How I approach to each massage style. . .
Swedish Massage Pressure: Light - Deep with broad strokes for relaxation; to soothing the nerves. The goal is to make you drift away or even fall asleep. When the session concludes you should feel rejuvenated and at peace.
Prenatal Massage Pressure: Light - Deep with broad strokes for relaxation. To help ease the aches of each trimester during pregnancy. Find comfort while your body adjusts to the little one developing. Expecting mothers are encouraged to lay in a side-lying position, Pillows are used to ensure that mother and baby are safe and comfortable. If you are used to deep tissue and you are currently pregnant, I encourage you to sign up for a longer session length. Having more time to work though the muscle layers at a lighter pressure often allows the same results. Avoiding Ischemic compression during your massage session, during pregnancy will keep the session safe for mother and developing baby. For the mother and babies’ safety, I will not perform trigger point / Deep tissue on you, while you are pregnant.
Energy work Energy vibrates at various frequencies; these frequencies are found in nature all around and including us. Energy work can be achieved in a variety of ways, through manipulating the frequency of the bodies and energy systems. I work with tools that match the vibrational frequency of the energy centuries. Each of the tools helps to focus the energy center and bring the right vibrational frequency back in harmony. I use a pendulum in addition to other tools such as Crystals, essential oils, singing bowls, music, and guided meditation to help achieve the session goals. Listed below are some of the Focus topics for an Energy session.
Clearing- Designed to remove energy (that isn’t yours), attachments and environmental gunk that becomes lodged in your energy system.
Balancing – Check the function of the energy centers to bring stability of energy flow.
Grounding- Bringing your awareness back to the present allowing you to stay focused.
Activating- Ensuring pathways to and from main energy centers and supplementary energy centers are strong, restoring rejuvenation within the energy system.
Fortifying- Adding a protective layer around your energy bodies to ensure attachments, environmental gunk and other energies don’t become lodged within your energy system.
Crystal Therapy - Semi-precious crystals are placed along the energy centers or used during the massage (like a hot stone massage but w/o heat) to help influence the energy vibration of the chakra. Great for centering the chakra's and helping to sooth your energy while dislodging environmental energy (gunk) from your auric field; helping to repair attachment wounds.
Aroma Therapy Essential oils can help our body though inhalation, digestion and topical application, the delivery method helps with specific conditions. However, inhalation or breathing in the scent of the oil is often the fastest way to feel the effects. Once the breath enters the lungs it is picked up by the blood stream and delivered to the entire body. The topical application allows the essential oil to be absorbed through the skin as well as by inhalation, prolonging the exposure to the scent.
Essential Oil - Can be added to any massage session, either added to the face rest or the oil or both. Each different sent lends itself to help a specific type of issue, and many of them have a vibrational frequency that matches the seven primary chakras. I usually have an Essential oil for each Chakra and a few blends specific to stress or relaxation with me.
Drop and Fan - One Essential oil that vibrates to each of the 7 Chakra is dropped from about 3 to 5 inches above the body. The light drop of the oil down the back activates the nervous system. Once the essential oils are dropped onto the body, the massage therapist uses their fingertips to fan from the spine to the side of the body; prior to adding massage oil. Engaging the lymph system to help clear the processing system of the body. A light massage is then administered. Designed to help ease mind body communication (psychosomatic) while deepening physical relaxation. Because essential oils can help support and balance the many systems of our body, circulatory, digestive, respiratory, nervous, endocrine and reproductive, it is important to work with a practitioner who understands how the oils influence which systems.
Custom Massage Pressure: Light - Deep The pressure is firm but not overly painful (maybe a 3 on the pain scale) Following a quick intake session to discover your goals and current activities. I develop a specific massage protocol, focused on dominantly used muscle groups, incorporating active and passive stretching, active release techniques, sports massage, and deep tissue techniques. All modalities are at a lighter than normal pressures; with Thai Massage stretches rounding out any areas being resistant to massage. I consider this my “Spa massage” as it seemed to be the "people pleaser" in the destination and high-end spa's I've worked in.
Reflexology Pressure: Medium - Deep with pointed pressure to specific areas of the hands, feet, and ears. There are multiple locations on the body known to be reflexology points, meridian points, and other body system points. Reflexology correlates with the nervous system as it passes through the body attaching and influencing different areas inside and out. Internal organs, hormonal conditions chronic pain and sleep can be improved though regular manipulation of the reflex points. I will be focusing on the Hands, feet and Ears using my fingers or other tools to stimulate the reflexology point to achieve the session goals.
Thai Massage on the table I describe Thai Massage as assisted yoga, meaning that I move YOU, while you are passive. (Passive- accepting or allowing what happens or what others do, without active response or resistance.) During Thai Massage, I will move the client through the body’s natural range of motion, using passive / assisted stretching to improve joint mobility. Clients, please wear loose-fitting clothes; that allow you to move easily, you will remain clothed for this session.
Sports Massage Pressure: Light - Deep with broad and specific pressure, pressure points, cross-fibering and other rehabilitation strokes being employed. Following a quick intake session, to discover your goals and current activities. I develop a specific massage protocol, focused on relaxing dominantly used muscle groups, incorporating active and passive stretching into the massage. There are traditionally four stages to Sports massage: Training (any massage happening prior to the event, to keep muscle groups specific to the sport limber), Pre-event (massage the day of event to aid in muscle warm-up, circulation to help with endurance and performance.), Post-event (immediately following the event; including passive stretching, lymphatic drainage and ice-massage.) and Recovery (a massage routine designed to rehabilitate muscle tissue within the next two to three days after the event or further out). Each stage is designed for muscle performance. The training and rehabilitation portion of sports massage are the most often thought of Stage of sports massage when booking a session. The other four stages of sports massage; (training, pre-event, post-event and rehabilitation) massage form a process of relaxing and recuperation of muscles used in repetitive activities.
Deep Tissue Massage Pressure: Med-Extreme with specific pressure points, cross fibering and other rehabilitation strokes. This massage technique is designed to reset the structural layer of the muscle tissue, which is the deepest layer of muscle tissue. I advise that you work up to this level of pressure. It is often common for mild pain to be experienced during this process. On a pain scale (your pain scale) of 1 - 10 you want to let your therapist know when you experience pain at level 3 (mild pain not disruptive), 5 (noticeable pain but still able to relax easily) and 7. The pain should never go above 7. At a 7 you should be experiencing the hurt so good type of pain. This level of pressure breaks up adhesions between muscle layers and from minor injuries. (The therapist creates micro tears in the muscle fiber, the same as u do while working out- lifting weights. Except this is to reduce pain and increase range of motion.) The pain should decrease gradually within the count of 3 seconds (down from a 7 to a 5) the client should notice the decrease and be able to relax back into the session. If the pain persists at a 7 communicate with the therapist so a different approach or an adjustment can be made. Mild pain can mean BIG GAIN, while too much pain will lead to more adhesions and a long road of after care.
Neuromuscular/Trigger Point Therapy Pressure: Med - Deep with specific pressure held on one point for 10 seconds. Neuromuscular therapy releases a spasm along the nerve pathway, repairing communication between the area and the brain, reducing referred or phantom pain along the same nerve pathway. This type of nerve fatigue often includes a large buildup of lactic acid and can leave the area sensitive to even the lightest touch. Communication with your Therapist is key in this and other Deep tissue styles of massage therapy. It can mean the difference between an easy after care and a knock down drag out style of after care. On a pain scale (your pain scale) of 1 - 10 you want to let your therapist know when you experience pain at level 3 (mild pain not disruptive), 5 (noticeable pain but still able to relax easily) and 7. The pain should never go above 7. At a 7 you should be experiencing the hurt so good type of pain. This type of nerve fatigue reminds me of tendinitis or tennis elbow/ golfers’ elbow or arthritis pain. I find arnicare gel to be very helpful, pick it up in the icy-hot section of the pharmacy.
Hot stone Massage Pressure: Light - Deep with heated stones cupped in my hands, allowing the heat to sooth fatigued muscles, & relax tension faster without intense pressure. The stones, being an earth product, allow the client to reconnect to the natural rhythms of nature, ground mental concerns easier and allow a sense of love and nurturing to engulf the client.
Hot Stone Therapy Hot Stone Therapy Is the placement of heated stones on the body, allowing the heat to seep into the muscles and sooth away fatigue, pain, and tension. Usually incorporated with hot stone massage, this therapy can be performed, independently through clothing or incorporated into another massage session.
A Tip when wanting to receive a deeper or more therapeutic massage. Receiving massage regularly at a mild pressure for 6 months or sessions, usually allows clients to work through any muscle tension within the muscle layers; before addressing specific muscle issues / injuries or imbalances at a deeper pressure. As long as I feel the muscle responding to the work I'm doing, I'll contently stay in a problem area. I love being thorough; however, even though it's beneficial to reducing muscle tension long-term, its not the most comfortable for the client. Please SPEAK UP! Although I love to dig for knotts! Please communicate any discomfort, allowing me to adapt the massage for you. . My Goal is to make you feel better, not leave you more sore tomorrow. Communication ensures that the session meets all your massage goals.
During a massage, when pain appears. . . On a pain scale of 1-10;
1 (little or NO pain) / 10 (severe or bruising pain).
Communicate with the therapist when you experience pain on a level
@ 3 ) Light pain not disruptive, still able to relax during the session,
@ 5) Mild pain but still able to Breath though it to relaxation. and
@ 7) Noticeable pain, able to Breath into the pain; mild discomfort at the beginning
of the 10 second hold-pressure; required to release a knott).
The pain should decrease gradually within a count of 3 seconds (down from a 7 to a 5) the client should notice the decrease and be able to relax back into the session. If the pain persists, communicate with the therapist so a different approach or other adjustment can be made.
The pain should never go above 7 on your pain scale. At a 7 you should be experiencing the hurt so good type of pain. This level of pressure breaks up adhesions between muscle layers and from minor injuries. (The therapist creates micro tares in the muscle fiber, the same as created while working out / lifting weights. Except, this is to reduce pain and increase range of motion.) Mild pain can mean BIG GAIN, while too much pain will lead to more adhesions and more intense after care.
