Appointment Prep

What you need to know before your first session:

1.) ARRIVAL TIME

Your session will start at the time you scheduled your appointment. In order to maximize your session time, please PLAN TO ARRIVE AT LEAST 10-15 MINUTES PRIOR to your appointment. This will allow time for parking, paperwork, consultation, going to the bathroom, etc.. The therapist is not able to omit proper pre-treatment consultation or the gathering of completed paperwork and would like to avoid using any of your session time for these additional treatment requirements.

2.) CONSULTATION

New shiatsu clients and shiatsu clients who have not been seen for more than six months will be charged a $35 initial comprehensive consultation fee. This is a one-time charge for the first appointment and will not be charged again to regular clients unless they fail to return for more than six months. Consultations are scheduled like regular appointments, paid prior to the appointment, are non-refundable, and subject to the same cancellation policy as regular appointments. For new and returning clients who are charged the consultation fee and subsequently book an appointment, the cost of the consultation fee will be subtracted from the cost of the first treatment. Clients can determine if they would like to do the consultation via Zoom, telephone, or in person on the day of treatment or on a separate day. Whenever intake paperwork is available online, clients will be asked to complete and submit the paperwork electronically.

3.) CLOTHING, HYGEINE & ETIQUETTE

Unless you are receiving Swedish massage, you will remain fully clothed during your session, except for shoes and jewelry. Please wear pants that are not restrictive at your waist, not tight at the hip, knee, or ankle joints, and that do not pull on the skin of your legs. Short shorts and jeans are NOT a good option, but you will be able to change into appropriate, alternate clothing during the session, if necessary. Sweatpants or yoga pants are good options. Shirts should likewise not be overly restrictive at the shoulder, elbow, or wrist joints and preferably do not have excessive buttons or zippers. A t-shirt or tank top is always a good option.

Please also bring a pair of clean socks to wear during the session. If your feet tend to sweat, bring an extra pair of socks to change into during the session. If you are receiving a Swedish massage, you will undress to the level of your comfort and will be covered securely the whole time. Draping is the law. I will uncover only the area of your body that I am working on as it is being worked.

Personal hygiene is mutually respected on both the part of the client and the massage therapist. Your therapist is expected to be being punctual, well-groomed, free of odors, and wearing clean clothes. We ask that our clients demonstrate the same respect by arriving on time and clean. As a courtesy to the therapist and other clients, please refrain from using cologne, perfumes, or essential oils before arriving to your session. Should either party fail to uphold their hygiene responsibilities, services for that session will be postponed.

Please refrain from eating at least 90 minutes prior to your session and consume a light meal at that time.

4.) PARKING & BUILDING ENTRY

Street parking is available in front of the building. The main entrance is not wheelchair accessible, but a wheelchair accessible entrance is available. Please contact me for more information. Further details are provided in the email appointment confirmation.

5.) PRICING, TIPS, GIFTCARDS, & VOUCHERS

Cash is the preferred method of payment due to the various fees and delays associated with credit card processing; however, credit card payments are accepted. Regardless of payment type, credit card information is required at the time of booking. No charges will be made to a credit card without prior authorization, except that failure to comply with the cancellation policy as outlined below WILL result in stated charges to the credit card on file.

Prices are charged per session and session rates are aligned with the industry averages for professional massage, bodywork, and related wellness services. From time to time, specials are offered to clients. Please ask the therapist for additional details.

A note on Prepaid Sessions: All payments for prepaid packages, prepaid sessions, or gift certificates are non-refundable and must be used within five years of purchase, after which the balance expires. After one year from purchase, a $20 monthly fee will be deducted from the unused balance until the balance has been depleted or until five years from date of purchase has passed, whichever comes first. Exceptions to the refunds and extensions policy remain the sole right of Chokkan Shiatsu & Wellness Services. Prepaid, unexpired sessions are transferrable with approval of Chokkan Shiatsu & Wellness Services.

6.) CANCELLATION & RESCHEDULING

Your appointment time has been reserved JUST for you. By scheduling an appointment, YOU AGREE TO PROVIDE AT LEAST 48-HOURS NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OR RESCHEDULING. Appointment changes can be made online prior to the 48-hour notification time, after which you will not be able to change or cancel your appointment online.

If you are late for your appointment, the session will still end on time, and you will be charged the full price of the session. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late for your appointment and cannot be seen due to scheduling, you will be allowed to rebook your session within two weeks without being charged a cancellation fee. If you choose to cancel or choose not to rebook within two weeks, the normal cancellation policy will apply.

Cancellation and rescheduling requests are NOT accepted by email. If a true emergency presents itself within 48 hours of your appointment, please call or send a text message to (414) 502-7336. Be sure to provide more than 48 hours’ notice so that you do not lose your deposit! It is YOUR responsibility to ensure you have received a reply from the therapist PRIOR TO your missed appointment time. The therapist will discuss the situation with you and determine if there are any options available that will allow waiver of the cancellation fee. *

CANCELLATION FEES SUMMARIZED:

A credit card is required at booking and remains on file while you are a client of Chokkan Shiatsu & Wellness Services.
Cancel/change your appointment online with at least 48 hours’ notice: no problem, no charge.
Cancel/change within 48 hours of your appointment for any reason: $25 cancellation fee for consultations and 50% of the full session rate for all other services.*
Cancel/change your appointment within 24 hours: Full charge.*
No show, no notice: if you simply do not show up for any reason, with no notice, the card on file will be charged for the session.
After a third no call/no show and a fifth appointment reschedule or cancellation, you will no longer be accepted as a client of Chokkan Shiatsu & Wellness Services.
IF YOU ARE IN LABOR: minimum 3 hours’ notice required to cancel your appointment.
IF YOU ARE IN LABOR and do not show up for your appointment or provide notice of the need to cancel or reschedule, the card on file will be charged for the full session.
IF YOU ARE IN LABOR and give less than 3 hours’ notice, the card on file will be charged $25 for initial consultations or 50% of full session rate, whichever is greater.*

Make sure the email you received upon booking your session is accurate and that the date and time of your appointment agrees matches the date and time you intended to schedule an appointment. Please also be sure to read any notices that are sent to you, which will contain important information regarding your appointment.

* When an initial consultation is requested, appointments will not transferrable to a new client for the same day. Please contact Chokkan Shiatsu & Wellness Services to discuss any potential options. If a new client is ultimately seen in your place, you will still remain responsible for all charges unless and until the new client agrees to pay for the service.

7.) PHYSICIAN PERMISSION

IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, PLEASE OBTAIN A NOTE FROM YOUR DOCTOR PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT AND BRING IT WITH YOU TO YOUR APPOINTMENT. Arriving for your session with any of the below conditions and without the fully completed Physician Permission form will require that we reschedule to a time when you are able to receive massage and you will be charged full price for your massage hour. Please carefully review the above information and adjust your massage appointment with 24-hours’ notice, if necessary. Call or text me at (414) 502-7336 or email shiatsuwellnesscenter@gmail.com with questions.

Surface blood clots or history of clotting issues
Cardiac disorders or disease
Previous major surgery on organs or organ transplant
Illegal Drug exposure
HIV Positive
Recent acute injuries to any area or aspect of your body

8.) CONTRAINDICATIONS

The following conditions are contraindications to massage and maybe contraindications to other forms of bodywork. The therapist will not be able to work with you if you are currently experiencing any of the following conditions:

GENERAL CLIENTS

Active Infectious or contagious disease, including colds or flu
Fever, Nausea, or Diarrhea
Severe, unexplained abdominal pain
Throbbing/Migraine headache
Kidney and/or bladder disease or infection
Cancer (currently undergoing chemotherapy) or undiagnosed lumps
Any active inflammatory disease affecting blood vessels
Diabetes – with active complications
Uncontrolled hypertension

PRENATAL CLIENTS

Threat of miscarriage – current bleeding, spotting, hemorrhaging
Premature labor (labor prior to 37 weeks) — but we can work with women on bed rest.
GEPH (Pre-eclampsia)
Toxemia (eclampsia)
No regular fetal movement felt for 8-10 hours and you are concerned about it
Breast infection with fever

9.) RIGHT OF REFUSAL

Practitioners in private practice, such as massage therapists, have the right of refusal. That is, the therapist can refuse to work with ANY existing or potential client for ANY non-discriminatory reason. Furthermore, the therapist has the right to end ANY session for ANY non-discriminatory reason. Chokkan Shiatsu & Wellness Services has a zero-tolerance policy. The following are examples of behaviors that WILL result in immediate termination of your session and permanent banning from future sessions:

Any sexual advances, innuendo, or inappropriate touching
Threatening or violent behavior
Harassment or hate speech

Arriving to appointments while ill or while under the influence of drugs or alcohol WILL result in immediate termination of your session and MAY result in permanent banning from future sessions.

In order to provide your service without distraction or interruption, please do not bring anyone to your scheduled appointment. Please do not bring children to appointments unless they are receiving treatment. Children and visitors must be accompanied in the building, so it will not be possible to proceed with your session if you have unattended guests waiting for you in the building.

10.) COVID 19 PROTOCOLS

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends vaccination as an important means of protection against the Coronavirus and its variants. Although we do not inquire about the vaccine status of our clients and do not share vaccine information about the therapists, we do actively promote the remaining CDC guidelines, where practical for the massage, bodywork, and wholistic wellness settings. Currently, these guidelines are as follows:

Get vaccinated
Wear a mask
Stay 6 feet from others
Avoid crowded or poorly ventilated spaces
Wash your hands often
Cover coughs and sneezes
Monitor your health daily

Please notify Chokkan Shiatsu & Wellness Services BEFORE your session, if you develop any new health conditions or symptoms, no matter how minor. Arriving for your session while feeling unwell with any of the following signs or symptoms will require rescheduling to a more appropriate time. You will be charged in accordance with the above cancellation information. Therefore, please carefully consider your circumstances leading up to your massage and make any adjustments more than 48-hours in advance of your appointment.

Fever or chills; cough; shortness of breath; fatigue; muscle or body aches; headache; new loss of taste or smell; sore throat; congestion or runny nose; nausea or vomiting; diarrhea

For additional information, please review the CDC’s website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

11.) GROUPON & VOUCHER CUSTOMERS

If you are late for your appointment, the session will still end on time, and your voucher will be redeemed will be charged the full price of the session. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late for your appointment and cannot be seen due to scheduling, you will be allowed to rebook your session within two weeks without being charged for the session for which you were late. If you choose to cancel or choose not to rebook within two weeks, the normal cancellation policy will apply.