Which Massage is best for me?
Swedish Massage
Deep Tissue Therapies
Foot Reflexology
Touch for Health - Applied Kinesiology
Trager Psycho-Physical Integration (c)
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Passive, Active and Resistive Positional Releasing
Active or Passive Range of Motion
Energetic Work
Hot Stone Massage
Aromatherapy
SWEDISH MASSAGE: AWAKE, RELAXED & PLIABLE
Swedish Massage, one of the most well known forms of massage
in the western world, was developed by Peter Henrik Ling in the beginning
of the 19th century. The name Swedish is a misnomer. He was French living
in Sweden when he developed a synthesis of techniques from European and
Asian massage on a framework of the Western understanding of the body.
Swedish massage has a direct mechanical, as well as a reflexive, effect
on the tissue of the muscles, nerves, vessels and organs of the body.
The rhythmical pumping and long flowing strokes cleanse and empty fluids
out of the tissues to allow new to enter. The friction type movements
create more pliability to fibrous, adhered tissue and greater range of
motion. Indirectly, Swedish massage sends messages through the nervous
system to stimulate hormones, release muscle guarding, sedate or tonify
the tissue.
DEEP TISSUE THERAPIES: ENERGIZED, OPEN & PAIN FREE
The term “Deep Tissue Therapies” often refers to the practitioners’ use of techniques that focus on the deeper underlying tissue and patterns of the body. The term can also refer to the amount of pressure applied.
Myofascial Releasing (MFR)
Myo-fascial Releasing focuses on the fascia or connective tissue that
can be accessed on the surface but interweaves deeply through out the
body creating the fascial patterns that affect our posture. Fascia is
the web of thick fibers and sheer sheaths of tissue that holds our organs,
muscles and bones together. MFR focuses on separating excessive fascia
that has developed from overuse or fascia that has become adhered to other
tissue inappropriately. Here we look at how the whole body moves and functions
together. MFR may be included with other work. However, should it be done
alone, the practitioner would be more likely to focus more thoroughly
on a few areas of the body in one session. There is no use of lotion.
The technique is a slow, gradual penetration into the fascia, pulling
the deeper layers along the way with fingers, fists or elbows. Movement
of the patient simultaneous to the stroke is often used. This technique
is the generic form of Rolfing developed by Ida Rolf,MD, which uses a
series of sessions to attain greater alignment. MFR, unlike Rolfing or
its offshoots. is not oriented around a sequence or series of sessions.
Cross Fiber Technique
Cross Fiber Technique is based on the work of Dr. Max Warmbrand, an MD
and the father of pathology. The term refers to rolling over the fibers
of the muscle belly, tendons and ligaments to pull and separate the fibers
inappropriately bonded to each other. It is a form of friction. The session
is usually more invigorating and warming, than sedating. It is great for
softening and creating more pliability from chronically ropey, adhered,
taut muscles due to overuse or injury.
The Cannon Technique of Stripping
The Cannon Technique is used in conjunction with Trigger Point or Cellulome
Therapy. The focus is more specific to muscles, the strokes are parallel
with the fibers of the muscle. Because each muscle has many mini fibers
within it, when there are injuries to the muscle fiber, many mini muscle
fibers tear and reheal in an unorganized way. They can develop hot spots
that refer pain sensations through the nervous system to other parts of
the body, developing pain patterns. The Cannon stripping technique is
used to align the mish-mash of fibers and locate the hot spots or Trigger
Points.
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger Point Therapy was developed by Dr. Travel, MD. Through her research,
she learned to identify and verify traumatized points in various locations
of the body that create a small irritation to the nervous. That irritation
travels through out that system, referring a pain pattern, sometimes at
a distant location. Once located, holding those trigger points can sedate
the trigger point and break the pain pattern. This is a great treatment
for pain.
FOOT REFLEXOLOGY: DEEPLY RELAXED, GROUNDED AND HEALING
Foot Reflexology is the art of using of pressure points on the foot that refer benefits elsewhere in the body, such as stimulating a point on the toe for a headache. It is a form of acupressure which documentation indicates may have been used as far back as 2500bc in Egypt and Asia, and came rather late in Europe first being documented in 1500ad, then in the US in 1915. Foot Reflexology has a deeply relaxing effect on the body and stimulates healing for conditions through out the rest of the body. Because it is so relaxing at the foundation of the body, it has a big effect on posture. (See Classes in Other Services).
TOUCH FOR HEALTH - APPLIED KINESIOLOGY: BALANCED AND INTEGRATED
Touch for Health is a form of Applied Kinesiology. It was developed by Dr.John F. Thie, a chiropractor who extended the ideas of a fellow chiropractor, Dr. George Goodheart, who discovered that a muscle spasm could be treated by strengthening opposite weak muscles. TFH uses a method of testing muscles that was developed to test and treat polio victims in the beginning of the nineteenth century. As Chinese medicine opened up to the west, the relationship of the muscles to energetic systems in the body was integrated into TFH. A session would consist of checking the ability of different muscles to see if they respond when asked to resist in certain positions, sometimes while contacting specific acupressure points, then balancing them through various systems depending on what the body says is needed; bio-mechanical, bio-chemical, bio-energetic or bio-emotional bodies. This is a useful therapy if you are feeling out of balance somehow and you can’t put your finger on it.
TRAGER® PSYCHO-PHYSICAL INTEGRATION : LIGHTNESS & FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
The Trager® Approach was developed by Milton Trager, MD. It incorporates gentle rocking, stretching and shaking movements that facilitate a deep neurological relaxation response, loosening the muscles and joints. Gentle stretches are incorpoated with resistance to stimulate further neurological release. Mentastics®, a form of movement re-education, is taught along with the sessions to extend the releasing effects beyond the sessions.
MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE: SOFTNESS, PLIABILITY AND FLUIDITY
Manual Lymphatic Drainage, developed by Dr. Vodder in France, is a formalized pattern of applying a gentle, rhythmic, repetitive stroke pumping lymph along the lymphatics of the body. The intention of the work is to induce an equilibrium of fluids that circulate in the interstitial and connective tissue. This is useful where there is a stagnation of fluids from injury, surgery, fibroids, allergies and sinus congestion, acne or edema.
PASSIVE, ACTIVE AND RESISTIVE POSITIONAL RELEASING, ACTIVE OR PASSIVE RANGE OF MOTION: FULLNESS OF MOVEMENT
Basham, Muscle Energy Technique and Ortho-bionomy are forms of Passive Positional Releasing. With this work, when there is pain and tightness, the practitioner positions the client in a way that passively contracts the muscle while holding the point of pain until the nerve receptors tell the brain that it can release the holding pattern.
A traumatic jolt or over use of a muscle can make the muscle believe it is shorter then it really is. In Resistive Positional Releasing, the practitioner positions the client’s body so that the muscle is lengthened to what it thinks is its maximum. The patient is asked to contract against resistance, hold and release. By releasing from the static position, the muscle lengthens even further.
Active or Passive Range of Motion assists the patient in reaching full mobility of joints either by taking the joints through their full range of movements or by having the patient resist gently as the practitioner leads the patient through the movements. This can help the hyper-tone muscles to let go, activate and wake up hypo-tone muscles.
ENERGETIC WORK: GROUNDED, CENTERED & ALIVE
Shiatsu
Shiatsu, a form of acupressure, was developed in Japan after coming over
from the mainland of China 500 years ago. The intention in Shiatsu is
to communicate to the same energy channels found in the body that are
used in acupuncture. The energy channels travel through and reflexively
influence organ functions, while also influencing the muscles. Acupressure
can be effective for a wide range of medical conditions by sedating or
stimulating channels or regions of the body where there is blocked and
therefore insufficient energy in some places and excessive energy in others.
This work focuses on the manifestation of excess and deficiency in the
muscles, skin and organs versus reading the pulses.
Chi Nei Tsang
Chi Nei Tsang, a part of the Taoist tradition of Chi Kung,
means in Chinese “Energy Work for the Abdomen”. The navel,
where each of us was first nourished and first experienced our sense of
separation, is the center of this work. In Western culture, the abdomen
is much ignored, yet it holds our core emotions and physical patterning.
Through massage, breath work, meditations and energizations, this work
is about bringing ones awareness and life energy to one’s body being
and connecting with the life energy that supports us. A strong component
of CNT is learning massage on one’s own abdomen as well as learning
supportive meditations and energizations.
External Chi Work/ Reiki/Therapeutic Touch
External Chi Work comes from the ancient Chinese Taoist tradition of Chi
Kung. With External Chi Work there is no direct touch rather the practitioner
either holds their hands still over areas of the body or moves in flowing
rythmn above the body. The practitioner is guided by his or her discernment
of blockages, stagnancy or over-activity via his or her hands. The practitioner
may include Chi Kung energizations or meditations with the session. External
Chi Work requires that the practitioner do internal chi work on themselves
to replenish, nourish and protect themselves.
Therapeutic Touch is very similar to External Chi Healing when using the flowing movements over the body. It was developed by Delores Krieger, RN.
Reiki was developed in Japan, though it most likely came from the Taoist healing arts of China. It uses “the laying on of hands” to hold energy as it clears, balances, transforms and moves the energy beneath the practitioner’s touch.
All of these modalities are very calming and healing.
HOT STONE MASSAGE: WARMING, NOURISHING AND RESTFUL
Heated Stone Massage can be done on its own or in combination with other modalities. If done alone, various stones are placed on different areas of the body to provide a sense of support, connection and warmth. Each area is massaged with various types, sizes, shapes and weight of stone for various purposes. A combination massage incorporates direct hand massage along with the stones. The heat in combination with massage is deeply relaxing. It is a very unique experience.
AROMATHERAPY: HEALING WITH PLANTS
Aromatherapy may be included with many of the modalities listed above. We can muscle test you to determine which plant essential oil or combination would be best for you. Or you can select the oil you would like based on smell or how you are feeling. Plants are used medicinally for many purposes. The healing properties of the plant oils are absorbed through the pores of the skin and through the olfactory sensory receptors.