Hi and welcome,
My name is Andrew Thompson. I own and operate Reef Studios in Rockhampton, Queensland. I've been working on bodies since 1999 and opened this clinic in 2010.
While nowadays, most people think of Reef as a hair removal clinic, its original name was Body Sync, with its roots firmly planted in Remedial Massage and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Through an accident of fate rather than design, the business morphed into waxing then IPL with little time available for remedial therapies.
But now, with the stress of Southeast Queensland and 47 staff behind me, I've returned to my roots. It's just me and Rocky now :)
Remedial Massage has always been my first passion. I love helping people to heal, to feel better, to share energy, and knowing that I'm making a real difference in their lives.
The return of Remedial Therapy to my treatment rooms has been long overdue and the years ahead fill me with excitement.
My prices and FAQ on Remedial Therapy are further down the page so read on for all the info. If you have any questions or would like to make a booking, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Have a brilliant day.
Andrew Thompson.
Prices ★ Rockhampton Remedial Massage
30 Minutes$55
45 Minutes$75
60 Minutes$90
Questions & Answers ★ Rockhampton Remedial Massage
It's my first massage with you. What happens?
When you arrive for your first treatment, you'll be given a consultation form to complete. Fill it out, paying particular attention to the medical questionnaire.
Be honest and don't hide any information as this could be dangerous to your health. I will then go through the form with you, asking questions where relevant, and then determine the reason for your visit. Once the consultation is finished, you'll be shown through to the treatment room.
You will be given towels then left to undress. You will find baby wipes on the side table if you feel the need to tidy up any sweaty areas.
Remember to remove any loose jewellery such as a necklace or watch, then lay on the table and drape the provided towel(s) over yourself. If you prefer to lay fully exposed without a towel, that's fine too.
The treatment will begin. All you have to do is relax and follow whatever instructions are given to you. Focusing on your breathing is a good way to calm your body throughout. Some people fall asleep during massage and that's perfectly OK. I will let you sleep unless there is a need to wake you.
Once the treatment is complete, I'll summarise any issues that I may have found and possibly recommend further treatments if needed. It is very common to feel quite sleepy after the treatment. Remember to drink lots of water in the hours that follow, and don't drive until your mind is alert.
Be honest and don't hide any information as this could be dangerous to your health. I will then go through the form with you, asking questions where relevant, and then determine the reason for your visit. Once the consultation is finished, you'll be shown through to the treatment room.You will be given towels then left to undress. You will find baby wipes on the side table if you feel the need to tidy up any sweaty areas.
Remember to remove any loose jewellery such as a necklace or watch, then lay on the table and drape the provided towel(s) over yourself. If you prefer to lay fully exposed without a towel, that's fine too.
The treatment will begin. All you have to do is relax and follow whatever instructions are given to you. Focusing on your breathing is a good way to calm your body throughout. Some people fall asleep during massage and that's perfectly OK. I will let you sleep unless there is a need to wake you.
Once the treatment is complete, I'll summarise any issues that I may have found and possibly recommend further treatments if needed. It is very common to feel quite sleepy after the treatment. Remember to drink lots of water in the hours that follow, and don't drive until your mind is alert.
Are you properly qualified and experienced or have you just done a certificate course?
I have two full diplomas from the Australian Institute of Applied Sciences, one in Remedial Massage, the other in Oriental Therapies. Around 3 years of full time study.I graduated in December 2002 and was also awarded AAMT's coveted Queensland Massage Therapist of the Year.
Combined, all of these diplomas, certificates and awards qualify me to perform absolutely all aspects of Remedial Massage, Tui Na Massage, Sports Massage, Chinese Acupressure, Cross-Fibre Mobilisation (a.k.a Bowen Therapy), Zen Shiatsu, Floor Massage, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Swedish Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Reiki, Russian Massage, plus several strands of Thai Massage.
After my formal studies, in 2003 I began teaching massage and went on to publish several articles over the ensuing years, plus a monthly magazine called 'The Rubdown'. For the spiritually inclined, I am also a Seichim Reiki Master.
In 2004, I became the preferred therapist for several members of the Australian Cricket Team and that same year, I began putting other therapists in the field for mobile massage. In turn, we picked up preferred supplier status for several prestigious hotel chains including Treasury Casino, Marriott, The Hilton, Mercure, and Novotel.
I could go on for another hour but you get the idea. Re all the above, for the sake of keeping things simple on this web page, I'll refer to all of these modalities by the blanket term of Remedial Therapy.
Can I claim your treatments through my health fund?
Sorry, not at present. I used to have full health fund accreditation but let it lapse over the last decade or so while I focused on the hair removal side of the business. I am in negotiations with AAMT and my old college to see what they can do. But for now, the answer is no.
Will you perform massage on someone with HIV?
Yes. As with all viruses where there is any risk of contagion, simply inform me during your pre-treatment consultation.
Will you perform massage on someone with cancer?
No. There is an unacceptably high risk of spreading cancer to other parts of the body due to elevated movement of toxins and lymphatic fluid during a massage treatment.
I'm really body conscious. Do I have to get naked?
Yes. Most treatments require work on the hips and buttocks. To do that, I need you fully undressed or at most, you can wear a g-string.There is no elegant way for me to wedge bikini briefs or boxers into your butt crease to massage your glutes.
Also, if I have to hold your undies there, I've got one less hand to work with, which is just dumb.
Do bear in mind that I'm also a Brazilian Wax therapist. I've been surrounded daily by genitalia, both male & female for 20 years, so rest assured you've got nothing I haven't seen thousands of times before.
The fact I'm still in business after two decades proves that my ethics, discretion, and abilities are of the highest calibre.
How do I know which type of Remedial Therapy to choose?
You don't need to. Over the years, all the different modalities I've trained in have just become a cluster of techniques to me. I combine all of them within a single treatment, drawing on what I need to achieve a particular result. Virtually every massage I perform includes aspects of Tui Na, Acupressure, Shiatsu, Remedial and Sports Massage. No two treatments are ever the same.
Will you perform outcalls to my home or hotel?
Sorry, no. Treatments are only available at my shop.
I actually want massage, not some guy dressed like a doctor with a clipboard.
Remedial Massage is physical. A good therapist moves around a lot, bending, twisting, crouching, and stretching across the table. Oil drips everywhere and on a big job, you can sweat an ocean. Singlet and stretch shorts are my normal kit. It's comfortable, cool, and allows unconstrained movement.
I'm not sure why some massage therapists do the tunic-and-long-pants thing while nodding empathetically and jotting away. Maybe it's due to the industry trying too hard to be accepted by mainstream medicine, but it's not for me.
I'm not sure why some massage therapists do the tunic-and-long-pants thing while nodding empathetically and jotting away. Maybe it's due to the industry trying too hard to be accepted by mainstream medicine, but it's not for me.
Will you perform massage on a pregnant woman?
Yes, after the first trimester.
I'm also a Remedial Therapist and desperate to find another to do mutual massage. Interested?
Yes, yes, a hundred times, yes.
Do you perform massage on babies?
No, baby massage is nonsense and I can't believe people actually pay for it. There is nothing that a Massage Therapist can do for a baby that a parent can't. If you want to give bub a massage, very lightly rub its legs and arms in an upward direction for no more than 20 seconds per limb once a day. That's it. Done. Finito. Any muscular, neural or skeletal issue that can't be fixed by a comforting rub from Mum or Dad requires a doctor, not some new-age hipster charging you $80 a pop for 'baby massage'.
I have a bike race this weekend. How should I plan my massage schedule?
Massage, just like exercise, causes micro-bleeding in the muscles. This process is natural - It helps muscles purge dead blood cells, re-oxygenate, and grow.Before a big sporting event, athletes want their muscles in peak condition and train hard in lead-up to the race. Muscle recovery and stretching usually form part of that training.
The big key is to plan ahead. If you have a sporting event on the weekend, you don't want your muscles to be recovering from a hard deep-tissue massage just as you need them to perform.
Have a strong massage on the Monday then allow a few days for your muscles to recover. Low intensity training, combined with increased water intake, is a good way to help them clean out dead tissue released by the massage.
Then midweek, have a lighter massage. This way, your muscles will be in premium condition for the weekend's big event.
I just want a soft relaxing Swedish Massage with scented candles and stuff.
Upfront, I'm not good at performing fluffy massage because at some point it becomes obvious to clients that I'm bored out of my mind. Plus I hate whale song. I have actually started dozing on my feet while performing a Swedish Massage. No joke. More than once. So yeah, I'm pretty sure you'll find a mainstream beauty salon or day spa more to your taste.
What's the difference between Sports Massage, Remedial Massage, and Deep Tissue Massage?
Nothing. They are all the same thing.
What's the difference between Trigger Point Therapy and Chinese Acupressure?
These two modalities are similar in only one regard and different in every other way. Both involve pressing precise points.Originally used to treat cramps in elite athletes during competitions as an alternative to Hydrocortisone injections, Trigger Point Therapy is an offshoot of Sports Massage.
Due to the urgency and intensity of this type of cramping, the Therapist will push their thumbs, knuckles, elbow - or really anything hard and pointy - into the belly of the muscle with the goal of shocking it so it will release.
On the other hand, Acupressure involves pressing precise points along the body's meridian lines, not only for muscle release but also to treat underlying medical conditions.
For example, pressing certain points on the bladder channel are helpful in treating neural and emotional problems and the reproductive organs. Many Acupressure points are on muscles but just as many are located on tendons, ligaments, nerves, and even bone.
Can you help with lymphoedema in the legs?
Yes, I have a combination treatment which has proven very effective in treating water and lymph retention in the legs, involving Lymphatic Drainage Massage and Acupressure of the spleen channel.
Do you have a gallery of staff and themes so I can choose who treats me and how they dress?
I know this is a trend in some establishments but no. I cringe at the idea of sending some poor girl into a room with a potential sex offender who wants her wearing a tutu and heels. In any case, your therapist will be me and I don't look good in a gimp suit.
Can I get a reflexology treatment from you?
No, reflexology is whacky made-up nonsense. I won't even dignify it with a capital letter.