August 2nd 2020

That’s right, we are slowly reopening!

I know we talked about a plan, we talked about phase 3, we talked about safety, we talked about ALOT….it was ALOT of talking about the unknown. Guess what, we still don’t know much more and the numbers have gotten even crazier so now we change it up. We are slowly reopening throughout the month of August. A few of us have been the guinea pigs and have already started opening appointments for some of our regulars to go through our new processes and protocols and get used to working in a mask and the extra cleaning that goes along with reopening. As of today, a few more of us are coming back and there is some availability online. We are not full staffed and we don’t have firm hours of operation at this moment as everyone is just taking their time and figuring it all out. We are a bunch of independent contractors so I make no demands of when or how anyone comes back with the exception that they are confident that they can do their job as safely as possible. I have spent the last few months making a few changes to the office including covering everything massage related in vinyl so that it can be cleaned and disinfected easily. We have the Covid-19 standard questions about every 5 min for you, just kidding….it is only in all your emails/correspondence and then as you arrive at the office. We have added some extra disinfecting and cleaning, if you are interested in the whole process, you can find it here. We have tried staying closed but that no longer seems like a viable option for many reasons and we all feel quite essential and are desperately feeling the need to help people feel better and less stressed. We are not taking this lightly, we’ve consulted with epidemiologists and science minded people and have come away with the knowledge that with wearing masks (yes, masks are required for you also), good hygiene and sanitation (which we already had down) and our other protocols in place we’ve created a low risk environment. Please note that I did not say risk free, that is not something we can ever guarantee so if you are looking for risk free please continue to stay home, there is no shame in that game. So as we navigate reopening, please continue to stay patient and kind with us as we find our footing. If you have any questions feel free to contact us at pmc@pregnancymassage.com we look forward to seeing you all SOON!

June 14th 2020

We are sorry for the inconvenience!

I am not really sure where to start, I was sure felt it in my sad and hopeful bones that we would be out of the woods and able to re-open mid-June but that is not what is happening. I know the state is re-opened even venues and restaurants are are able to go full tilt, many people are back to work, and even some massage therapists and offices are back in business. I’m not going to judge people or businesses that have re-opened that’s not my job. I have talked to a few of my fellow therapists that have re-opened and I know that they are quality and trusted professionals who are taking every precaution possible. My issue is that we are not out of the woods, we work in extremely close contact with you, most of you are either pregnant or postpartum and we are not comfortable playing the odds with your health. We realize that Covid-19 is not going away and at some point we will be re-opening and having to take all the precautions necessary but the past few days have seen increases so the 7-day average is also up. I know you are frustrated….I promise, I know. We are too. I know you need massage….I promise, we need to give massage not just to pay bills but to feed our souls. So today and thru June, we are not willing to risk it. We have fingers crossed for July but even that is up in the air and my weary bones will have to keep hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. Please continue to be patient with us, continue to trust we have your health at the top of our list, and continue to check in as I promise when we re-open we will be our amazing selves and make you forget the last 3 months ever happened, at least for an hour!

May 28th 2020

We don’t have a date but we have a plan!

We are massage therapists, wellness ambassadors, and public health advocates…..I say it over and over again, while your comfort and relief is our job, your safety is a top priority! I know things are opening up all around and we are excited for that but we are also all about erring on the side of extreme caution. The mayor of Atlanta has put out guidelines for re-opening and we are looking to follow those guidelines and re-open when we hit phase 3. It seems to be a comprehensive agenda that includes science, numbers and common sense; we are cautiously optimistic that by following said guidelines we can feel safe and confident when we open our doors. This of course means we are still floating in the abyss of the unknown in terms of an actual date but we will continue to monitor the situation and as phase 3 approaches we will start the the process of opening up appointments and announcing an actual date. We appreciate your patience and understanding!

Looking forward to having you back on the table!

Reneé and the PMC team

May 12th 2020

When to re-open? We are not there yet!

When to re-open, that is the question, right? That is first and foremost the main thought on my mind all day, all night, and even in my dreams. The question that comes next and is of even greater importance is “is it safe?” I know that we are not going back to normal and I know that we can not live in fear and I know that we must find a way to do massage in this new habitat. What I do not know (is oh so very much but that is for another day, another musing) is if I feel comfortable with all the unknowns at this time. The fact that we work with pregnant and postpartum beings, that these individuals then return home to other children or a newborn or are days/weeks away from giving birth is of great concern. I am not comfortable that we are in a big city where the virus is certainly present and our numbers are not steadily going down. I am not confident in our testing and tracing abilities and while taking everyone’s temperature sounds like a good idea and we are required to implement it and will do so…..asymptomatic means NO symptoms including fever. I do understand that the majority of people that have (or had) Covid-19 recover, have mild to moderate flu-like symptoms, and do not have to be hospitalized, but the rate at which this virus spreads is alarming and the percentage of major complications and hospitalizations including death (which I would say is quite a complication) is much higher than it’s buddy, Influenza. I have been scouring our professional boards, devouring any information that is available via our profession and the government, and I have been in contact with numerous other therapists and colleagues and no where is it evident that we can guarantee your safety. Yes, I know that we can actually never guarantee safety but our training and schooling has taught us that with education, instruction, awareness and the motto “do no harm” that we can certainly assure you that we know what we are doing and how to go about it in the safest way possible. We are not there yet. My staff and I know how important massage is, it is essential to you and to us! We are women that care deeply and passionately about massage and your health, it’s what makes us great at our job. So please bear with us, be patient, know that while we are closed we are taking steps to make sure when we do re-open it is with knowledge e.g.extra strict cleaning protocols, informed consent and proper screening before you even enter the office, clarity that we (and you) are well versed in the risk vs reward, and confidence we are ready and prepared. We are not there yet but we are on our way!

Looking forward to seeing you on the table,

Reneé (owner and optimistic therapist)