Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic Massage Therapy uses advanced techniques which are to be used for pain and chronic health issues. Techniques such as neuromuscular facilitation, trigger point therapy, fascial release; in addition to therapeutic exercise, PNF stretching and postural education are used in an average massage therapy visit. Therapeutic massage is helpful in treating conditions such as but not limited to:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- TMJ Dysfunction
- Sciatic pain
- Chronic neck/back pain
- Migraines
- Stress
- and much much more!
Therapeutic massage sessions will involve seeing a client frequently for the first few weeks or months. This might include half hour massages three times a week, or weekly hour massages for a couple of months. Each of our Registered Massage Therapists will discuss specifically which treatment plan is best for your individual needs.
Cupping is a Chinese medicine technique that has been used for centuries for many different conditions. Glass or silicone cups are placed on the skin, creating a vacuum-like seal from the lack of oxygen. The superficial muscle layer is drawn up into the cup, which stimulates the circulation of blood, breaks up adhesions, and creates a pathway for toxins to be drawn out of the body through the lymphatic system. It has been found that cupping can affect tissues up to 4 inches deep; affecting blood vessels, fascia, muscles, and scar tissue. It is used specifically to decompress adhesions and scar tissue, relax muscle spasms, decrease trigger point pain, and decrease tissue changes and inflammation following trauma. Cumulative treatments increase muscle endurance, circulation, increase lymphatic drainage, and enhance overall ability to recover from workouts and strenuous activity.
It can treat the following but not limited to;
- Tight and stiff muscles
- Back pain, sciatica, piriformis syndrome, IT band pain
- Rotator cuff injuries, plantar fasciitis
- Respiratory conditions: asthma, bronchitis
- Emotional balance: anxiety, depression, stress, migraines
- High blood pressure by calming the nervous system
- Cellulite
Relaxation Massage
Relaxation Massage Therapy clears and softens the tissues and eases all body functions, it is one of the most complete and indulgent massages you can have. Using mainly Swedish massage techniques, many natural therapies have a powerful effect on enhancing the body's function and self-regulation but massage therapy is a direct and mechanical means to sweep out the tissues, affecting the function both in the immediate and the long term.
Benefits of both Relaxation and Therapeutic Massage: 
- Improve posture and re-balances your body/mind
- Relieve pain in your muscles and joints
- Promote general relaxation
- Stimulate intestinal movement
- Eliminate excess fluid retention
Prenatal/Postnatal Massage
Prenatal Massage Therapy is the natural way for pregnant women to reduce stress and achieve an overall sense of well-being. It relieves many of the normal discomforts during pregnancy, such as backaches from sciatic pain and sacral ligament strains, leg cramps, headaches, edema, and sore, swollen ankles and feet. Increasing local and general blood circulation, which brings more oxygen and nutrients to the cells of both the mother and fetus. Meaning greater vitality and less fatigue for the mother and better nourishment for the baby. Massage Therapy helps to soothe and relax nervous tension allowing for better sleeping patterns. It can also be used after childbirth to increase milk production for breastfeeding, relieve cramped muscles that aid from labor, and afterward to help regain strength to increase healing and ease postpartum stress.
Infant Massage Therapy Information Session is used to educate parents and other caregivers on infant massage technique. It is important that parents - not therapists - massage their own infants, so they can share in the benefits. Infant massage improves the function of a baby's brain, heart and liver; improves blood flow, and strengthens gastrointestinal and respiratory tract function. The practical value of baby-massage is most apparent when dealing with colic, constipation, weaning, teething, post-natal depression, sleep difficulties and difficult breastfeeding. Premature babies who receive daily massage therapy treatments gain 47 per cent more weight and go home an average of six days sooner.
Hot Stone Massage is a specialty massage where the therapist uses smooth, heated stones as an extension of their own hands, or by placing them on the body. The heat can be both deeply relaxing and help warm up tight muscles so the therapist can work more deeply, more quickly. The stones are also used to aid in therapeutic massage techniques.
Before your appointment, the massage therapist sanitizes the stones and heats them in a bath of 120 to 150 degree water. The stones themselves are usually basalt, a black volcanic rock that absorbs and retains heat well, and have been smoothed by natural forces in the river or sea.
You usually start face down, with the therapist working on your back. First, the therapist warms up the body with traditional Swedish massage, then massages you while holding a heated stone. As the stone cools, the therapist replaces it with another. The therapist uses many stones of various shapes and sizes -- large ones on the large muscles, smaller ones on smaller muscles.
The therapist might also leave heated stones in specific points along your spine, in the palms of your hand, on your belly, or even between your toes to improve the flow of energy in your body. Many therapists believe that the stones themselves have an energetic charge and that needs to be maintained by placing them in a spiral pattern, placing them in a full moon periodically. Be sure to vocalize if the stones are too warm or the pressure is too intense. You can always ask them to stop using the stones if you don't like how it feels.
Sports Massage
Sports Massage Therapy is designed for all types of athletes. During treatment both Swedish and therapeutic techniques are used followed by exercises to help enhance the athletics performance and treat injuries. Proven to be a very effective way of decreasing the buildup of lactic acid. Athletes who want to be a step ahead of the rest should include Sports Massage Therapy in their training regimens. Sports Massage Therapy treatments will depend on the athletes goals, training and competition schedules. Ideally athletes should have a Massage Therapy treatment two to three times a week to achieve the best results. If once a week is all they can squeeze in, then treatment should follow the hardest training session (anywhere from one to eight hours after the workout). Length of treatments can vary anywhere from as little as five minutes to a full hour. Athletes can also receive sports massage therapy pre, post and during events for optimal competitive performance.
Benefits: Athletes benefit from increased circulation, greater flexibility and range of motion, and feel a decrease in muscle spasms, cramping and soreness. Similarly, athletes are able to train more often and at a higher level of intensity. Massage Therapy is a key tool for athletes who are serious about their performance.
