To book online, please feel free to visit my scheduler at this booking link
SWEDISH, DEEP TISSUE AND MYOFASCIAL TECHNIQUES
All three of these techniques go great together when doing a table massage. Swedish provides great rhythm and introduction to massage, warming up the body for deeper work. Once the body begins to relax, deeper tissue work can begin, slowly working down to the innermost layers.
Deep and myofascial techniques do not have to be painful. These can be easily blended into the session and are a great way to pinpoint specific issues/problems, while still addressing the body as a whole. By slowing down and allowing the body to set the pace, treatment work can feel relaxing, restorative and easy; a powerfully effective recipe for a balanced body.
My massage style integrates all three styles of work so that a therapeutic/treatment session also feels relaxing and blended, not abrupt or pieced together.
CUPPING
Cupping is a technique that uses soft or rigid vessels to lift and separate layers of tissue. The cups are applied at a varying layer of suction to produce the lifting effect. They can be used in a stationary capacity, be mobile and glide over the skin, or both. Cupping can be seen as a "negative pressure" massage; lifting compressed layers of tissue, inviting blood flow and making deep tissue work less painful.
Cupping also opens the sebaceous glands of the skin, allowing for faster more direct absorption of moisturizers, liniments, essential oils, etc. It also can be seamlessly integrated into any table massage, increasing the overall amount of work that can be performed in the same amount of time.
Cupping can leave marks, and the amount of marking that may occur is dependent on many factors. The marks seen by cupping are usually indicative of cellular debris or areas of stagnation in the body being released. The amount of discoloration varies from person to person and has to do with the amount of "stuck-ness" in the part of the body being cupped.
Because stagnant fluid is being brought up to the surface with the cup, clients can expect to need to rest a bit more after the massage session to allow for their body to flush this through. The lymphatic system will naturally flush away the marks; this process can last anywhere from a day to two weeks.
As with all massage techniques, good communication is paramount. Expect to be checking in about suction amount and location while the cupping is being applied.
MASSAGE BENEFITS
Experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress-related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. Massage is an effective tool for managing this stress, which translates into:
Decreased anxiety enhanced sleep quality, greater energy, improved concentration, increased circulation and reduced fatigue.
Massage can also help specifically address a number of health issues such as:
Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion, assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant birth-parents and shorten maternity hospital stays, ease medication dependence, enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body's natural defense system, exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles, help prepare and recover from strenuous workouts, improve the condition of the body's largest organ—the skin, increase joint flexibility, lessen depression and anxiety, promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks, pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation, reduce post surgery adhesions and swelling, reduce spasms and cramping, relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles, release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body's natural painkiller, and relieve migraine pain.
COMMON MASSAGE QUESTIONS
Here are a few common questions and answers that might come up around massage. This list can be treated as a "Basic Info 101" list, and is meant for someone newer to receiving licensed massage therapy.
No matter your experience level, please feel free to ask anytime about your session and any concerns you might have. The best massage begins with dialogue!
Where will my massage session take place?
Your massage session will take place in a warm, comfortable, quiet room. Soft music may be played, and a HEPA air filters will be operating. Both the client and the therapist will be masked the entire session (unless you opt to receive intra oral work) You will lie on a table and bolsters may be used to enhance your comfort.
Must I be completely undressed?
Most massage and bodywork techniques are traditionally performed with the client unclothed; however, it is entirely up to you what you want to wear. You should undress to your level of comfort. You will be properly draped during the entire session.
Will the therapist present when I disrobe?
The therapist will leave the room while you undress, relax onto the table, and cover yourself with a clean sheet and/or blanket.
Will I be covered during the session?
You will be properly draped at all times to keep you warm and comfortable. Only the area being worked on will be exposed.
What parts of my body will (and won't) be massaged?
A massage session can include the following body areas depending on intended outcomes: back, legs, feet, buttocks, shoulders, arms, hands, abdomen, chest, neck, head, face, in-mouth work. Parts of the body NOT included in licensed massage include genitalia, breast nipples or gluteal cleft.
What will the massage or bodywork feel like?
A relaxing Swedish massage is often a baseline for clients. In a general Swedish massage, your session may start with broad, flowing strokes that will help calm your nervous system and relax exterior muscle tension. As your body becomes relaxed, pressure will gradually be increased to relax specific areas and relieve areas of muscular tension. Often, a light oil is used to allow your muscles to be massaged without causing excessive friction to the skin. The oil also helps hydrate your skin. You should communicate immediately if you feel any discomfort so that another approach may be taken.
Are there different kinds of massage and bodywork?
There are numerous types of massage and bodywork; various techniques utilize different strokes, including basic rubbing strokes, rocking movement, posture and movement re-education, application of pressure to specific points, and more. We can discuss which methods may be most appropriate for you.
What should I do during the massage or bodywork session?
Prior to the massage, feel free to ask the therapist any questions about the technique or the upcoming session. During the massage, make yourself comfortable. The therapist will either gently move you or tell you what is needed throughout the session (such as lifting your arm). Many people just close their eyes and completely relax, communicating if/when they need more or less pressure, another blanket, or anything else relevant to the session. If you have any questions regarding the session or about the particular technique you are receiving, feel free to ask.
How will I feel after the massage or bodywork session?
Most people feel very relaxed. Some experience freedom from long-term aches and pains developed from tension or repetitive activity. After an initial period of feeling slowed down, people often experience increased energy, heightened awareness, and greater productivity which can last for days.
What are the benefits of massage and bodywork?
Massage and bodywork can help release chronic muscular tension and pain, improve circulation, increase joint flexibility, reduce mental and physical fatigue and stress, promote faster healing of injured muscular tissue, improve posture, and reduce blood pressure. Massage and bodywork is also known to promote better sleep, improve concentration, reduce anxiety and create an overall sense of well-being.
Are there any medical conditions that would make massage or bodywork inadvisable?
Yes. That's why it's imperative that, before you begin your session, the practitioner asks general health questions. It is very important that you inform the practitioner of any health problems or medications you are taking. If you are under a doctor's care, it is strongly advised that you receive a written recommendation for massage or bodywork prior to any session. Depending on the condition, approval from your doctor may be required.