Massage Therapy and Bodywork Services

Your initial session is scheduled for 90 minutes. This time consists of a thorough health history, basic understanding of massage therapy and approximately one hour on the table. Your Licensed Massage Therapist needs this time to evaluate tissue status, observe holding patterns, structural imbalances, address your areas of pain and discomfort, and guide you into a deep state of relaxation.

Your Therapists may include any combination of the techniques listed below to provide a complete and thorough ‘whole’ body observation. Techniques and therapies utilized in your session cater to your specific needs and may change in subsequent visits.

Massage Therapy Techniques  (any combination may be used)

Therapeutic Massage: This term indicates any massage that is performed with the intention of it being healing and therapeutic. You may hear this term applied to many different forms of massage therapy.

Swedish massage:
This approach is truly a whole/full body approach. Focus is placed on improving circulation with fluid movements toward the heart. Influencing the circulation in this way removes stagnant fluids form areas of tension, bringing fresh oxygenated blood to all tissues at a cellular level. This disrupts the pain-spasm-pain cycle, or cycle, thereby relieving pain attributed to muscle tension. Slow, rhythmic movements activate the parasympathetic branch of the central nervous system and produce a deep state of relaxation.

Deep Tissue massage:
This work focuses on the deeper layers of musculature. Pressure, tempo, vibration, and specific placement and direction allow this technique to effectively lengthen muscle fibers. Done slowly and deliberately, even the deepest tissues can be addressed. Using breathing techniques in conjunction with your feedback ensures your treatment is painless. Your therapist may use deep tissue on your areas of chronic tension and areas with limited range of motion. You work together to keep you comfortable and within your hedonic level (pain tolerance).

Myofascial Release:
Fascia is a form of connective tissue. Fascia connects, separates and surrounds the tissues that form your entire body. It holds your organs in place, lines the walls of the entire circulation system, surrounds your brain, spinal cord and nerves, as well shapes and defines each and every muscle in your body. It’s function is vital as it literally defines our entire shape, in and out, and can support or disrupt normal system functions. Injuries such as trauma or repetitive motion can cause restriction in the fascia by producing adhesions and torque or ‘twists’.
Myofascial Release is a specific technique whose function is to open the fascia throughout your body. This work is very focused, requiring a full hour for each area of the body; shoulders, neck, head, low back, thighs, etc. As layer after layer is gently stretched, a ‘ripple’ or ‘wave’ rolls through the tissue creating space. This allows the fascia to ‘breath’ and provide support without binding.
Your therapist may recommend a couple of areas to administer this technique to, or may suggest a whole body regime. A full body Myofascial Release schedule usually consists of 14-16 consecutive (weekly) visits. Results effect the over-all shape and stance of the body and is very successful for those with postural imbalances.

Reflexology:
An ancient approach that treats the entire body through the feet. Different areas of your body are affected by activating the energy meridians that govern it. Meridians are also what Acupressure and Acupuncture works with. The feet are ‘maps’ of the body, enabling your therapist to address internal areas.

Healing Touch:
An energetic approach based on the seven cores of energy, or charkas, that are in the center of your body. Simple holds clear areas of blockage and energize weak connections.

Craniosacral Unwinding:
Based on Upledger principals, this is a very active form of treatment. The intention is to allow fascia adhesions and twists in your body to literally ‘unwind’. Lots of movement allows tissue memories to release which breaks the psychological connection to traumatized tissues.

Muscle Energy Technique:
Providing counter pressure and resistance to specific muscles produces lengthening of muscle fibers. This can be accomplished with most major muscle groups.

Facilitated Stretching:
Stretching muscles gently with specific resistance, direction, and tempo provides relaxation of tissues and joints. Activating the parasympathetic nervous system loosens the shoulder and hip joints.