What is Massage therapy?
Massage therapy is the scientific manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for the purpose of normalizing those tissues and consists of a group of manual techniques that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, and/or causing movement of or to the body. While massage therapy is applied primarily with the hands, sometimes the forearms or elbows are used. These techniques affect the muscular, skeletal, circulatory, lymphatic, nervous, and other systems of the body. The basic philosophy of massage therapy embraces the concept of vis Medicatrix naturae, which is aiding the ability of the body to heal itself, and is aimed at achieving or increasing health and well-being.
Touch is the fundamental medium of massage therapy. While massage can be described in terms of the type of techniques performed, touch is not used solely in a mechanistic way in massage therapy. One could look at a diagram or photo of a massage technique that depicts where to place one’s hands and what direction the stroke should go, but this would not convey everything that is important for giving a good massage. Massage also has an artistic component.
Because massage usually involves applying touch with some degree of pressure and movement, the massage therapist must use touch with sensitivity in order to determine the optimal amount of pressure to use for each person. For example, using too much pressure may cause the body to tense up, while using too little may not have enough effect. Touch used with sensitivity also allows the massage therapist to receive useful information via his or her hands about the client’s body, such as locating areas of muscle tension and other soft tissue problems. Because touch is also a form of communication, sensitive touch can convey a sense of caring—an essential element in the therapeutic relationship—to the person receiving massage.
In practice, many massage therapists use more than one technique or method in their work and sometimes combine several. Effective massage therapists ascertain each person’s needs and then use the techniques that will meet those needs best:
Massage
- » 2015 Rates
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- » Swedish Massage
- » Acupressure
- » Chair Massage
- » Golden Years Massage (seniors)
- » Infant/Children’s Massage
- » Myofascial Release Therapy
- » Pregnancy Massage
- » Reflexology
- » Reiki
- » Shiatsu
- » Trigger Point Therapy
- » EFT- Emotional Freedom Technique
- » Mommy and Me Massage
Most techniques are priced as follows, unless listed otherwise:
30 minutes: $65
60 minutes: $100
75 minutes: $120
90 minutes: $140
Swedish Massage is a very relaxing and therapeutic style of bodywork. It combines oils or lotion with an array of strokes such as rolling, kneading, and percussion to help the body improve its circulation. The benefits of this type of bodywork are wide-ranging and include relief from aches and pains, decreased stress levels in the body, enhanced mental clarity, improved appearance, and greater flexibility.
Acupressure is based on one the most ancient principles of healing – that simply touching a specific point on the body will release stress and improve health in the body. In an acupressure session, I apply firm pressure directly to these “points” on your body, which relieves your muscle tension and improves your circulation. This simple and powerful technique has been shown to very effective in treating headaches, backaches, and even insomnia.
Chair massage is a popular way of relieving stress and releasing tension right in your home or workplace. You receive your massage in a specialized ergonomic chair which I bring to your location. In addition to the usual health benefits of massage, another benefit of chair massage is that it is done over the clothing. With seated massage, you can avoid the discomfort and awkwardness that you may feel in disrobing for a traditional massage. Also, chair massage sessions are usually shorter than traditional massage, making it convenient enough to fit into your busy schedule.
Golden Years massage is a form of massage designed to meet the specific needs of the elderly. It helps to improve blood circulation, relieve pain, and also increase range of motion. If you are elderly, massage can help you maintain and improve your overall health, as well as regain certain physical functions that have been reduced due to aging. In addition, sometimes elderly people live alone or don’t get enough close physical contact; this massage can also help alleviate symptoms of loneliness or depression. Sessions focused on bringing some joy and lightness to clients with dignity and even humor!
Infant and children’s Massage is a style of bodywork designed specifically to promote healthy neurological and social development. Caring human touchis crucial for a healthy thriving baby or child, and the benefits of massaging them are potent and numerous. For example, many infants show improved growth and development of the brain and nervous system. Infant massagehas also been shown to improve the quality of a baby’s sleep, as well as strengthening their immune system. Also helps develop healthy self-esteem and confidence, along with good boundaries. Techniques are mainly demonstrated along with a caregiver or parent, so that they feel empowered to continue doing massage themselves with the child, to strengthen that bond.
Myofascial release is a form of soft tissue therapy intended to eliminate pain, increase range of motion, and rebalance the entire body. It does this by using massage techniques to stretch the fascia and release the bonds that exist between the fascia, muscles and bones. Fascia is the connective tissue that connects and covers all muscles, organs, and skeletal structures of the body. Direct myofascial release is sometimes known as deep tissue work. Indirect release applies light pressure and gently stretches the fascia; this allows for increased blood circulation and relief from pain. You can expect a relaxing massage that may start as a ‘dry’ technique and then combine with oil or cream and Swedish strokes, or the whole session may be without oils depending on the specific goals in mind.
Pregnancy Massage is a style of bodywork designed specifically for pregnant women. Pregnancy is a time when a woman’s body endures tremendous stress due to dramatic physical and emotional changes. Using various techniques specially developed for the expecting mother, Pregnancy Massage helps release the pain and discomfort experienced throughout pregnancy. The benefits are profound, including emotional support, the relief of joint pain due to extra weight and postural imbalance, and improved breathing and relaxation, as well as benefits to the baby within!
New moms who received prenatal massage, and who book a post-partum session will receive a small gift to celebrate your little one’s arrival, along with 10% that session.
Reflexology is a type of bodywork that focuses on applying pressure to the specific nerve zones in your feet. Unlike other foot massages that intend to mostly relieve tension in the feet themselves, reflexology is a far more in-depth science that aims to harmonize your entire body. According to reflexology, every part of the human body is mapped into your feet. Reflexology treatments have been found to be highly effective for conditions such as allergies, headaches, and depression.
Reflexology of the hand can also be incorporated; just mention it at the time of booking.
Refexology will only be given in a 1/2 hour session.
Reiki is a Japanese form of energy work that cleanses and balances the energy system in the body. As a result, the body’s natural self-healing mechanisms strengthen, helping to establish optimum health. During a session, I work directly with your energy field to remove blockages, detoxify your system, and restore your vital life force energy. Reiki utilizes a gentle laying on of hands to conduct the necessary energy force between us. The benefits of Reiki range from the release of habitual mental/emotional stress to alleviating chronic pain.
$40 for half hr session.
$60 for one hour.
Reiki is often incorporated into other session techniques, most commonly in Swedish massage. Simply mention this at the time of booking and it will be added for no additional cost to your massage.
Shiatsu is a Japanese form of massage therapy. The word Shiatsu comes from two Japanese words – “shi” (finger) and “atsu” (pressure). In addition to the direct stimulation of pressure points along the energy pathways of your body, gentle stretching techniques are applied over a wider area of the body to integrate the point work and encourage the flow of Chi (energy) throughout the body. Shiatsu is a meditative healing art that honors the body, mind and spirit.
The client remains clothed, peferably in a loose fitting outfit such as yoga pants or sweatpants. Although a session is traditionally given on a japanese mat or futon, with the practitioner moving rhythmically in an alternating ‘push’ ‘pull’ manner (compression, point work, stretches) a massage table can be used and the session is adapted accordingly.
Trigger Point Therapy is a style of bodywork that focuses on stimulating and releasing “trigger points” in your body. Trigger points are tender areas of tension similar to acupressure points, except they occur in the belly of the muscle rather than along the energy pathways of the body. These “knots” are built up throughout a person’s life due to physical, mental, and/or emotional stress. During a session, focused pressure is applied through a variety of techniques in order to release your trigger points. This process can be uncomfortable for a short time but with communication between client and therapist, it never gets to be more than a ’7′ out of ’10′ (being really painful) and the pain soon dissapates. The effects are lasting and profoundly transformative.
EFT is a powerful hands-on technique, taught to the client for self-care, for changing old patterns of thinking, emotional hang-ups or other areas of ‘stuckness’ in our energy fields; particularly using the meridian systems and acupoints of eastern medicine. While ‘Tapping’ on these acupoints while targeting issues through guided language, profound change happens. Great for working through anxieties, phobias and fears as well as in achieving goals.
Swedish massage uses a system of long gliding strokes, kneading, and friction techniques on the more superficial layers of muscles, generally in the direction of blood flow toward the heart, and sometimes combined with active and passive movements of the joints. It is used to promote general relaxation, improve circulation and range of motion, and relieve muscle tension. Swedish massage is the most commonly used form of massage.
Deep tissue massage is used to release chronic patterns of muscular tension using slow strokes, direct pressure, or friction directed across the grain of the muscles. It is applied with greater pressure and to deeper layers of muscle than Swedish, which is why it is called deep tissue and is effective for chronic muscular tension.
Sports massage uses techniques that are similar to Swedish and deep tissue, but are specially adapted to deal with the effects of athletic performance on the body and the needs of athletes regarding training, performing, and recovery from injury.
Neuromuscular massage is a form of deep massage that is applied to individual muscles. It is used primarily to release trigger points (intense knots of muscle tension that refer pain to other parts of the body), and also to increase blood flow. It is often used to reduce pain. Trigger point massage and myotherapy are similar forms.
Medical Massage
Acupressure applies finger or thumb pressure to specific points located on the acupuncture meridians (channels of energy flow identified in Asian concepts of anatomy) in order to release blocked energy along these meridians that causes physical discomforts, and re-balance the energy flow.
Shiatsu is a Japanese form of acupressure.
Generally, massage is known to affect the circulation of blood and the flow of blood and lymph, reduce muscular tension or flaccidity, affect the nervous system through stimulation or sedation, and enhance tissue healing. These effects provide a number of benefits:
- reduction of muscle tension and stiffness
- relief of muscle spasms
- greater flexibility and range of motion
- increase of the ease and efficiency of movement
- relief of stress and aide of relaxation
- promotion of deeper and easier breathing
- improvement of the circulation of blood and movement of lymph
- relief of tension-related conditions, such as headaches and eyestrain
- promotion of faster healing of soft tissue injuries, such as pulled muscles and sprained ligaments, and reduction in pain and swelling related to such injuries
- reduction in the formation of excessive scar tissue following soft tissue injuries
- enhancement in the health and nourishment of skin
- improvement in posture through changing tension patterns that affect posture
- reduction in stress and an excellent stress management tool
- creation of a feeling of well-being
- reduction in levels of anxiety
- increase in awareness of the mind-body connection
- promotion of a relaxed state of mental awareness
Massage therapy also has a number of documented clinical benefits. For example, massage can reduce anxiety, improve pulmonary function in young asthma patients, reduce psycho-emotional distress in persons suffering from chronic inflammatory bowel disease, increase weight and improve motor development in premature infants, and may enhance immune system functioning. Some medical conditions that massage therapy can help are: allergies, anxiety and stress, arthritis, asthma and bronchitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive motion injuries, chronic and temporary pain, circulatory problems, depression, digestive disorders, tension headache, insomnia, myofascial pain, sports injuries, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
(above Massage Therapy information provided by:
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/massage+therapy)
