My Modalities

Swedish Massage

Swedish Massage is used mainly to calm the mind and relax the body.  This is done by using long, flowing strokes, some kneading, and sometimes percussive techniques which improves the body’s circulation and encourages relaxation.   It has also be found to be effective for clients with fibromyalgia who are pressure sensitive.

The benefits of this type of bodywork are wide-ranging and include relief from aches and pains, decreased stress and anxiety levels, improved lymphatic drainage and swelling in the body, enhanced mental clarity, and muscle relaxation.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep Tissue Massage is a form of bodywork that aims to relieve tension in the deeper layers of tissue in the body.  Deep Tissue Massage is a highly effective method for releasing chronic stress areas due to misalignment, repetitive motions, and past lingering injuries.  

Due to the nature of the deep tissue work, open communication during the session is crucial to make sure you don't get too uncomfortable.  Keep in mind that soreness is pretty common after the treatment.

Therapeutic Massage

This is NOT really a specific modality or type of massage.

It is used by massage providers to indicate an ‘in between’ massage.  This massage falls somewhere 'in-between' a Swedish and a Deep Tissue massage with a ‘mid-range’ pressure.  The benefits are more than a Swedish and less than a Deep Tissue.

Hot Stone Therapy

Hot Stone Therapy is a style of massage where heated stones are used to deepen relaxation and promote circulation in your muscles.  The stones are used as a ‘part of the hand’  during the massage but may also be ‘placed’ on your body to allow the heat to penetrate deeper in tight areas.

A Hot Stone Treatment will release muscular tension and reduce stress more profoundly than traditional massage leaving you very relaxed, nurtured and rejuvenated.

Pressure Point Therapy

Your body stores stress in specific areas called pressure points. Pressure points are small painful pockets of energy that are located along a nerve pathway in your body. These pressure points actually block the nerve energy from flowing through your body, causing a variety of discomforts and illnesses.

In our session, I apply pressure to these specific points and release them, clearing any blockages and restoring the clear flow of nerve energy to reduce pain and restore function.

Gua Sha (aka Scrapping)

Gua Sha (aka scraping) is a practice of scraping a tool across the skin and is believed to release tension from sore, tired, stiff or injured muscle areas by stimulate new oxygenated blood flow, thus promoting metabolic cell repair, regeneration, healing and recovery, 

This can be very effective as a spot treatment and is tailored to your pressure tolerances.

Positional Releases Therapy (PRT)

Positional Release Therapy, also known by its parent term strain counte-rstrain, is a therapeutic technique that uses manipulation, traction and massage to resolve muscular and joint pain due to repetitive activities which kinked or knotted the muscle  tissue causing pain, spasms and loss of range of motion.  This technique is known for being a gentle and non-traumatic modality. 

Basically PRT involves placing the restricted/tight muscle in a position of comfort/ease and applying a small amount of compression.  This compression relaxes the stressed reflexes in the muscle spindles that originally caused the issues.  The “shortening” relaxes the stressed reflexes that produce the muscle tightness or spasms.  This muscle relaxation may also provide a greater range of motion to joints affected by the tight muscle. 

PRT is basically the opposite of stretching – it shortens the muscle or tissue in order to relax them.

Massage Cupping

Massage Cupping is used to improve circulation and promote muscular release.  It can be an ‘ADD ON’ to any massage except the Hot Stone Therapy.

Generally used on the back, cups are placed on the back with suction promoting increased blood flow to the cup(s).  After 3-5 minutes the cups are removed.  One or two cups are then used as a suction massage tool, being moved over the area to increase the effect of blood circulation and muscular release.  

NOTE:  This treatment may result in red circles on the body which should fade in 24-48 hours.

Reflexology

Reflexology generally refers to the use of Chinese acupuncture pressure points on the feet and/or hands connect with specific areas on the body which promote healing.  As well as the pressure points, I incorporate stretching, tapotement, and mobilization techniques

Some benefits of this treatment are: increased flexibility, pain relief from plantar fasciitis, arthritis, headaches, bunion/hammer toes, reduced swelling/edema, reduces stress/anxiety and improves circulation. 
 
It’s best for people who are looking to relax, release pain or restore their natural energy levels.  It’s also a good option for those who aren’t comfortable being touched on the entire body.

Sports Massage

Sports Massage feels very similar to a Deep Tissue massage.  Traditionally a Sports Massage focused on the type of workout  and  the level at which the athlete competed.  This was used to minimize, overcome and prevented issues caused by ‘repetitive’ use on joints and muscles due to regular workouts.  Sports massages also focused on pre- and post- event recovery.  Deep Tissue did not. Also, sports massages had lots of stretches!

Now that I’m thinking about it …  there are lots of repetitive problems occurring on joints and muscles from prolonged sitting at computers resulting in major postural problems in the neck, shoulders, back and hips.

So now days, the big difference is ‘STRETCHES' and those can be add to any massage.