Services & Rates

Therapeutic Massage

A good Bodywork session can provide much needed relief and be like a mini vacation for the mind! Massage is a complimentary medicine that has, among other things, proven to reduce pain and stress, enhance mental clarity, decrease stress hormone levels in the body while increasing the feel-good hormones, promote better sleep, boost immune system function through movement of our lymph fluid, increase range of motion and circulation and shorten healing time after a surgery/injury. 

During our time together, I combine various Massage Therapy techniques to help your body release tension, calm the nervous system and regain functional movement patterns. The main focus is to help you regain function and reduce pain.

In my experience, an integrative approach to Massage Therapy is most effective, as there is no one touch, technique, or approach, that works with our entire body on any given day. I frequently integrate several techniques during each session including: Neuromuscular techniques, Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue massage techniques, Myofascial release techniques, Trigger Point Therapy techniques, Acupressure, Dynamic cupping, Bamboo Bliss (Mu Xing), Aromatherapy and Reiki (upon request). Please see brief descriptions of these techniques below. 

If appropriate for you, during most of my sessions, and at no extra cost, I incorporate cupping into our session and/or aromatherapy with essential oils. Cupping provides gentle negative pressure that is very helpful for areas of  inflammation and nerve pain. Aromatherapy brings the power of essential oils from the plant kingdom to aid in healing and relaxation (I do not use the oils topically, only as aromatherapy).

A heated table pad is available to you- and is so cozy on a cold day! 

Please keep in mind open communication is very important during our session, so together we learn what type of Massage modalities, pressure, and techniques your body responds to, in order to ensure you get the best bodywork session possible. Also, please feel free to comment about anything that is affecting your experience, including music, temperature etc! You are in a safe space. 

If you have any further questions, or are wondering if massage would be beneficial for a specific issue you are experiencing, I would be happy to discuss options with you and whether massage would be appropriate or contraindicated for your specific concern.  

Here's to your health! 

*Please see Important Policy Page
 

~ Neuromuscular techniques use a reflexive approach that signals to the nervous system to release a muscle. The technique also helps form new patterns of muscle use and movement that help increase functional movement patterns. Neuromuscular work can be gentle, but feel quite deep, depending on the technique. For those seeking a deeper touch, but not wanting Deep Tissue massage, Neuromuscular techniques work with the Golgi Tendon Organs at the origin and insertion points of muscles and provide deep, effective, relaxing sessions. 

~ Swedish Massage is a very relaxing and therapeutic style of bodywork that combines oil or lotion with a variety of strokes such as broad strokes, kneading, and percussion to help the body improve its circulation and has been shown to decrease recovery time after strenuous exercise.  

~ Deep Tissue massage uses long, deep, sustained pressure, and cross fiber friction at muscle insertion/origin points to release tension and stimulate Golgi Tendon Organ release through a reflexive effect with the nervous system. This technique can be effective for areas of past injury, or chronic tension, that are harder and respond less to more subtle techniques. 

~ Myofascial release uses various forms of touch, including broad tissue stretching, with less massage lotion or oil, in order to get more friction. This technique can heat up the fascia, stretch the fascia, and reduce fascial adhesions that can restrict patterns of movement due to overuse, scarring, and injury. 

~ Trigger Point therapy uses targeted pressure on areas where trigger points have developed and created an area where the muscle fibers are no longer recieving sufficient flow of nutrients and oxygen. Through deep touch these "knots" can release and once again allow nutrient flow to the muscle and proper neuron communication within the muscle. 

~ Acupressure is putting pressure at various points along the bodies' meridians, as used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, that are said to help improve energy flow and ultimately improve function and mood. 

~ Reiki is a specific type of energy work that seeks to guide universal energy to where it is needed. The practitioner acts as a channel to this healing energy and does not try to manipulate or guide the energy further. It can be practiced with hands on, or hands off, and is very calming. I have often heard that it "feels like warm sunshine." If you wish to experience Reiki I ask that you request it specifically before our session.

~ Dynamic Cupping is the use of cups, traditionally used in Chinese Medicine, that use gentle negative pressure (or gentle suction) and have been proven to help lower inflammation markers. The reverse pressure can be very calming to the nervous system, and can help reduce pain. The technique can also be very soothing and provide great relief to people who are experiencing conditions involving nerve pain. I can do full cupping sessions as an add-on service, or may incorporate the cupping into your therapeutic session if it is appropriate. Dynamic cupping involves more movement with the cups, so less bruising is experienced with this technique. 

~ Bamboo Bliss (Mu Xing) is the use of heated bamboo and rosewood tools to perform deep tissue massage and relaxation techniques. Using different sized and shaped tools, the therapist applies a variety of massage strokes which help "melt" tight areas, address ischemic tissue more effectively, promote a deep sense of overall well being and relaxation and help promote circulation and lymphatic movement. Especially during the cold winter months I may incorporate this deeply relaxing technique into our massage and full sessions are available as an add-on service. 

~ Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils made from beneficial plants to help promote relaxation, healing and well being. Many plants have remarkable healing properties and can lower inflammation, provide cognitive benefits simply through inhalation, help clear the airways during massage and can profoundly aid in relaxation. I offer this to everyone if they are interested, free of charge. I love bringing the healing power of plants into the massage space!