Therapeutic Massage

Acupressure

Acupressure is based on one the most ancient principles of healing - that simply touching a specific point on the body will

release stress and improve health in the body. In an acupressure session, I apply firm pressure directly to these \"points\" on your body, which relieves your muscle tension and improves your circulation. This simple and powerful technique has been shown to be very effective in treating headaches, backaches, and even insomnia.

Chair Massage

Chair massage is a popular way of relieving stress and releasing tension right in your home or workplace. You receive your

massage in a specialized ergonomic chair which I bring to your location. In addition to the usual health benefits of massage, another benefit of chair massage is that it is done over the clothing. With seated massage, you can avoid the discomfort and awkwardness that you may feel in disrobing for a traditional massage. Also, chair massage sessions are usually shorter than traditional massage, making it convenient enough to fit into your busy schedule.

Deep Tissue

This is a form of body work that aims to relieve tension in the deeper layers of tissue in the body.

To work deep doesn't necessary mean applying a great deal of pressure, and digging down forcefully on someone's body. It could be approached gently and patiently allowing the body, and involved tissues to relax and let go. Therapist works with the body, not on the body.

In Deep Tissue Massage various techniques are applied that allow the therapist to access and work with the deeper layers.

"It maybe helpful to dispel some of the misconceptions before defining Deep Tissue Massage. Most important, it is not a rote technique consisting of prescribed strokes or the use of increasingly powerful " artillery" such as knuckles, fists, or elbows." Art Riggs 

"What is Deep Tissue Massage? A simple definition might be: the understanding of the layers of the body, and the ability to work with tissue in these layers to relax, lengthen, and release holding patterns in the most effective and energy efficient way possible." Art Riggs

Art Riggs is a Certified Advanced Rolfer, Certified Massage Therapist and a teacher since 1988. He is the author of the book Deep Tissue Massage. He is a frequent conductor of workshops for medical professionals, including physical therapists.

More importantly he is a great guy, a jewel of a person, he definitely has his heart in the right place. I had the privilege of being one of his students. I have also been one of his clients. 

Hot Stone Therapy

Hot stones are placed at specific sites on your body to deepen

relaxation and promote circulation in your muscles.

Muscles that are heated with these stones release tension and stress much more deeply and quickly than with a traditional massage. The overall experience is very relaxing, nurturing, and rejuvenating.

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is a form of soft tissue therapy intended to eliminate pain, increase range of motion, and rebalance the

entire body. It does this by using massage techniques to stretch the fascia and release the bonds that exist between the fascia, muscles and bones. Fascia is the connective tissue that connects and covers all muscles, organs, and skeletal structures of the body. Direct myofascial release is sometimes known as deep tissue work. Indirect release applies light pressure and gently stretches the fascia; this allows for increased blood circulation and relief from pain.

Pregnancy

A style of bodywork designed specifically for pregnant women.

Pregnancy is a time when a woman's body endures tremendous stress due to dramatic physical and emotional changes. Using various techniques specially developed for the expecting mother, Pregnancy Massage helps release the pain and discomfort experienced throughout pregnancy.

The benefits are profound, including emotional support, the relief of joint pain due to extra weight and postural imbalance, and improved breathing and relaxation.

Sports

A type of massage designed for highly active people who

engage in athletics. Engaging in sports is harsh on the body and can often lead to injuries in both the short and long term.

Sports Massage enhances performance and prolongs a sports career by helping to prevent injury, reduce pains and swelling in the body, relax the mind, increase flexibility, and dramatically improve recovery rates. Sports Massage is also highly effective in aiding the rapid recovery of an athlete from an injury by encouraging greater kinesthetic awareness and in turn promoting the body's natural immune function.

Swedish

This type of massage incorporates a variety of Massage Techniques in order to provide and promote healing. The following are these basic techniques:

Effleurage. Effleurage is used at the beginning of the massage as a warm up and at the end of the session to soothe. This technique  involves gentle circular or gliding strokes. The therapist applies different levels of pressure on the body to loosen "knots". It also helps in relieving tension. There are three classes of effleurage, each based on the amount of pressure the therapist uses. These classes are feather stroking, superficial effleurage, and deeper effleurage. the degree of pressure applied depends on the needs of the individual receiving the massage .

Petrissage. This technique consist of a deeper, kneading movement. The therapist manually compresses your soft tissue in a rhythmic fashion. The most common ways of performing petrissage include kneading, wringing, rolling, and lifting. Petrissage helps to stretch and loosen facia and muscles and promote blood circulation. Performing petrissage takes the most time in a Swedish massage. 

Tapotement. The word tapotement means tapping or drumming. The Therapist uses a rhythmic tapping to stimulate blood flow across the body. Tapotoment involves action like hammering, slapping, cupping, hacking, and tapping. tapotement promote the production of endorphins, which help the body to relax.

Vibration. This technique involve rhythmic shaking of the massage area. By doing so, the body loosen up and relax. The therapist may use their palm to shake your skin and muscles on your back. If the massage area is small or sensitive, like your face, they may use their fingers.

The information here was derived from WebMd. I find their description of Swedish massage to be very informative and accurate. 

Trigger Point Therapy

A style of bodywork that focuses on stimulating and releasing "trigger points" in your body. Trigger points are tender areas of tension similar to acupressure points, except they occur in the belly of the muscle rather than along the energy pathways of the body.

These "knots" are built up throughout a person's life due to physical, mental, and/or emotional stress. During a session, focused pressure is applied through a variety of techniques order to release your trigger points. This process can be quite painful at times, yet the effects are lasting and profoundly transformative.

 https://www.jco-online.com/archive/1989/07/468-jco-interviews-janet-g-travell-md-on-myofascial-pain/

Reiki

Reiki is an amazing healing system. It is an ancient healing art. Diane Stein

I first found about my Reiki teacher, Ariel Hubbard through taking massage courses at De Anza College in Cupertino, CA. You may read her Bio, if you wish, at arielhubbard.com; She describes Reiki as it follows:

Rieki is a spiritually directed Universal life force energy that works to create the highest good by providing the energy needed at physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels.

The passage below is from Essential Reiki written by Diane Stein a leader among Body, Mind, and Spirit healers and the author of more than twenty books in the field: 

Reiki originated in Tibet or India, and the healing system is about 2,500 years old. It traveled the world with the migration of early Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. From Tebit and India, Reiki migrated with the Buddhist sages to Southeast Asia and China, then to Japan, where the known Reiki history begins, and through Hawaii with Hawayo Takata to the West.

My own experience of receiving Reiki at one point in my life, when I wasn't working in this field yet, is what attracted me immensely to Reiki. I was amazed at this experience, and it was definitely healing and profoundly uplifting for me.

According to the teaching, Reiki can only work in the most beneficial direction, which is for the highest good and optimum healing of the individual.