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| Hundreds of types of bodywork exist to help you access your body's ability to heal. Each style of massage and bodywork has been carefully designed to be helpful for certain conditions, symptoms, and needs. Here is some information on the types of massage and bodywork I practice: Esalen Massage  Esalen massage was developed in the 1960s in California at the Esalen Institue. Esalen massage takes the scientific approach and accuracy of Swedish massage and blends it with the sensory awareness and flowing, graceful movements of the practitioner. In Esalen massage, the philosophy is that the client and therapist are a team in creating the client's wellness. Esalen massage is often combined with other complementary therapies, such as deep tissue massage, stretches, joint mobilization, and energy balancing. Swedish Massage Swedish massage is probably the most common massage in the West. It is a vigorous type of massage therapy designed to stimulate circulation, reduce toxins, and energize the client's body. A variety of strokes including percussive, kneading, rolling, and vibrational movements are believed to speed healing and reduce swelling from injury. Swedish massage benefits the client by increasing circulation, breaking down scar tissue, and providing general relaxation. Deep Tissue Massage This style of massage is designed to affect the deepest layers of muscle and fascia (connective tissue), freeing up contractions in the muscle tissue, breaking down adhesions (scar tissue), and releasing inflammation-related pain. This style of massage therapy requires a very thorough knowledge of human anatomy and physiology. The client's muscles are first thoroughly relaxed so I can access the deeper fibers to release the muscle contractions that cause pain and discomfort. Trigger Point Therapy Often, pain felt in the body results from spasmodic muscle contractions that cannot release on their own. These contractions need a manual interruption of the pain/spasm cycle in order to release. Trigger point therapy involves compression of the trigger points and stretching of the muscles and fascia (connective tissue), followed by instruction to the client on how to self-massage and stretch the affected area. This work relies on clear verbal communication between the client and therapist. When a trigger point is present a client may experience a host of symptoms, such as tendonitis, muscle ache and fatigue, weakness, and loss of range of motion. When a trigger point is released through massage these symptoms normally disappear within 24 to 48 hours. Myofascial Release Therapy  Fascia is a three-dimensional web of connective tissue that often becomes tightened through pull from the associated contracted muscles, misalignment of bones, scar tissue resulting from injury, or other factors such as dehydration. Myofascial release therapy aims to reduce this tightening and restore elasticity to the fascia by applying deep, sustained pressure, passive positioning of the client's body, and range-of motion stretches. Lymphatic Massage The lymphatic system is the body's cleaning company, removing toxins (viru ses and bacteria, excess nutrients, caffiene, nicotene, chemicals, etc) from tissues and blood and circulating a nourishing, cleansing fluid called lymph. Manual lymphatic massage is very light and is designed to stimulate the movement of the lymph fluid, assisting the body's natural cleansing process. Lymphatic circulation is nature's pain reliever and immune booster. Range of Motion Enhancement and Passive Mobilization  The range of motion of your body's joints can be affected from inactivity, injury, poor health while aging, pain, limited energy levels, and many other factors. Often, a joint that loses range of motion will cause associated muscles to atrophy and painful conditions will develop in the joint area. Range of motion enhancement is necessary to regain as much motion as possible and re-educate the joint. The therapist observes and assesses the client's range of motion limitations, and after thorough discussion of the client's goals and the approach the therapist will use various movements and stretches of the joint, as well as advise the client on stretches. Passive Positioning Passive positioning involves strectching the client's body into positions that are supported by props or by the therapist, and that involve little or no muscular effort on the client's part. This allows the client's fascia (connective tissue) and muscles to receive blood circulation, oxygen, cleansing lymphatic fluid, and a re-education of the muscle memory to help release contractions of muscle and fascia that cause pain, discomfort, and misalignment. Cryotherapy and Thermal Therapy Thermal therapy involves the application of heat to an area of the client's body  using electric heating pads, heated packs, heated towels, hot water bottles, or heating ointments. Cryotherapy involves the application of cold to an area of the client's body using ice, ice packs, cold-water immersions, and cooling ointments. The use of thermal and cryotherapy is to alleviate swelling and inflammation in an injured area and to increase circulation, thus increasing the removal of cellular wastes, injury byproducts, and toxins and speeding healing of the injured area. Craniosacral Therapy The craniosacral system is comprised of the membranes and fluid surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord. The system includes the bones of the skull and spine. The spine is like the trunk of a tree, with the arms and legs as branches. When there is an imbalance of the craniosacral system there may be symptoms in the rest of the body, such as ear and eye pain, balance problems, coordination problems, and organ imbalances. Craniosacral therapy uses a very light, gentle, non-invasive touch to assist the natural movement of fluid within the craniosacral system and to restore balance to the system and therefore to the entire body. Reflexology  There are many theories about why reflexology works. I personally assert that reflexology allows the body's natural healing responses to arise and regulate the functioning of the internal organs, thereby influencing whole health. Reflexology is based on ancient Chinese acupressure therapy and uses specific massage techniques applied to the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. Reflexology can also be used to affect healing in cases where injury or disease don't allow certain areas of the body to be directly massaged. In general, reflexology is highly relaxing! Acupressure Acupressure is an ancient healing technique that uses the therapist's fingers to press key points on the surface of the body to stimulate the body's natural healing response. Acupressure works on the same points as acupuncture, but in acupressure there are no needles! Acupressure is one of the best methods a client can use in-between massage appointments to self-treat pain or discomfort in their body. Acupressure theory considers that disease symptoms that arise are keys to imbalances in the body-energy system, and strives to balance that system through release and guidance of the body's energy flow using manual pressure on acupressure points. Body-Ene rgy Balancing The body's energy system has been studied and documented for thousands of years, and Western medicine is finally accepting that the energy system does influence the health of the person and vice-versa. Body-energy balancing uses light touch or no touch by the therapist to influence the energy system through clearing blockages, improving the functioning of energy centers and channels of energy flow, and helping the client to release energies that are not contributing to their overall balance and wellness. The intent of body-energy balancing is to bring about the innate ability of a person to self-heal. I practice body-energy balancing that is similar to Healing Touch and Reiki. | |
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