ABOUT COVID19

April 27, 2021

The CDC has provided new guidelines & list of activities that are safe for prople that are fully vaccinated. I am beginning to see new clients that are able and willing to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated.  I realize this makes some people uncomfortable, but because massage therapy requires close contact for an extended period of time, I feel this is a necessary meaure to ensure safety of my clients, my family and my community.  If you are unable to provide proof of your vaccine at the time of your massage, your appointment will be cancelled. Per the guidelines below, masks are still required at Centered Healing even if you have been fully vaccinated.

Below, I have posted a link to an NPR article about CDC's new guidelines for fully vaccinated people.  Here are the highlights:

• A person is considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their 2nd vaccine from Pfizer & Moderna or 2 weeks after Johnson & Johnson's single vaccine.
• Fully vaccinated people are less likely to become infected and also 'potentially' less likely to spread the virus to others
• Fully vaccinated people should still follow recommendations and guidelines in public settings, including wearing a mask.
• There is still a small risk that vaccinated people could become infected with mild or asymptomatic disease and potentially pass it on to others who are not vaccinated. 

NPR  CDC Guidelines:  List of Activities Safe for Vaccinated People

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/03/08/974783644/cdc-says-its-safe-for-vaccinated-people-to-do-these-activities

June 3, 2020 

Below is Governor Scott's Phase 2 order as it pertains to massage therapy and other close contact businesses.

Click here to see the full order:  https://accd.vermont.gov/news/update-new-work-safe-additions-be-smart-stay-safe-order?fbclid=IwAR04jv2bpl3SeGwzBI72zLTOAAhlOxCjqeQoKI_LobenCzs1ylGUZUA_J60

8.1 Close Contact Business Stage 2 (Effective 6/1)

Gymnasiums, fitness centers and similar exercise facilities, massage therapists, nail salons, spas, tattoo parlors, indoor recreation facilities (such as skating rinks and field houses), businesses that require home visits, such as cleaning services and similar operations, and businesses that require limited close personal contact may resume in-person operations subject to the mandatory health and safety requirements listed above, and: 

• Operations are limited to 25% (twenty-five percent) of approved fire safety occupancy; or 1 customer per 200 square feet and, no classes of more than 25 people shall occur in any single, distinct indoor space.  
• Operators should separate customers to maintain physical distancing of 6 feet for any activity that will occur for more than a few moments (e.g. a retail transaction). 
• To the greatest extent possible, operations shall be by appointment only with specified time periods for each client. No walk-In appointments are allowed. 
• Operations may serve only Vermont residents or others who have completed the prescribed quarantine. 
• Locker rooms, waiting areas, and other common areas shall be restricted to occupancy limits noted above. 
• For retail sales, curbside pickup is preferred; no testing / demonstration of products is allowed; and cashless/touch-less transactions are strongly preferred. 
• Personal instructional services/lessons (such as art, music, athletic, skills, academic) may occur within the maximum occupancy limits mentioned above at a commercial location or residence. (Masks and physical distancing are encouraged to the extent possible.)   
• No contact games or contact activity, except for those activities essential to the safety of participants, during practices are currently allowed. (
• Operators must maintain a log of customers and their contact information for 30 days in the event contact tracing is required by the Department of Health.

March 23, 2020

On Monday, March 16th, I closed Centered Healing Therapeutic Massage in response to heightened CDC warnings about COVID-19.

Last Saturday, March 21st, Governor Scott ordered “all close-contact businesses are required to close by 8:00pm on Monday, March 23, including gymnasiums, fitness centers and similar exercise facilities, hair salons and barbers, nail salons, spas and tattoo parlors.”

I will continue to monitor the situation, with the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, Governor Scott's office and my professional association, Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP).  When I can safely re-open is, I am sure you are aware, unknown.  I will continue to provide updates as I learn more. 

In the face of this crisis, I remain committed to the health and wellness of my clients, my family and the community at large.  COVID-19 will continue to force us to make a lot of decisions over the next few weeks and many of them will be difficult.  If we all do our part, we will get through this.  Meanwhile, I will make the most of this time to take some CE courses for massage therapy so that I will be prepared to give my clients the restorative therapeutic massage that I’m sure will be needed when I am able to re-open.

Please take care of yourself. See you soon!

Yours in good health,

Terye Wohnus Owner/Practitioner

March 15, 2020

As a massage therapist, I have given a lot of thought to the risks of COVID-19 and what special precautions I need to observe during this pandemic.  For guidance, I turned to my professional association, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), as well as my licensing board, National Association for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB).   They are in communication with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and have directed their member practitioners to follow the CDC and WHO guidelines.

All licensed and insured massage therapists have always been required to adhere to and practice the standards set by these leading health organizations.  Their standards of practice have always been routinely implemented at Centered Healing.

Below are examples of some of the measures I am taking to protect my clients:

-Every surface touched by me or a client in the treatment room, such as the massage table, massage chair and face cradles are sanitized after every massage.

- Doorknobs, bathroom fixtures and reception counter are sanitized daily and disinfected throughout the course of the day.

- There is never more than one client in my office at one time.  The door to my building is locked while I am with a client.  It remains locked until my client leaves. 

- To facilitate social distancing, I have increased the time between appointments from 30 minutes to 45 minutes.  This reduces the risk of a client arriving at and entering my office while another client is leaving my office. 

- I always ask clients to cancel their appointment if they are sick or have had a fever within the past 72 hours.  I also cancel when I am not feeling well.

            In the face of this pandemic, I am committed to the health and wellness of not only my clients, but also of my family and the community at large.  As such, I will continue to stay informed with updates and guidelines from ABMP and NCBTMB, and I will fully cooperate with any directives issued by our Governor Phil Scott.

The below article written by Ruth Werner, who has authored several pathology text books for massage therapists, outlines the guidelines for ABMP’S licensed massage therapists. 

A Massage Therapist's Guide to COVID-19

I hope this puts your mind at ease.  Be well, be healthy and be safe. 

Yours in good health,

Terye Wohnus, Owner/Practitioner

Centered Healing Therapeutic Massage

From NCBTMB: Recommendations Amid COVID-19 Concerns