The hydraulic lift is invaluable. I see patients from 8 years old up to 87 years old plus pregnant ladies, patients with back, knee and weight problems and all are able to sit down onto the table with ease. My stationary table was previously at a level to accommodate my height and would require patients to use a step stool to get onto the table. Many of the patients had difficulty getting onto the stationary table even with a stool and my assistance.

I keep the hydraulic table at the lowest position and then raise the table to the height I need according to the patient size and the specific work I will be doing. The hydraulic lift is so smooth and quiet the patient often does not realize they were raised or lowered and the foot control makes it quite easy to use.

I would definitely recommend the hydraulic lift to be added when purchasing a table. The extra money is worth investing for therapist and patient comfort.

Q - How has owning a Tactile Sound Table changed things for you?

A - Owning a Tactile Sound Table has, of course, added a new treatment to our service menu. My health has improved and many of my patients are seeing results of improved health and well-being with music and/or frequencies through the sound table.

I do not have to work as deep after the patient is on the sound table for about 20 minutes since their muscles are more relaxed than with massage alone. My work is much easier on most patients and saves the thumbs for applying deeper pressure.

Q - What type of bodywork / modalities do you do and how does the sound table help you do that work?

A - My background before massage included business and the medical field. I worked as a registered nurse but am no longer practicing nursing. I am licensed in Florida as a massage therapist and esthetician. I offer a mix of relaxation and therapeutic massage, pregnancy massage, reflexology, warm stone massage, Reiki, facials, foot treatments, skin care, and other related modalities such as aromatherapy, body wraps, etc. I accept referrals and prescription orders from doctors and take insurance.

I have people who have seen improvement in their health from using the frequencies and the music on the sound table. The table has helped me by increasing patient comfort and allowing me to use the music more effectively and, of course, I have added the frequencies which I didn't use before.

Q - Linda can you share some of the comments and reactions by your clients in regards to their sessions on the Tactile Sound Table?

A - My first comment would be about my own health. Working with frequencies and music and spending time on the table for myself during the week, my blood pressure is 120/68 down from 140/80 and above without any medication changes. I have peripheral neuropathy of both feet and have more feeling and less pain after an hour on the sound table with music and frequencies.

I have seen many levels of improvements and heard different comments and reactions to the sound table. At first, many patients thought when I said vibroacoustic therapy (VAT) they would receive noticeable vibration through the table similar to vibrating chair cushions and chairs, which is not what happens. You can feel a slight hum with the frequencies.

I have had several doctors visit to have a massage on the table with frequencies and music since they were interested for their patients with continuing pain and discomfort and have recommended a massage with sound table. They are initially referring patients with multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, cancer, arthritis, anxiety disorders, stress and patients going through chemotherapy treatments.

Two of the patients with multiple sclerosis have noticed less pain after 2 treatments with massage, frequencies and music. These are patients I have seen before with massage only and are showing a decrease in pain and muscle discomfort. One of the patients said it was the best thing for pain relief she had experienced without her pain medication.

Another retired patient I have been seeing once a month for over a year has chronic lower back pain. He goes to a chiropractor and physical therapist but the most relief he experienced lasted several days after a 1/2 hour massage. When I added the sound table using Olav Skille’s frequencies to his massage, he experienced relief from his back pain up to a week, then two weeks and is up to pain relief for three weeks between his monthly visits.

One patient has chronic pain from two knee surgeries and from arthritis. He cannot hear without hearing aids but takes out his hearing aids before massage. He requests the sound table with music and frequencies each visit since he can feel the music and the frequencies through the table. He comes for a massage and sound therapy once a week for 1-1/2 hours each visit and states he feels better with less pain from his knees and arthritis. Again, I use Olav’s CDs and a variety of compatible music.

One of my monthly patients had been upset each massage when she was face down on the table. Her face would have a swollen appearance after the massage. When I began using the sound table with music and frequencies, at the end of the massage, her face looked thin. Her rings she had difficulty removing from her fingers before the massage, slid off her fingers after the massage. The table has increased her circulation for the better. She even says that a day or so after the massage and sound, she feels she is detoxifying. The massage helped before but adding the sound was extremely therapeutic for her. She now has an appointment once a week for massage and the sound table.

I have several patients who just want to be on the table to hear and feel the music. I do offer a complimentary face and scalp or hand and foot massage while listening.

Oh and Stephen your readers may enjoy this. I have several people who are cat lovers and come in for the sound table or the sound table and massage. I use a CD called "Relax with Cats" by Jeff Moran, MA and Jack Stewart, MSc from the UK. They recorded cats purring and added beautiful healing music. According to research studies in the UK, cats purring at frequencies between 25 and 50 Hz which has been shown to be therapeutic for bone healing, increasing bone density as well as lowering blood pressure, and relaxation. My patients who love cats, love this CD.

Comments from patients other than the health improvements include: "I feel like I am 'Velcroed' to the table”, "I didn't want to get up", "I didn't want the music and hum to stop", "I felt as if I were levitating above the table and floating away", and "Can I take this table home?"

Q - Linda, it is wonderful to hear those results with your clients. What kind of setup do you have with your table?

A - Along with the system in the table, I have a speaker on each side of the room approximately 3 feet on either side of the patients head. This creates a great sound for the patient. In one CD, there is a waterfall and when the patient is on the table, instead of hearing the sound on each side of the head, the patient feels the sound through the table and hears the sound behind them with the waterfall at the top of their head. I often use a very light body spray on the back and jasmine aromatherapy at this point. It feels as if the water is over spraying from the waterfall and there must be lovely aromatic jasmine blooming along side the waterfall. Patients enjoy their mini vacations and trips into nature.

Q - What music do you like to use?

A - I have a variety of music and I like to use the following: "Ocean Euphoric" by Kip Mazuy plus his other CD's; "Spa" by Hennie Bekker plus his other CD's; "Bali" by Jalan Jalan; " Rejuva, Healing, & Shamballa" by Shapeshifter; "Balance" by David Ison; "Lumina Nights and Stargazer's Journey" by John Serrie; "Sleeping Through the Rain" HemiSync by the Monroe Institute; "Cho Ku Rei" by Weave; Music by Stephen Halpren, Liquid Mind, Christophor Franke, Rapheal, as I mentioned before "Relax with Cats"; , just to name some favorites.

Q - Linda you have mentioned that you also use frequencies with your work, please tell us about that.

A - For most patients, I use frequencies created by Olav Skille from Norway. The CD uses 4 -18 minute frequencies including 40, 52, 68, and 86 Hz, which is a great tune up for the body and also very relaxing. The music alone is effective for some but for chronic pain relief, deeper relaxation and more immediate results, I use the frequencies.

For specific disorders, in addition to Olav Skille's CD, I use frequency CD's from Inner Soulutions and have CD's for multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, knee, the spine, the oxygenator, DNA/ RNA, intestines, etc. I have the best results using frequencies and music together, which is easily done with the small mixer Stephen suggested when I purchased the table.

Q - Linda it sounds as if the sound table has helped to increase your Client base?

A - Yes, my client base is slowly increasing. We never advertise and have always worked by referrals from satisfied patients. We are in a small older town and new things such as sound tables are different for our clients/patients. Anything new takes time which is perfect for me since I am learning about the table myself and finding courses and classes to take to add to my knowledge. And as I learn more, the client base is increasing.

Q - So how are you marketing the table?

A - We are in the process of creating an insert to our brochure introducing the sound table and vibroacoustic therapy. I have added the sound table service to our website but will add an explanation later on. For the month of July, after I began using the sound table, I offered a free sound session for each facial and massage patient. After July, we began minimally charging for the table.

Q - Linda this has been a great interview, is there anything else you would like to share with us?

A - There are joys in life and this is one of my greatest joys. I have always loved music and play the piano, organ, and drums. I have a digital piano and can create all types of sounds. I love listening to music. There is not a day without music for me. I have always said if I could live in a speaker, I would be happy. I not only like to hear my music, but I want to feel the music. The sound table provides that joy along with relaxation and health benefits, for myself and for others who use the table. The Tactile Sound Table adds the dimension of joy and health to my massage and facial practice.

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Linda thanks so much for sharing with us.