Deep tissue massage involves applying firm and slow pressure to reach deeper layers of muscle and fascia. It's great for chronic aches and pains and contracted areas such as a stiff neck, low back pain, leg muscle tightness and sore shoulders.
Swedish
The term "Swedish Massage" refers to a variety of techniques specifically designed to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against deeper muscles and bones, and rubbing in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart. This form of massage was created at the turn of the century by Henry Peter Ling in Sweden. It involves the use of kneading, stroking, friction, tapping, and vibration and may provide relief from stiffness, numbness, pain, constipation, and other health problems. The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Other benefits include stimulation of circulation, an increase in muscle tone, and a balance of the musculo-skeletal systems. Swedish massage shortens recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the tissues of metabolic wastes. It increases circulation without increasing heart load.
The usual sequence in which a Swedish massage strokes are conducted are Effleurage, Petrissage, Friction, Vibration, Percussion, and finally passive and active movements.
Neuromuscular
Neuro-muscular massage therapy is a specialized form of deep tissue massage in which digital pressure and friction are used to release areas of strain in the muscle. These areas of strain are called tender or trigger points and are the cause of muscular pain symptoms.
What are Trigger Points?
Trigger points are areas of hypersensitivity in a muscle caused by over strain. These are small areas of the muscle in which there is a contracture of muscular tissue (think of a tiny snag in a knit sweater). Blood and nutrients are lacking in that part of the muscle and therefore the muscle spindle is unable to relax. Trigger points cause pain, fatigue and weakness in the muscle. Trigger points also cause a phenomenon called referral pain.
What is Referral Pain?
Referral pain is caused by trigger points and is a phenomenon in which areas far from the trigger point suffer from sensations of pain, tingling, or numbness. Examples of referral pain include: sciatica like symptoms, carpal tunnel like symptoms, and headaches.
What is Neuromuscular Therapy used to treat? Neuromuscular therapy is used to treat many different soft tissue problems. The following list is a small example of issues that may be helped by neuromuscular therapy: Lower back pain, upper back pain, carpal tunnel like symptoms, sciatica like symptoms, hip pain, headaches, plantar fasciitis, calf cramps, tendonitis, knee pain, iliotibial band friction syndrome, jaw pain, tempomandibular joint pain (TMJ disorders). Who gets neuromuscular therapy? Anyone with muscular pain! Soft tissue pain that feels like 'knots' in the muscle are very common, but can be treated by neuromuscular therapy. We all feel muscular pain in some shape or form and now we have something to do about it.
Certified Lymphatic Drainage
The Lymphatic System is essentially the immune system.
Unlike the cardiovascular system which pumps blood through the body’s veins and arteries, the lymphatic system does not have a pump. Factors that affect lymphatic circulation are: walking, stretching, dancing, breathing, exercise, abdominal peristalsis, the arterial pulse, muscle contractions, and manual lymphatic drainage massage (MLD). MLD is a very gentle form of massage, requiring only between 5 grams and 8 ounces of pressure to be most effective.
The main functions of the lymphatic system are:
to distribute immune cells throughout the body to maintain health and fight disease
to rid the body’s tissues of excess proteins and toxins
to remove fluid from tissues and inter cellular spaces in order to return the fluid to the blood circulatory system
and to repair injured tissues
Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage is ideal for:
those experiencing edema
clients who are pre or post-surgery
the treatment of minor soft tissue injuries such as sprains
clients with frequent colds or allergies
those with compromised immune function
clients seeking relief from stress, fatigue, or depression
Manual Lymphatic Drainage is not for you if you have heart or kidney or liver failure, acute infection, DVT or blood clots, bronchial asthma or bronchitis.
Certified Craniosacral
Cranial Sacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle massage modality that addresses the brain, spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), as well as the bones of the cranium, spinal column, and sacrum.
Unfortunately, the stresses and strains of daily life can cause body tissues to tighten and distort the cranial sacral system. This can cause tension to form around the brain and spinal cord which results in restrictions. Restrictions within the craniosacral system interfere with the healthy performance of the central nervous system (CNS), and potentially any other system it interacts with. In a session, the therapist uses their hands to assess the cranial sacral system by gently contacting and sensing various locations of the body to examine the ease of motion and rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid pulsing through the CNS. The therapist then utilizes gentle techniques to release restrictions in any tissues affecting the cranial sacral system.
Cranial Sacral Therapy is ideal for:
clients with tightness in the jaw from teeth clenching or grinding
individuals diagnosed with TMJD
those who experience headaches, migraines, or cluster headaches
clients who have neck or back pain
those who have injured or fallen on their tailbone
individuals seeking a non-invasive way to facilitate hormonal balance
clients with vertigo
individuals who have suffered from concussions over one year ago
Orthopedic Massage
Orthopedic Massage (OM), a system rather than a single technique, that involves therapeutic assessment, manipulation and movement of soft tissues to resolve pain and dysfunction. OM focuses on restoring functional balance throughout the body for both prevention and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal dysfunctions. OM works to address the cause of the pain, whether it's from injury or postural imbalances, to help facilitate the healing process to strengthen, and prevent re-occurrence.
Myofascial Release
Myofascial Release is a safe and very effective hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. This essential “time element” has to do with gentle pressure applied slowly will allow a viscoelastic medium (fascia) to elongate.
Trauma, inflammatory responses, and/or surgical procedures create Myofascial restrictions that can produce tensile pressures of approximately 2,000 pounds per square inch on pain sensitive structures that do not show up in many of the standard tests (x-rays, myelograms, CAT scans, electromyography, etc.)
The use of Myofascial Release allows us to look at each patient as a unique individual. Our one-on-one therapy sessions are hands-on treatments during which our therapists use a multitude of Myofascial Release techniques and movement therapy. Each Myofascial Release Treatment session is performed directly on skin often without oils, lotions or creams. This enables the therapist to accurately detect fascial restrictions and apply the appropriate amount of sustained pressure to facilitate release of the fascia.
Rehabilitation Massage
Rehabilitating a physical injury can be a tedious and painful process. Many find that physical rehabilitation programs alone are not as efficient as massage therapy coupled with a physical rehabilitation program. Massage therapy plays a critical role in supplementing injury rehabilitation procedures. Relaxing the muscles and promoting circulation in the affected area allows blood to deliver much-needed oxygen and nutrients. This helps improve flexibility and range of motion. The time expectancy for an injury can be expected to heal at an accelerated rate. Massage Therapy can help tremendously with surgical and injury recovery. Through the manual manipulation of the muscles, tendons, ligaments and other soft tissue involved in an injury, Orthopedic massage can accomplish a number of healing goals. This includes strengthening and stretching techniques which are used to assist with range of motion. Neuro-muscular techniques that help to retrain movement and coordination. Myofascial techniques which influence the fascial wrappings around the muscles and joints. Trigger point treatment which can help with pain and movement inhibition. There are even orthopedic massage techniques which can influence scar tissue as it forms.
Cupping Massage
Cupping Massage: soft tissue mobilization using glass vacuum and soft silicone massage cups. These cups are easy to apply and manipulate. Cupping massage provides a kind of reverse massage, pulling up through the tissue, creating stretch and increasing hydration and blood flow. Pain and tension are reduced in a fraction of the time and with much less discomfort than with other manual techniques. Five minutes of cupping massage can relax the tissue as much as 30 minutes of manual work, while static cupping is like having an extra therapist for you, working on a tight area, allowing your therapist to be free to work on other needy muscles!
The degree of control in using these cups allows from the gentlest of release of a painful trigger point to a deep myofascially oriented mobilization. In addition, because of the degree of control with these cups, the deep marking that has come to be associated with cupping work can typically be avoided when this is of concern. However, this marking is not a bruise but evidence of debris being lifted from the deeper tissues associated with restrictiveness in the tissue which decreases as the tissue becomes healthier. *When scheduling appointment please mention that you would like cupping added to your massage.
Sports Massage
Sports massage can give you an edge that could prove to be a game changer!
Sports massage is great for both the professional and amateur athlete. So what is sports massage? Sports Massage is basically massage done with the interests of the athlete or of a particular sport in mind. Many of the techniques used in a sports massage session are the same as those employed in Orthopedic Massage but are applied with a slightly different emphasis or purpose.
Sports Massage can be used for specific goals. For instance an athlete might receive massage just prior to competition. Some of the pre-event techniques can help to warm up or otherwise prepare the athlete for optimal performance. Sports massage can also be useful after competition. Post-event massage can be helpful in speeding recovery. Some athletes who compete in multi-stage or multi-day events find sports massage essential to keeping them going and working at their peak. Many sports teams have a trainer/massage therapist on staff that goes with them on the road so that they can receive massage treatments wherever they are competing.
Sports massage can help with:
Rotator Cuff Injuries
Sports Related Neck Issues
Joint Pain and movement restrictions
Tennis Elbow (epicondylitis)
Runners Knee (patellofemoral syndrome)
One goal of sports massage is to stay ahead of injuries and adaptive compensations. Many sports have reasonably predictable side effects on the body. Massage therapy can help combat the common issues and injuries that occur due to the repetitive nature of many sports. Sports massage delivers relief from minor strains and sprains to overused elbows and knees to hard worked legs and shoulders. Regular massage treatments can help prevent injury, keeping you moving and training pain free. Another goal of sports massage is to maximize performance. Helping the athlete find that little extra bit of movement or explore their power range and improve it. Sports massage can help improve a wide variety of movement issues and restrictions. Increased mobility and functional range of motion is a major goal of sports treatments. By incorporating sports massage as a regular part of their training routine an athlete can gain an advantage in flexibility, range of motion, power and awareness.
Prenatal Massage
Disclaimer: In order to receive a prenatal massage, the expectant mother will need to be in her second or third trimester. Prenatal massage in the first trimester will need a signed doctors note as there are risks associated with first trimester massage.
Prenatal massage is therapeutic bodywork that focuses on the special needs of the mother-to-be as her body goes through the dramatic changes of pregnancy. It enhances the function of muscles and joints, improves circulation and general body tone, and relieves mental and physical fatigue. The gentle, noninvasive approach of prenatal massage can ease discomfort associated with pregnancy, help the mother-to-be prepare for labor and give her nurturing emotional support. The benefits of prenatal massage include a wide range of physiological, emotional and psychological benefits. Alleviates stress on weight-bearing joints and musculo-fascial structures. Assists in remedying many of the common discomforts experienced during pregnancy: muscular discomforts, lower-back pain, upper-back pain, headaches, leg cramps, sciatica, stiffness, tension and knots, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, heartburn and acid reflux, fatigue, varicose veins, nasal congestion, shortness of breath, edema of the lower extremities, neck pain, inter scapular pain, sacroiliac and hip joint pain and constipation
Increases blood circulation, which provides more oxygen and nutrients to both mother and fetus and stimulates the lymph system, thereby increasing immunity and removal of toxins
Stabilizes hormonal levels and helps relieve depression and/or anxiety caused by hormonal changes Soothes and relaxes the nervous system by releasing endorphins into the mother’s body. As a result, the expectant mother feels more relaxed and at ease, and will also sleep more easily and more deeply Assists in maintaining good posture and adjusting to a changing alignment caused by the baby’s increasing weight. Massage increases muscle tone and flexibility, enhancing the ability to carry this extra weight while also relieving aches and pains, leg cramps and muscle spasms
Eases the load on the heart and helps keep blood pressure in check, Enhances the pliability of skin and underlying tissues. Supports the return of blood to the heart and increases blood flow to the uterus and placenta. With the enormous demands placed on the circulatory system during pregnancy, blood volume may increase up to 60 percent compared to pre-pregnancy levels. As pregnancy progresses and the uterus enlarges and presses deep into the pelvic bowl, venous return to the heart is hampered
Prepares the mother-to-be for an easier delivery with its sedating effect on the nervous system, promoting relaxation and stress relief Offers a natural, safe, drug-free alternative choice for pain relief, since taking medications are often limited during a pregnancy for the sake of the unborn child In addition to the physical benefits, prenatal massage provides expecting women with the emotional support and nurturing touch provided by human touch and energy.
Hot Stone Massage
Hot stone massage is a specialty massage where the therapist uses heated stones as an extension of their own hands. The heat can be both deeply relaxing and help warm up tight muscles so the therapist can work more deeply, more quickly.
Hot stone massage is a treat, so indulge as much as you can. Arrive early so you have time enough to relax and absorb your surroundings. It’s not a good idea to eat a heavy meal or drink alcohol in the hours beforehand.
Your hot stones massage will be 60 or 90 minutes, plenty of time for melting away all your knots, aches and worries.
Add Hot Stones onto any massage for $30
*Medical Conditions Always tell your therapist about any medical conditions you have. They will take your medical history into account when choosing the right stones and techniques for your body. For similar reasons, tell your therapist if you are, or think you might be pregnant. Don’t be afraid to tell your therapist if the stones are too warm for you. You’ll relax much more quickly and start enjoying the feeling of total well-being if you’re comfortable.
*Who Shouldn't Get Hot Stone Massage?
Hot Stone massage is not appropriate if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or are on medication that thins your blood. You shouldn’t get a hot stone massage if you are pregnant or have a sunburn.
Couples Massage
Share your massage experience with that special someone in our beautifully designed couples room. Whether it is a relaxing Swedish massage, deep tissue, hot stone, aromatherapy or CBD massage, each client will receive a massage of their choice, specific to their needs (prices vary depending on ad-on's).
A great "date-night" or a fun experience with a friend, couples massage is a great way to relax and unwind together.