Massage
Massage Therapy:
By definition, massage is the movement of the body's soft tissue. Through the use of compressive, gliding and kneading strokes, the massage therapist works to relax, open and restore balance to the muscles and the body as a whole. But massage is much more. Massage is a way of honoring and caring for your body. Good bodywork reconnects pathways on multiple levels within the body, providing an enhanced awareness of your body and how you feel within it.
Intuitive, nurturing, sensitive, strong, gentle – these are the words clients have used to describe my style of massage therapy. My diverse training in multiple techniques of bodywork and energetic healing enable me to create individual treatments for my clients. The following are the primary massage methods I work with to open, relax and restore balance to the muscles while aiding in the realignment of the body, mind and spirit as a whole.
Swedish Massage, what most people think of for calming, relaxation bodywork, utilizes long gliding and kneading strokes to warm and relax the muscles.
Deep Tissue Muscle Therapy focuses on the deeper layers of muscle with firmer pressure and slower strokes to the contracted areas in an effort to relieve chronic tension in the body.
Trigger Point Therapy applies concentrated finger pressure to painfully irritated areas of the muscle as a means of breaking the cycle of spasm and pain.
Sports Massage combines compressive stokes to the muscle with stretch and breath work to facilitate the elongation of tight shortened muscles. The pace varies from slow and gentle for post sporting event treatments to fast more upbeat work for pre-event warm ups.
Thai Massage, sometimes called the lazy man’s yoga, incorporates stretch and the use of pressure along channels of energy called meridians. Traditionally done on mats on the floor, I have blended elements of this style of massage into my table work.
Myofascial Release is a form of soft tissue work that focuses on the release of restrictions in the fascial tissue. The fascia is the connective tissue that surrounds all of the muscles and organs in the body, lending support, protection and interconnections. Binding of his tissue – resulting from trauma, stress, overuse, infection or inactivity – can cause pain and restriction of movement. Gentle, sustained pressure and stretch are applied to the tissue, warming it up and enabling it to move, release the binding and return to its natural position. Releasing of the fascia in one part of the body can lead to relief of pain and binding in multiple body regions.
Cranial Sacral Therapy is a gentle modality that works with a client’s skull and spine. The therapist tunes into the craniosacral rhythm (the pulse and flow of cranial fluid around the skull and through the spinal column) and applies gentle pressure to the skull and surrounding tissue, restoring balance and optimizing the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid.
Massage can be effective in the treatment of:
- Headaches
- Muscle Strain
- Tendonitis
- Whiplash
- Postural Imbalance
- Stress
- Tension
- General body aches
Benefits of massage include:
- Decrease in workout recovery time
- Improved circulation
- Reduction and/or elimination of pain caused by tight,
tense muscles- Increased range of motion and joint mobility
- Relaxation of the nervous system
- Alleviation of stress and anxiety
- Relaxes, calms and unwinds the body so you can sleep
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As part of a regular health program for self-care, massage can reduce stress, calm the body, help prevent injuries and enhance general health. Best of all –
It makes you feel good!
Bodywork Sessions:
This is the most common type of massage session for people who want to relax 
and just drift away. Typically Swedish massage is done on a massage table with the client undressed and under a top sheet. The client’s comfort is of the utmost importance so the level of undress is a personal decision. Only that part of the body being worked on is undraped and exposed. The work is very general, using light compression, rocking movements as well as long gliding and gentle kneading strokes. A natural, cold pressed oil or massage cream is used to ease the movement across the body.
By far, this type of session comprises the majority of my practice. In an integrated muscle therapy session, I blend all of the styles of massage I am trained in into a comprehensive treatment to meet the needs of my client’s body.
The session starts with a discussion on how the client’s body feels. Are there any areas of pain or recent injuries that need attention? Together, we evaluate any limits to the client’s range of motion and then plan what type of bodywork would be best to meet his/her needs. The table work typically begins with gentle compressions, rocking movements and lighter touch as I assess how the muscles and connective tissue respond. From here the bodywork may move into some myofascial release, cranial sacral work, or some firmer compressions and kneading strokes to the muscle, leading into some deeper tissue muscle therapy – it all depends on what and where the restrictions are in the body.
Integrated muscle therapy works the body in a more specific manner, so it is important to know what to expect. During myofascial release the connective tissues are undergoing a change in consistency that allows for movement and the creation of space between the tissues. Initially it may seem as if the therapist’s hands are barely moving. It may take up to several minutes in one spot before the tissues begin to let go. Once they start to release, the client may experience a slight pull or burning sensation under the skin. It is essential to breathe during this process, both to aid in relaxation and to provide the muscles with oxygen to facilitate the process. The end result of the myofascial release should be a greater sense of openness within that area of the body.
The elements of Thai and sports massage that are incorporated into the bodywork session involve movement and stretch for flexibility. The integrated muscle therapy sessions focus not only on the muscle, but the joint spaces as well. We move our bodies constantly throughout the day, placing stress on the joints and the muscles that cross over them. For this reason, joint spaces need release and balancing as much as the muscles. To most effectively receive this work, allow the body to be heavy and relaxed – there is no need for assistance in any of the movements. From a client’s perspective, all of the stretches are passive movements performed by the therapist as the client is taken through various ranges of motion, sometimes adding pressure to the muscle as it is stretched.
While the deeper tissue and Swedish work generally employ the use of massage oil or cream, the myofascial, sports and Thai components of the session are performed upon dry skin to allow the therapist to accurately feel the restrictions and apply the correct amount of sustained pressure.