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There are a variety of different styles, types and techniques of massage utilized during any given treatment. I have provided a description of some of the styles being used to help with your personalized massage.

Dynamic Breathwork-

Our bodies store physical tensions originally caused by mental and emotional pain. By releasing these physical constrictions and associated emotions, the energy in our bodies can flow more naturally, freely and fully. You will learn the language of your body, and how to communicate with it better. You will get to know yourself better by experiencing deeper layers of yourself and allowing suppressed energies and emotions to emerge, come to the surface, and be released, providing a profound healing.

The Breath Series combines Dynamic Breathwork, energetic stress release exercises, conscious movement , conscious touch, and meditation. By combining breath, meditation, movement and touch, you will experience an efficient and effective body-oriented therapeutic approach which promotes a deep state of well-being and expansion of consciousness.

This combination leads to openness, integration, connectedness, deeper intimacy, seeing and being seen, and an overflow from the heart. This journey is a direct way to know yourself better and empower yourself on many levels. It is purely experiential in nature, and as a result it is an intense personal process. This work leads to an acceptance of yourself and others, and to celebrating life!

Energy Healing and Charka Balancing-

Every'body' can use help in restoring our Energy Centers. In todays society we are bombarted with life tramas, social distruptions and physical and emotional distrubances that drain us and leave our energy field depleted. During any full length session a multitude of energy healing techniques will be ultilized, such as Rieki, sound therapy, colour theory, essential oils, polarity theory, Su Points and Charka toning with use of pendulums. After any session you can expect to fill lighter and more charged to face the world with a stronger sense of who you really are.

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.[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]

Ear Candling

This involves inserting a lighted, hollow candle made from fabric coated with beeswax into the ear. It creates a vacuum in the ear canal which draws out excessive earwax and any minor impurities which may be present.

Cupping -

During our add-on cupping session the use of traditional glass and suction cups may be used to stimulate blood flow, break up adhesions and move lymphatic fluid. During most sessions a moving cup technique is used and leaving NO marks. If still suction is used, you may experience marks left my Qi stagnation and should disapate over a few days, up to a week.

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, modification 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]

Shiatsu

Shiatsu (指圧) ("shi" meaning finger and "atsu" meaning pressure.) is an eastern (oriental) born therapy that uses pressure applied with thumbs, fingers and palms to the same energy meridians as acupressure and incorporates stretching. It also uses techniques such as rolling, brushing, vibrating, grasping and in one particular technique developed by Suzuki Yamamoto, pressure is applied with the feet on the persons back, legs and feet (special set up is required for the "foot" shiatsu).[2]


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]


Stone Massage

A stone massage uses cold or water-heated stones to apply pressure and heat to the body. Stones coated in oil can also be used by the therapist delivering various massaging strokes. The hot stones used are commonly river stones which over time, have become extremely polished and smooth. As the stones are placed along the recipient's back, they help to retain heat which then deeply penetrates into the muscles, releasing tension.[2]


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. ".[2]

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger points or trigger sites are described as hyper-irritable 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]

Acu-Taping

Most people recognize acu-taping, also referred to as Kinesio-taping, by watching professional athletes on tv. Acu-taping is used to help injured or weak areas (primarily around joints) heal faster or for added support during training or for preventive measures. Tape may be left on area for a 3-7 days before needing a reapplication. Normal actives can be done without restrictions, may take showers, swim and normal activities.

Slimming Body Wraps

Also referred to as a contour wrap, utilizes slimming minerals, such as niacin and hoodia, to speed up metabolism and water retention loss. With this types of wrap, a thin application of the slimming product is applied to target areas and then wrapped in plastic. You will then lie down on a heated table and wrapped in warmth up to 30minutes. These types of wraps can flush our toxins and smooth out cellulite.

Raindrop Therapy

The Raindrop Technique is a method of using reflexology, massage techniques, etc., and essential oils applied on various locations of the body to bring it structural and electrical alignment. It is designed to bring balance to the body with its relaxing and mild application. It will help align the energy centers of the body and release them if blocked.



Herbal Body Wraps

Herbal Body Wraps have been used as an effective way to firm the skin, slim the body, treat cellulite, clear the skin, detoxify the skin, and help the body to produce new collagen and elastin. However; any weight loss benefits associated with body wraps have been shown to be temporary. A body wrap may be used post- body scrubs and followed by a shower and massage, if requested. Choose from, Botanical Mud, or Organic Seaweed and Blue/Green Algae.

Ayurvedic Scalp and Hair Treatment

Warm Oil Hair Treatment, Relax deeply with a calming scalp massage with our nourishing, warmed organic sesame oil on your hair & scalp.

Dry Brushing

The benefits of dry skin brushing include:
  • Increasing the circulation to the skin could possibly reduce the appearance of cellulite. Cellulite is toxic material accumulated in your body’s fat cells. So, rather than take drastic measures like liposuction, how about utilizing the dry skin brushing techniques to help break down unwanted toxins?
  • Dry body brushing helps shed dead skin cells (and encourages new cell renewal), which results in smoother and brighter skin. It can also help with any pesky ingrown hairs.
  • It assists in improving vascular blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. By releasing toxins, it encourages the body’s discharge of metabolic wastes so the body is able to run more effectively.
  • Dry skin brushing rejuvenates the nervous system by stimulating nerve endings in the skin (and it feels pretty great, too!).
  • It helps with muscle tone and gives you a more even distribution of fat deposits.
  • Dry skin brushing helps your skin to absorb nutrients by eliminating clogged pores

[1] Content Copyright ProfessionalPlanets.com LLC dba MassagePlanet.com
[2] Content Obtained from Wikipedia.com.