Lava Shells add heat to any Therapeutic or Medical Massage. Heat is produced by mixing crushed lava with essential oils creating a chemical reaction for warmth without the use of electricity or water like a Hot Stone massage. In some cases it is not recommended to use heat and they are not an option for pregnancy massage. Heat is highly recommended when needing a deeper relaxation as the mind will focus more on the sensation of warmth and less on the daily stresses of life. Heat may also allow for deeper penetration into the muscle tissue and help to soften tight connective tissue; fascia, tendons and ligaments. The shells are a very smooth porcelain with the unique shape providing the sharper edge for focused concentration, the knobby edge for a broader knuckle size focus and the smooth flat edge for a wider transfer of heat and pressure.
Medical Massage refers to massage therapy performed following the directives of a physician after a diagnosis has been made. Various massage modalities may be performed with the focus being on the prescribed condition and related areas. Your therapist may perform non-prescribed therapy when their clinical assessment shows an imbalance in the soft tissue. Performing a medically prescribed massage does not guarantee reimbursement by an individual's insurance company.
Pregnancy Massage is 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.
This is a labor preparation massage; NOT a labor induction massage.
A labor preparation massage can be performed anytime after 37 week gestation. It is recommend that if your doctor is not planning an induction or Caesarian section (C-section) that you postpone this type of massage until 39 weeks. Ideally your labor session should be scheduled for 39-42 weeks gestation. It does not guarantee that you will go into labor but facilitates the natural process of preparing the uterus for labor with practice contractions by stimulating acupressure points and release muscle tension that can inhibit the onset of labor. You may also experience a clearing of emotional release by making the connection between the body and mind through visualization or guided attention to lifestyle.
Scar Tissue Release is typically included with Therapeutic and Medical massage when needed. Only select this option when not receiving a full body massage.
A consistent pay scale for treatments allows the client to tailor each session to their needs with complete access to each modality and the full attention of the therapist without feeling like they can't ask for deeper work in a light relaxing Swedish session. Therefore, all deep modalities, rehabilitative and relaxation sessions are grouped under therapeutic massage with the exception of requesting a receipt for Medical Massage. Because each session is tailored to your specific needs a variety of techniques may be used in each session. See technique descriptions below.
Gift Certificates may be purchased through my Online Store. Gift Certificates expire 365 days after purchase. Credit cards are accepted. Medical massages are not typically given as a gift and are therefore not included in the Gift Certificate section.
Purchasing a package can save you time and money. I currently offer 4-60 minute therapeutic massages, 4-90 minute therapeutic massages, 4-60 minute Lava Shell massages or 4-90 minute Lava Shell massages as a package. These can be purchased in my Online Store prior to your appointment and paid with a credit card. Packages must be redeemed within 365 days at which time they will expire. Packages are given a randomly generated code which is used on the appointment page when scheduling and can not be used with any other offer or discount. When you log into your account using the same email address you will see packages and gift certificates that you have purchased listed.
After purchasing a gift or package you may schedule an appointment by clicking the Book Now button or any "Schedule" link in a confirmation email. When paying at the time of scheduling or at the time of service you may schedule through the Book Now button as well.
Scheduled as a Therapeutic or Medical service; Developed by Aaron Mattes, Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) is a dynamic system for improving your flexibility and overall well-being. As you probably already know, stretching your muscles not only reduces your chance of injury, but also strengthens your tendons and improves your circulation.
Scheduled as a Therapeutic or Medical service; Deep Tissue Massage is a form of bodywork that aims to relieve tension in the deeper layers of tissue in the body. Deep Tissue Massage is a highly effective method for releasing chronic stress areas due to misalignment, repetitive motions, and past lingering injuries. Due to the nature of the deep tissue work, open communication during the session is crucial to make sure you don't get too uncomfortable. Keep in mind that soreness is pretty common after the treatment, and that plenty of water should be ingested to aid with the flushing and removal of toxins that will have been released from the deep tissue during the session.
Scheduled as a Therapeutic or Medical service; Manual Lymphatic Drainage aims to gently and rhythmically move the lymph through the body, especially swollen areas of the body, relieving pressure and enhancing the function of the immune system. As both a preventative and remedial technique, MLD can be used for a wide range of purposes including faster recovery from injury, reduction of swelling and discomfort from pregnancy, and strengthened resistance to illness.
Scheduled as a Therapeutic or Medical service; Myofascial release is a form of soft tissue therapy intended to eliminate pain, increase range of motion, and re-balance 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.
Scheduled as a Therapeutic or Medical service; Neuromuscular Therapy is a system of massage techniques that were developed in the 1930's by Dr. Stanley Lief in England. It uses a holistic approach towards healing, emphasizing and stimulating the body's natural ability to heal itself. Neuromuscular therapy also enhances the function of joints and muscles, and accelerates the overall healing process by facilitating the release of endorphins.
Scheduled as a Therapeutic or Medical service. Your body stores stress in specific areas called pressure points. Pressure points are small painful pockets of energy that are located along a nerve pathway in your body. These pressure points actually block the nerve energy from flowing through your body, causing a variety of discomforts and illnesses. In our session, I apply pressure to these specific points and dissolve them, releasing any blockages and helping to restore your nerve pathways to optimal health and function.
Scar work releases and realigns the adhered tissues from the starting point (visible scar) to the end point (where the line of frozen fascia stops). The purpose of a scar is to replace normal tissue with fibrous tissue after injury during wound repair. Unfortunately, the natural tightening quality of scar tissue that gives it its strength can lead to discomfort, pain and impaired function of the surrounding tissue causing abnormal strain patterns that can squeeze or pull bones out of proper alignment, resulting in compression of the joints. Nerves, veins and arteries can also become entrapped in these adhesions and restrictions causing neurologic (pain, numbness, tingling) or ischemic (decreased blood flow) conditions.
Scheduled as a Therapeutic or Medical service; Sports Massage is a type of massage designed for 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 pain 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.
Scheduled as a Therapeutic service; Swedish Massage is a very relaxing and therapeutic style of bodywork. It combines oils or lotion with an array of strokes such as rolling, kneading, and percussion to help the body improve its circulation. The benefits of this type of bodywork are wide-ranging and include relief from aches and pains, decreased stress levels in the body, enhanced mental clarity, improved appearance, and greater flexibility.
Scheduled as a Therapeutic or Medical service; Trigger Point Therapy is 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 in order to release your trigger points. This process can be quite painful at times, yet the effects are lasting and profoundly transformative.