Services

Massage therapy has been used for thousands of years, standing the test of time because of the ability it has to relax the body and mind, muscle and nervous systems.  Massage has the ability to decreases adrenalin and cortisol, increasing blood flow, oxygenating and nourishing our entire body.

Our body functions better beginning with our digestion and continuing on through each body system, including regulating sleep cycles and enhancing the immune system.

Sports/Therapeutic Massage

When the body moves properly, an athlete can perform more efficiently, with greater ease and strength. My sports massages integrate deep tissue*, myofascial release*, acupressure*, and passive stretching to release muscle tension, decrease pain, and increase mobility. Each massage is customized and designed specifically for the individual, based on your goals and needs.

Relaxation Massage

Relaxation massage is really good for achieving and maintaining a state of balance and wellbing.

Symptons of emotional stress can include headaches, muscle tension or pain, fatigue, sleep problems, digestive issues, and more. Massage therapy can help, and has the ability to affect your entire outlook.  Resetting and realigning the nervouse system can be the first step to bring the body back into balance. I use Swedish* based techniques in my relaxation massage, integrating myofascial release*, SMRT (Spontanious Muscle Release technique*) and acupressure* to relax the body and help relieve the symptoms of stress and tension.  

Reiki

Although I offer stand alone reiki treatments I often do reiki at the begining and/or end of a massage treatment to add to the relaxation aspect of the massage. This can be particularly helpful for clients who have a hard time switching gears from the outside world to the massage table allowing them to better relax and enjoy their massage. 

Reiki is a Japanese energy healing therapy that promotes stress reduction, deep relaxation and physical healing. The word translates to "Universal life force energy" Rei, representing the universe or divine while Ki, refers to the vital life force that animates us. This technique was developed in the 1920's by Mikao Usui and is rooted in the belief that "life force energy" (like chi or prana) flows through all living things. When this energy becomes low or blocked we become suseptable to stress and illness. 

Durring a reiki treatment the practitioner acts as a conduit, directing universal energy to the client to be used by the body to support the body's natural ability to heal itself. Scientific theories suggest Reiki shifts the body from "fight or flight" the sympathetic nervouse system response to the more favorable "rest and digest" being the parasympathetic nervouse system state. 

Reiki treatments are non invasive, using either very light touch or no touch making it a wonderful treatment for someone who is very sensitive to touch or has a recent injury or surgery. Reiki is commonly used to decrease anxiety, manage chronic pain and improve sleep. Recipients report feelings of warmth, tingling, or a sense of peace and deep relaxation.  

Aromatherapy

I offer several natural scents that can be blended with the jojoba carrier oil to use during your massage. Typically I will have lavender, orange, bergamot, jasmine and rosemary available. Lavender, bergamot and jasmine can be relaxing, reduce inflimation and encourage a feeling of peacefulness. Orange, although relaxing can also be clarifying to the mind. Rosemary, though best known as a food seasoning, it is one of the most popular aromatic and medicinal plants worldwide. Known as a pain reliever, improves brain function and stimulates hair growth, Rosemary will be more stimulating than the other scents. 

Rosemary Scalp Massage

Add a few minutes of focused massage on the scalp using a lovely rosemary essential oil. Not only relaxing this treatment nourishes the scalp and stimulates hair growth. 

Hot stone massage

During a hot stone massage, the techniques of a swedish massage are applied. However, I then hold the hot stones and use them in addition to my hands to massage larger muscle groups.

The stones are smooth and flat and made from the volcanic rock, basalt. These stones are chosen as they retain heat very well.

The warmth of the stones adds to the relaxation and therapeutic aspects of the massage. This is a wonderful addition to any massage particularly durring the colder monthes. 

**Although hot stone massage can be wonderful, it may not be for everyone. Stone temperature is always determined by the individual client, everyone is different. If the stones are to hot for you, its up to you to speak up immediately.  If you have any medical condition or are on any medications that would prohibit you from acurately feeling how hot the stones are, this treatment would not be appropriate for you. 

• Cupping Therapy
• Silicone cups are used to create negative pressure. This can be a better solution in helping with pain management than tissue compression (deep tissue). With the cupping therapy method, the skin, tissue, and muscles are instead pulled upwards to enhance circulation and provide pain management. This treatment is most helpful on the neck, back and legs. 
  It does typically leave bruising which can last 24 hrs to 2 weeks depending on the area where the cups are used. 
• 
  *FACIAL cupping is available!  Smaller, softer cups are used to relieve sinus pain or headaches due to colds or allergies. The area will initially be red but bruising typically does not occur. *** If you are taking blood thinners or a similar medication this CAN cause minor bruising.
  Cupping can be added to a 60 or 90 minute massage.
•  

Meditation

Meditation and mindfulness have the ability to help you manage anxiety and stress, as well as improve your attention span and overall physical and mental performance. I teach meditation techniques and can add this on to any of your services.

Which is right for you? Schedule a session and we can make an evaluation together. 

Swedish massage is the classic full body relaxation treatment combining five core techniques. Effleurage (gliding over the skin) to warm tissue and boost circulation, Petrissage (kneading, lifting and sqeezing) to release deeper tention, Friction, tapping and vibration, circular pressures or rhythmic tapping or drumming to stimulat blood flow and nerves.

SMRT, spontanious muscle release technique, is a gentle positional release therapy that unloads tension by moving the tissue into positions of maximim comfort and ease. It passive shortens affected tissue to trigger a natural meuromuscular response to reset the nervous system resetting neural pathways between muscle spindle cells and Golgi tendon organs. And it feels really good! 

Myofacial release targets the facia which is the web like connective tissue surrounding muscles, bones, nerves and organs. Gentle, sustained pressure is used on restricted or tight areas to elongate the tissue, alleviating pain and restoring mobility. 

Acupressure is a traditional Chinese Medicine technique that involves applying firm pressure to specific points with the intention to relieve pain, promote relaxation and unblock the flow of energy along the body's meridians. Pressure is applied using fingers or thumbs to stimulate the nerve endings and muscles. From a western perspective, this is thougth to block pain signals and trigger the release of endorphins, natural painkillers. 

Deep tissue massage is a technique that uses slow movements, direct friction along with deeper sustained pressure.