Theraputic Massage
Types of Massage
Aromatherapy Massage is a holistic therapeutic massage using the essential oils to bring harmony and balance to the body, mind, and spirit. Essential oils provide cellular healing due to their anti=microbial, pain relieving, and immune strengthening qualities.
Chair or “on-site” massage is one for a short (15-20 minute) massage of a client sitting in a special, portable massage chair. The client remains fully clothed and no oils are used while the shoulders, neck, upper back, head and arms are massaged.
Deep Tissue Massage is used to release chronic muscle tension through slower strokes and more direct pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles. Specific hand positions and strokes are used to respond to various tissue qualities. Techniques employing breath and movement are also used for releasing muscular congestion.
Hawaiian (Lomi ka’ala hoku meaning “massage journey to the stars”) is an ancient massage system, with many different styles. It is used to revive the body, to move blood and lymph, release muscle spasms, and facilitate waste product removal from muscle and connective tissue. The practitioner will predominantly use the soft part of the forearms to create long, gliding, repetitive strokes to produce a relaxing or energetic state. Music is an integral part of the session, often including the sound of drums.
Passive Joint Movement: While the client remains in a non-moving or relaxed position, the therapist applies joint movements leading to the loosening of holding patterns in various joints, and resulting in a greater range of motion and reduced joint stress.
Pregnancy massage is a gentle full body massage often given with the client lying on her side. This massage facilitates comfort and support. It calms and soothes muscles and emotions while promoting a feeling of relaxation and inner peace.
Reflexology is the science that deals with the principle that there are reflex areas in the feet and the hands that correspond with all the glands, organs and parts of the body. Reflexology is a unique method that uses the fingers and thumbs on these reflex areas.
Shiatsu is an acupressure and meridian focused bodywork system from Japan. Shiatsu massages are normally done fully clothed and involve pressing points on the body and stretching and opening the energy meridians.
Sports massage is used primarily for the serious athlete who trains continuously. It focuses on the muscles relevant to the particular athletic activity. It also includes pre-event, post-event and maintenance techniques that promote greater athletic endurance and performance, lessening chances of injury and reducing recovery time.
Swedish massage refers to a collection of techniques designed primarily to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against deeper muscles and bones, and moving in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart. Swedish massage can relax muscles, increase circulation, and remove metabolic waste products, help the client obtain a feeling of connectedness and a better awareness of their body. Swedish massage also stimulates the skin and nervous system while at the same time relaxing the nerves. It can help reduce emotional and physical stress and is often recommended as part of a regular program for stress management.
Tui Na massage (pronounced “too e naw”) is an ancient Chinese system of physical therapy massage. Traditional Chinese medical theory believes that all dysfunctions result from an imbalance of yin and yang energies or chi (pronounced chee) within the body. These energies normally circulate freely throughout the body in main channels called meridians. Tui Na uses acupressure combined with different hand techniques to direct healing energy deep into the body through muscles and joints, acu-points, and energy channels.