Massage

Therapy

Massage is a healing art that has been around for thousands of years, documented to have been used in ancient China and Egypt. It emerged in the 18th century as Swedish massage and has played a role in the health of many people since then.

While massage is often thought of as a way to relieve stress, there are many other benefits to having regular massage therapy as part of your wellness plan. Here are some of the benefits of massage:

Helps to relieve symptoms of stress and anxiety: Stress is very toxic to your body due to the release of more cortisol in your system. Increased cortisol can cause insomnia, headaches, weight gain, and other undesired symptoms. Having regular massage relieves stress and muscle tension and can relieve the symptoms of chronic stress and anxiety.

Relieves pain and muscle tension: Massage therapists target muscle tension which allows your muscles to relax and move more freely, thereby reducing pain.
Improves vascular circulation: As the muscles are massaged, blood flow is improved in the area which brings more nourishment to the muscles and allows for improved release of toxins. Improved vascular circulation can also contribute to normalization of blood pressure.
Boosts immunity: Research shows that having a massage increases the production of white blood cells which play a role in defending the body from disease. Also found was that a 45 minute massage resulted in increased levels of decreased levels of cytokines which play a role in inflammation. Chronically high levels of inflammation are associated with asthma and cardiovascular disease.
Improves mental health: Research shows that massage increases the release of neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine, which are involved in depression. Regular massage also results in the release of the hormone oxytocin which helps you to feel more connected and less isolated from others.
Improves athletic performance: Sports massage can help to improve range of movement and flexibility of muscles, as well as improving circulation, the goal of any athlete.

Types of Massages Offered

We are pleased to be able to offer the following types of massage. Each therapist will have their unique style and specialties offered beyond what is on this list!

Massage for Relaxation and Stress Relief

Swedish Massage
Relax and enjoy the sweeping strokes and muscle kneading that help to release the tension we hold in our bodies from our busy and sometimes stressful lives.

Massages for Pain Relief, Injury Recovery and Rehabilitation

Deep Tissue Massage
Not for the lightweight, Deep Tissue Massage applies deep pressure onto specific points and can be painful, but effective, in eliminating pain and increasing range of motion. As always, your therapist will adjust the pressure to your tolerance level. Deep Tissue Massage is best for treating stiff, painful areas like neck and shoulders.

Trigger Point Massage
Sometimes muscles tighten in one area of the body and cause pain in another area of the body. Using Trigger Point Massage, the therapist locates one specific tender muscle point, and applies pressure to that point. As the muscle responds to the pressure, the pain is lessened. Results can be dramatic! Trigger Point Massage is best for treating painful muscles and chronic tension.

Neuromuscular Release Massage
Neuromuscular therapy focuses on treating the root causes of chronic pain of muscles and the nervous system. The therapist addresses trigger points, circulation, nerve compression, and postural issues that may be caused by repetitive movement injuries.

Sports Massage
Just as the name suggests, this massage is for athletes who want to focus on an area of their body specific to their sport. It is used for prevention and treatment of injuries and to improve blood and lymphatic circulation and range of motion. And of course there's the stress relief and relaxation!

Medical Massage
Some of our therapists specialize in Medical Massage which is directed to resolve conditions that have been diagnosed and prescribed by a Physician. The therapist may use a variety of modalities or procedures during the treatment, but will focus the Medical Massage treatment on the areas of the body related to the diagnosis and prescription.

We also do Prenatal Massage. Please call the office to schedule this specialized service which requires your doctor's permission.

Massage Add-On Therapies

Massage with Reiki Energy Work

We have had so many requests for massage with Reiki that we decided to formally offer it! Reiki Energy Work is popular for its ability to deeply relax the nervous system and calm brain chatter. It's also known for it's ability to decrease pain and relax muscles so it is the perfect complement to massage! You can add Reiki to your 60 or 90 minutes massage.

Essential Oil Massage - Coming Soon!

Essential oils have been used as healing agents for centuries and are particularly known for their use in ancient Egypt for many health conditions. We decided to offer Essential Oil Massages because we were asked for it so frequently by our patients.

We use high quality Doterra essential oils mixed with organic Apricot Kernel Massage Oil for all of our essential oil blends and specific oils. Your massage therapist will recommend an oil specific for your goals for your massage. Essential oils have benefits that include: