Massage Services ~Reiki ~ Pregnancy & Massage

Massage Services

Therapeutic Swedish Massage: A massage that mechanically affects muscles, nerves and circulation, reflectively affects organs, glands, and bones, and brings about the ability to sense oneself differently. This massage is comprised of a combination of various types of strokes including gliding, kneading, compressing, and vibration applied to the tissue and underlying muscles. The massage is a full-body massage including hands, feet, limbs, face, trunk, neck & head. The application is easily adaptable to provide either a stimulating or sedating massage. Client is usually unclothed and draped.
Therapeutic Goal: To improve health and bring about homeostasis in the body.

Neuromuscular Massage: Is both an assessment and therapeutic technique. It can be applied to specific areas or to the total body. The therapist will use direct strumming/stripping strokes with varying degrees of pressure to release and relieve constricted areas within and around the tissue and may also include Trigger point release therapy.
Therapeutic Goal: Tends to normalize tissue- dependant on a body’s ability to accept new patterns. Provides tension relief, postural reintegration, structural realignment, pain relief and improves joint mobility. The client is usually unclothed and draped for this procedure.

Sports Massage: can be specifically designed to target areas that are subject to use/overuse due to regular or rigorous physical activity. Post event and in between activities, the therapist will use a combination of range of motion and massage techniques (kneading, compression, friction, effleurage, broadening & lifting) to relieve sore tired muscles. Pre-event, the therapist will use range of motion and massage techniques to increase blood flow and enhance oxygen exchange. The client can be partially or lightly clothed or undressed and draped depending on where treatment is administered.
Therapeutic Goal: to facilitate optimal functioning of muscles through the reduction/elimination of adhesions, through increased blood flow and O2 exchange, by assisting to flush out metabolites, and enhancing the pliability of tissue.

Lymphatic Massage: Assists in maintaining the immune system strengthening the body against various diseases. Impairment of the lymphatic flow often stems from poor diet, infection, and stress. Colds and allergy symptoms, and arthritis and inflammatory symptoms can be alleviated by encouraging lymphatic flow and the cleansing process which accompanies it.
Therapeutic Goal: To reduce lymphatic congestion and retention of waste, to condition the immune system. This is achieved by assisting the flow of lymph along its normal routes. This is not a muscular massage. The therapist will apply very light brushing strokes directly to the skin to stimulate lymph flow. The client is usually unclothed but draped for this procedure.

Circulatory Massage: The circulatory system is the only system that has involvement with every cell in the body. It is responsible for:
           - Delivery of oxygen & nutrients
           - Removal of waste products & CO2
           - Maintenance of temperature
           - Maintenance of clotting
           - Maintenance of Chemical composition/PH
           - Protection from Pathogens
           - Any impairment in this system will affect all of the body.
Therapeutic Goal: This technique of Circulatory Massage adjusts and redirects poor circulatory flow and reinforces proper circulation. The therapist will apply compressing and wringing strokes to encourage blood flow and direct it to follow its naturally intended pathway. For well clients Circulatory Massage “tunes” the system, for clients with an impaired circulatory system (illness, poor diet, lack of exercise, prolonged stress, etc), it assists the self-recovery mechanism. The client may be unclothed (& draped)or lightly clothed for this procedure.

REIKI - Return To Top of Page
Reiki is an art of healing that involves bringing universal healing energy to the recipient. Reiki can alleviate pain both physical and emotional, reduce stress, and help to bring about a better sense of “self”. The facilitator, through the use of symbolism, brings this healing energy to the client. The client need only to have the desire to have some aspect of their well-being, physical, emotional or mental, receive this energy and the energy will go to where it is needed. The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words: Rei, “God’s wisdom” or the “higher power” and Ki, “life force energy”. The practice of Reiki is a means of bringing forward spiritually guided life force energy to promote ease, peace, and healing.
The living body (animal or human) radiates warmth and energy. This energy is the life force itself, and has as many names as there are human civilizations. In India it is known as Prana, in China it’s called Ch’i. Ki is the essential life force (energy, air, breath, vital essence). It is the essential life force of the earth, the planets, the stars, and the heavens and those sources of energy affect the living body’s Ki. Everything alive radiates this life force – it is the biomagnetic energy of the aura.

What do I need to do as a recipient? Reiki can be a spiritual experience, but it is not a religion and one doesn’t have to belong, believe or buy into any kind of religious affiliation to partake. Reiki respects the rights and beliefs of all those that seek it and can do no harm. All you need to do to receive Reiki is to ask for it and be open to it. You remain clothed for a treatment as it does not work directly on the muscles like a massage does. Before the session starts, the practitioner may ask you if you have a desired intention for how you want Reiki to assist you. This could be an emotional issue, a practical dilemma, or a physical dis-ease in your body; or you can leave it up to Reiki to flow where you need it the most. The person bringing Reiki through will place his/her hands directly over or on (with permission) your body and move them according to where/when the energy flows. In a full session, the practitioner will place her/his hands either directly on or just above the receiver’s body at or near each of the chakras (naturally occurring energy centers or transformers in the body). When the Reiki energy flows, it can be sensed by the healer as heat, a vibration, a cooling sensation, a sound, or a color and the recipient may experience the same feeling(s). The practitioner will keep her hands over each area until the intense sensation has passed indicating that the client has received all that is needed at that point. In some cases a recipient may not feel anything at the time of treatment but will still reap the benefit of the treatment. The Reiki technique in and of itself may appear to be simple yet the results can be profound. Most people find it very soothing and calming. Some people may find that they feel the effects of the treatment several days afterward. Sometimes the effects are subtle but long lasting and even life/changing.

How long does a Session Last?
Reiki can be felt and received in just a few minutes but a typical session takes between 30- minutes to an hour or more. Most Reiki practitioners will follow a set routine of hand positions, spending more time on areas where the energy is needed. Once the flow has stopped, the Reiki session is complete for that time.

What will happen afterwards? After your session (and even during), you will be encouraged to share any thoughts and feelings associated with your session with your practitioner. Of course, if you are not comfortable with sharing, you can keep that information private. Anything you do share in a Reiki session is confidential and will not be shared with others without your permission. You may have powerful sensations and emotions in the days following your Reiki treatment. This is a common occurrence and is nothing to be afraid of as it is simply your way of handling the changes the healing energy brings.

How often can I receive Reiki? You can receive Reiki as often as you like, however, the first time you experience it, you may want to give yourself time to adjust and become aware of how it affects you before scheduling another session.

Is there any situation when someone should not receive Reiki? Reiki energy can do no harm. It is appropriate for patients in any state of health. It can be especially beneficial for people who are experiencing pain, and life trauma. Care should always be taken to respect a receiver’s boundaries; with that in mind, the one who brings Reiki can accommodate so that it can be received without actual touch. Reiki has been widely accepted in the Medical community and studies show that many experience a significant reduction of pain during childbirth, and after medical procedures, including cancer treatments. Patients have also reported a reduction in anxiety levels when they received Reiki before or after surgery. Some hospitals reported that post-surgery patients decreased their use of pain medication, and had shorter hospital stays after receiving Reiki. There has also been evidence of improved immune and nervous system function in patients with conditions such as MS, lupus, and fibromyalgia.

Seated Massage in the Workplace: On-site seated massage is done at your place of business. The therapist will bring an ergonomically designed portable massage chair and will provide a 10-15 minute massage for your employees (about the same time as an average coffee break). Seated massage at work boosts employee morale and energy. It increases circulation, reduces muscle pain and tension, helps prevent repetitive-stress injuries and increases employee productivity and performance.

Pregnancy & Massage Therapy - Return To Top of Page
Important Facts for You to Know

Pregnancy is a time of change; aside from the physiological changes that you will notice you may experience profound changes psychologically, spiritually and socially. Some of these changes can produce discomfort and or concerns that can be addressed with massage therapy.

Possible Benefits:
Reduction of stress and increased relaxation
Development of nurturing touch
Increased blood and lymph circulation
Reduced Edema (swelling) and relief from varicose veins
Increased facilitation of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and hormonal processes
Reduced musculoskeletal pain & strain, especially in the back and neck

Massage during pregnancy is not intended to replace appropriate prenatal care. Its benefits are best emphasized when used as a form of adjunctive health care.

Complications of Pregnancy that contraindicate massage therapy (unless additional midwife/physician’s release received):

1. Threatened miscarriage –or history of
2. early labor
3. placental dysfunctions
4. hypertensive disorders (including pregnancy induced high blood pressure, & pre-eclampsia)
5. gestational diabetes
6. interuterine growth retardation

If you have had any of these complications, we require that you receive a written release from your health care provider before we proceed with massage treatment.