Heal Your Body
Treatments
Your appointment is a learning experience, and tuning into your body’s innate wisdom requires a dedicated one-on-one approach. During our first meeting, we will discuss your health and massage history, injuries, allergies, and personal preferences. You will have an opportunity to ask me any questions you have at this time. I offer customized treatments for your specific set of concerns that will get you back to feeling like yourself and better than ever in no time. I can create a personal plan tailored to your needs.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage therapy is similar to Swedish massage, but the deeper pressure is beneficial in releasing chronic muscle tension and build of up toxins and lactic acid. The focus is on the deepest layers of muscle tissue, tendons and fascia (the protective layer surrounding muscles, bones and joints).
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​A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that people's blood pressure fell after a single 45 to 60 minute deep tissue massage. Additionally, a 2010 meta-analysis in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that massage modalities like deep tissue reduce stress hormone levels and heart rate while boosting mood and relaxation by triggering the release of oxytocin and serotonin.
Swedish Massage
As the best-known type of bodywork performed today, one of the primary goals of the Swedish massage technique is to relax the entire body. This is accomplished by rubbing the muscles with long gliding strokes in the direction of blood returning to the heart. But Swedish massage therapy goes beyond relaxation. It is exceptionally beneficial for increasing the level of oxygen in the blood, decreasing muscle toxins, improving circulation and flexibility while easing tension.
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A study conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and published in The New York Times, found that volunteers who received a 45-minute Swedish massage experienced significant decreases in levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as arginine vasopressin-a hormone that can lead to increases in cortisol. Volunteers also had increases in the number of lymphocytes, white blood cells that are part of the immune system, and a boost in the immune cells that may help fight colds and the flu.
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger Point pain is one of the more common ailments that affect the muscles in the body. It is also one of the most painful considering that it does not occur in just one area. It can cause tingling, numbness, and various other discomforts in areas at a distance from the source of the point itself. A trigger point (also referred to as trigger site or a muscle knot) is a very tender spot in the body, often an isolated area within a particular muscle group - which will cause shooting pain in other areas of the body when stimulated.
Due to the tenderness of these sites, people often feel that the long lasting benefits of Trigger Point Therapy are worth the temporary pain they feel as a result of treatment. An untreated trigger point is likely to cause increased, spreading pain and problems with balance and posture, the long-term benefit outweighs the short-term pain associated with the treatment.
Reflexology
While most people think that reflexology is just another word for foot massage, it is in fact much more than that. Beyond the feel-good effects of the treatment, the practice and purpose go deeper than the skin and muscles by taking specific reflex points on the feet, hands, face, and ears to induce a healing response in corresponding organs and areas of the body.
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Addressing anything from headaches to sinus problems to stomach issues, if sensitivity or tenderness is experienced when certain points are stimulated, it usually indicates bodily weaknesses or imbalances within the corresponding organ. With repeated practice of applying pressure and manipulating nerve endings, reflexology can help to clear any channels of blocked energy through moving the flow of blood, nutrients and nerve impulses to ultimately improve overall health and balance.
Thai Massage
Thai massage is a type of massage that involves stretching and deep massage. This form of bodywork is usually performed on the floor, but can be performed on a table. Clients are asked to wear loose comfortable clothing, eat light and avoid caffeine. No oils or cremes are used. This technique incorporates stretching, palming and applying pressure to specific points and the energy meridians of the body. It helps to relieve sluggish blood flow, relieve muscle pain and tension and leaves you feeling completely restored and rejuvenated.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the practice of using the natural oils extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of a plant to enhance psychological and physical well-being. The inhaled aroma from these essential oils is widely believed to stimulate specific brain function. Essential oils can also be absorbed through the skin, where they travel through the bloodstream and can promote whole-body healing.
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A form of alternative medicine, aromatherapy is gaining momentum. It is used for a variety of applications, including pain relief, mood enhancement and increased cognitive function. There are a wide number of essential oils available, each with its own healing properties. I use Young Living products since they are 100% pure therapeutic grade oils with no added base or carrier oils. As an independent distributor for Young Living, I am able to place orders for clients interested in using these oils at home.
Reiki
Reiki is a Japanese form of energy healing and type of alternative medicine. Reiki practitioners use a technique called palm healing or hands-on healing through which a, "universal energy," is said to be transferred through the palms of the practitioner to the patient in order to encourage emotional or physical healing. Unlike massage, a reiki session does not involve any form of physical manipulation. It can be performed as a separate treatment or incorporated into massage or guided meditation.
The practitioner often uses crystals during your treatment. These crystals can add an extra element of healing to the treatment by helping to release emotional, mental, and spiritual blocks. Each crystal has a different energy and vibration and may be linked to a specific chakra, purpose, or intention. Originating from Tantric Hindu & Buddhist practices, chakra stones are gemstones which magnify or balance the energy center you choose to work on which enables optimum function of the associated internal organs and systems. The experience during a chakra treatment will vary with some experiencing an emotional release during or after the treatment. The aim is to leave you feeling completely relaxed and refreshed with a great sense of calm and overall well-being.
Sound Guided Meditation
Sound guided meditation is the use of sound as a tool to cultivate and support deep relaxation and introspection. Ultimately, the purpose is to create a gentle, yet powerful, experience that heals the body, clears the mind, and helps focus your attention to the present. There are thousands of studies that prove the health benefits of meditation. Research has found that it decreases anxiety, reduces stress, decreases depression, improves memory, and reduces both physical and psychological pain. Some of the physiological benefits include reduction in heart rate, cortisol, lactate, epinephrine, and blood pressure, and an increase in melatonin, skin resistance, and circulation. Where traditional meditation requires focus and effort to stay present, sound guided meditation allows the participant to stay passive and be led by the sounds and vibrations. The practice is often combined with guided meditations which may include positive affirmations rooted in safety, security, and love.
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A study published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine in 2016 examined the effects of sound meditation classes, specifically Tibetan singing bowl meditation, and found participants reported significantly less tension, anger, fatigue and depressed mood compared with the pre-meditation participants. The study added that “Tibetan singing bowl meditation is a feasible low cost, low technology intervention for reducing feelings of tension, anxiety, and depression, and increasing spiritual well-being."
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