I had no idea what to expect when I called Janice. My first surprise was how challenging it was to find time on her calendar. Even during a weak economy, Janice has weekly clients that make weekend time hard to find. Due to the challenges of my work schedule, we had to arrange for a time about a month out. Another surprise was that she handles her calls herself. I enjoyed having that one-on-one contact from the beginning, knowing that the relationship had already begun long before I arrived.
Janice practices right across from the Harris Teeter on Hillsboro Road. Parking is easily found underneath the unassuming office location, and several small businesses dot the semi-private floor where clients walk down to find Janice's suite.
I walked in and was instantly impressed. She works in an intimate two-room suite, with a main intake area and back room for the massage table. This arrangement, combined with the location, allows for truly discreet visits. Janice came to greet me and we went through an intake form, which included how I was reacting to stress, if I had any medical conditions, my purpose in coming, and anything in particular I wanted her to focus on. She described her specialty as a type of shiatsu called ashiatsu - where she would use a barefoot technique.
Now, here's where you need to know a little about me. I'm a little squeamish about the barefoot thing. But I also deeply believe in getting the best experiences. When someone wants to help you through their specialty, I tend to jump right in. So I swallowed my concerns and hoped for the best. I also told her about my burgeoning interests in alternative medicine, and she gave me an extra tidbit of advice based on my interest: during the massage, focus on my breath.
This sounded exactly like the right thing to do, and I did. I undressed to my level of comfort (boxers) and lay on the table, under the blanket, and waited for Janice to come in and begin. Optional music filled the background, as did incense. I rarely noticed either once Janice started her work.
The treatment began and it was revolutionary. Janice interwove shiatsu elements and ashiatsu elements throughout the treatment. There were times that I could not tell whether she was using her hands, arms, or feet to help rid me of my tension, and I found myself not caring in the slightest. Janice has erected a ceiling rig to help her balance when she is above the table, and she balances on a large exercise-style ball which she moves around the floor.
Shiatsu treatment was not at all like I thought it would be. I imagined hard repetitive pounding, with chopping hands scissoring across my back. Janice's treatments are not of the type where you leave the table feeling beaten. Instead, the long, continuous stroke seems to follow the muscle groups from their origin to their termination, leading to exceptional muscle release. Particularly helpful was the neck treatment. Janice cradled my head to one side as she pulled lightly, so that she could follow the neck muscle from the cranial notch all the way down to the connections at the collarbone. This felt remarkable, and brought me new insight into how long those muscles really are. Janice used this technique all throughout my body - turning me over halfway through and working on all but the parts which were hidden by my boxers. She worked extensively on my head, neck, and shoulder areas because those are the most problematic for me, but she allocated substantial time to all my limbs and torso.
At the conclusion of the treatment, Janice finished lightly on my forehead and told me to take as much time as I needed before I got up and redressed. I took more than a few minutes to just sit with the relaxation, as I imagine anyone would. I then joined Janice back in the entryway and asked for a few seconds to chat, which she gladly gave. She told me she was able to give a lot more in her practice when people focused on the breath, and she felt me just following my breath as she instructed. She also felt me just enjoying the exploration of what was happening, which was absolutely true. As we parted, Janice gave me a reward - a helping of dark chocolate.
There were not any disappointments in this experience, and I found Janice to be warm and personable. One oddity was that my table creaked loudly at one point during the session, enough that Janice worried if I was alright. I carried some concern about the table after that, but I figured Janice would have that covered.
Pricing is done by time rather than by treatment: 30 Min - $45 ; 60 Min - $90 ; 75 Min - $110; 90 Min - $135.
I now know why Janice is so hard to book, and why she has clients who see her weekly. Janice also told me she is working on a new type of therapy that is very helpful called Watsu - which is a water based therapy. A recent check of the website reveals it is now available. If you're looking for an amazing experience in a relaxing and truly private environment, but without the social bells and whistles of some places, call Janice and see what she has to offer.
Janice Cathey Massage Therapy
2200 21st Avenue South
Suite 109
Nashville, TN 37212
janice@janicecatheymassage.com
www.janicecatheymassage.com
