Therapeutic/Clinical Massage
Beneficial in treating specific clinical conditions or injuries. Sessions focus on area of complaint for duration of treatment. Goals include pain relief and greater ease of movement. Sessions might focus on headaches, low back pain, shoulder/neck injuries, running injuries, fibromyalgia, or scoliosis-related pain.
Pre-/Post-Surgical & Scar Tissue Massage
Facilitates healing before and after surgery and supports recovery process. Manual Lymphatic Drainage gently stimulates the body's natural healing process before and just after surgery. As the area heals, additional techniques including neuromuscular and myofascial work address restrictions and compensatory muscle pattern. Scar work within client's comfort level guides healthy scar tissue development. This seeks to increase range of motion and activity levels. The earlier this work begins, the more efficient it can be. Examples include C-section, knee replacement, ruptured Achilles repair, plastic surgery, etc.
Prenatal & Postnatal Massage (Certified)
Alleviates stress and discomfort for pregnant women while also enhancing prenatal bonding with baby. This work helps mom adapt to bodily changes during and after pregnancy. Research shows that pregnancy massage stimulates endocrine changes to promote rest and relaxation, decreases blood pressure, and reduces the risk of pregnancy and labor complications. Special cushions and positioning are used to keep mom and baby comfortable and safe. Many pregnant mothers will schedule massages with increasing frequency as the pregnancy progresses, corresponding with doctor visit frequency.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Vodder Technique (Certified)
This technique uses a light, soothing touch to stimulate lymphatic system function, which works to eliminate extracellular swelling and support the immune system. Lymphatic organs play an important role in the immune system--for example, you may notice that the lymph nodes in your neck become swollen when you are sick, meaning they are working to protect you. I am currently accepting clients with Stage 0 and Stage I Lymphedema. Other conditions that respond well to MLD include sprain-related swelling, whiplash, post-surgical swelling, some cancer treatment-related symptoms, migraines, plastic surgery and sinus congestion/headaches. MLD can also be used as part of an immune system detox.
Complementary Approach to Mental Health: Anxiety & Depression
Massage can be a wonderful complement to other treatments for anxiety and depression. With this as a session goal, we focus on stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, or the "rest and digest" setting. Massage encourages a more grounded state of being, bringing the client's focus into the physicality of his or her body in the present moment, drawing attention away from anxiety or fixation on the future or past. Work on certain areas of the body taps into the this state of relaxation more readily, including face, head and neck, ribcage, abdomen, hands and feet. This experience contributes to powerful coping mechanisms that can be recalled outside the massage session in which the client uses breathing and centering on the present moment to release anxiety and curtail panic attacks. The body awareness gained through regular massage increases familiarity with what it feels like to let go, physically and emotionally.
Complementary Approach to Mental Health: Eating Disorders & Rape/Abuse Survivors
Massage contributes to increased body awareness and enhanced self image, affirming the body as an instrument of joy and movement. The treatment room is a safe space free of judgment, in which unconditional positive regard and radical self-acceptance (meaning right now, as is) are the policy. Communication is key: as always, clients are free to set additional boundaries, choose how much/whether to disrobe, and otherwise guide the course of the session. This massage aids in quieting the nervous system and grounding in the physicality of the present moment. This can be a healing step in the process of reclaiming and championing one's own body.
Sports Massage
Beneficial for injury prevention and maintenance during training. This includes myofascial work, neuromuscular work, mobilization and stretching to increase venous return and restore tissue balance. Many athletes have a target event and schedule maintenance sessions with increasing frequency leading up to the competition. They will then finish the series with a quick pre-event tune-up the week before followed by a longer, full body recovery session the week after.
Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques/MAT (Certified)
Orthopedic work beneficial for clients experiencing chronic pain and dysfunction, postural issues, and neuromuscular/skeletal conditions such as neck pain, headaches, scoliosis, low back pain, rotator cuff tears, plantar fasciitis, etc. Developed by Erik Dalton, these techniques draw from osteopathic and Structural Integration principles. They combine manual work with mobilization and client participation. They are best performed with the client wearing athletic shorts and a sports bra or swimsuit top for women.
Additional Techniques:
Swedish/Relaxation, Myofascial, Trigger Point Work, Chair Massage, etc.