Definitions

A biomarker is a measurable indicator of health, function, or disease in the body. It can be anything from blood pressure and cholesterol levels to inflammation markers or hormone levels. Biomarkers help track wellness, detect imbalances, and guide personalized health decisions.

A Candlelight Sound Bath is a deeply relaxing meditative experience where soothing sound vibrations from instruments like singing bowls and gongs are combined with the warm glow of candlelight. The gentle, immersive sounds help calm the nervous system, release tension, and promote inner balance, while the candlelit atmosphere enhances relaxation and mindfulness.

Celluma is a specialized LED light therapy device that uses different wavelengths of light (red, blue, and near-infrared) to promote skin health, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and support tissue healing. It’s FDA-cleared and commonly used for anti-aging, acne treatment, and muscle recovery.

A cruelty-free product is a product that has not been tested on animals at any stage of its development. This means neither the final product nor its ingredients were subjected to animal testing, ensuring ethical and humane sourcing and manufacturing practices. Many cruelty-free products also align with sustainable and vegan-friendly principles.

Cupping is a therapy where special cups are placed on the skin to create suction. This helps increase blood flow, loosen tight muscles, and promote relaxation. It can feel like a deep tissue massage but with gentle pulling instead of pressure.

Deep Tissue Massage is a focused, therapeutic massage that uses slow, firm pressure to release tension in deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It helps relieve chronic pain, muscle stiffness, and mobility restrictions by breaking up adhesions and improving circulation. While it can be intense, it should never feel painful—just deeply effective.

At Water House Wellness, Fair Trade Massage means prioritizing both client well-being and provider sustainability. Unlike many wellness centers that treat massage therapy as gig work, we are committed to ethical labor practices, fair wages, and practitioner longevity—because self-care should feel good in every way, for everyone involved.

What Makes Our Model Different?

• Fair Wages & Pay Transparency – Our practitioners are employees, not independent contractors, and are paid for all their time—not just hands-on treatment. This ensures financial stability and career sustainability.

• Workplace Wellness & Injury Prevention – Therapists have flexible schedules with up to 45-minute breaks between sessions, helping prevent burnout and career-ending injuries.

• Sunlit, Customizable Treatment Spaces – Our rooms feature natural light (rare in the industry) and allow for sensory-friendly customization (airflow, lighting, music, scent, and temperature adjustments).

• No Uniforms & Individuality Encouraged – We believe providers work best when they feel comfortable and are empowered to be themselves.

• Long-Term Career Support – With the industry burnout rate averaging just seven years, we focus on extending career longevity by offering alternative work, extended leave options, and retreats when providers need a break or recovery time.

Gua sha is a therapy where a smooth tool is scraped over the skin to release tension, improve circulation, and reduce muscle tightness. It feels like a firm massage and can help with pain relief and relaxation.

Essential Oil Hot Towels – Elevate your massage with this soothing upgrade. Warm, steamy towels infused with aromatic essential oils are gently applied to the body, typically the back, clavicle area, shoulders, face during skincare or to the feet during your treatment.

Light Therapy (LED) with a Celluma uses low-level light energy to stimulate cellular repair, reduce inflammation, and boost collagen production. It helps with skin health, pain relief, and healing by using different wavelengths of light, such as red for anti-aging and blue for acne.

Warm towels are gently applied over magnesium-infused oil, allowing the heat to open pores and promote deep absorption. Magnesium helps relax muscles, reduce tension, and support recovery, leaving you feeling restored and rejuvenated.

Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a key role in muscle relaxation, nerve function, and overall recovery. It helps reduce muscle tension, ease soreness, and support circulation, making it a powerful addition to massage therapy for deep relaxation and relief.

A marathon PR (Personal Record) is an individual's fastest time completing a marathon (26.2 miles). Runners aim to beat their PR by improving endurance, speed, and race strategy. It’s also sometimes called a PB (Personal Best).

A massage table is a specially designed table with cushioning and face support that provides comfort and proper positioning for clients during massage therapy and bodywork treatments. It is typically adjustable in height and may include features like armrests, a face cradle, and heating options for enhanced relaxation.

A modality is a specific method or technique used in healthcare, wellness, or therapy to promote healing and well-being. In massage and bodywork, modalities include techniques like deep tissue massage, cupping, acupuncture, and myofascial release, each offering unique benefits based on individual needs.

A Multi-Modal Approach combines different therapies (or modalities), like massage, cupping, and gua sha, into one treatment for a more effective and personalized healing experience.

Myofascial Release is a gentle, hands-on therapeutic massage technique that targets restrictions in the fascia—the connective tissue surrounding muscles—to relieve pain, improve mobility, and restore natural movement. Using sustained pressure and stretching, it helps release tension, reduce stiffness, and promote healing in the body.

It’s important to note that myofascial release may use little to no massage cream or oil in order for the therapist to pull on the fascia.

Orthopedic Acupuncture is a specialized form of acupuncture that focuses on treating musculoskeletal pain, injuries, and mobility issues.

Orthopedic Massage is a specialized form of therapeutic massage that focuses on assessing and treating musculoskeletal pain, injuries, and movement restrictions. It combines techniques like deep tissue work, myofascial release, and stretching to help restore function, improve mobility, and support injury recovery.

A Registered Dietitian (RD) is a licensed nutrition expert who provides evidence-based guidance on food, diet, and overall health. They assess individual needs, create personalized nutrition plans, and help manage conditions like diabetes, digestive disorders, and weight concerns. RDs have completed rigorous education, training, and certification to support optimal health through nutrition.

Self-care is the practice of intentionally taking time to nurture your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It can include activities like massage, exercise, healthy eating, meditation, rest, and setting boundaries—anything that helps you recharge and maintain balance in your life.

Singing bowls are metal or crystal bowls that produce soothing, vibrational tones when struck or rubbed with a mallet. Their resonant sounds promote relaxation, reduce stress, and support meditation by helping to balance the body and mind. The vibrations are often felt deeply, making them a powerful tool for healing and mindfulness.

A sound bath is a deeply immersive meditation experience where the vibrations of gongs and other instruments guide you into relaxation and self-awareness. The resonant tones are felt throughout the body, helping to release tension, promote healing, and encourage a state of deep rest—somewhere between wakefulness and sleep. Simply relax, tune into your body, and let the sound waves support your inner balance and transformation. Wear comfortable clothing for the best experience.

Sports Massage is a targeted massage therapy designed to enhance athletic performance, prevent injuries, and support recovery. It uses a combination of deep tissue techniques, stretching, and trigger point therapy to reduce muscle tension, improve flexibility, and increase circulation—whether before an event for preparation or after for recovery.

Thai Massage is a dynamic, full-body therapy that combines assisted stretching, acupressure, and rhythmic compression to improve flexibility, relieve tension, and restore energy flow. Performed on a mat with the client fully clothed, it feels like a blend of yoga and massage, helping to enhance mobility and overall well-being.

Theragun is a handheld percussive therapy device that uses rapid vibrations to target muscle tension, improve circulation, and speed up recovery. It provides deep muscle treatment through controlled pulses, helping to reduce soreness, increase mobility, and enhance relaxation.

Therapeutic Massage is a targeted, healing-focused form of massage that addresses pain, tension, and mobility issues. It combines various techniques, such as deep tissue, myofascial release, and stretching, to improve circulation, relieve muscle tightness, and support overall well-being. Each session is tailored to the client’s specific needs for both relaxation and recovery.

It’s important to note that all massage at Water House is therapeutic in nature and non-sexual.

Vital Waves is the name of the discovery article in our monthly newsletter where we highlight wellness tips.

Recently, we have been focusing on a BioMarker.