NOTE: The following message from Congresswoman (2nd District) Angie Craig is not political. We are giving attribution and sharing this because reading is a great form of self-care that we enjoy, too. We appreciate that this message includes convenient links to the resources suggested, and we hope you enjoy them (almost) as much as massage therapy. 
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==========Message: ==============================

As COVID-19 continues to disrupt many aspects of our lives, it’s important to ensure that folks continue to have access to resources from our local libraries. Many libraries are offering digital resources like e-books that can be accessed safely right from your home. Below are some local and national library resources for folks in MN-02.

Local Libraries 

Dakota County:

All Dakota County library locations are open for express services. Learn more about services and safety protocols here. All library locations are open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.. To learn about Dakota County e-books, click here. 

Goodhue County: 

• Cannon Falls Library is open with limited capacity Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. On Tuesdays, appointments are required and hours are extended until 7:00 p.m.. 
• Pine Island’s Van Horn Public Library is open by appointment. 
• Red Wing Public Library is open for browsing appointments and curbside pickup.
• Zumbrota Public Library is open for appointments in the morning and walk-ins in the afternoon.

Rice County: 

Northfield Public Library is open with masks and social distancing required. Learn more about safety protocols here. You can find their hours here. To access the Northfield Library e-library, click here. 

Scott County:

All Scott County library locations will reopen on Monday, July 20th for express services. Learn more about hours and locations here. Customers may visit libraries to pick up holds and browse materials, with some limitations. Some services are available by appointment only. Learn about e-books, e-audiobooks and more here. 

Wabasha County:

The Wabasha Public Library is open for appointments, afternoon walk-ins and curbside pickup Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. Appointments are required from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.. Learn more about the digital resources available here. 

Washington County: 

All Washington County Library branches are open with limited capacity and reduced hours. Learn more about services and safety protocols here. Library visitors can pick up holds, browse materials, and use computers without an appointment. Learn more about the digital resources available here.

Library of Congress:

The Library of Congress has extensive online resources for students and learners of all ages.

• Engage: Find ways to engage with authors you love and connect to the Library’s resources from anywhere.
• Families:  Find author programs, activity kits, and printables inspired by the collections, programs, and expertise of the Library of Congress.
• Crowd: Be a virtual volunteer! Anyone can contribute. Improve access to history by transcribing, reviewing, and tagging Library of Congress documents.
• Read.Gov: Read classic children’s books online – turn the pages to explore bygone eras, time-honored tales and historical narratives. Adventure awaits in these classic books online!
• National Screening Room: Showcases the riches of the Library’s vast moving image collection, designed to make otherwise unavailable movies, both copyrighted and in the public domain, freely accessible

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Enjoy!
​(image from "The Heart of a Novel: Its About-Ness" blog post by author Barbara Linn Probst)

​Yes, masks are required. There are no exceptions. For the safety of our staff and clients, people that are unable / unwilling to wear masks are not permitted to enter Eagan Massage Center.

​We encourage people to wear surgical masks or 100% cotton masks with at least 3 layers of material. Masks must cover your chin, mouth, and nose. If your mask is too loose or too small, we will provide you with an appropriate surgical mask to wear during your massage. If you don't have one with you, we will provide a mask that must be worn.

During your massage, we have made special arrangements so you might temporarily move the mask (if needed) while you are face down. If you ask, our massage therapists will be happy to show you. You must have your mask on properly when in any position other than face down. 

We look forward to a time when masks won't be necessary, but that is likely to be at least a year away from now. We are continuing to follow medical research, best practices guidelines, and epidemiology related to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, and will adapt our policies as appropriate. 

We are so excited to announce that we are opening Monday, July 6th! You can now make appointments for July and August online. We will be able to schedule appointments via the phone starting July 6th, during business hours. We are limiting appointments to 1 hour for July and August to manage traffic flow. We are not offering Pregnancy, Thai, or Focused Foot Massage at this time. Click here to schedule a massage!

You can find our COVID-19 plans on our website and Facebook page. Masks are required for everyone, but we have made special arrangements so you can temporarily move the mask (if needed) while you are face down. When you come in for your appointment, our massage therapists will be happy to show you. Click here and scroll down to see our policies and answers to frequently asked questions!

Effective immediately, our prices no longer include the sales taxes. Our 1 hour massage will cost $80 plus sales tax ($85.70). Sessions with Jason and Judy are $90 plus tax. Click here to see our services and prices!

We are also bringing back our Summer Special 3 pack! We will start selling them online this weekend and the cards will be mailed out starting July 6th. The Summer Special is just $210 for three 1 hour massages. Redeem them by October 31 and we'll also cover the sales taxes for you! You save $47.10 or $15.70 per massage! It is our most popular deal of the year. We have extended the time you will have to use them to October 31, 2020. Starting November 1 you will lose the discount but not the amount you paid. The cards will still be redeemable for $70 towards a massage. Click here to purchase the Summer Special or any of our online gift card options!

For your safety, we are limiting the number of people in our lobby at one time, so we prefer that you purchase the Summer Special and gift cards on our website under "Buy A Gift Card" or call by phone during business hours. The Summer Special will be available for purchase through July 19. We can keep them in an envelope at the store for you, but we will mail them out if you prefer. They are great gifts!

Please join us in welcoming massage therapist Bill Keyes to our team. He brings a wealth of life experience, enthusiasm, and some excellent massage skills to our team. Click here to learn more about Bill and our other massage therapists!

All of our employees have been trained in our new policies and procedures, and we can't wait to see you! We expect some bumps in the road the first few weeks, so please be patient with us as we follow the new guidelines and get used to providing massages again.

When you arrive, you will see this sign in our front window:  

Good news! If all goes as planned, we'll open the week of July 6th. Our online scheduling is still closed, but we wanted to give you some advance notice.
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We understand that you are eager to get massages, and we look forward to opening again. If all goes well, we hope to open by July 6th. Our scheduling is not yet open, and we will notify you when it is available.

We are still waiting for some supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) that are back ordered, and we will train all of our employees to understand and follow all updated policies and procedures. We are creating a comprehensive COVID-19 plan, as all businesses are required to. We will post it on our website when it is finalized. Below, we are sharing some parts of our plan that will result in noticeable changes so you have some idea of what to expect.

Please remember that many of these changes are temporary. We can not do business as usual since this is an unusual time.

NOTE: If you feel sick, please cancel your appointment and you will not be charged a cancellation fee. We appreciate as much notice as possible so we have time to fill that spot but we do realize sometimes sickness can come on over night.

1. When you arrive for an appointment, you will text to alert us, then wait in your car.

2. Our receptionist will call you and ask some screening questions over the phone. You will be notified by text when your therapist is ready for you to come in. When you enter, we will take your temperature with a touchless thermometer. Our receptionists will be wearing masks and may be wearing gloves and a face shield. All employees will go through a similar screening process every time they come to work. You will be asked to sign a form the first time you return. We ask that you arrive 10 minutes early.

3. You will be asked to bring a face mask. If you do not, one will be provided. EVERYONE (clients and staff) will be required to wear a mask at all times. We understand this is will feel different, but we need to keep our employees safe so they can remain healthy and continue to work. It is also important for the health of other people who may be more susceptible to infection. We are following safety standards and guidelines developed by our state, the federal government, medical experts, and national massage therapy organizations.

4. You will need to use the hand sanitizer we provide when you enter the premises. The touchless dispenser will be convenient for you. We also recommend that you wash your hands with soap and water before and after your massage. Used paper towels / tissues will be deposited in any of the closed-lid waste containers with foot pedals.

5. Your therapist will take you back to the room. All massage therapists will be wearing a mask, eye protection/face shield, and a clean smock/apron with each client. Upon your request, they will wear gloves. You may even remain clothed during your session if you prefer. Our therapists will be prepared for those requests. However, they are also well trained to wash their hands properly, which research shows is more beneficial than wearing gloves.

6. Because the most current research shows COVID-19 virus is transmitted mainly via tiny water droplets exhaled during talking, sneezing, coughing, and regular breathing, we recommend that clients and therapists limit talking during massage sessions. Wearing your mask during the massage will also help, but we are still looking at ways to make it safe for you to temporarily remove your mask when face down during a massage.

7. At first, we will only offer 1 hour massages so we can control the traffic flow and minimize the number of people in the lobby and hallway at any time. We will increase scheduled time between clients so we can clean and sanitize thoroughly with medical grade disinfectants while continuing to filter the air.

8. The schedules of our therapists may be different when they return to work, and some may not rejoin us immediately due to their own considerations. Our online scheduling will reflect availability of appointments and therapists, and will be updated to reflect any changes. Also, we will not be offering pregnancy or Thai massage when we first reopen. We are being cautious to protect you and our staff.

9. You will notice air purifiers in each room, the lobby, and the hallway. These are highly efficient purifiers that have a True HEPA filter, carbon filter, and internal UV-C light to help make the air safer.

10. Under the table linens, we have installed comfortable non-porous table covers that can and will be thoroughly sanitized between appointments. We will also have special covers for pillows, bolsters, and face cradles.

Please understand this has taken a lot of thought and research to put together, and these things are only part of our plan. Our employees will be trained to follow the new protocols and policies without exceptions. We understand that some people may not like parts of this plan, and some may decide not to return for massage until those parts are relaxed/eliminated. We hope it will not be long before that can be done.

We take the safety of you and our employees very seriously. We want to keep everyone as safe as possible during this pandemic, and so we will do our best to minimize risks for everyone.

NOTE: For those who are immune compromised and those who are otherwise particularly susceptible to respiratory infections or blood clots, we recommend that you delay getting massage therapy for now. There is ongoing research that will provide greater clarity regarding safety and risk mitigation over the next few months, and we will welcome you back when it is appropriate for us to do so.

You will see this sign in our front window: 
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We want everyone to feel safe, comfortable, and welcome regardless of their background. We are proud of the diversity in our staff over the years; we love and support our employees, and do our best to provide a great place for them to serve you and the rest of our clients.
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If everything goes well, we hope to open on July 6th. We will issue updates, as we are still awaiting some of the equipment that is on order.
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Do you have osteo arthritis (OA)? There are good reasons to be optimistic about the potential for improvement and quality of life!

https://www.oaoptimism.com/oa-optimism-intro 

Dr. Greg Lehman is a renowned doctor of chiropractic medicine, a doctor of physical therapy, an adjunct professor of biomechanics, and an expert on pain science who teaches continuing education and gives lectures at conferences all over the world. He is widely respected as a great teacher, able to present scientific information in plain language and practical advice. We highly recommend his OA Optimism program. 

Here is an intro video that talks about OA Optimism: 
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We know you are looking forward to getting a massage again, and we thank for your patience and grace. We are preparing to open again, starting with a limited schedule.

Unfortunately, we don't know the exact date on which we will be available to provide service. Many of the supplies we need have not yet arrived, and we need them before we can train our staff in their use. We are hoping to have everything in place and employees trained by early July. You can trust that we will make our environment as safe as we possibly can without sacrificing any more comfort or convenience than is necessary.

If you're on our contact list, you can expect an email with a summary of our new COVID-19 guidelines in the near future. They will also be made available on our website. Until then, please check out our Facebook page for photos, updates, etc.:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Massage-Service/Eagan-Massage-Center-108460775860904/

We are excited to see you again. We miss you! Please take appropriate precautions and stay well, and we will do the same.
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If you interact with people that lip read to facilitate communication, most face masks make it much more difficult for them to know what is being said. There are masks with clear panels in front of the mouth that can provide protection while enabling easier communication. 

If you are a lip reader, let us know if you would prefer to have any of our staff members wear one of these clear masks while helping you. 

You can purchase them at: 

quietcreationsbykathy.com/product/face-mask-cotton-reusable/ 
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If you or someone you know communicates with American Sign Language, these videos from the Minnesota Department of Health might be helpful PSAs for COVID-19 and other public health info. 

https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/materials/asl.html  

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has also produced a series of videos providing info about COVID-19 and caring for people with COVID-19. Here's one of them. They are all available for free on YouTube. 
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When we reopen, wearing masks will be required for everyone. Many of you are already wearing masks, and here are some tips to help prevent your glasses from fogging up, even with a mask on: 

https://www.npr.org/2020/05/08/853009325/how-to-prevent-glasses-from-fogging-up-while-wearing-a-mask?fbclid=IwAR3jyIOpzOJSRuoBJWgm6lkXcsTd2l6tlzgl5BjVRrm3Kyt1fNo6E84a9rE 

We also recommend the following videos for effective, helpful tips:
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Social media is swamped with misinformation about COVID-19, and a lot of people find themselves having to question whether something is fact or fiction.

To combat misinformation, this article was written by Eagan Massage Center co-owner and massage therapist Jason Erickson. It's simple to read and understand, and contains links to sources used to write it.

We want you to have accurate, quality information, especially during such confusing times.

www.massagemag.com/covid-19-coronavirus-information-for-massage-therapists-fact-vs-fiction-122749/ 
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We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. During these difficult times, there is so much uncertainty and challenges in our daily lives. With that being said, the Governor announced that the stay at home order will be in effect until May 18th and we are expecting that massage will be delayed beyond that date. We are hoping to open by July 1.

At this time, we just don’t feel it is safe enough for you and our team. Your patience and understanding is greatly appreciated. In order to open we have to have permission from the Governor, a COVID-19 plan in place that meets the CDC and OSHA guidelines, our employees need to be trained, and we need to have all the supplies on hand. This will take time.


Your feedback has assisted our planning and we are taking additional steps to provide an environment in which you can feel safe and comfortable. 

We would love a crystal ball to be able to set a firm date for reopening, but we just don’t know the answer. Our plan is that we will be available by phone the week prior to reopening to schedule your appointments for those of you who don’t use our online scheduling software.

Rest assured that our sanitation procedures will be above standard and offered with the highest level of care and concern.

Everyone at Eagan Massage Center is eager to see you again! Stay safe and well! 
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If you're on our e-mail list, you have received a note about a survey that will help us prepare to reopen. We really want your feedback because it will help us make sure that what we're doing helps you feel safe and comfortable when you come for a massage.
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For example, should we cover everything in plastic?
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We are planning ahead for when it is time to reopen Eagan Massage Center. The date has not been set, but we're going to be ready. When you return, we want you to feel safe and comfortable so you can enjoy a great massage experience.

That experience will look different in some ways, and we want to know what safety measures would help you feel safer. Some things we are considering include:

* Clients and therapists wearing masks
* Clients and therapists washing hands
* Sanitizing the rooms after each client
* Therapists wearing gloves
* Waiting in the car and being called in for your appointment to limit exposure in the lobby
* Hand sanitizer stations
* Taking temperature of clients and employees

You will be able to see a more extensive list and give us your feedback soon. We will send an e-mail to the people on our contact list with a link to that survey this coming week, and also post that link on our Facebook page. 

Thank you for your support! We look forward to reopening and providing great massage therapy again.

Three stretches to help keep your hips and back limber. Demonstrated with and without assistance. You can find a link to watch this video again in the Video Library on our website. When we reopen, you can have Jason help you with these and other stretches, and he can teach you how to practice them correctly on your own. 

https://youtu.be/QXDH7YhhB_Q

We've built a great reputation for helping people after motor vehicle accidents, including children. We've got a diverse team of massage therapists with different strengths and skill sets. We are happy to help you connect with those who are best suited to help with whiplash and other injuries related to motor vehicle accidents. 

Though we would prefer to be providing massages for you, we understand the statistics and rationale behind the Governor's decision to temporarily close massage businesses, and we support it. In the weeks to come, we encourage you to follow the guidelines regarding staying at home as much as possible. You can find details at https://mn.gov/portal/

During this break in our usual services, we will continue to support your wellbeing in other ways:

FACEBOOK page - we post educational articles, videos, research, and other useful / amusing information related to health, pain, and wellbeing :
https://www.facebook.com/Eagan-Massage-Center-108460775860904/

VIDEO LIBRARY - our website features a video library with links to videos about pain, stretching, etc. that you might find helpful:
https://www.eaganmassage.com/video-library-stretching-techniques.html

If you would like to support us, too, gift cards can be purchased on our web site. They never expire and we will send them to you quickly!
https://www.eaganmassage.com/massage-bodywork-service-gift-card.html

We look forward to seeing you again, so please stay safe and well! We will update you as additional information becomes available.
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Lots of people ask us for help with "muscle knots". This is an image of a "human knot".

We look forward to helping you feel looser and more flexible again. Stay safe and well! 
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