Swedish Massage
Your massage therapist will use massage oils to facilitate smooth, gliding strokes called effleurage. Other classic Swedish massage moves include kneading, friction, stretching and (sometimes) tapping. Swedish massage uses firm but gentle pressure to promote relaxation, ease muscle tension and create other health benefits. Feel free to state your preference for pressure during Swedish massage. It can range from light to firm. Swedish massage usually includes some deeper work on areas of specific muscle tension.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage 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 strokes used are the same as in classic massage therapy, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain.
Transformational Bodywork (Healing Energy Massage)
Transformational bodywork is integrating physical and emotional body experience. So many tensions and discomforts have their origin on energetic and emotional levels. Gently releasing the tension on that level while experiencing massage, pointwork and other modalities fused into one, will release not only tension, but will explore and release the causes. So many times we carry energetic and emotional tension behind our aching muscles. Through injuries or chronic illnesses we unconsciously try to sabotage ourselves. Transformational Bodywork uses regular massage as well as intuitive healing techniques to release these tensions. The result is a deepening and lengthening of your relaxation experience and a new hope in wanting to move past existing limitations. This basic approach has been found to help in a variety of circumstances:
- decreasing recovery time in sports and athletic injuries
- removing blockages that prevent us from further challenging ourselves
- chronic tension and stress patterns
- pregnancy and postpartum issues
- eliminating emotional holding patterns and physical traumas
- improved sense of well-being
Passive Stretching
Passive stretching is also referred to as relaxed stretching, and as static-passive stretching. A passive stretch is one where you assume a position and hold it with some other part of your body, or with the assistance of your massage therapist. Slow, relaxed stretching is useful in relieving spasms in muscles that are healing after an injury.