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Functional Massage Therapy

Massage therapy involves using different pressures, movements and techniques to manipulate the body's soft tissues - muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and skin. These areas are often the source of pain and discomfort due to injury, poor posture, poor circulation, poor lymphatic drainage, hormonal imbalance, age, sedentary lifestyle, stress and so much more.

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Massage therapy reduces stress and anxiety by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which triggers the body's rest, digestion and healing mechanisms. It improves immune function, relieves pain, improves sleep and even promotes better mental and emotional health.

Neck Massage
Neck Massage

Swedish Massage

Massage calms the nervous system and promotes a sense of relaxation and well being.

Massage reduces tension and anxiety, and can help relive depression.

Massage therapy can help with pain management in conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, muscle spasms.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is best for giving attention to certain painful, stiff "trouble spots" in your body. The massage therapist uses slow, deliberate strokes that focus pressure on layers of muscles, tendons, or other tissues deep under your skin. Though less rhythmic than other types of massage, deep tissue massage may be therapeutic -- relieving chronic patterns of tension and helping with muscle injuries, such as back sprain.

Spa Massage
Massage

Trigger Point

Trigger point massage focuses on releasing trigger points, which are small, tight knots that develop in muscles that may even cause pain in other areas of the body (an effect known as “referral pain”). Trigger point massage incorporates other therapeutic massage techniques from acupressure or myofascial release therapy, among others, depending on the therapist’s background.

Trigger point massage involves a more targeted approach focused directly on releasing painful trigger points, so the sessions are meant to be more therapeutic and results-oriented than luxurious or relaxing.

Acupressure

Acupressure is a massage therapy technique based on the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that uses finger pressure to mobilize chi — or life force energy — at specific spots on the body called acupressure points, which are also known as acupuncture points or acupoints. These acupressure points are physical locations where chi can be accessed to release blocked or congested energy centers in the body, promoting unobstructed chi flow for health and well-being.

Acupressure
Foot Reflexology

Reflexology

Massage calms the nervous system and promotes a sense of relaxation and well being.

Reflexology is the application of pressure to areas on the feet (or the hands). Reflexology is generally relaxing and may help alleviate stress.Trigger point massage involves a more targeted approach focused directly on releasing painful trigger points, so the sessions are meant to be more therapeutic and results-oriented than luxurious or relaxing.Trigger point massage involves a more targeted approach focused directly on releasing painful trigger points, so the sessions are meant to be more therapeutic and results-oriented than luxurious or relaxing.

Cupping

The suction and negative pressure provided by cupping can loosen muscles, encourage blood flow, and sedate the nervous system (which makes it an excellent treatment for high blood pressure). Cupping is used to relieve back and neck pains, stiff muscles, anxiety, fatigue, migraines, rheumatism, and even cellulite.

Image by Katherine Hanlon
Hot Stones Massage

Hot Stone Massage

Combining hot stone protocols with a full body massage provides a very healing and effective experience. The hot stones also expand blood vessels, which encourages blood flow throughout the body. The hot stones have a sedative effect that can relieve chronic pain, reduce stress and promote deep relaxation.

Lymphatic DrainageMassage

Lymphatic drainage massage is a form of gentle massage that encourages the movement
of lymph fluids around the body.
Also used for people with lymphedema , which involves swelling, generally in one of your legs
or arms.
The swelling is caused by lymph fluid that's collected in the soft tissues, due to genetic disorders,
injury, infection, cancer treatment, or surgery. Symptoms of lymphedema include:

  • Pain

  • Skin discoloration

  • Tissue swelling

  • Heaviness in the limbs

  • Weakness

  • Hardening or thickening of the skin

  • Recurring infections

This type of massage aims to help the body maintain proper blood circulation, body fluid
balance, and immune functions.

Massage Therapy
Hot Stones Massage

Prenatal Massage

Prenatal Massage Therapy can help reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve
muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health.
Prenatal massages are performed with specialized techniques that are tailored to benefit you and
your growing baby. These techniques include a slow pace, specific positioning, and gentle
pressure that can help relieve muscle tension and pain during pregnancy.
For prenatal massage, it is recommended that your appointments coincide with your doctor
visits. This means once a month until 27 weeks, and twice a month until 36 weeks. After that, it
is recommended that you transition to weekly appointments until you give birth.

Candle Massage

Candle massages are designed with specialized candle
to target all the senses, packed with essential oils, and natural fragrances the massage is further
elevated using warm, melted wax that is applied to the body. The benefits of Candle massage
therapy includes relaxation, soothing feeling, healing of wounds and injuries, feeling much more
reassured, easing of tension, stiffness and pain, makes breathing better, helps to circulate the
blood better, as well as giving an enhanced feeling of well-being.

Candle in Hands
Candle in Hands

Himalayan Stone Massage

Himalayan Salt Stone Massage uses warm salt crystal stones to soothe away stress and
tension, and promote an increased sense of well-being. Its grounding properties help to improve
sleep and balance the Central Nervous System.

Cold Stone Facial Massage

Hot towels are placed on the face to stimulate circulation and then cold stones are used to reduce
inflammation. The cold has a very soothing effect on the delicate skin of the face and neck. The
icy marble stone massage will lift and firm your face, adding to the overall results of any facial!
Massaging the face has a few key benefits. Aside from feeling incredible — just like a body
massage — the ritual of massaging the face can relieve tension. Moreover, it can “enhance the
circulation in your face by delivering oxygen around the skin.

Candle in Hands
Image by Annie Spratt

Compression Stretch

When done properly, stretching can do more than just increase flexibility.

According to M. Alter, benefits of stretching include:

  • enhanced physical fitness

  • enhanced ability to learn and perform skilled movements

  • increased mental and physical relaxation

  • enhanced development of body awareness

  • reduced risk of injury to joints, muscles, and tendons

  •  reduced muscular soreness

  •  reduced muscular tension

  • increased suppleness due to stimulation of the production of chemicals which lubricate connective tissues

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