Massage Therapy
Find relaxation for your mind/body, relieve post-workout soreness or chronic pain, ease a spastic neck muscle, or just do maintenance; massage has been shown to have positive effects on almost every system in the body. Blending a wide variety of techniques (Swedish, deep tissue, myofascial release, relaxation, sports, shiatsu, Thai, reiki), each session is tailored to the needs and interests of the client. Massages can vary in pressure/depth according to your preference. For more detail on the different styles of massage I employ, see below for more about my technique. Feel free to request work that you believe would work best for you or just describe your issues and let the therapist decide!
My Technique
The basis of most of my massage work is in deep tissue and myofascial release. Both styles offer ways of deepening and broadening (respectively) the techniques introduced in standard “Swedish” massage, which can have a reputation for being shallow and ineffective. Deep tissue* work is more characterized by techniques that allow the practitioner to access muscles that would otherwise not be touched (think small deep glute muscles under gluteus maximus or shoulder muscles that live below the trapezius). The key to working through external layers is moving slowly and letting the muscles and fascia melt to allow access. Myofascial massage techniques drag the layers of muscle tissue in order to engage an entire area in stretch and slowly unwind muscular and fascial tension. While not as specific as deep tissue, myofascial work feels very holistically relaxing, engaging whole regions rather than single spots.
For musculoskeletal injuries and pain, I often employ techniques from sports massage and physical therapy. These techniques aim to reduce pain/increase functionality as well as addressing restrictions in the tissues. I use stretching, traction, muscle energy techniques, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and many other sports massage techniques to accomplish these goals. Coming from the energy work perspective into massage, I initially thought I would not be using these skills very much in my practice, instead focusing on holistic wellness and relaxation. However once I started to utilize these tools, I quickly realized they were very useful for a wide range of issues I was seeing come through our clinic such as spasms, delayed onset muscle soreness, injury rehab, trigger points, etc. No two sessions are the same because every client coming in has a different collection of habits, postures, activities, and of course body shapes. If you have been struggling with pain, either acute or chronic, aren’t you sick of seeking out help from therapists who do the same cookie-cutter routine on you despite your attempts to describe your issues?
My interest in energy work has also been piqued by studying Shiatsu and Thai massage - both of which are massage styles that view the self as an energetic system at the same time as a physical body. There are many similarities between these two styles, e.g. using direct compression, applying the bodyweight onto the client, joint mobilization and stretching, working along lines of energy, etc. Because of their holistic benefits, I tend to incorporate many techniques from these styles into my typical “Western” massages as well as practicing them on their own as a full session. Clients looking to improve energy flow in cases of stagnation, focus on stretching, or receive work fully clothed might want to seek out these styles as a full session.
Deep vs. Firm?
To clarify, deep tissue work is not specifically firmer or more intense work, though it could be if needed/desired. The “deep” part is in reference to deeper layers of muscle and fascia below the more superficial layers. There are some deep tissue practitioners who can work with gentle pressure and just let the body soften with time rather than forcing it.
