Swedish Massage
Possibly the most common and well-known type of massage. Swedish massage generally makes use of five techniques; Effleurage, Petrissage, Friction, Tapotement, and Vibration. These strokes, all flowing towards the heart, are used to manipulate the soft tissues of the body. Swedish massage has many benefits, including overall relaxation and release of muscular tension, dissolution of scar tissue adhesions and improved circulation. This may assist in healing and reduce swelling from injury.
Links for Further Reading:
Backgrounder - Swedish Massage (National Institute of Health)
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage is administered to affect the sub-layer of musculature and fascia. It helps with chronic muscular pain and injury rehabilitation, and also can reduce the inflammation-related pain of arthritis and tendinitis. Deep tissue techniques require more advanced training than basic Swedish techniques, and a more complete understanding of anatomy and physiology. Swedish techniques may be used to warm up the muscles prior to the use of deep tissue techniques.
Links for Further Reading:
Why Am I Sore After A Massage?
Pregnant Woman/Infant Massage
Massage during pregnancy is much more than a matter of feeling pampered. Meaningful benefits include relief from fatigue, headaches, backaches, varicosities, and cramps. Generally, this massage is given with the pregnant woman in the side-lying position, with her body supported by pillows or special cushions. Infant massage is available once the baby is born, including training the new mother in how to massage her own baby, with marvelous benefits to the mother/child bonding process.
Links for Further Reading:
Is Massage OK During Pregnancy?
Chair Massage
Chair massage can be a wonderful benefit for your employees. Sitting at a desk for extended periods, combined with repetitive motion, can lead to symptoms ranging from lower back pain to carpal tunnel syndrome. Studies have shown that a simple chair massage session can reduce stress, heighten alertness, and even lead to better performance on math problems. This massage is performed on a specially-designed chair, and the employee remains fully clothed. All "waiver" paperwork is provided releasing your business from liability and establishing our practitioner as an independent professional.
Links for Further Reading:
Chair Massage - Excursion into Pleasure
Hot Stone Massage
Perhaps the most luxurious massage we offer. This specialty massage makes use of smooth, heated stones. The most common of these are basalt, a black volcanic rock that absorbs and retains heat well.
Prior to your massage, the stones are sanitized and heated in approximately 120-degree water. The therapist will then use the stones in two ways. First; The stones will be used with gliding massage strokes, using their firmness, heat, and shape to work out knots and sore spots in your muscles. Second; The stones will be left in specific locations--from various points along your spine to the palms of your hands--such that the remaining heat promotes improved circulation and blood flow to your tissues. Combined with the draping towels, clients have used words like "cocoon" to describe the enjoyable state they experience during the course of this massage.
A hot stone massage will be slightly more expensive than one of our basic massages because it requires more preparation and cleanup. You will notice that our shortest hot stone session is 75 minutes. In our experience, this is the shortest amount of time in which the therapist can perform all the steps associated with this massage without leaving you, our client, feeling like the session was "rushed." You may also note that we have attempted to keep our pricing for this session very competitive with what many spas charge for a 60-minute session.