Benefits of Massage

Massage therapy is a hands-on approach to healing. It is generally considered part of complementary and integrated medicine. Soft tissue stretching, including muscle tissue and the fascia that surrounds it, promotes improved circulation and healing to affected areas, as well as providing benefits to the body as a whole.  Studies have shown that massage is an effective treatment for reducing overall stress, pain and tension. Massage can serve to enhance over all body function and foster a sense of connectedness and well-being.  

Massage helps to stimulate the body’s vital systems to function at their optimal state through the use of mechanoreceptors (a kind of sensory receptor), which respond to warmth, pressure and touch as relaxation mechanisms.

Massage works to reduce stress and anxiety by relaxing both the body and the mind. Through compassionate touch, massage can ease emotional trauma, influence positive body awareness and image, and help us to strengthen and maintain our mind/body connection.

Massage is increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of acute and chronic medical conditions such as, but not limited to, the following:

• stress, pain, and muscle tension
• soft tissue strains or injuries
• sports injuries
• headaches
• TMJ pain
• fibromyalgia
• anxiety and depression
• insomnia
• digestive disorders
• edema

Additional whole body benefits that have been noted include boosting the body’s immune function, increasing circulation, and improving flexibility. 

In sum, massage provides specific benefits to specialized areas of the body, as well as general benefits to virtually all systems of the body. For most people, periodic or regular massage is an effective practice toward achieving and maintaining our best level of health for mind and body.

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Services

My goal is to work with you to tailor a massage that is perfect for your individual concerns, likes and dislikes. The descriptions of the modalities below are provided for your general knowledge. Each service described can be adhered to more strictly, blended, or used as a guideline to plan a massage that will most effectively meet your individual needs.

If you have any questions, please call or text me at 518-526-3583. I look forward to working with you!

Swedish Massage

Swedish massage is gentle, fluid moving massage that uses long strokes, kneading, deep circular movement, and vibration to illuminate stress, and bring deep relaxation and healing to the body. It is given with light or moderate pressure.

Swedish massage is a perfect choice for both relaxation and rejuvenation. It shortens recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the tissues of lactic acid, uric acid and other metabolic wastes. It relieves muscle tension, increases blood flow to critical areas and breaks down scar tissue. It increases circulation without increasing heart load. It can be both relaxing and energizing at the same time.

Deep Tissue Therapeutic Massage

Similar to Swedish, but just as the name implies, the focus of deep tissue massage is to facilitate positive change in deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. Deep tissue massage can reduce inflammation and pain by increasing the flow of blood and oxygen in targeted or more general areas of the body. Deep tissue massage promotes healing by helping to stretch and release tissue adhesions or knots, and flush toxins from the body. Over time, the release of muscle stress can have a beneficial effect on blood pressure, boost serotonin (the happiness hormone), and promote increased flexibility and balance.

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is a form of manual therapy that can be performed exclusively or integrated into massage therapy sessions. Its focus is on releasing restriction in myofascial tissue – connective tissue that wraps around, connects, and supports our muscle tissue and organs. During this therapy, the therapist identifies myofascial areas that feel stiff and fixed instead of elastic and moveable under light manual pressure. A client can expect to feel a light hold for several minutes or more over a particular area of concern. The therapist uses subtle tension between his/her hands to stretch the fascial layer with the intention of eliminating pain and restriction and helping the body regain proper energy flow.

Pregnancy Massage

Pregnancy Massage after the first trimester can be a wonderful complement to healthy prenatal care. Studies have shown that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, reduce swelling, and improve labor outcomes and labor health. Massage therapy can help with sciatic nerve pain, often experienced in late pregnancy, by helping to release tension in nearby muscles. Mom’s-to-be can enjoy being pampered by a therapist who understands the needs of their changing bodies. It is all about appropriate and comfortable positioning, and knowing what areas to avoid during this special time.

Sports Massage

Sports massage was developed for athletes or individuals who are regularly involved in sports or fitness. It is used to prevent injuries, to prepare the body for athletic activity, or to maintain a high level of fitness by providing complementary stretching to weight baring or strength building activity.

Sports massage can also help athletes recover from workouts and injuries. Clients can receive treatment clothed in comfortable athletic wear or undressed (to their level of comfort), depending on the nature of the session. The pace of sports massage can be faster with more vigor, or slower and gentler, based on desired results. Active and passive stretching techniques used in sports massage are often incorporated into deep tissue massage.

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