Advanced Therapeutic Massage for Body Aches and Pains.
- Lower back/sacrum/tail bone (also see belly massage)
- Neck / arms / shoulder / back / hamstrings & gluteal ( butt ) muscles
- Most long standing muscular issues/tensions
- Pregnancy massage
- Sciatica
Note: Feel free to request a relaxation massage too. Most sessions involve a mix of one or more of the below modalities. You don't need to know what you need. Elizabeth will ask you what's going on and in a few quick questions she can usually figure out the best technique for you.
List of Possible Modalities Used During a Typical Session:
Swedish massage is the foundation of many “modern" Western styles of massage therapy. It is rooted in ancient, traditional Asian massage styles. Swedish massage is gentle, yet thorough, and uses a combination of long strokes, kneading, circles, tapping, cupping and vibration. It is designed to relax and invigorate the body (Cite 1, April 26,
2014). Often thought of as a more “fru fru” massage style (such as associated with the spa setting), Swedish is actually very therapeutic. It effectively assists in the clearing of lymph and blood wastes from stagnate areas of the body. It also lowers blood pressure and aids the body in letting go of tension and stress. Swedish was Elizabeth's massage foundation and is often used to warm up the body before any other massage modalities are used. Proper warm up is important for the health of the tissue and to have the effects of the massage last longer and be less painful when a problem in the tissue exists.
Deep Tissue is a slow massage style involving a gradual deepening of pressure to essential "iron" out deep knots and kinks in the muscles and fascia. This massage style can be quiet uncomfortable so it is recommended that only individuals that are active and/or used to massage receive this style. Most body corrective sessions involve some deep tissue massage. However deep tissue is done at the discretion of the practitioner based on the problem being addressed, the health of the clients tissue, and end goal desired.
Trigger Point Therapy is the use of a static pressure applied to a tender spot, sometimes at, but most often near a problem spot. This modality focuses on areas of tight muscle groups caused by overuse or injury (cite 1). The static pressure held, releases tight muscle groups (Cite 3, April 26, 2014). After holding a point for a few seconds and sometimes after a few rounds of static pressure, often problem spots become less tender and more toned with repeated trigger point work.
Guacha is the use of a tool, either Chinese soup spoon, ox horn or specially shaped piece of jade to essentially "rub" out adhesions and crystallizations in the muscles. Guacha is an ancient practice often used in conjunction with cupping and acupuncture to work parts of the body in a way the hand can not work. Guacha breaks up micro adhesions between muscles fibers much more quickly and effectively than any amount of therapeutic massage. It's one of the best, most efficient choices for 'erasing' those stubborn knots (the ones that never seem to go away!) in shoulders, backs and other fleshy places, ( not on the belly). This is my favorite tool for pesky, chronically achey trapezius muscles across the top of the shoulders.
Myofascial Release is work most often done over the superficial layers of the body and muscles. The aim is to release fascial adhesions and restrictions. Fascia is a type of connective tissue responsible for holding the shape of the muscles and holding the muscles on the bones. A fascial layer encapsulates every muscle fiber in the body and group of fibers. There are fascia trains (long bands of interconnected fascia), that connect together every muscle over the entire body from head to toe. When the fascia is restrained, there is often pain and a restriction of the movement of an area. Myofascial release removes these restrictions. When myofacial release is done intentionally it is often done slowly and with a firm but light pressure. Fascia is different than muscles fibers and reacts in a different way, though all body work addresses fascia in some way, even if not directly. An interesting fact to know is fascia conducts bioelectrical messages faster than the nerves of the body, and so a healthy functioning fascia leads to a healthier functioning body. Elizabeth often uses myofascial release techniques when dealing with carpal tunnel and tennis elbow and has seen dramatic improvements with her clients when this work is combined with deep tissue massage.
Sports Massage benefits those that are active in any sport or high demand activity. Localized attention is focused on the part the body most heavily used. Sports massage is often like a combination of Swedish and Deep Tissue massage. The Swedish helps move lactic acid and old metabolic wastes from the tissue and the Deep Tissue is used to provide therapy and toning to the active major muscle groups. Another style of sports massage is sometimes used to ‘warm’ athletes before a competition. This style of Sports Massage is very invigorating and not meant for relaxation.
Pregnancy Massage is done on women who are at least 13 weeks along in their pregnancy. This is for safety purposes as a woman is most susceptible to miscarriage before the 13th week. After this time an embryo is considered well established. This massage is done while a woman is lying on her side. There are usually lots of pillow props to cushion the belly, knees, head and arms. Pregnancy massage is always done with medium to light pressure as any deep pressure is not considered safe for pregnancy. Pregnancy massage is a great way to relax and help the body move through all the changes during pregnancy and help prepare for birth.
Reiki is a form of energy healing that involves the laying of hands either directly on a specific body location or just above the body in the energy field, sometimes a few inches away from the body. Reiki originated from Japan and is based on the idea of an unseen life force energy that flows through everything. It is also heavily influenced by the teachings and practices of Jesus Christ as the creator of Reiki wanted to heal just like Jesus did in the bible. When we are sick, injured or generally not feeling well, our life force energy is considered low. Reiki energy work is said to raise the life force of the organism and assists in raising the clients sense of well being and happiness (Cite 4, April 26, 2014). Reiki is now recognized in some USA hospitals as a way to decrease pain and speed healing, especially in burn victims.
Cupping is another ancient form of healing. A suction is created with a 'cup' to create traction on the skin and essentially pull the skin, kind of like the reverse direction from massage. Traditionally glass cups were used in conjunction with a special alcohol and fire to create the suction, however, Elizabeth uses either silicone cups or a vacuum cupping system. Cups may be left on different parts of the body to 'keep working' while the practitioner works other areas. Cupping, like guacha is great for long standing, stubborn issues or when an "extra pair of hands" would be useful.
Elizabeth currently only uses fire cupping over the naval point for addressing what Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners call cold or wind invasion. This is essentially for those with a cold belly. Please do not try this at home as special care and instructions must be followed for navel cupping and a special moxa must be used right after.
Sacral Moxa Fan plus Hip Massage: Given in a massage chair during warm weather as the window must be kept open. Wonderful for cold or tight hips, soreness in low back/bum/sacral area. Helps move stagnant energy in the hip area and creates a sense of ease. This is very relaxing and nurturing. General energy release and relaxation. Wonderful for pregnant mommas.
Note: real moxa is used (burning of the mugwort herb). Not appropriate for those with allergies to smoke or moxa. You may book this session in conjunction with other body work: block out two sessions, one for the sacral moxa fan and another for the body work of choice.
Belly and Hip Massage Techniques Are Booked Separately From Body Corrective Appointments:
Belly Massage: Elizabeth is trained in Maya Arvigo® Abdominal Therapy, Chi Nit Tsang, and Heather’s Gentling Ways. All these methods are gentle, meticulous and external. Arvigo Maya Abdominal Therapy® includes the whole soft belly from top of the pubic bone all the way up to the ribs, and it includes work on the low back, sacrum, hips, and tail bone. Almost all belly massage sessions include some Arvigo Maya Abdominal Therapy® but sessions include what ever the practitioner feels is best suited for helping a client achieve his or her health goals.
Belly massage is wonderful for all manner of pelvic, belly, hip or low back issues ranging from painful periods, to constipation, prolapse or infertility. Belly massages are also very relaxing and just feel good.
Belly massage is not suitable for pregnant clients unless they are at least 21 weeks along in pregnancy. It is ok to come on your period. There are a few health issues that are best dealt with while not on your period such as dealing with a retroverted (backwards facing) uterus. Please contact the practitioner if you have questions or concerns.
You must let your practitioner know if you are pregnant, have a Mirena/IUD, coil, mesh, sling, pessary or any other internal medical device. This is very important, so please go back through medical records if you are uncertain. For those with a pessary, please remove before a treatment session.
Citations:
Cite1. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/massage/art-20045743
Cite 2. http://voices.yahoo.com/swedish-deep-tissue-massage-which-right-for-36749.html
Cite 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massage
Cite 4. http://www.reiki.org/faq/whatisreiki.html
Cite 5. http://spas.about.com/od/swedishmassage/a/Swedish.htm
- Lower back/sacrum/tail bone (also see belly massage)
- Neck / arms / shoulder / back / hamstrings & gluteal ( butt ) muscles
- Most long standing muscular issues/tensions
- Pregnancy massage
- Sciatica
Note: Feel free to request a relaxation massage too. Most sessions involve a mix of one or more of the below modalities. You don't need to know what you need. Elizabeth will ask you what's going on and in a few quick questions she can usually figure out the best technique for you.
List of Possible Modalities Used During a Typical Session:
Swedish massage is the foundation of many “modern" Western styles of massage therapy. It is rooted in ancient, traditional Asian massage styles. Swedish massage is gentle, yet thorough, and uses a combination of long strokes, kneading, circles, tapping, cupping and vibration. It is designed to relax and invigorate the body (Cite 1, April 26,
2014). Often thought of as a more “fru fru” massage style (such as associated with the spa setting), Swedish is actually very therapeutic. It effectively assists in the clearing of lymph and blood wastes from stagnate areas of the body. It also lowers blood pressure and aids the body in letting go of tension and stress. Swedish was Elizabeth's massage foundation and is often used to warm up the body before any other massage modalities are used. Proper warm up is important for the health of the tissue and to have the effects of the massage last longer and be less painful when a problem in the tissue exists.
Deep Tissue is a slow massage style involving a gradual deepening of pressure to essential "iron" out deep knots and kinks in the muscles and fascia. This massage style can be quiet uncomfortable so it is recommended that only individuals that are active and/or used to massage receive this style. Most body corrective sessions involve some deep tissue massage. However deep tissue is done at the discretion of the practitioner based on the problem being addressed, the health of the clients tissue, and end goal desired.
Trigger Point Therapy is the use of a static pressure applied to a tender spot, sometimes at, but most often near a problem spot. This modality focuses on areas of tight muscle groups caused by overuse or injury (cite 1). The static pressure held, releases tight muscle groups (Cite 3, April 26, 2014). After holding a point for a few seconds and sometimes after a few rounds of static pressure, often problem spots become less tender and more toned with repeated trigger point work.
Guacha is the use of a tool, either Chinese soup spoon, ox horn or specially shaped piece of jade to essentially "rub" out adhesions and crystallizations in the muscles. Guacha is an ancient practice often used in conjunction with cupping and acupuncture to work parts of the body in a way the hand can not work. Guacha breaks up micro adhesions between muscles fibers much more quickly and effectively than any amount of therapeutic massage. It's one of the best, most efficient choices for 'erasing' those stubborn knots (the ones that never seem to go away!) in shoulders, backs and other fleshy places, ( not on the belly). This is my favorite tool for pesky, chronically achey trapezius muscles across the top of the shoulders.
Myofascial Release is work most often done over the superficial layers of the body and muscles. The aim is to release fascial adhesions and restrictions. Fascia is a type of connective tissue responsible for holding the shape of the muscles and holding the muscles on the bones. A fascial layer encapsulates every muscle fiber in the body and group of fibers. There are fascia trains (long bands of interconnected fascia), that connect together every muscle over the entire body from head to toe. When the fascia is restrained, there is often pain and a restriction of the movement of an area. Myofascial release removes these restrictions. When myofacial release is done intentionally it is often done slowly and with a firm but light pressure. Fascia is different than muscles fibers and reacts in a different way, though all body work addresses fascia in some way, even if not directly. An interesting fact to know is fascia conducts bioelectrical messages faster than the nerves of the body, and so a healthy functioning fascia leads to a healthier functioning body. Elizabeth often uses myofascial release techniques when dealing with carpal tunnel and tennis elbow and has seen dramatic improvements with her clients when this work is combined with deep tissue massage.
Sports Massage benefits those that are active in any sport or high demand activity. Localized attention is focused on the part the body most heavily used. Sports massage is often like a combination of Swedish and Deep Tissue massage. The Swedish helps move lactic acid and old metabolic wastes from the tissue and the Deep Tissue is used to provide therapy and toning to the active major muscle groups. Another style of sports massage is sometimes used to ‘warm’ athletes before a competition. This style of Sports Massage is very invigorating and not meant for relaxation.
Pregnancy Massage is done on women who are at least 13 weeks along in their pregnancy. This is for safety purposes as a woman is most susceptible to miscarriage before the 13th week. After this time an embryo is considered well established. This massage is done while a woman is lying on her side. There are usually lots of pillow props to cushion the belly, knees, head and arms. Pregnancy massage is always done with medium to light pressure as any deep pressure is not considered safe for pregnancy. Pregnancy massage is a great way to relax and help the body move through all the changes during pregnancy and help prepare for birth.
Reiki is a form of energy healing that involves the laying of hands either directly on a specific body location or just above the body in the energy field, sometimes a few inches away from the body. Reiki originated from Japan and is based on the idea of an unseen life force energy that flows through everything. It is also heavily influenced by the teachings and practices of Jesus Christ as the creator of Reiki wanted to heal just like Jesus did in the bible. When we are sick, injured or generally not feeling well, our life force energy is considered low. Reiki energy work is said to raise the life force of the organism and assists in raising the clients sense of well being and happiness (Cite 4, April 26, 2014). Reiki is now recognized in some USA hospitals as a way to decrease pain and speed healing, especially in burn victims.
Cupping is another ancient form of healing. A suction is created with a 'cup' to create traction on the skin and essentially pull the skin, kind of like the reverse direction from massage. Traditionally glass cups were used in conjunction with a special alcohol and fire to create the suction, however, Elizabeth uses either silicone cups or a vacuum cupping system. Cups may be left on different parts of the body to 'keep working' while the practitioner works other areas. Cupping, like guacha is great for long standing, stubborn issues or when an "extra pair of hands" would be useful.
Elizabeth currently only uses fire cupping over the naval point for addressing what Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners call cold or wind invasion. This is essentially for those with a cold belly. Please do not try this at home as special care and instructions must be followed for navel cupping and a special moxa must be used right after.
Sacral Moxa Fan plus Hip Massage: Given in a massage chair during warm weather as the window must be kept open. Wonderful for cold or tight hips, soreness in low back/bum/sacral area. Helps move stagnant energy in the hip area and creates a sense of ease. This is very relaxing and nurturing. General energy release and relaxation. Wonderful for pregnant mommas.
Note: real moxa is used (burning of the mugwort herb). Not appropriate for those with allergies to smoke or moxa. You may book this session in conjunction with other body work: block out two sessions, one for the sacral moxa fan and another for the body work of choice.
Belly and Hip Massage Techniques Are Booked Separately From Body Corrective Appointments:
Belly Massage: Elizabeth is trained in Maya Arvigo® Abdominal Therapy, Chi Nit Tsang, and Heather’s Gentling Ways. All these methods are gentle, meticulous and external. Arvigo Maya Abdominal Therapy® includes the whole soft belly from top of the pubic bone all the way up to the ribs, and it includes work on the low back, sacrum, hips, and tail bone. Almost all belly massage sessions include some Arvigo Maya Abdominal Therapy® but sessions include what ever the practitioner feels is best suited for helping a client achieve his or her health goals.
Belly massage is wonderful for all manner of pelvic, belly, hip or low back issues ranging from painful periods, to constipation, prolapse or infertility. Belly massages are also very relaxing and just feel good.
Belly massage is not suitable for pregnant clients unless they are at least 21 weeks along in pregnancy. It is ok to come on your period. There are a few health issues that are best dealt with while not on your period such as dealing with a retroverted (backwards facing) uterus. Please contact the practitioner if you have questions or concerns.
You must let your practitioner know if you are pregnant, have a Mirena/IUD, coil, mesh, sling, pessary or any other internal medical device. This is very important, so please go back through medical records if you are uncertain. For those with a pessary, please remove before a treatment session.
Citations:
Cite1. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/massage/art-20045743
Cite 2. http://voices.yahoo.com/swedish-deep-tissue-massage-which-right-for-36749.html
Cite 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massage
Cite 4. http://www.reiki.org/faq/whatisreiki.html
Cite 5. http://spas.about.com/od/swedishmassage/a/Swedish.htm