Massage Modalities
		• Therapeutic Body Repair
		• Swedish Massage
		• Hot Stone
		• Prenatal Massage
		• Holographic Healing
		• Trigger Points
		• Neuromuscular
		• Deep Tissue
		• Fascia Release
		• Lymphatic Massage

Therapeutic Body Repair:                     Back To Top
Developed through the collaboration of a nursing professor and a spiritual healer, Therapeutic Body Repair is based on ancient energy healing methods. Practitioners are trained to feel or sense energy imbalances in the client and to use laying on of hands to disperse blocks and channel healing forces to the client’s body. The therapist uses a light touch or holds the hand above the body, with the client generally seated. Meditation is used by the therapist to center him self and strengthen his connection to the client’s energy system.

Swedish Massage:                     Back To Top
The term "Swedish Massage" refers to a variety of techniques specifically designed to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against deeper muscles and bones, and rubbing in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart. Swedish massage was developed in the 1700's by a Swedish doctor named Per Henrik Ling.

Purpose of Swedish Massage
The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Swedish massage shortens recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the tissues of lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes. It increases circulation without increasing heart load. It stretches the ligaments and tendons keeping them supple and pliable. Swedish massage also stimulates the skin and nervous system and soothes the nerves themselves at the same time. It reduces stress, both emotional and physical, and is suggested in a regular program for stress management. It also has many specific medical uses.

Swedish Massage Techniques
Swedish massage techniques include: long strokes, kneading, friction, tapping, percussion, vibration, effleurage, and shaking motions. The usually sequence of techniques are:

1. Effleurage: Gliding strokes with the palms, thumbs and/or fingertips
2. Petrissage: Kneading movements with the hands, thumbs and/or fingers
3. Friction: Circular pressures with the palms of hands, thumbs and/or fingers
4. Vibration: Oscillatory movements that shake or vibrate the body
5. Percussion: Brisk hacking or tapping
6. Passive and active movements: Bending and stretching

Benefits of Swedish Massage
Swedish massage feels good, is relaxing and invigorating. It affects the nerves, muscles, glands, and circulation, while promoting health and well being.

Hot Stone:                     Back To Top
Hot stone massage is a variation on classic massage therapy. Heated smooth, flat stones are placed on key points on the body. The massage therapist may also hold the stones and use them to massage certain areas of the body.

How Does Hot Stone Massage Work?
The hot stones are usually made of basalt, a type of rock that is rich in iron, so they retain heat. River rocks are normally used because they are so smooth - they have been smoothed over time by the river's current.

The stones are immersed in water and heated in an electric heating device until they are within a certain temperature range. The stones may be placed at specific points on the back, in the palms of the hand, or between the toes.

The heat warms and relaxes the muscles, which allows the therapist to apply deeper pressure, if desired.

The warmth of the hot stones improves circulation and calms the nervous system.

Some massage therapists place stones on points that are thought to be energy centers of the body to rebalance the body and mind.

Why Do People Get Hot Stone Massage?
Many people find the warmth of the hot stones to be comforting and get it for relaxation.

Hot stone massage is suited to people who tend to feel chilly or who have cold feet. It's also suited for people who have muscle tension but prefer a lighter massage. The heat relaxes muscles, allowing the therapist to work the muscles without using deep pressure.

People also get hot stone massage for a variety of health conditions:
* Back pain and aches
* Poor circulation
* Osteoarthritis and arthritis pain
* Stress, anxiety and tension
* Insomnia
* Depression

How Do the Hot Stones Feel?
The hot stones are never rough. They are always flat and smooth. The hot stones used on the back are about the size of a large egg, only flat.

The stones are heated in an electrical heating unit that either provides a temperature reading or has an adjustable thermostat control.

The massage therapist always holds the stones first before touching them to your body, which ensures that the temperature will not be too hot. Everyone, however, has their own comfort range. Be sure to speak up if the stones are too hot for you.

Cool marble stones are occasionally used during a treatment, particularly if there is inflammation.

What Can I Expect During my Hot Stone Massage?
The massage therapist often begins by applying oil to the body, which allows the hot stones to glide smoothly along the muscles. You are lying face down, and the massage therapist often then uses the hot stones to massage the back.

After the hot stones have relaxed the muscles, the massage therapist may put down the stones and use his or her hands to directly massage the skin.

The hot stones may then be placed back on to the body and left for a short period of time.

You are then asked to turn over onto your back. The massage therapist may place small hot stones between your toes or in the palm of your hand and repeats the sequence.

A typical hot stone massage is between 60 and 90 minutes long and ranges between $50 and $190.

Prenatal Massage:                     Back To Top
To improve overall health, a woman should receive a prenatal massage during pregnancy. Ultimately, prenatal massage has been shown to improve labor outcomes for both mother and child.

Significance
Prenatal massage helps a pregnant women to relax tense muscles and reduce stress and anxiety associated with labor. It also works to relieve pain. The expanding womb puts a lot stress on the shoulders, abdominal area and back muscles of the mother, and lower back pain is very common during pregnancy. A prenatal massage therapist can apply pressure to specific sore spots to relieve tension and pain. However, certain pressure points should be avoided, such as the wrists and ankles, because they might stimulate pelvic and uterus muscles and lead to premature labor.

Function
The safest position for prenatal massage is lying on one's side while hugging a pillow. There is also a massage table specifically designed for pregnant women, with areas cut out for breasts and the abdomen

Expert Insight
Reduced blood circulation and increased blood pressure during pregnancy might cause swelling of joints. Prenatal massage helps to improve circulation and addresses nerves inflamed by the pressure of the uterus. The massage helps to relieve sciatic nerve pain experienced by pregnant women. Research also shows that prenatal massage lowers stress hormones, which are major causes of pregnancy complications.

Warning
Prenatal massage is not recommended during the first trimester because it might increase the risk of miscarriage. Instead, begin massage in the second trimester. Consult your doctor about the risk of massage therapy if you have certain conditions. For instance, massage is not recommended for people at risk of pre-term labor or those with clotting disorders.

Considerations
One prenatal massage session typically lasts 30 minutes to an hour and ranges from $50 to $150. If you cannot afford prenatal massage, ask your partner to give you a massage. Hospitals in your area may offer free classes that teach safe prenatal massage techniques.

Holographic Healing:                     Back To Top
Hologram is an energy interference pattern. Within this pattern, every piece contains the whole.

The holographic model sets a precedent for new ways of understanding Einsteinian medicine and provides a totally new way of looking at the universe. Utilizing the holographic model, it is possible to arrive at conclusions one might not come upon by utilizing simple deductive reasoning and logic.

Etheric matter is referred to in the Eastern esoteric literature as "subtle matter," or matter which is less dense than physical, i.e., of a higher frequency nature. The etheric body appears to be a subtle counterpart of the physical body, possibly somewhat like the phantom leaf. Our etheric body is an energy interference pattern with the characteristics of a hologram. It is likely that there are subtle counterparts to the physical universe made up of matter of higher frequencies. If the energy interference pattern of a single etheric body acts as a hologram, might not the entire universal energy interference pattern represent a vast cosmic hologram? If this is true, then by virtue of the holographic principle whereby every piece contains the whole, there are profound implications for information being stored within the seemingly empty space around us! The fact that limitless amounts of information might be enfolded into the structure of the universe is an idea gaining more and more attention from theorists such as Nobel prize-winning physicist David Bohm. Bohm has presented convincing scientific arguments for what he calls the "implicate order" of the holographic universe. In such a universe, higher levels of order and information may be holographically enfolded in the fabric of space and matter/energy.

If indeed there exists a cosmic hologram, then every piece of the universe contains information concerning the makeup of the entire cosmos. Unlike a static hologram, the cosmic hologram is a dynamically moving system that changes from microsecond to microsecond. Because what happens in just a small fragment of the holographic energy interference pattern affects the entire structure simultaneously, there is a tremendous connectivity relationship between all parts of the holographic universe. If one were to view God as "all there is," then, through the holographic interconnectivity of space, God could simultaneously be in contact with all creations. The ultimate question, of course, is how does one tap into this information about the cosmos which is enfolded into the structure of space within and around us? How do we decode the cosmic hologram?

Trigger Points:                     Back To Top
Ever wonder what can be done to help headaches, neck stiffness, carpal tunnel like symptoms, tennis elbow, bursitis, frozen shoulder, back pain, low back stiffness, sciatica, and even shin splints?

Example: Referred Pain
It’s a mistake to assume that the problem is at the place that hurts. The pain shown here feels like a sprained ankle. In the worst case, this pain can be from a torn ligament or broken bone. Much of the time, however, a “sprained” ankle is nothing more serious than referred pain from myofascial trigger points (small contraction knots) in the peroneus muscles on the outer side of the lower leg.

When you twist your ankle, the peroneus muscles are overloaded and overstretched, and trigger points quickly develop. Pain from trigger points can be just as intense and disabling as pain from any other cause, and they can occur in any muscle in the body.

Aches and Pains
An amazing number of our common aches and pains - and a variety of other puzzling physical symptoms - have been found to be caused by myofascial trigger points. In fact, trigger points have been proven to be the primary cause of pain roughly 75 percent of the time and to be part of nearly every pain problem.

This is based on decades of medical research by Doctors Janet Travell and David Simons, authors of the highly-respected, two-volume medical textbook, Myofascial Pain & Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual.

Symptom Index
You may have the wrong idea about your pain - and so may your doctor! Doctors Travell and Simons believe that pain is widely misunderstood, misinterpreted, and misdiagnosed. Their clinical experience has shown that trigger points can often be the true cause of the pain and other symptoms associated with the following conditions:

Abdominal Pain, Achilles Tendinitis, Adhesive Capsulitis, Angin,a Ankle Sprain, Arthritis, Back Pain, Buckling Knee, Burning Pain, Bursitis, Calf Cramps, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Costochondritis, Discoordination, Dizziness,
Drooping Eyelid, Earache, Eyelid Twitching, Eye Pain, Fibromyalgia, Finger Pain, Foot Pain, Frozen Shoulder, Genital Pain, Golfer’s Elbow, Gout, Groin Pain, Growing Pains, Hammertoe, Headache, Heartburn, Heel Pain, Hip Pain, Irritable Bowe,l Jaw Pain, Joint Pain, Stiffness, Joint Popping, Knee Pain, Knuckle Pain, Leg Pain, Locked Knee, Low Back Pain, Meralgia Paresthetica, Migraine, Neck Pain, Numbness in Hands or Feet, Osteoarthritis, Pelvic Pain, Penis Pain, Peripheral Neuropathy, Phantom Limb Pain, Piriformis Syndrome, Plantar Fasciitis, Prostate Pain, Rectal Pain, Repetitive Strain Injury, Restless Legs, Rotator Cuff Injury, Runner’s Knee, Sciatica, Sensitive Teeth, Shin Splints, Shoulder Pain, Side Stitch, Sinus Symptoms, Stiff Fingers, Stumbling, Tendinitis, Tennis Elbow, Testicle Pain, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Thumb Pain, Tingling in Hands or Fee,t TMJ Disorder, Toe Pain, Tongue Pain, Toothache, Turf Toe, Vertigo, Vulvadynia, Whiplash Injury, Wrist Sprain, Writer’s Cramp.

Hard to believe, isn't it?
You may think it’s a little nutty to believe that tiny little knots in your muscles could be responsible for so many kinds of trouble. But these are medically proven facts. Consider that your muscles make up as much as 50% of your body weight. You have muscles everywhere, covering nearly every other tissue or structure in the body.

Symptoms that appear to be generated by a joint, an internal or external organ, or an eye, ear, or tooth can in reality be an effect caused by trigger points in nearby muscles, or even a muscle some distance away. Here are a few examples:

The pain from a trigger point in a chest muscle can make you feel you're having a heart attack. Referral from a trigger point in a neck muscle can make an eyelid droop or twitch.

Nerve compression by a muscle that is being kept in a state of constant tension by trigger points can cause numbness in a hand or foot. Joint pain sent from trigger points in nearby muscles can feel like arthritis. A toothache can be nothing but referred pain from a jaw muscle.

Can the solution be something so commonplace as massage?
What do you do when a muscle hurts or feels tight? You rub it, of course! It’s nature’s cure. And rubbing is exactly what works with a trigger point - provided that you rub in the right place. Remember that pain and other symptoms from trigger points are usually displaced.

Neuromuscular:                     Back To Top
The most effective type of massage therapy for lower back pain is neuromuscular therapy. Neuromuscular therapy is also called trigger point myotherapy. The American Academy of Pain Management recognizes this form of massage therapy as an effective treatment for back pain caused by soft tissue injury (such as a muscle strain).

Neuromuscular therapy consists of alternating levels of concentrated pressure on the areas of muscle spasm. The massage therapy pressure is usually applied with the fingers, knuckles, or elbow. Once applied to a muscle spasm, the pressure should not vary for ten to thirty seconds.

Massage therapy can reduce muscle pain
Muscles that are in spasm will be painful to the touch. The pain is caused by ischemic muscle tissue. Ischemia means the muscle is lacking proper blood flow, usually due to the muscle spasm. This in turn creates the following undesirable process:

* Because the muscle is not receiving enough blood, the muscle is also not receiving enough oxygen
* The lack of oxygen causes the muscle to produce lactic acid
* The lactic acid makes the muscle feel sore following physical activity.

After the muscle is relaxed through massage therapy, the lactic acid will be released from the muscle, and the muscle should start receiving enough blood and oxygen.

Neuromuscular therapy will feel painful at first, but the pressure of the massage should alleviate the muscle spasm. At this point, it is extremely important to communicate with the massage therapist regarding the pressure - whether the pressure is too much, too little, getting better, getting worse. The therapist should listen and respond accordingly. The massage therapy pressure should never be overly painful. In fact, most people describe the pressure as “good pain”.

What to expect after massage therapy
Following a neuromuscular therapy massage, any soreness that presents itself should fade after twenty-four to thirty-six hours. The muscles that were tight should remain noticeably more relaxed for four to fourteen days, depending on stress, activity level, and severity of back pain prior to beginning massage therapy.

Deep Tissue:                     Back To Top
Deep tissue massage is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is especially helpful for chronically tense and contracted areas such as stiff necks, low back tightness, and sore shoulders. Some of the same strokes are used as classic massage therapy, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain.

How does deep tissue massage work?
When there is chronic muscle tension or injury, there are usually adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Adhesions can block circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and inflammation. Deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement. To do this, the massage therapist often uses direct deep pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles.

Will deep tissue massage hurt?
At certain points during the massage, most people find there is usually some discomfort and pain. It is important to tell the massage therapist when things hurt and if any soreness or pain you ecperience is outside your comfort range. There is usually some stiffness or pain after a deep tissue massage, but it should subside within a day or so. The massage therapist may recommend applying ice to the area after the massage.

What conditions is deep tissue massage used for?
Unlike classic massage therapy, which is used for relaxation, deep tissue massage usually focuses on a specific problem, such as:

* Chronic pain
* Limited mobility
* Recovery from injuries (e.g. whiplash, falls, sports injury)
* Repetitive strain injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome
* Postural problems
* Ostearthritis pain
* Fibromyalgia
* Muscle tension or spasm

According to the August 2005 issue of Consumer Reports magazine, 34,000 people ranked deep tissue massage more effective in relieving osteoarthritis pain than physical therapy, exercise, prescription medications, chiropractic, acupuncture, diet, glucosamine and over-the-counter drugs.

Deep tissue massage also received a top ranking for fibromyalgia pain.

People often notice improved range of motion immediately after a deep tissue massage.

What can I expect during my visit?
Massage therapists may use fingertips, knuckles, hands, elbows, and forearms during the deep tissue massage. You may be asked to breathe deeply as the massage therapist works on certain tense areas. It is important to drink plenty of water as you can after the massage to flush metabolic waste from the tissues.

Fascia Release:                     Back To Top
The term myofascial release is derived from the Latin words myo (or muscle) and fascia (or elastic band). Its no wonder many massage therapists and chiropractors liken the stretching of muscles and ligaments to the stretching of an elastic band.

In practice, Myofascial Release is a gentle therapy, consisting of a mixture of light stretching and massage work. During a session, the therapist will apply hands-on massage strokes in order to release tension from the fibrous bands of the muscles, bones, nerves and joints, by unblocking any scar tissue or adhesions due to injury in the muscles and surrounding tissues.

The therapist will often use light to moderate traction and twisting strokes to apply the appropriate tension on the soft tissue, and to achieve a full reflex range of the muscle. This slow and subtle technique can be used to unblock fascia and muscle throughout the body restoring total physical harmony.

Myofascial release is a safe therapy that can be used as a preventative method or to promote the healing of an injured, stiff or painful muscle. However, this therapy has also been affective in treating patients with sloppy posture, chronic fatigue, severe tension and anxiety, as well as repetitive stress injuries of the muscular-skeletal system.

Myofascial release therapy is applied hands-on, in kneading-style strokes that are meant to stretch, loosen, soften and lengthen muscle tissues. The strokes are applied with gentle pressure, and held for approximately 2-mintues in order for the stretch to have its full effect on the muscle. Typically the same stretch is performed more than once by the therapist until the muscle is totally relaxed and a release is felt. The therapist will always apply massage in the direction of the muscle fibers to encourage the full range of motion of the muscle.

A typical Myofascial Release massage lasts an hour, and afterwards clients often rave about the total release of body tension they experience. This is why the treatment is often recommended to soothe a plethora of pain-associated conditions including migraine headaches, menstrual cramps, menopause-related pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, Fibromyalgia, whiplash and muscle spasms.

Lymphatic Massage:                     Back To Top
Lymphatic massage or lymph drainage massage is a technique used to help increase lymph flow. Increased lymph flow removes harmful substances from the tissues and increases immune function. Lymphatic massage can be useful in cases of edema, sports injury or for people experiencing a sluggish immune system or those suffering from a lack of energy.

What is the Lymphatic System?
The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in your body’s ability heal from injury and ward off disease.
It is essential to the body's drainage system for cleansing and filtering out toxins and bacteria.

Problems With The Lymphatic System
Aches, pains, soreness and flu like symptoms could all be caused by congested lymph pathways.

The Benefits of Lymphatic Massage
Lymphatic massage can help to unblock the lymph system by manually cleansing the lymph system in a clockwise fashion.

Performing lymphatic massage correctly can stimulate the opening of the initial lymphatic and increase the volume of lymph flow by as much as 20 times.

Because lymph cleanses nearly every cell in your body the negative effects of chronic lymph blockages include but are not limited to:

• Frequent cold and flu infections
• Joint pain
• Headache and migraine
• Menstrual cramps
• Arthritis
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Mood irregularities
• Depression
• Acne
• Cellulite

What is Lymphatic Massage?
The use of massage as a healing therapy dates back centuries.
Lymphatic massage was developed in the 1930s and is a delicate form of massage that stimulates the body’s lymphatic system.

The lymphatic system has no central pump and depends on muscle contraction through deep breathing, exercise and manual manipulation to move fluid.

Lymphatic massage utilizes a very light pressure combined with soft pumping movements in the direction of the lymph nodes. Immune system function can be significantly increased, improving metabolism and helping the body to eliminate waste and toxins.

A strong immune system makes you feel balanced, happy and whole.

As with most massage, it is vital to drink lots of water after a lymphatic massage to flush away toxins that have been released.

Is it Safe?
For the most part lymphatic massage is safe. However as with all massage therapies there are some contra indications. For lymphatic massage specifically, these include acute inflammation, malignant tumors, thrombosis and major heart problems.