Massage Techniques:

Relaxtion / Swedish Massage

Swedish massage is the most common and best-known type of massage in the West.  It can be slow and gentle, or vigorous and bracing, depending on what your goals of the session are.  Swedish massage promotes relaxation, eases muscle tension and creates other health benefits.  I'll use various massage strokes that include effleurage (gliding), kneading, friction, stretching and (sometimes) tapping.

If you like, I can spend more time on a certain area. If the pressure is too light or too firm, you should speakup and ask me to adjust it. A good relaxation massage relieves stress and tension in your muscles and will leave you oozing with a sense of wellbeing!  Some of the general benefits of a relaxation massage are improved circulation, so your organs and skin get more oxygen.   A relaxation massage encourages your body to digest its food, and get rid of its toxins. It will help you to sleep better. A massage will also help un-knot any muscles, soothe aches and sprains and encourage the skin to heal minor abrasions.

Deep Tissue Massage

A deep tissue massage is designed to relieve severe tension in the muscle and the connective tissue or fascia. This type of massage focuses on the muscles located below the surface of the top muscles. Deep tissue is especially helpful for chronically tense and contracted areas such as stiff necks, low back tightness, and sore shoulders. At certain points during the massage, most people find there is usually some discomfort and pain. It is important to tell me when things hurt and if any soreness or pain you experience is outside your comfort range. There is also sometimes stiffness or pain after a deep tissue massage, but it should subside within a day or so.

When there is chronic muscle tension or injury, there are usually adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Adhesions can block circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and inflammation. Deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement. To do this, I'll often use direct deep pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles. Some of the same strokes are used as classic massage therapy, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain.

The term “deep tissue” is often misused to identify a massage that is performed with sustained deep pressure. Deep tissue massage is a separate category of massage therapy, used to treat particular muscular-skeletal disorders and complaints and employs a dedicated set of techniques and strokes to achieve a measure of relief. It should not be confused with “deep pressure” massage, which is one that is performed with sustained strong, occasionally intense pressure throughout an entire full-body session, and that is not performed to address a specific complaint.

Thai Massage

Traditional Thai Massage is a unique form of body therapy dating back more than 2,500 years ago in India. It is believed to have been developed by Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha, physician to Buddha. It made its way to Thailand, where the Ayurvedic techniques and principles gradually became influenced by traditional Chinese medicine. For centuries, Thai massage was performed by monks as one component of Thai medicine. This therapy incorporates yoga, acupressure and reflexology along with its own techniques of gentle rocking, deep stretching and compression. The movements assist the restructuring of your musculo-skeletal framework with great benefits for athletes, dancers and other people who want their body to achieve maximum performance.

Thai Massage is performed on a mat on the floor rather than a raised table. It allows for the most effective use of my body weight rather than muscular force for the transmission of pressure, force, or energy, which creates a highly therapeutic effect. I will lean on the recipient's body using hands and usually straight forearms locked at the elbow to apply firm rhythmic pressure. The massage generally follows the Sen lines on the body — somewhat analogous to meridians or Channel (Chinese medicine) and Indian nadis. Legs and feet are sometimes used to fixate the body or limbs of the recipient. In other positions, hands fixate the body, while the feet do the massaging action.

Thai massage is also called Thai yoga massage, because many people say Thai massage is like doing yoga without any work! People describe Thai massage as both relaxing and energizing. It help to reduce stress, increase energy, flexibility, circulation and range of motion. You will leave feeling centered with both your mind and body.

Sports Massage

Sports massage is a form of bodywork geared toward participants in athletics. I'll focus on muscles relevant to the event. For athletes who train continuously, the goal is to enhance endurance, lessen the chance of injury and shorten the time needed to recover from an event.

I may utilize a variety of techniques such as classical Swedish Massage, trigger point therapy, deep tissue and stretching. Prior to an athletic event, Sports Massage may be used with stretching in order to help athletes to loosen, warm and prepare their muscles so that their performance and endurance might be enhanced. Following an athletic event, Sports Massage may be used to relieve pain, prevent stiffness, and return the muscles back to their normal state. It is also used as maintenance massage to help keep the body in its optimal condition.

Prenatal Massage

Pregnancy massage is a popular complementary therapy during pregnancy for back pain, when choices for pain relief, such as medication, are often limited. Not only can massage be physically beneficial, but the human touch can be comforting and provide emotional support during pregnancy.

Pregnancy massage has been found to reduce stress, increase circulation thereby helping to decrease swelling in the arms and legs, and relieve aches and pains in muscles and joints to help you sleep better. It has also been found to reduce anxiety and depression. I will carefully position the mother's body and support it well during the massage, using pillows and padding. Proper positioning ensures comfort and safety for the mother and baby.

Chair Massage

Chair massage is one of the quickest and most simple types. It has all the usual benefits, plus its flexibility gives it some unique attributes. It is performed while the subject is sitting in a special chair. It allows him to lean forward so his arms, neck, back and shoulders are easy for the therapist to reach, as these are the areas of concentration.

Chair massage is one of the quickest and most simple types. It has all the usual benefits, plus its flexibility gives it some unique attributes. It is performed while the subject is sitting in a special chair. It allows him to lean forward so his arms, neck, back and shoulders are easy for the therapist to reach, as these are the areas of concentration. The treated person can close her eyes and take a moment to relax and recharge. This is also very beneficial in relieving the strain caused by looking continually at computer monitors.

The chair massage improves circulation, relieves muscle tension and raises a person's energy levels. This therapy is especially helpful for chronically tense and contracted areas such as stiff necks, low back tightness, and sore shoulders. Studies have shown that regular 15-minute chair massages reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Chair massage is provided to a fully clothed client in a variety of settings, including Businesses (great for Employee Appreciation), Marketing Events, Conventions, Street Fairs, Birthday Parties, Wedding Showers, Baby Showers, Mother's or Father's day and more!

Special event, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly chair massage can be arranged at your office. Please contact me for rate options, by the hour or by the minute.