The practice of Thai massage is said to date back at least 2,500 years to the doctor of the Buddha, Shivagakomarpaj. It’s practiced as a traditional therapy combining acupressure, Indian Ayurvedic principles, Chinese Medicine and assisted yoga-like postures. Traditionally, Thai massage is done on a floor mat. Please dress in clothes you can move in, and in dark colors if you’d like herbal compresses.

Trigger points are tender ‘spots’ in the muscle or connective tissue. Possibly hyper-contracted irritable bands of muscle or connective tissue they can cause local pain or referred pain, such as headaches, and other sensations to other parts of the body. Sometimes confused with acupressure, tigger point therapy uses direct pressure to encourage blood flow and oxygenation of the area, break the cycle of pain and muscle spasm, and to deactivate tender points.

Prenatal & postnatal massage involves targeted or full body massage that is similar to a Swedish massage (like what you might experience at a spa), with some deep tissue elements, and a few notable modifications. Body positioning or bolstering can ensure the safety and comfort for both mother and baby.

Myofascial release therapy is often effective for treating skeletal muscle immobility and pain by relaxing contracted muscles, improving blood and lymphatic circulation, and stimulating the stretch reflex in the fascial sheath and underlying muscles. This is accomplished by targeting the fascia, a thin, tough, elastic connective tissue that wraps most structures within the human body, including organs, muscle, and bone. This soft tissue can become restricted due to psychogenic disease, overuse, trauma, infectious agents, or inactivity, often resulting in pain, and muscle tension.

Precision Neuromuscular Therapy (PNMT) is useful to treat musculoskeletal pain and disability. Use of specific techniques in an athletic context can improve recovery time, enhance performance and reduce the risk of injury. As with other modalities, this is accomplished using techniques that stimulate the flow of blood and lymph to and from muscles, joint manipulation, and assisted stretching. *I have completed some training in PNMT, but have not attained certification at this time. I integrate what I’ve learned into a broad pallet of therapies depending on the client’s needs, preferences and goals.

Oncology massage refers to massage tailored to the needs of individuals with cancer. This specialized practice requires therapists to be fully educated in and pay close attention to the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of clients in all stages of cancer: diagnosis, treatment, recovery, survivor, or end-stage. Training in oncology massage covers appropriate bodywork modalities for cancer clients, includes precautions for radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery, and covers physiology and pathology.

Therapeutic and relaxation massage consists of rhythmical and gentle leans and stretches which leads to deep relaxation, increased vitality, and stimulation of the self-healing processes of the body. If you like, this can be complimented with aroma therapy for multi-sensory experience, or in conjunction with other therapies.