It’s a funny and long story. My second grade teacher would occasionally ask one the the students that had finished their class assignments to squeeze her shoulders for a few minutes while she sat at her desk. You could say that I gave my first shoulder massage as a second grader and I quickly understood massage’s ability to help people feel better. (Teachers will always occupy spot #1 of professions with the tightest necks and shoulders. They probably carry the weight of the world.) I kept up my amateur massage skills all the way through to high school when a friend’s mom, who was also a massage therapist, recommended I attend massage school after graduation. She felt it would be the perfect job for me to have while I attended college, offering a flexible schedule and a good source of income. It wasn’t until a few years after high school and working at a full time job (that didn’t suit me) that I would finally attend massage therapy school and to my surprise embark upon massage therapy as a career, not a temporary occupation. I was very fortunate to have teachers in massage school that were passionate about massage therapy and were able to show me that there was an opportunity to work with so many different populations.  

Time really flies. I’ve been in practice for over 20 years.  It doesn’t always seem like it’s been that long and I hope that I’m able to continue to practice for many more years.  

I enjoy focusing my work with clients that are specifically seeking massage for relief of the daily stresses and aches of life, health related conditions, and as part of their general wellness routines. My massage training prepared me to work with traditional healthcare providers like doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc. The program focused on the application of massage and manual therapy techniques to address musculoskeletal injuries, disorders, and other health and wellness related needs. This is why we say that massage therapy is considered to be Complementary and Alternative medicine (CAM). The practical application of that training was done in a clinical massage office setting which I grew to enjoy and feel the most comfortable in. Additionally, I trained and worked on athletes in professional and collegiate athletic training facilities, and corporate offices providing chair massage as both a massage student and after I completed my massage education. There wasn’t anything that attracted me to work in a spa environment or provide spa-centric services when I had the opportunity to work with so many people that wouldn’t typically go to a spa for massage therapy. 

Yes, but It also depends. Are you wanting to receive or trying to avoid getting a deep tissue massage? It’s pretty evenly mixed that people have either had a great deep tissue massage or a less positive experience that they wish to avoid repeating. (I understand and feel your pain.) Many of my client’s express that the work I do is consistent with what they expect from a deep tissue massage, which is firm pressure with the intention of interacting with deeper layers of muscle, fascia, and connective tissues. I just don’t necessarily choose to call it deep tissue because some client’s will avoid massage therapists that do deep tissue work on the belief that the massage they receive will be painful. If requesting deep tissue, I will perform a massage  using the firmest pressure you the client wants, that minimizes discomfort during the massage and that isn’t overly physically taxing up my body. Deep tissue doesn’t need to be torture to be effective and the soreness post session should be ideally minimal or about the level you feel after exercise that isn’t particularly strenuous. 

That’s purely at your discretion. It’s certainly appreciated and customary in spa settings. The best tip is sharing your experience with family,    friends, and other people you know that trust you . Word of mouth is a massage therapist’s best friend when it comes to building and sustaining a steady clientele and practice. You could also think of it like going to your doctor, chiropractor, accountant or other business professional where you only pay a fee for service.  

As much as practically possible or fits within the scope of the reason why you’re getting a massage. Waiting too long if you’re having issues that you want me to work on isn’t ideal and more often is not necessarily better either. But I am still waiting for that one client that wins the lottery and can afford a massage 5x/week. 

I see clients Tuesday-Friday from 10am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 4pm. All times are by appointment only. You can easily book online by clicking the “book online” tab in the Menu on the website.

Our physical address is 8252 S. Harvard Avenue, Suite 110, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74137.

The office is in the Walnut Creek office complex which is off Harvard and south of 81st. The building that faces Harvard is 8242 and the building behind it is 8252. My suite is on the north side of 8252 and right in the middle. 

You can call me at 539-302-4852 or email me at MassageTherapyBySolomon@gmail.com