Massage Therapy

Swedish Massage is traditionally one of the most common types of massage in North America. Swedish Massage uses long gliding strokes that encourage circulation toward the heart to improve circulation in the tissue and promote relaxation.

Deep Tissue Massage utilizes many of the same techniques as a traditional Swedish massage, however the pressure used by the therapist is increased to have more of an effect on the deeper musculature and connective tissue.

Trigger points are hyper-irritable tight spots within the muscle that may refer pain into other areas of the body. For example, trigger point in the neck can refer into the head or down into the shoulder. These areas also can cause a twitch in the muscle. To alleviate these areas, the massage therapist utilizes certain techniques (usually compression techniques) to reduce the trigger point and decrease pain.

Myofascial Release is a type of massage that is utilized to reduce adhesions in the myofascial layer of the tissue. The fascia is a fibrous connective tissue that extends throughout the body to add support to the muscles and bones of the body. When adhesions occur between the muscle (myo) and the fascia, the person often experiences pain and restriction in movement. Myofascial release works to break down these adhesions thereby reducing pain and increasing mobility.

Pregnancy Massage is therapeutic massage that is focused on the special needs of the mother-to-be as her body adapts to the dramatic changes of pregnancy. It enhances the function of muscles and joints, improves circulation, and relieves mental and physical fatigue.

Sports Massage is a therapeutic massage tailored to the athlete and their individual sport. It is ideal in helping prevent injuries and helping to heal faster after an injury. The massage can also be done for pre and post event care and will be adjusted depending on the stage of training to optimize results.

Taping can be used to stimulate weakened muscles, reduce tension in areas of tightness, stabilize joints for athletic events and even correct postural imbalances. It is done by using a breathable athletic tape applied directly to the skin using different methods of application to achieve specific results. It can be left on for several days after application and will continue to impact the underlying tissue.

Cupping Massage is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a therapist places cups on the clients skin using a suction technique. Some of the benefits of cupping are increased blood flow, increased motion in the joints, promotes relaxation in the underlying muscles, and significantly decreases pain due to myofascial restrictions.

This type of therapy can leave dark marks on the skin. These are not bruises. They are metabolic waste, toxins, and other stagnant material that have been freed from the underlying tissue and brought to the surface where they can more easily be flushed away. These marks can last anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks and are not tender to the touch. As treatments continue, the marks will occur less and less as a result of stagnation and toxicity being expelled from the body.

Hot Stone Massage is a form of therapeutic massage utilizing heated smooth stones to massage with. The benefit of the heat radiating from the stones help to quickly relax the areas being treated and allows the therapist to work more deeply.

Remedial Exercise is the use of stretching and strengthening techniques to further benefit the healing process. Massage therapists are fully trained to advise clients on how to perform exercises that are tailored to their specific condition.