What is Massage?
Massage is a ¨hands-on¨ treatment in which a therapist manipulates muscles and other soft tissues of the body to improve health and well-being. Varieties of massage range from gentle stroking and kneading of muscles and other soft tissues to deeper manual techniques. Massage has been practiced as a healing therapy for centuries in nearly every culture around the world. It helps relieve muscle tension, reduce stress, and evoke feelings of calmness. Although massage affects the body as a whole, it particularly influences the activity of the musculoskeletal, circulatory, lymphatic, and nervous systems. Doctors around the world are awakening to the powerful benefits of massage. To find out more about the benefits of massage, check here.
General Types of Massage
We offer many types of general massage that target different areas of the body, and are designed to treat different things.
Acupressure
Acupressure is an ancient healing art that uses the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities. When these points are pressed, they release muscular tension and promote the circulation of blood and the body’s energy force to aid healing. Acupressure is the precursor to acupuncture and uses the same Chinese Medical meridian points. Find our more about Acupressure.
CranioSacral Therapy (CST)
CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the function of the craniosacral system - the physiological body system comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. CST enhances the body’s natural healing processes to improve the operation of the central nervous system, dissipate the negative effects of stress, enhance health and strengthen resistance to disease. Find our more about CranioSacral Therapy.
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger Point therapy aims to seek out overly sensitive, irritated points and bands of pain deep in the muscles known as trigger points and applies specific techniques to release their hold. Trigger points are tender areas usually found in tight muscles. They may radiate, or refer, pain to other areas of the body. Find our more about Trigger Point Therapy.
Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT)
NMT is a comprehensive program of soft tissue manipulation striving to balance to body’s central nervous system with the musculoskeletal system. It is based on neurological laws, which explain how the central nervous system initiates and maintains pain. The goal is to help relieve the pain and dysfunction by understanding and alleviating the underlying causes. Find our more about Neuromuscular Therapy.
Swedish Massage
Swedish Massage serves as the foundation for traditional Western approaches to massage and is arguably the most well known and commonly practiced form of bodywork today. It can help the body remove toxins, deliver nutrients to tissues and cells more efficiently, and recover from strains and trauma more quickly. Find our more about Swedish Massage.
Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD)
MLD is a form of massage that assists the function of the lymph system, which is critical to the efficient functioning of the immune system. Lymph is a clear, colorless fluid that flows through the body in a system of vessels similar to those of the blood system. The lymph system is responsible for identifying, containing, and destroying disease-producing microorganisms in the body. Find our more about Manual Lymph Drainage.
Advanced Massage
Myofascial Release (MFR)
Myofascial Release is a whole-body approach to healing that seeks to restore balance by releasing tension in the soft connective tissue known as fascia. Fascia surrounds and connects everything in the body and can become constricted due to trauma, such as illness and other physical and psychological stresses. If it becomes tight fascia can pull muscles and bones out of place, resulting in pain and lack of mobility. Find our more about Myofascial Release.
Connective Tissue
Connective Tissue Massage (CTM) is also known as Bindegewebsmassage, and its techniques are specifically designed to effect the connective tissues of the body. Elizabeth Dicke developed CTM in Germany. Find our more about Connective Tissue.
Deep Tissue Massage
This is generally what people think of when they ask for a deep massage. It is a general category that includes a number of approaches to freeing the body’s system of myofascial connective tissue in and around muscles through deep manipulation. The focus is to loosen surface muscles in order to begin loosening deeper muscles. Find our more about Deep Tissue Massage.
Information on the web about the benefits of Massage
Mayo Clinic
Web MD
Massages.com American Massage Therapy Association
Massage Magazine
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Massage on Wikipedia
