Thai Massage

Thai massage is believed to have been developed more than 2,500 years ago in India by Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha, Buddha’s physician. For centuries, Thai massage was one of the many medical treatments performed by monks. Thai massage is really more like a form of assisted yoga. The practitioner uses hands, knees, legs, and feet to apply muscle compression and acupressure along Eastern Medicine meridian energy lines of the body while simultaneously stretching the client in a series of yoga-like poses. People describe Thai massage as yoga without the work. It’s relaxing, invigorating, energizing and therapeutic. No oil is used on the client’s skin and the client is fully dressed.

Neuromuscular

When a muscle is strained from injury or overuse, toxins are released into soft tissue causing swelling, soreness, and decreased circulation. This may cause compression of the nerve endings resulting in painful spasms. Over time, scar tissue develops increasing pain and decreasing muscle strength and flexibility. Neuromuscular massage releases spasms and balances muscle tone in injured areas. Scar tissue is gently loosened and the soft tissue released to prevent further injury. Circulation is restored, increasing the flow of healing nutrients to the injured tissue.

Prenatal

When you are pregnant, your skeletal structure supports an increasing amount of weight, your organs shift to accommodate the baby, and you go through significant emotional and psychological changes. It’s common for pregnant women to suffer an aching back, hips, and legs; nausea; insomnia; headaches; swollen feet; and unpredictable. Prenatal massage manipulates the muscles and joints most affected by the changes in a pregnant body to help alleviate some of the discomfort. Prenatal massage can help ease the emotional rollercoaster relieving depression, anxiety, and nervousness caused by hormonal changes
Benefits of Prenatal massage:

• Increase blood and lymph circulation, which helps to reduce swelling and improves the oxygen supply to the baby
• Relieve muscle discomfort such as cramping, tightening, stiffness, and knots
• Reduce pain and encourage relaxation, which can facilitate labor
• Improve muscle and skin tone
• Provide emotional support through nurturing touch
• Promote relaxation and relieve insomnia
• Relieve stress on weight-bearing joints such as lower back, pelvis, and ankles
• Alleviate neck, shoulder, and back pain caused by muscle imbalance

Deep Tissue

Deep tissue massage is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is especially helpful for chronically tense and contracted areas. When there is chronic muscle tension or injury, there are usually adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Adhesions can block circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and inflammation. Deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore range of motion, flexibility and movement.

Sports

Sports massage treats athletes to prevent injuries, enhance performance and recover from stress put on the body. Sports massage applies a range of techniques which help to restore function to muscles and joints before, during and following athletics. There are limits to the body’s ability to perform. Athletic performance requires a great deal of recovery in order for athletes to avoid injury and overuse trauma.

• Reduce the chance of injury, through stretching and massage
• Maximize the supply of nutrients and oxygen through increased blood flow
• Faster recovery from strenuous workouts
• Increases flexibility and range motion
• Reduce muscle spasm
• Reduces the healing time from injuries
• Reduces the strain from repetitive motions

Shiatsu

ShiatsuShiatsu massage, sometimes called Zen shiatsu, originated in Japan in 1914. It helps to restore the physical functions of the nervous system, circulatory system, bone structure, muscles, and internal secretion. It is based on the notion that energy, qi or chi, circulates along channels called meridians. Fourteen meridians running the length of the body in mirrored pairs. The meridians are associated with the function and symbolism of each organ. Addressing pressure points along these meridians in relation to the client’s emotions, bodily functions and structure allows the practitioner to treat disorders such as depression, anxiety, nausea, stiffness, headaches, arthritis, cramps, indigestion, anger, insomnia and muscle tension. Healthy qi allows vitality to flow freely through the body and discards toxins. Any number of influences can upset our natural balance causing blocked or diverted qi which must be cleared and restored in order to live life fully. Shiatsu stimulates the qi and the body’s natural ability to heal itself.