kernel oil. Our backup oil is pure Grapeseed oil. During Clinic, the client is allowed to pick from three oils: 1 ) Grapeseed Oil (scentless) Main(only) Ingredients: Grapeseed Oil We also offer a Watermelon scented variety. 2 ) Pomegranate and Fig Oil (Sweet smelling) Main Ingredients: Canola Oil, Safflower Seed Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Pomegranate Fruit Extract, and Fig Fruit Leaf Extract. In-Clinic, we also offer Aroma Therapy at the start of a session. To ensure clients are not overwhelmed by scents used during previous sessions, we use a water-based system, ensuring the scent only lingers for ten to fifteen minutes. Unfortunately, we do not offer CBD oils due to medical reasons. If you'd like them used (and are providing), the therapist may be required to wear gloves during the massage to avoid direct contact with the product themselves. This may severely limit the quality of the massage.

At After Life Massage, our therapists are trained in Swedish. Our main provided styles/types of massage are: Deep Tissue Relaxation Lymphatic Drainage Medical (facilitate healing of injuries) Prenatal and Postnatal Hospice. We also offer Cupping.

Pain is an experience we all experience differently. For some, Deep Tissue doesn't hurt outside a few small areas. For others, they cannot take even basic Deep Tissue due to their body's sensitivity to pressure. Neither is right or wrong. Everyone's body is different and it is important to listen to your body's limitations.

Yes! In fact, many of our therapists love when your clients engage in conversation. Of course, we understand if you're also looking for silence. Our therapists try their hardest to read the client to judge what level of communication, if at all, is appropriate. Never be shy to let them know ahead of time if you want a fully silent massage. However, even during fully silent treatments, your therapist may need to ask one or two questions to ensure the best experience.

We allow our clients to sip from water, tea or other non-alcoholic beverages during their session as needed to stay hydrated and comfortable. However, we do not allow alcohol consumption during massage or any sort of Vaping or Smoking. Every therapist has the right to decline services if the client appears intoxicated or high, and they may also decline services if the client smells heavily of Marijuana or Cigarettes/Cigars.

We ask our clients to undress to their level of comfort. However, as many of us like to say: "Undressed is best". We are trained in proper draping of our clients to ensure they are never exposed, so clients who choose to full undress will always be appropriately covered. Clients who request gluteal work, such as for lower back pain, can receive a better massage if the therapist is able to use smooth gliding motions. When covered in fabric, we are only able to press down over the area, which may not give the pain relief the client is seeking. The more clothing the client keeps on, the harder the massage will be to perform in a manner that is most comfortable. With that said, we respect our clients and their choice to remain covered in a way they are most comfortable with.

There are a number of reasons why someone cannot lie flat on their stomach, from recent surgeries or births, pregnancy, trouble breathing, etc. If these reasons apply, we will perform the massage in the same way we do for prenatal, which involves a reclined and side-lying positions. If you have trouble lying on your stomach due to your chest/breast size, we can provide a breast-bolster that takes some of the weight off your chest. We can also use rolled up towels if the bolster isn't available.

If you need assistance to get on or off the table, let the therapist know ahead of time and they will gladly assist. A stool is kept both at the office and inside the mobile table. Unfortunately, the table height is set for the height of the therapist to protect their back and knees. This means it cannot be lowered for the client unless they are willing to have a massage performed where their therapist is seated on a stool the entire time (limited pressure and maneuvers).

We understand and sometimes struggle ourselves with asking our massage therapists for less or more pressure, to tell them we don't like a move they are doing, etc. However, it is important that you speak up, politely of course, and let them know what you need. If you need a tissue, need to request a bolster or adjustment with the face cradle, all you need to do is ask. Your therapist is there to help.

If you're looking for mobile massage, the table will need a decent bit of room. The table is close to 7-feet in length with the headrest inserted. There needs to be a few feet of space at the head and at least two feet on each side and the foot. We need less room for reclined massage, where the headrest is not inserted.

Yes and No. Our therapists will climb a reasonable amount of porch steps or entry steps to gain access to the main level of the home. However, unless someone in the home is able to assist the therapist in taking their table up and down full flights of stairs to different levels of the home, our therapists will not be permitted to climb the stairs alone due to the high risk of injury. While we used to allow our therapists to do so, after a few falls and some injuries from lifting the tables awkwardly to ascend and descend stairs, we have decided that, for the safety and well-being of our therapists, they no longer ascend/descend flights of stairs beyond those (within reason) that allow them access to the main floor. This means, apartments without elevators will not be allowed without assistance. Second floors or basements will not be allowed without assistance.The therapist can/will assist the client, client's family member or client's friend, in carrying the table to and from another floor.

After Life Massage does not accept any insurance. However, we do accept HSA and FSA cards.

As mentioned in another question, After Life Massage does not accept any form of insurance. However, that doesn't mean you can't ask your insurance for reimbursement if you are within the requirements to do so. Here is how a Super Bill Works... Super Bills: Clients must have a referral from a doctor. Both diagnoses codes and referral notes are required to produce a Super Bill Receipt for the client. Clients must pay the full cost of service upfront and seek reimbursement after. This Super Bill Receipt will be e-mailed to the client by the end of the day or when a number of massages have been performed (it's called a Super Bill for a reason!). Clients are required to submit their own Super Bill to their insurance. After Life Massage will NOT submit them on a client's behalf. Reimbursement by insurance is not guaranteed. If you wish to go this route, simply let your therapist know before (in the notes at booking) or at the time of the massage. You will be asked to send a copy of the referral (e-mail or text) or bring one to your appointment for it to be documented. It is known at this time that Aetna does not accept superbills.

We accept the following payments: Card (Credit/Debit) *Cash Payment Apps: Zelle, Venmo, or CashApp. *Cash payments must be in bills $5 or larger. We do not accept $1 bills or crumpled/torn bills (Due to cash drop offs at the bank usually being after hours or on days they are closed, we often have to use the machine to deposit and it does not like to accept damaged bills). *Cash must also be in the amount due (+ tip amount if tipping). For safety, our therapists do not carry cash to make change and our systems are not designed to 'roll over' money to future massages. If given money beyond what is owed that is not given as a tip, the money will be declined and a different payment method will be requested. If the client cannot use another method or refuses to, the amount over what is due will be considered a tip and not rolled over. This can also result in termination of the client/therapist relationship as it shows a blatant disrespect and disregard for the rules our therapists follow per our business structure. We do Not accept: Checks,Bank Transfers, Paypal or any other Payment App not mentioned above.