TREATMENTS
MASSAGE
Each massage session is customized to fit the needs and issues a client presents on the day of the appointment. Most often, a variety of techniques are used within a session. Treatment may also incorporate stretching, aromatherapy, breathing techniques and hot or cold modalities to add to the overall experience. Treatment may include any of the techniques listed below.
DEEP TISSUE
This type of massage requires that the muscles be relaxed, otherwise tight surface muscles prevent the practitioner from reaching deeper musculature. It helps with chronic muscular pain and injury rehabilitation and reduces inflammation-related pain caused by arthritis and tendinitis. It is generally integrated with other massage techniques.
MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINT THERAPY
Used to relieve muscular pain and dysfunction through applied pressure to trigger points of referred pain and through stretching exercises. These points are defined as localized areas in which the muscle and connective tissue are highly sensitive to pain when compressed. Pressure on these points can send referred pain to other specific parts of the body.
SPORTS MASSAGE
Sports massage is designed to enhance athletic performance and recovery. There are three contexts in which sports massage can be useful to an athlete: pre-event, post-event, and injury treatment. When an athlete sustains an injury, skillful massage therapy can often speed and improve the quality of healing.
SWEDISH MASSAGE
One of the most well-known massage techniques, Swedish massage is a system of treatment designed to energize the body by stimulating circulation. Therapists use a combination of long flowing strokes and kneading, rolling, vibrational, percussive, and tapping movements. The many benefits of Swedish massage may include generalized relaxation, stress reduction, relief of muscular tension, dissolution of scar tissue adhesions, and improved circulation, which may speed healing and reduce swelling from injury.
JOINT MOBILIZATION/RANGE OF MOTION MASSAGE
Ideally, the client is moved freely as the range of motion of a joint is explored by the therapist. Throughout the procedure the client should be able to remain as loose as a rag-doll. Joint mobilizations are used as an evaluative tool, assessing the condition or limitations of the tissues surrounding a particular joint structure. They are also used therapeutically with the intention of stretching hypertonic tissue or for addressing adhesions improving extensibility of the joint.
MYOFASCIAL RELEASE
Myofascial release is a safe and very effective hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into restrictions in the connective web of tissue that creates and supports the human body. Movement and release of these tensions can eliminate pain and restore the body to its normal state of fluid, flowing movement. This treatment can provide relief to those experiencing headaches, back pain, cervical pain, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, neurological dysfunction, restriction of motion, and other chronic pain issues. The treatment allows your mind, body and spirit to enter a state of deep relaxation allowing the body to activate its innate healing abilities.
ASHIATSU ORIENTAL BAR THERAPY
This is a barefoot massage technique using bars overhead for support and balance. This unique form of bodywork combines a typical Western massage with a distinctly Eastern barefoot, gravity-assisted technique. Deep compression, gliding and myofascial massage strokes are used, resulting in structural change in chronic soft tissue damage, stimulation of the lymphatic system, as well as providing deep relaxation.