Holistic Massage Therapy
The goal of holistic massage therapy is to stimulate the body's detoxification system, boost circulation, balance energy meridians, reflex points, enhance deep relaxation, promote metabolism, rejuvenation, and minimise the negative effects of stress and anxiety.
After a initial consultation, your therapist will ensure that you receive a personalised treatment whether it is for relaxation and stress relief, easing of pain and tension or a combination of both. Various tools including energy healing and aromatherapy can also be included in your session to further increase your level of relaxation and the effectiveness of the massage techniques applied.
Techniques:
Swedish Relaxation Massage
This massage uses a system of long strokes, kneading, friction, tapping, percussion, vibration and shaking motions that apply pressure between muscles and bones, rubbing in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart. Massage can be applied with the fingers, elbows, knees, forearms and feet.
Some of the basic strokes used in Swedish massage are:
Effleurage: long flowing strokes with varying levels of pressure that soothes and relaxes the muscle and improves circulation.
Petrissage: is done by lifting, stretching, rolling, compressing, kneading or squeezing to manipulate tissues and muscles. It breaks down tightness and tension in large muscles.
Kneading: is a petrissage movement which involves compressing soft tissues against each other and/or against underlying bones.
Friction: is a deeper and firmer stroke. It focuses on a very small area of the body, compressing soft tissue against bone.
Percussion: takes the form of rapid movements from the wrists in which the body is struck with soft blows from each hand alternately.
This treatment feels good, is relaxing and invigorating. It reduces stress both emotional and physical and is suggested as part of a regular program for stress management.
Therapeutic Deep Tissue Massage
A therapeutic form of Swedish massage that focuses on all layers of muscle and connective tissue from the superficial to the deepest. Tension in the body is released by using slower, stronger strokes or friction by penetrating deep into muscles and tissue with tactile sensitivity and intuitive subtle touch. The deep pressure is applied using the palm of the hand, fist, forearm or elbow to help the breaking up of toxins and elimination of scar tissue.
Some types of deep tissue include:
Cross-Fibre Friction: A techniques used for treating chronic muscular tensions working across the fibres of the muscles.
Trigger Point Therapy: This treatment puts pressure on certain trigger points, temporarily stopping blood flood to a particular part of the body, and then releasing it, flooding that body part with fresh blood. Blood circulation is stimulated pouring and pumping fresh oxygen around the body. This technique is also a feature of Thai Yoga massage.
Myofascial Release: Fascia is a tough tissue that surrounds every muscle, bone, organ, nerve, and blood vessel in the body. Myofascial Release is a stretching technique that releases tension and therefore pain deep in the body.
HR Stretching (Hold and Relax Stretching): HR stretching puts the affected joint or joints through a range of motion while the therapist puts pressure on the affected muscle or tendon. By doing so, long term scar tissue can be broken up and normal motion, free of pain, can be restored.
Ultimately, deep tissue massage helps loosen muscle tissues, release toxins from muscles and get blood and oxygen circulating properly while helping them to strengthen and heal. This treatment is often used for people who are recovering from accidents, and for sports injuries. It is normal to experience some soreness during and after a deep tissue massage. This is due to relieving tension and restrictions within the muscles but it should not last more than a day or two after the treatment.
Thai Yoga Therapy
An ancient form of therapy using a combination of muscle compression, joint movement, assisted yogic stretching, and energy balancing. The massage is traditionally done on a floor mat through light clothing but it can be adapted to a massage couch for greater comfort and relaxation. In a reflective meditative manner, using thumb, palm, forearm and foot pressure, your therapist will stretch and manipulate pressure points and meridians to balance the flow of energy within the body, elongating the muscles and releasing deep-seated tension. The result is an enhanced sense of well-being, clarity and improved physical flexibility. This treatment can also be combined with other modalities such as myofascial release, neuromuscular, reflexology, acupressure and healing touch. No single modality is perfect for every client, so the wise use of integrated therapy is essential for the specific needs of each individual.
Reflexology
This healing touch therapy involves finger pressure manipulation of specific reflex areas on the feet (hands and ears as well) that correspond to other parts of the body. By pressing on these reflexes, one is able to stimulate the body organs, glands, joints and muscles throughout the body and relieve areas of congestion. Similar to acupressure principles, reflexology works with the body's energy flow to stimulate self-healing and balance in the body. Thirty minute sessions begin with a cleansing of the feet, followed by a full treatment of applied pressure points and ending with an oil massage of the feet. One hour sessions involve application to hands, ears and feet.
Acupressure
Acupressure, on specific acupoints along the body's 14 primary meridians, or energy channels. Pressing firmly and steadily with the finger, thumb, palm, elbow or knee on the proper acupoints can promote energy flow to a part of a body that is experiencing discomfort, enabling it to heal itself more readily. Combined with gentle Shiatsu stretches, this treatment creates a powerful opportunity for the body to heal and re-balance itself.
Dry Skin Brushing Massage
Dry Skin Brushing is invigorating and yields tremendous benefits for the entire body. Applied onto dry skin, course-bristled hand held brushes are swepr superficially over the skin toward the heart and in the direction of lymph flow. The benefits of dry skin brushing are far reaching due to the important role of our skin in in our health.
- Improved circulation and lymphatic drainage - detox
- Improved skin tone and clarity
- Improved muscle tone
- Alleviation of cellulite
- Stimulation of nerve endings which elicits a relaxation response through the central nervous system as well as decreases muscular
tension
- Exfoliation of dead skin cells creating skin rejuvenation
- Increase and regeneration of the production of collagen and elasten fibres which slow the aging process.
Skin brushing is an excellent, incredibly beneficial enhancement to all of our massage treatments!
