There are many kinds of massage therapy depending on your individual needs. Massage increases blood supply, oxygenation, and nutrition to muscle tissue, joints and the vital organs, and improves circulation throughout the body. It helps muscles to recover more quickly from exertion and fatigue, aids in the relief of muscle spasms and cramping and helps in the prevention of muscular atrophy. Massage therapy promotes a greater range of motion in joints and keeps ligaments and tendons supple. It also just feels good! Please read about the various kinds of massage and give us a call to schedule an appointment. You deserve it!
Our center has a large group of massage therapists on staff and on call with the following emphases:
Trigger points are tender areas usually found in tight muscles. They may radiate, or refer, pain to other areas of the body. They can also cause muscle weakness or restricted range of motion. Trigger points can result from a number of causes, including direct trauma, exposure to cold, and overuse of a muscle group. Neuromuscular massage is a manual system of working with trigger points.
Lymphatic Drainage The lymphatic system is essential as the body's drainage system for cleansing and filtering out of bacteria and toxins. Congested lymph pathways can cause soreness, aches, pains and flu-like symptoms. Lymphatic massage helps to unclog the lymph system. Beginning in a clockwise motion on the body, the lymph system is manually cleansed. Best performed in a series of six, or as part of a full detoxification program, this form of massage helps the body to heal itself from many common maladies. As with most massage, it is vital to drink lots of water after a lymphatic massage. Benefits: Many cases of disharmony on the body and mind are due to an exhausted **lymphatic system. This helps to **cleanse the body’s water passageways. Excellent after surgery.
Sports Massage
Perfect for a very active or athletic individual who seeks a muscle-intensive massage modality. Sports
massage concentrates more on specific areas of the body that are affected by athletic activity. This modality is useful for everyone from professional athletes to weekend warriors.
Benefits:
Sports massage is performed to help the individual in affected muscle groups or areas. Technique is great for someone who has a recurring area of the body that needs special attention and relief.
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Reflexology
Foot Reflexology Since ancient times, the Chinese have practiced foot reflexology to heal the body and mind maintain balance and equality. Benefits: Foot reflexology helps improve circulation and can help in discomforts such as headaches and stomach alignments. A natural and non-medical approach to helping the body.
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Craniosacral
A gentle, hands-on approach to bodywork. Craniosacral massage employs a very light touch (only the pressure of a nickel) and achieves excellent results. The client remains fully clothed during the craniosacral session. The massage deals with the bones of the head, spinal column, sacrum and the underlying structures. The main objective of this work is to find restrictions and/or compression in these areas and use specifically designed techniques to release these areas. Once **the therapist determines areas of compression and restrictions, gentle, non-intrusive techniques are applied to release those areas. Benefits: Good for chronic pain, especially in the neck and back; headaches, tension, migraine; TMJ dysfunction; arthritis; stress-related dysfunction.
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Acupressure
Acupressure is an ancient healing art developed in Asia over 5,000 years ago, using the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body's natural self-curative abilities. When these points are pressed, they release muscular tension and promote the circulation of blood and the body's life force energy to aid healing. Acupuncture and acupressure use the same points and meridians; acupuncture employs needles, while acupressure uses gentle but firm pressure and integrates bodywork therapies. Benefits: Pain relief, balancing the body, and maintaining good health. Acupressure's healing touch reduces tension, increases circulation, and enables the body to relax deeply. By relieving stress, acupressure therapy strengthens resistance to disease and promotes wellness.
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Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the practice of using volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being. Essential oils are the pure "essence" of a plant and have been found to provide both psychological and physical benefits when used correctly and safely. There are many essential oils and some of our practitioners make custom blends for you to use as well as use on the acupuncture points.
Benefits:
The benefit of an "aroma."
Essential oils that are inhaled into the lungs are believed to offer both psychological and physical benefits; not only does the aroma of the natural essential oil stimulate the brain to trigger a reaction, but the natural constituents (naturally occurring chemicals) of the essential oil are drawn into the lungs and can also supply physical benefit. If not done correctly and safely, however, the use of essential oils can also have severe consequences.
The Benefit of Physical Application
Oils that are applied to the skin are believed to be absorbed into the bloodstream. The components of the various oils are believed to aid in a variety of health, beauty and hygiene conditions. Since essential oils are so powerful and concentrated, they should never be applied to the skin in their undiluted form (except in some cases when applied to acupuncture points). To apply essential oils to the skin, "carrier oils" which are pure vegetable oils are used to
dilute the essential oils and "carry" them to the skin. Common carrier oils include sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil and grapeseed oil.
Essential Oil Blends
Essential oils may be blended together to provide an especially pleasing aroma. Oils can be blended together to also provide a specific therapeutic action.
A synergistic essential oil blend of the correct oils in proper proportions is considered to be stronger than each oil working independently.
Please ask about making custom blends for you.
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Tui na
Tui na is a bodywork therapy that was developed in China over 2,000 years ago. It works with the energy system in the body known as the meridian system. Like acupuncture, tui na works with the qi (chi) energy of the patient to bring a balanced state of health. Unlike acupuncture, no needles are used.
The work is done entirely with the practitioner's hands to help increase the beneficial flow of qi through the patient's meridian system.
Benefits:
One of tui na's advantages over simple massage is its ability to focus on specific problems, especially chronic pain associated with the muscles, joints, and skeletal system. It is especially effective for joint pain (such as arthritis), sciatica, muscle spasms, and pain in the back, neck, and shoulders. It also helps chronic conditions such as insomnia, constipation, headaches (including migraines), and the tension associated with stress.
Tui na does not simply work on the muscles, bones, and joints. It works with the energy of the body at a deeper level. As the practitioner senses the client’s body with her hands, she is able to assess the distribution of energy and affect its flow.
As with other styles of Asian bodywork, tui na is designed to prevent problems, not just correct them. By keeping the body's energy in balance, health is maintained. This is true not just for physical health, but for mental and emotional well-being as well.
Tui na has no side effects, unlike many modern drug-based and chemical-based treatments. It has been used to treat or complement the treatment of many conditions, especially specific musculo-skeletal disorders and chronic stress-related disorders of the digestive, respiratory, and reproductive systems.
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Shiatsu
"Shiatsu" is translated from Japanese as "finger pressure" but Certified Shiatsu Therapists may use their thumbs, palms, elbows and knees to apply pressure to the client's head, torso and limbs. Shiatsu pressure stimulates the body's own natural healing abilities by regulating the ** (lower case) autonomic nervous system, thereby allowing the improved function of the body's internal organs and their systems.
Shiatsu pressure is applied directly to the body through the clothing or a sheet, utilizing the therapist's own body weight as the source of this comfortable pressure. During the whole body treatment, the therapist may also apply stretches to muscles and joints.
Full-body stretches are also used to release areas of chronic stagnation and blockage. These stretches amplify and isolate the areas of stagnation, and receivers are encouraged to breathe deeply into their lines of tension. A rhythmic dance develops in the receiver’s body between expansive stretching and deep compression.
Benefits:
Shiatsu is very effective in conditions where emotional disturbance or stress is an underlying factor. While this could be said to include all ailments, the following are the conditions most widely regarded as stress-related:
* insomnia
* anxiety and depression
* muscular tension
* headaches
* digestive disturbances
* menstrual dysfunction
* low resistance to infection
Shiatsu is also an effective treatment for the musculoskeletal system. It works directly on the tissues involved, stimulating healing and relaxation responses.
It is therefore effective in the treatment of:
* backache
* synovitis
* sprains and strains
* neck and shoulder stiffness
* joint pain
The localized physical effects of shiatsu also relieve:
* sinus congestion
* retention of fluid in tissues
* poor circulation
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Reiki
Reiki practitioners channel energy in a particular pattern to heal and harmonize. Unlike other healing therapies based on thepremise of a human energy field, Reiki seeks to restore order to the body whose vital energy has become unbalanced.
Rei means spirit in Japanese, so reiki literally means spirit life force.
Benefits:
It brings about deep relaxation, removes energy blockages, detoxifies the system, provides new vitality in the form of healing universal life energy, and increases the vibrational frequency of the body.
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