If you are not booking with Neil from a referral from an existing client, you will no doubt have questions.
Here I answer the most frequently asked:
Q: What conditions can myotherapy as practiced by you, help with?
A: Please refer to the Common Conditions page, as the answer is too long for a FAQ. You will be surprised at how many varied conditions I have been able to help clients with. 
Q: Where is you clinic located?
A: Level 1, 46 Taylor Street, Ashburton in a small strip opposite the Solway Primary School and upstairs from Wholistic Fitness & Health-a boutique personal training studio. There is a cafe right next door.
Q: What is the parking situation?
A: There is unlimited free street parking immediately in front of our building. This can be in short supply at school pick-up and drop-off times, but is usually easy parking. There is always free unlimited street parking in Comas Grove a 2 minute walk from our door.
Q: What is the consultation length?
A: A standard consultation is 60 minutes. The initial consultation is 75 minutes with the first 15 minutes free of charge so as to allow time to listen to your story and determine the best treatment plan. Included in the treatment time is the time taken to undress/dress, perform a postural assessment, and any necessary tests for flexibility etc. Hands on time will be at least 45 minutes.
What is the consultation cost?
A: Both initial and follow-up sessions are $100 per hour
Q: What are the payment options?
A: At Bodytopia™ we accept cash, credit and debit cards, but not American Express, and our gift certificates 
Q: Is EFTPOS available?
A: Yes, Bodytopia™ offers an EFTPOS facility.
Q: Is HICAPS available and do you offer health fund rebates?
A: Yes, Bodytopia™ has a Health Industry Claims & Payment Service (HICAPS) facility for instant and hassle free claims for those clients with private health cover and the necessary level of extras cover.
Q: What rebate should I expect?
A: Given the variables of 54 health funds that I am covered with, and variance with your individual  and extras cover, it is not possible to answer this question precisely, but some of my clients are only out of pocket $9 on both initial and subsequent consultations. Rebates levels are very fund reliant. Some funds do offer a greater rebate for myotherapy than for remedial massage.
Q: How often is a myotherapy session recommended?
A: I strongly advise committing to four (4) 60 minute sessions at an interval of on week apart with a review at the fourth session. 29 years experience has shown this to be optimal in getting results you'll be happy with. Most musculo-skeletal problems are posture and work related and after years often of putting up with pain and restriction, a single or occasional session is not going to resolve months or year of overwork or neglect. However, 90% plus of my clients have substantial  improvement after their 4 sessions. After review, many are discharged as being back to "normal" with goals achieved and pain eliminated. Together, we will decide on future actions. It may be a trial of fortnightly for another two sessions, or monthly, or just return when the pain and dysfunction begins to re-appear. In a small number of  instances I may suggest referral to another practitioner such as a podiatrist, physiotherapist, GP, osteopath etc. Should a referral be necessary I maintain a wide referral network of practitioner I can personally vouch for as being excellent in their field.
Q: Are there bathroom facilities?
A: Yes, at Bodytopia™ we have an adjoining modern en suite which is clean in the Japanese tradition, with individual hand towels, hand creams, soaps and lotions and a shower is available if required.
Q: Is there wheelchair/disabled access?
A: Sadly no. we are situated up a small set of stairs with no wheelchair/disabled access. Please discuss your needs with me as in some instances home visits may be possible.
Q: Are gift cards available?
A: Absolutely. We have beautifully printed quality gift cards that will be presentation wrapped and make a thoughtful gift for almost anyone be it a friend, partner, family member, workmate or to show appreciation for a good deed. 
Q: How do I book?
A: booking is easy. We have a online booking system called "Timely" which allows 24 hour a day bookings with instant confirmations, reminders and follow ups if necessary. You can book using the "Book Now" button here, on the Home page, on our website www.bodytopia.com.au; or through Timely www.bodytopia.gettimely.com
Q: What modalities do you use and what can I expect in a session?
A: Your myotherapy session will commence with steam heat hydrocollator packs to soften your muscles,  This will be followed by massage in varied styles especially aiming for fascia release. Trigger points ("ouch" points when pressed) will be identified and released, sometimes with manual pressures, sometimes by dry needling (your choice). I use a lot of different cupping styles both static placements and sliding/moving cups. Traditional glass cups may be used, but I also utilise rubber and silicone cups as well as small acupressure point cups. Hot, steam towels will be used to remove excess oil and relax during the treatment.
I may also utilise a state of the art vibrating, wooden tool designed in West Germany called a Fascia Releazer®. Various liniments or creams may be used during or after the session. Press needles may be used during the treatment, or offered as a take home pain relieving tool. TENS machine may be used. Stretches may be suggested, but I only prescribe a minimal number of stretches, as given too many, they become a chore and will soon stop being done. Every client and every session is different. I have clients who have been seeing me every week for 15 years plus as prevention, with 24 years my current longest visiting client. That clients return so regularly indicates that my treatments are varied enough and effective so they don't become bored.
Q: What level of undress is involved?
A: Your call!. Most clients undress to underwear with most female clients removing their bra. Underpants must be worn. No matter the level of undress you will be professionally draped (covered with a towel) with only the area being worked on uncovered. Draping is used for warmth, but also provides a feeling of safety for both yourself and myself, and ensures modesty is maintained.
Should you wish not to undress, I am qualified in Chinese Tui Na massage and other Asian massage styles which can be very effective provided through light clothing and no undress is needed.
Q: What massage oil is used?
A: At Bodytopia™ we use a rich blend massage oil from Auroma including pure vegetable oils including safflower, sweet almond, jojoba, wheatgerm, avocado and added Vit C and Vit E. This blend will not leave you sticky, does not stain and is excellent for your skin health.
Q: 40 plus degrees is forecast, do you have air-conditioning?
A: Yes, our clinic is air conditioned and is set up so that if used, the air will not be blowing directly on you. We have ample fresh air options also, and when the weather is cold we utilise both a oil filled electric heater, and reverse cycle split heating is also used if needed. No matter the weather you will be comfortable.
Q: I'm a new client, should I arrive early?
A: Arriving no more than 5 minutes early is a good idea to allow time to fill in our client intake form, but no earlier please as we always allow a no charge extra 15 minutes for first consultation.
Q: Should I expect my myotherapy session to be painful??
A: Definitely not! The outdated "no pain, no gain" mantra has no place in modern therapy. There may be mild, brief discomfort experienced with some pressure techniques and with dry needling, but overall your session should be comfortable.
You may however experience some short lived soreness/stiffness for 24-48 hours pst treatment.(see below)
Q: Should I expect to be bruised?
A: Definitely not! I am horrified by the bruising some clients receive from other therapists. It is unnecessary and unhelpful. 
If you have a medical condition that causes you to bruise easily please make this known and the treatment will be tailored accordingly. Very occasionally with dry needling there may be a small bruise at the needle insertion site, but this is rare.
Cupping can leave marks, but these are not bruises in my opinion and despite being unsightly, are not painful and resolve within a week. The more tight your muscles are, the greater the tendency for cupping to cause marks, but every time you are repeat cupped the marks will be less, and some clients never ever mark with cupping, a testament to their good blood circulation and low levels of tension.
Q: Are there side effects caused by massage?
A: If massage is new to you, you may experience some muscle or joint discomfort for 24-48 hours. This is known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and is similar to the transient soreness/stiffness experienced after an athletic workout, or gym session when you are unfit and unused to such exercise. It is often described as "good" pain and is easily distinguished from "bad" pain. The press needles I use can relieve this soreness. 
Occasionally, some experience some mild nausea attributed to the massage accelerating body processes and this may also be indicated by a need to go to the toilet more often short term. It is self limiting and harmless. 
Very rarely some clients experience a mild headache after treatment. This is similar to the now medically recognised "weekend headache". A headache that starts typically on a Saturday morning if you work 5 day weeks. It is considered a release from the tensions caused by a stressful, busy work or lifestyle fuelled often by adrenalin from stimulants such as caffeine, smoking or energy drinks. When you stop, the release of tension causes the headache. think a rubber band wound up tight, then releasing all that stored energy.
Q: I get temporary relief from massage, myotherapy, physio, osteo etc, but my pain son returns. Why is this?
A: Most conditions that bodyworkers see are caused by lifestyle. Too much of anything or too little of anything will make you sick and cause pain. Too much or too little exercise, food, sleep for example. A single 60 minute sessions with any modality will not provide lasting relief unless you are prepared to change the lifestyle contributing factors. This can be as little as getting up from your desk more regularly to move and perhaps stretch. I take a holistic approach taking your whole body into account as well as your specific issue especially identifying causes, not just treating symptoms. Regular myotherapy sessions will give more permanent pain solutions.
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