Therapeutic Massage

The treatments will depend on the patient's specific needs, I use a variety of massage and bodywork techniques to individualize the treatment session.

A hands-on manipulation of the soft tissue of the body including muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and joints. Treatment will have a therapeutic effect and improve health by acting directly on the muscles, nervous and circulatory system. Some conditions, just to name a few, which respond well to therapeutic massage, are:

• Low back pain
• Neck pain
• Shoulder tension
• Pain (general)
• Sciatica
• Sports injuries
• Stress / Anxiety
• Tension headaches
• Reduced range of motion
• Etc.

What are the different techniques used?

Swedish massage

Is the foundation for all other massages. It uses a firm but gentle pressue to improve the circulation, ease muscle aches and tension, improve flexibility and create relaxation by using the following different movements:

• long, gliding strokes
• kneading of individual muscles
• friction
• hacking or tapping
• vibration

Myofascial release

"Myo" refers to muscle, and "fascia" is located between the skin and the underlying structure of muscle and bone, it is a seamless web of connective tissue that covers and connects the muscles, organs, and skeletal structures in our body. Muscle and fascia are united forming the myofascia system.

Injuries, stress, inflammation, trauma, and poor posture can cause restriction to fascia. Since fascia is an interconnected web, the restriction or tightness to fascia at a place, with time can spread to other places in the body like a pull in a sweater. The goal of myofascial release is to release fascia restriction and restore its tissue health by applying a slow application of friction to the effected area, therefore releasing adhesed tissues, resulting in increased range of motion and blood flow.

Trigger point therapy

involves direct pressure on one area of a muscle to break the pain-spasm-pain cycle. This often results in referred pain to other muscles. This pressure may be held until referred pain and tenderness decrease, and then repeated. The result is an increase in blood flow as well as a decrease in toxins, thus breaking the cycle. It has been proven effective for the relief of soft-tissue pain.

Stretching

Increases flexibility, range of motion to joints, and helps prevent injuries to tendons, ligaments and muscles.

Prenatal Massage

Swedish massage strokes will be used, focusing on the special needs of the mother-to-be. While providing emotional support and nurturing touches, it provides relaxation by relieving stress on joints, eases neck and back pain, helps to keep good posture and relaxes and provides flexibility to birthing muscles. Massage can aid the circulatory and lymphatic systems, which can keep blood flowing to both the mother and the baby, and reduce fatigue. It stimulates different glands in the body, which help to stabilize hormone levels, and relieves nervous tension throughout the body.