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There are many different styles, types and techniques of massage utilized by massage therapists. We've provided a description of some of the types of massage that are used in our office. In addition to massage therapy, our clinic offers several balancing healing therapies that may be incorporated into your session. Your therapist will always communicate with you about what to expect. Please let your therapist know if you have any questions about the variety of modalities offered or about a specific technique.

» Aromatherapy
» Craniosacral Therapy
» Deep Tissue Massage
» Myofascial Release
» Polarity Therapy
» Prenatal Massage
» Sports Massage
» Swedish Massage
» Trigger Point Therapy
» Wholistic Kinesiology©
» Preparing for Your Session

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy utilizes naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit. It is an art and science which seeks to explore the physiological, psychological and spiritual realm of the individual's response to aromatic extracts as well as to observe and enhance the individual's innate healing process. As a holistic practice, Aromatherapy is both a preventative approach as well as an active method to employ during acute and chronic stages of illness or 'dis'-ease.

It is a natural, non-invasive modality designed to affect the whole person not just the symptom or disease and to assist the body's natural ability to balance, regulate, heal and maintain itself through the correct use of essential oils.[3]

For more information on essential oils, visit our Essential Healing page.

Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral therapy (also called CST and also written CranioSacral bodywork or therapy) is an alternative medicine therapy used by osteopaths, massage therapists, naturopaths, chiropractors, and occupational therapists. A craniosacral therapy session involves the therapist placing their hands on the patient, which allows them to tune into the craniosacral system. In general, this area is the cranium (head) down the spine to the sacrum and coccyx, which are at the base of the spine or the "tailbone." The practitioner gently works with the spine and the skull and its cranial sutures, diaphragms, and fascia. In this way, the restrictions of nerve passages are said to be eased, the movement of cerebrospinal fluid through the spinal cord is said to be optimized, and misaligned bones are said to be restored to their proper position. Craniosacral therapists use the therapy to treat mental stress, neck and back pain, migraines, TMJ Syndrome, and for chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.[2]

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep Tissue massage is designed to relieve severe tension in the muscle and the connective tissue or fascia. This type of massage focuses on the muscles located below the surface of the top muscles. Deep tissue massage is often recommended for individuals who experience consistent pain, are involved in heavy physical activity, such as athletes, and patients who have sustained physical injury. It is also not uncommon for receivers of Deep Tissue Massage to have their pain replaced with a new muscle ache for a day or two. Deep tissue work varies greatly. What one calls deep tissue another will call light. When receiving deep tissue work it is important to communicate what you are feeling [with your therapist].[2]

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is a form of soft tissue therapy used to treat somatic dysfunction and accompanying pain and restriction of motion. This is accomplished by relaxing contracted muscles, increasing circulation, increasing venous and lymphatic drainage, and stimulating the stretch reflex of muscles and overlying fascia.[2]

Polarity Therapy

Polarity Therapy is a gentle, holistic approach to health which includes stretching postures, energetic touch, nutrition and verbal consultation elements. Life energy (also called qi or prana) pulses throughout every living being between the positive and negative poles in our bodies. When in balance, we experience physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. Dis-ease occurs when our life energy is blocked or out of balance. Polarity Therapy promotes the balance of these life energies to support your body's own natural resources and to bring your being into balance for optimal health.

Polarity Therapy has a synergistic relationship with other alternative or complementary modalities, as well as with allopathic ("Western") medicine, and can assist with simple relaxation needs to more chronic health concerns.

Prenatal Massage

Prenatal massage is similar to massage during non-pregnancy in terms of the goals (relaxation, pain relief, increased circulation & mobility, etc.). However, due to the changes undergone during pregnancy, modifications are made. To accommodate swollen tender breasts and a growing belly, special pillows, positioning and techniques are utilized to ensure comfort for both the expecting mother and baby. With increasing weight, a changing center of gravity and the many other changes associated with pregnancy, prenatal massage can help provide relief and a sense of well being that is much deserved.[1]

Sports Massage

Sports massage is actually a form of Swedish massage that is delivered to athletes. Most commonly, sports massage focuses on increasing blood and lymphatic fluid flow, reducing and eliminating pain as well as tender trigger points, and increasing range of motion of the affected area. Sports massages can be broken into 4 distinct types - the pre-event sports massage, the post-event sports massage, the restorative sports massage and the rehabilitative sports massage. As the names indicate, each type of sports massage has a different focus for the athlete as they are delivered at different times during their training and performance schedule.[1]

Swedish Massage

Swedish massage uses five styles of long, flowing strokes to massage. The five basic strokes are effleurage (sliding or gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), friction (cross fiber) and vibration/shaking. Swedish massage has shown to be helpful in reducing pain, joint stiffness, and improving function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee over a period of eight weeks. It has also been shown to be helpful in individuals with poor circulation. The development of Swedish massage is credited to Per Henrik Ling, though the Dutch practitioner Johan Georg Mezger adopted the French names to denote the basic strokes. The term "Swedish" massage is not really known in the country of Sweden, where it is called "classic massage".[2]

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger points or trigger sites are described as hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers. Trigger point practitioners believe that palpable nodules are small contraction knots[ambiguous] and a common cause of pain. Compression of a trigger point may elicit local tenderness, referred pain, or local twitch response. The local twitch response is not the same as a muscle spasm. This is because a muscle spasm refers to the entire muscle entirely contracting whereas the local twitch response also refers to the entire muscle but only involves a small twitch, no contraction. The trigger point model states that unexplained pain frequently radiates from these points of local tenderness to broader areas, sometimes distant from the trigger point itself. Practitioners claim to have identified reliable referred pain patterns, allowing practitioners to associate pain in one location with trigger points elsewhere.[2]

Wholistic Kinesiology

Wholistic Kinesiology can be defined as a neurological testing system for evaluating the body's electromagnetic potentials. We are working with the nervous system which is the body's electrical system, with positive and negative current flows. The flow of current creates a measurable electromagnetic field around the body and can be short-circuited just like an electrical system in our homes. When we come into contact with something that throws our electromagnetic field out of balance for an extended period of time, we may experience harmful effects to our health and well-being. By utilizing this neurological testing system, we can determine what might throw our bodies out of balance, and conversely, what will help to restore that balance. Every body is different and this system allows the body to "speak" to the practitioner and ask for exactly what is needed.

This video interview with Sarah McDaniel Valencia describes more about her practice and various modalities she uses.