Modalities

In every massage session I give I combine some or all of the following techniques depending on what I believe is needed most.  I welcome my clients to ask me what I am doing and why.  This work is fascinating to me and I enjoy sharing what I know in the hopes that it will bring you greater understanding and healing. 

Swedish Massage  

The strokes of Swedish massage are long and flowing.  The main goals with this technique are to promote relaxation, aid circulation and relax tight muscles.  This type of massage is a base for all other techniques I use.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage employs specific, targeted pressure to affect deeper layers of a muscle and deeper muscles in the body.  The choice of which areas to work at this level depends on information that you supply about yourself as well as strategy that I develop to achieve our overall goals.  With deep tissue work it is essential that we communicate about the level of pressure being applied and whether you can comfortably breathe during it.  This work does not need to be painful to be effective.

Trigger Point or Neuromuscular Therapy

Trigger points are minute areas of severely contracted muscle tissue that cause pain and muscle atrophy both where they exist and in other "referred" areas.  These points are treated specially with pointed and sustained pressure and their release will cause a cascade of relief throughout the body.

Connective Tissue Massage

Connective tissue massage (branded as "Myofascial Release") feels like a slow stretching of skin and underlying tissues.  I may hold a position for a minute or more to allow your body to accomodate and change.  Fascia is the connective tissue that binds everything else in your body together and bringing it into a healthy state is absolutely essential for the health of all other tissues including your muscles.

Muscle Energy Techniques

Muscle Energy Techniques utilize certain physiological properties of muscle, nerves and tendon to obtain a level of range of motion that may have been lacking due to injury or postural deviation.  The application of Muscle Energy Techniques will seems somewhat like a session of targeted stretching.  

Energy Work

Energy work is, to my mind, inextricable from massage therapy.  Some practitioners called it "Reiki", others "Polarity Therapy".  In Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, it is Chi.  I do not put a name to it but throughout your session I will likely be observing energetic flow and sometimes may keep my hands still while working to balance subtle energy.  Please feel free to ask me if you would like to talk more about this. 

Sports Massage  

Sports massage can be tailored to pre-event, post-event or training periods and will feel different and incorporate different techniques depending on the phase during which it is employed.  This work will keep muscles healthy and resilient, maintain optimal range of motion, keep posture in balance and decrease the chance of tissue-scaring and injury.  It is an invaluable part of a training regimen for athletes of all levels. 

Aromatherapy

Essential oils such as Cedar, Balsam, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Ylang Ylang and others are blended and added to Jojoba during massage for an added level of experience. 

Jojoba   

I use only 100% pure Organic Jojoba, made in the USA, for lubricant in my massage sessions.