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Alexander Technique

The Alexander Technique is sort of a re-education in movement for both the client and the massage therapist. It teaches the client to rid their body of harmful tension by relearning natural ways to sit, stand and move in order to reduce physical stress on the body; while it teaches the massage therapist to make use of their body during therapy so that giving massage is less painful on them.

The Alexander Technique was named for Frederick Matthias Alexander, the massage therapist who created and first used this method during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Alexander created his massage method in order to teach clients and therapists to think consciously about the movements they make to perform everyday activities.

Alexander realized that we all have unconscious habits that expose our bodies to unnecessary pain and tension when we perform regular movements without thinking about it. For example, we often use more strength then we need to when lifting or pushing objects – which puts us at risk for back, shoulder and neck strain.

Alexander’s techniques re-educate the body to use only the appropriate level of effort for a given activity. This is so the body has enough strength and energy to perform all the necessary activities without putting undue stress on overworked muscles and joints. Once the Alexander Technique is learned, it can be applied to any simple activity that you do everyday – sitting, lying down, standing up, walking, lifting, pushing and pulling. In addition to conserving necessary energy for tasks, the Alexander Technique will improve the body’s range of motion, balance, support and overall coordination.

Alexander Technique massage practitioners use gentle manual guidance and verbal cues to coach their clients' through proper posture and movements. A typical Alexander Technique class will re-teach basic movements - sitting, standing, walking, bending down, reaching, pushing, pulling, carrying objects and even how to sit and lie down.

If you come to the class with underlying conditions – carpal tunnel syndrome or lower back pain – the practitioner will help you identify how the movements you use everyday contribute to your painful condition. By closely examining the way you move your body, you will be able to pin-point bad habits and consciously work to move more naturally and with less tension to lessen your symptoms.

Once learned, the Alexander Technique has been known to improve bad backs, necks, knees and ankles; to reduce lower back and shoulder pain; to free breathing airways and blood circulation; and to improve overall balance and coordination.

Cranio-Sacral Therapy

Cranio-Sacral Therapy, or CST, is a gentle, hands-on manipulation of a physiological body system called the cranio-sacral system. This system is comprised of the soft tissue and bones of the cranium (or head), the spine and the pelvis. Massage therapists that perform cranio-sacral therapy also target the membranes and cerebrospinal fluids that surround and cushion the brain and spinal cord from injury during a therapy session.

Cranio-sacral therapy is practiced by a plethora of health professionals – most commonly physical therapists, massage therapists and chiropractors - who employ a touch equivalent to the weight of a nickel. As a result of this tender technique, many clients claim that they can fall asleep during their CST sessions.

The theory behind cranio-sacral therapy is that when blockages occur in spinal fluid, an unharmonious balance in the body can occur, resulting in muscle and joint strain, emotional disturbances and the improper operation of the body’s organs and central nervous system. Practitioners believe that until the spinal fluid is naturally allowed to move freely around the body, the central nervous system and the body’s other major organs and muscles will be put off balance and put at risk of sickness and injury.

During your cranio-sacral therapy session, you will lie facing upwards on a massage table. You can opt to be fully-clothed or you can wear a gown. The massage therapist will lightly manipulate various areas of your body including your bones, skull, spine, pelvis and soft tissues to clear any blockages of cerebrospinal fluid to allow the fluid to flow more smoothly and naturally.

A cranio-sacral therapy session typically lasts, at minimum, 20 minutes, but a session can last up to an hour, depending on the seriousness of your condition. CST has been known to aid various health problems such as migraine headaches, sinus disorders and immune deficiencies. CST has also been used as a preventative therapy in cases where a client’s immune system is very low.

Minor health ailments such as chronic headaches can typically be treated with a few CST sessions. However more serious health conditions that cause severe pain or chronic disease should be conducted over a series of weekly CST sessions.

Deep Muscle Therapy

Deep muscle therapy is performed by a qualified deep muscle massage therapist in order to help release myofascial restrictions within the body. The theory behind this type of massage is that when chronic knots (also referred to as adhesions) exist within the deep muscle tissues, the body’s natural balance is thrown out of wack. Until the natural balance is restored, injured fiberous tissues can cause chronic joint and muscle pain, poor posture and coordination, as well as a plethora of other health ailments.

Deep muscle therapy aims to relieve the chronic tension throughout the muscles and fiberous tissues within the body. It’s known to greatly increase flexibility and range of motion, and it’s also known to greatly improve posture and restore the body’s natural harmony.

When a practitioner performs deep muscle therapy on a client they aim to encourage the lymphatic and circulatory systems. This promotes the release of hazardous toxins in the body, and it also encourages the body to repair any damaged cells. Deep muscle therapy has been known to help heal minor muscle strains and connective tissue injuries, in addition to helping soothe more serious muscle conditions - such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and even to lessen the symptoms associated with Muscular Dystrophy.

Although the techniques used by deep muscle therapy practitioners are very similar to Swedish massage, the strokes are applied with more pressure in order to stimulate the deeper muscles and surrounding tissues. A therapy such as deep tissue therapy depends largely on client-therapist trust. This is because deep tissue therapy is often uncomfortable, compared to a traditional relaxation style of massage (such as Swedish massage), and the therapist will only massage as deeply as the client is comfortable with. This means that the client must keep their massage therapist informed of their pain tolerance at all times during the session.

A deep muscle therapy session can range from 20-mintues to 1-hour. During the session the client will lay face up on the massage table. The therapist will typically not apply any massage oils or lotions to the area being deeply massaged, as they want to access the deep muscle tissues deep below the skin’s surface.

Integrative Manual Therapy

Integrative manual therapy consists of a combination of functional and structural forms of rehabilitation that stem directly from osteopathic medicine (treatment of the musculoskeletal system). The basic concept behind integrative manual therapy dictates that no part of the body functions independently, without being affected by its other parts. Therefore, integrative manual therapy sees the need to treat the entire body, not only the area of pain and the symptoms that are directly-related to a client’s condition.

Integrative manual therapy was developed by a doctor and physical therapist by the name of Sharon Weiselfish-Giammatteo. Her treatment method is based on the philosophy that the body is a self-healing organism. So instead of having a doctor treat a patient’s symptoms, Dr. Wiselfish-Giammatteo decided that given adequate time the body would give cues and eventually heal itself. Therefore, integrative manual therapy gives patients the resources to heal themselves, with the professional help of an integrative manual therapist.

When a client seeks the help of an integrative manual therapist, the practitioner will observe the signs and symptoms experienced by the client and prescribe a treatment to heal the entire body. For example, if a client complains of a lower back injury, the therapist won’t simply treat the lower back. The practitioner will suggest therapies to heal the entire body.

Integrated manual therapy addresses the healing process in an interconnected manner – to heal one area of the body, all of its interconnected systems, tissues, joints and muscles must also be balanced. This will harmonize the entire body, leading to a total restoration of the body and mind.

When a practitioner performs integrative manual therapy, they will apply gentle, non-invasive strokes to the body in order to encourage balance and the healing process. The gentle strokes applied by the therapist are more like a soft series of taps along the client’s body. This is called “listening with the hands” and is the primary way that your integrative manual therapist will locate any problems in your skeletal structure – the muscles, joints, bones and organs – or in your body’s major systems – such as the circulatory system, the immune system, the central nervous system, the gastro-intestinal system and the lymph system.

La Stone Therapy

La Stone therapy, also known as hot and cold stone therapy, is a type of massage that uses smooth, heated and cooled stones to relieve stiffness and soreness, and to restore energy to aching muscles and joints.

During the therapy, heat-preserving warm basalt stones and cool sedimentary stones are applied by the massage therapist to balance a client’s chakra. La Stone practitioners also perform hand massage to assist with the unblocking of energy and to direct blood and lymph flow throughout the body.

During a La Stone session, stones of all shapes and sizes are used. The stones are heated to varying temperatures - ranging from 0- to 140-degrees Fahrenheit - to elicit physical healing, mental relaxation and a spiritual connection to earth energy.

The theory behind La Stone massage is that warm stones will encourage the exchange of blood and lymph circulation throughout the body, and provide soothing and healing heat for deep-tissue work. Hot stones are used for encouraging circulation and for easing stiffness; cold stones are applied to aid with inflammation, to encourage blood to move away from a swollen area and in some cases to balance male/female energies. Benefits of alternating hot and cold stones during a La Stone session have been known to encourage the circulatory system and the self-healing process.

During a La Stone therapy session, the massage therapist will place warm stones in varying positions along a client’s body. This will rebalance their energy. The specific stones can also be used as place markers by the therapist for specific trigger-point work. The alternating heat and cold of La Stone thermo therapy encourages body-mind harmony and healing. During the therapy clients will notice their body temperature, heart and breathing rates rise and drop. This indicates a rapid exchange of blood and oxygen in the body.

Lomi Lomi

Lomi Lomi was first practiced by the ancient Polynesian healers, which followed a traditional philosophy called Huna. This ancient Polynesian philosophy stated that every single thing in the world seeks harmony and love. This is why Lomi Lomi is not considered effective unless the practitioner performs it with loving hands; this is why Lomi Lomi is often referred to as a “Loving Hands massage.”

The style of Lomi Lomi massage is characterized by its very large, broad strokes, as well as two-handed stokes that enlist the forearms and elbows. Lomi Lomi technique covers a broad area of the body and works the muscles often simultaneously to encourage the continuous flow of love and harmony, and to wash harmful thoughts, patterns, memories and behaviors out of the cells of our bodies to make way for more beneficial modes of thought. Once positive energy is permitted to flow unhindered, total body healing is accomplished.

Before a Lomi Lomi massage begins, the massage therapist will say a quiet prayer to request effective healing. In some cases, the client is asked during the prayer to state their healing intention. It also isn’t uncommon for the therapist to hum or chant during the Lomi Lomi massage. The Lomi Lomi prayer and the acknowledgment of the existence of a higher power are seen as integral to the overall effectiveness of the massage.

Although two Lomi Lomi massages are never identical, each session is performed in a fluid, rhythmic manner using the forearms, elbows and the hands to apply broad strokes – sometimes to different parts of the body simultaneously using massage oils and lotions. Huna philosophy often comments on energy getting trapped in the joints, so broad stokes, gentle stretches and joint rotations are applied by the practitioner in order to release this trapped energy.

Hula dance is also an integral part of Lomi Lomi technique. Hula movements are performed by the practitioner around the massage table during the massage. The Hula dance is meant to encourage the energy flow between the practitioner and the client.

Manual Lymph Drainage

Manual Lymph Drainage (also referred to as simply MLD) is a very gentle type of massage therapy used to drain excess fluid from the body and improve the overall functioning of the lymphatic (immune) system. MLD is most commonly used to treat Lymphedema, which is characterized by the blockage of lymph nodes in the arms and legs.

MLD originated in Europe during the 1930’s. It was first used on patients as an effective way to detoxify (ridding of waste) the body. Today, MLD is still used as a way to improve the inner workings of the lymphatic system. The massage is applied gently in the direction of lymph flow in order to unblock any obstructed lymph vessels, and allow lymph flow to transport waste from the body freely.

MLD massage is performed by a certified MLD massage therapist, who applies a light form of circular massage to their client’s skin. MLD massages must be applied to bare skin, and no massage oils or lotions can be used in order for the treatment to be effective. MLD massage is applied in gentle strokes towards the heart. This technique will lightly stretch the walls of the lymph vessels and encourage lymph drainage.

During your MLD treatment your massage therapist may use one of four very effective MLD techniques to encourage lymph drainage:

Stationary Circles – these strokes are applied in continuous spirals with the massage therapist’s fingertips – typically over the neck, face and lymphatic nodes.

The Pump Technique – the massage therapist will place their palms down on the skin, and make oval strokes with their fingers and thumbs to encourage lymph flow.

The Rotary Technique – the therapist massages the skin in circular motions with their palms facing down. The wrists are used to apply and lessen the stroke pressure.

Scoop Strokes – the massage therapist’s palms will face up, and their fingers remain outstretched so that their hands are cupped to resemble a scoop. Twisting strokes are applied to the client’s skin to encourage waste disposal.

Neuromuscular Integration and Structural Alignment (NISA)

Neuromuscular Integration & Structural Alignment, also commonly referred to as NISA, aims to stretch, loosen and soften the body's fibrous tissues that surround the muscles and organs in our bodies. This stretching and loosening is important in order to restore function and maintain muscle elasticity.

Many of us have had our mothers tell us to “sit up straight.” Well I know we hate to admit mother was right, but our body’s fascia shortens, hardens and causes us pain mainly due to sloppy posture. Undesirable posture can also result in other problems such as shortness of breath. It can also painfully restrict the way we move and cause chronic joint and muscle pain if posture is not corrected over a long period of time.

Neuromuscular integration and structural alignment is a beneficial treatment that starts with improving the posture. In essence, this therapy does exactly what it suggests – it restores our proper body alignment (mainly posture) in order to relieve pain, restricted breathing and restricted movement.

Neuromuscular integration and structural alignment technique was developed by SOMA bodywork, a method of therapy invented by psychologist Bill Williams and his physician-wife, Ellen Gregory Williams. So neuromuscular integration and structural alignment technique is a marriage of medicine and psychology. It’s half rooted in psychology and the idea that the body has a integral link to a person’s psychological well being; while the other half is rooted in the actual neuromuscular practice of re-aligning the body. This is why NISA therapists firmly believe that a perfectly aligned body is the key to a harmonious body-mind connection.

NISA consists of 12 sessions for a complete therapy. It approaches the body gently to accomplish structural alignment. In fact, NISA is basically a softer version of Rolfing a massage technique that aims to improve balance and flexibility with deep manipulation of rigid muscles, bones, and joints. The NISA technique is designed to affect the fascia by separating and stretching it.

Prenatal / Pregnancy Massage

Prenatal Massage

Prenatal massage refers to specific massage techniques that have been shown to reduce pregnancy discomforts and to enhance the physiological and emotional well-being of both mother and fetus. Pregnancy is a tumultuous period for a woman’s mind and body. Any woman who has been pregnant can sympathize with the mental and physical fatigue associated with being pregnant. Not only does a woman experience physical changes, she also experiences mental changes as well.

Massage has been known to calm many of the aches and pains associated with pregnancy – such as sciatica, swelling, back and neck pain, and stomach upset. Prenatal massage has also been shown to improve physical discomforts by encouraging circulation and by stretching the muscles and joints to their full range of motion to improve skin elasticity and body tone. Studies show that pregnant women who receive regular prenatal massages are more at ease - furthermore relaxing the fetus inside their womb.

Labor Massage

During labor, a massage has been shown to do wonders for the mother-in-waiting. A massage can be given to a woman in labor as she lies on her side, in a reclined position, or on her belly with the use of a pregnancy pillow. Women have often asked for soft music to be played in the background during their labor in order to create a peaceful setting for birth, and to soothe their nerves and pain during labor.

Post-Pregnancy Massage

In the postpartum period, specialized massage techniques can help to rebalance the structure of a woman’s body by improving skin elasticity and muscle tone. Massage also has a physiological effect on a new mother; it can help ease any postpartum depression and encourage her to bond with her new baby.

In all cases, a pregnant or post-pregnant woman should always ask their doctor if massage therapy is recommended before seeking a massage therapist. In most cases, massage therapists require a physician's referral. Also, be sure to ask if your massage therapist has specialized, advanced training in prenatal massage

Rolfing
Rolfing also hit the line of the most well-known and widely performed massage techniques available. This technique, on the most basic, involves reeducating the body about proper posture. Yes, posture is given much attention here for the belief that posture highly determines health problems like headaches, backaches and joint pain. With that focus, the rolfing massage techniques no doubt seek to straighten and realign your body by working the myofascia, which is actually the connective tissue that assists to hold your body together. This tissue surrounds your muscles.

Rolfing is a method used to reorganize the whole body. This technique utilizes physical manipulation and movement awareness to bring head, shoulders, thorax, pelvis and legs into vertical alignment. It allows more efficient use of the muscles with less expended energy by lifting the head and chest and lengthening the body's trunk. When Rolfing therapy is successful, the body is gravitationally rebalanced and able to function more smoothly and more efficiency.

Rolfing realigns the body by unblocking fascial adhesions (the binding of tissues due to scarring and injuries). Once the adhesions are smoothed, the muscles and bones are able to realign and take their balanced place in gravity once again. Many clients who have undergone Rolfing therapy claim that their bodies experience total euphoria after the process. Having lived with chronic pain for so long, many patients report drastic reductions in pain, a feeling of total rejuvenation, and the ability to move more effectively due to improved energy, range of motion, balance, coordination and strength. In fact, a new sense of lightness and greater mobility often result from Rolfing.

Rolfing can be viewed as a three-step process - involving palpation, discrimination and integration.

Palpation – the first step in Rolfing consists of the therapist examining the fascial tissues, feeling for imbalances in the tissue texture, quality and temperature, and determining where therapy needs to be applied.

Discrimination – is the second step, when the Rolfer discriminates (or separates) the facial layers that adhere the muscles together which have been pulled out of position by a strain, scarring or injury.

Integration – during the final stage of the Rolfing process, the therapist integrates the body by relating its segments in a newly improved relationship, and by bringing physical balance in the gravitational field.

For Rolfing to have its full effect, treatments are usually offered in a 10-session series

Sports Massage

 Many of the techniques of sports massage – such as strokes applied in the direction of the heart – are borrowed from Swedish massage. This technique is just as important for athletes as it is for relaxation - the body is encouraged to disperse lactic acids in the muscles in order to make room for a fresh supply of blood and oxygen.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of a sports massage is that it consists of specific components designed to cut down on sports-related injuries. It specifically alleviates muscle tension and inflammation post-event, and provides a warm-up to loosen muscles for amateur and professional athletes pre-event.

All athletes are looking to improve their sports performance and get a leg up on their competition – be they Olympic athletes, professional athletes or weekend warriors. To do this, a rigorous training schedule is implemented in order to enhance their skills, strength, endurance and speed. Unfortunately, as the level of training is increased, so is the risk of injury.

As an athlete boosts their training schedule, they almost always overuse their muscles, causing strain, tears and imbalances in the soft muscle tissues. Additionally tragic is the fact that most athletes, in their quest to improve, ignore aches and pains until they turn into serious injuries. The more a sports injury is ignored; the more susceptible it becomes to further strain and injury.

One way to encourage muscle repair after training is with sports massage. Sports massage will help release any built up tension and lactic acid in the overworked muscles so that blood and oxygen can return to the muscle and effectively promote muscle repair. Sports massage, if received as part of a sports program, can help an athlete prevent injury due to overuse.

In addition to using regular sports massage sessions as part of your sports program, it can also benefit an athlete in the following ways:

Pre-Event Massage - can help athletes prepare for a competitive event. A pre-event massage is brief and invigorating, usually lasting 15-20 minutes. It is given within an hour before the sporting event, through the clothes to warm up the muscles.

Post-Event Massage – should be calming and relaxing. Its goal is to ease muscle pain (by decreasing tension), muscle soreness (by dispersing lactic acid), and to reduce inflammation. A post-event massage should last no more than 15- to 20-minutes, and it should be administered through the athlete’s clothes. Post-event massages encourage the return of blood and oxygen to tense areas, and they flush out metabolic waste products that have built up during strenuous muscle use.

Strain / Counter Strain

The strain/counter strain technique was initially discovered by an osteopathic doctor named Dr. Lawrence Jones. Dr. Jones identified “tender points,” which are tiny tender spots on the body that result from an abnormal reflex (unnatural movement). When sloppy movements (for example bad posture) are carried on for a number of years, eventually strain and injuries will develop. Once the practitioner is able to identify their patient’s “tender points” they will be able to choose a suitable strain/counter strain technique to help correct it.

With strain/counter strain, Dr. Jones found that by using palpation and passive positional procedures, the therapist could restore pain-free movement. The gentle technique of strain/counter strain puts the client in a comfortable position for approximately 90-seconds. During this time the patient’s muscles will naturally reset to their proper positions. It’s an important part of the healing process for the muscles to be at their natural tension and position before the strain/counter strain techniques are applied.

Once the muscles are in their natural position, the strain/counter strain treatment is applied by the practitioner, who gently stretches the injured muscle in its natural position; while at the same time shortens the dysfunctional “tender point” so that it becomes rebalanced with the rest of the body. When the original position is resumed, the muscles are now realigned in their natural position and the pain should disappear.

Strain/Counter Strain emphasizes the correction of abnormal muscle movements and placements – for example if one hip or shoulder sits lower than the other. Dr. Jones identified flaws in many types of osteopathic therapy because he said that they simply attempted to heal the painful symptoms of misaligned muscles, but they didn’t deal with the misalignment of the muscles themselves. Dr. Jones asserted that until muscle imbalances were dealt with, complete healing would never occur.

Thai Massage
Traditional Thai massage has its roots extending back deep into history. It was developed from ancient Chinese acupuncture and was used together with local herbal medicine to cure the ills of the village folk in the days before doctor become a part of the everyday scene. Their system is based on lines of energy believed to flow through the body and converges at many points. Pressure can be applied or needles inserted at these points to unblock the flows of energy that accumulate. The custom of taking a regular massage is still practiced today, as it has been proven to aid good health and long life.

Thai Massage is referred to by many names in the holistic community – some of them include Ancient Thai Massage, Yoga Massage, and in native Thailand it is known as Nuad Phaen Boran.

Thai Massage aims to realign the energies in the body. Unlike European style, traditional Thai massage focuses on circulation and pressure points, promoting internal health as well as muscular flexibility. However the main differentiation between Thai and Western massage is that Thai Massage involves peripheral stimulating, meaning it acts as an external stimulant to produce specific internal effects within the body.

During a traditional Thai massage the masseuse will use their hands, elbows, knees and feet to apply various pressures to the sen (or energy lines) along the body. The sen are taken very seriously in Thailand because they are considered the keys to a happy and healthy life. If a sen becomes blocked, the individual can suffer a range of ailments – chronic pain, disease and if left untreated, even death.

Thai Massage identifies 72,000 sen within the human body, 10 of which hold top priority. The freedom of energy through all of the sen within the body will mean perfect harmony and health – the ideal mind-body connection.

Thai Massage is practiced on a firm mat on the floor instead of on a massage table. The masseuse will only use their own body weight to apply various pressures to the sen. Except for their feet, the client remains fully clothed during a Thai Massage.

The pressure of a Thai massage is said to differ with each masseuse. Compared to the pressure we are used to in Western massages, Thai may be a bit harder than we’re used to. Thai massage is often considered too strenuous; however the worst thing a client can do during a Thai massage is tense up in order to fight the pressure of the masseuse’s stroke. This can damage your muscles and cause unnecessary strain. For the massage to be effective the client must give themselves over to the masseuse, and the masseuse must be able to freely manipulate the client’s limbs to encourage blood and lymph flow, and encourage the unblocking of blocked sen.

Tui Na Massage

Similar to acupuncture and thai massage, Tui Na massage works on balancing the body’s meridian system, by first identifying and then unblocking the vital meridians (“Qu” or chi) within the body. Once the meridians are balanced, proper health and harmony are expected to follow.

Even though Tui Na is similar to acupuncture because it works to balance the chi, needles are never used in this hands-on treatment. During a Tui Na massage the practitioner will first feel their client’s pulse. This is done in order to identify the chi that needs to be unblocked. Next the masseuse will apply their hands and massage key points on the client’s body to unblock the meridians, and to encourage the free flow of energy throughout the body.

Chinese massage can be used alone or in combination with other types of holistic treatments in order to relieve pain, muscular tension and disease throughout the body. Acupressure a firm type of pressure applied to various meridians on the body, is applied in order to stimulate specific chi during a Tui Na massage. Additional pushing or grasping strokes will encourage muscle relaxation, improve circulation, and encourage the healing of the meridians and the free flow of chi.

Tui Na massage is still widely used in hospitals and rehabilitation centers throughout China today. Often Tui Na is used in combination with other forms of traditional Chinese healing and medicine. In fact, in China Tui Na practitioners are given the same respect that we, in North America, bestow on our physicians.