Services & Rates

Acupressure

Acupressure is based on one the most ancient principles of healing - that life energy flows through meridians associated with the 12 systems of the body. It is believed that energy can be accessed by applying pressure (or needles by Acupuncturists) to certain tsubo points to release stress, improve health and clear blockages within the meridians. Pressure may be applied by hand, by elbow, or with various tools. I find this simple and powerful technique to be very effective for clients:

• Headaches
• Neck Pain
• Backaches
• Insomnia

Cranial Sacral Massage

Cranial Sacral Massage is a gentle yet powerful technique that optimizes the movement of cerebrospinal fluid through the spine and around the skull through a series of strategic hand placements. It is effective in releasing neck pain, back pain, and mental stress (among other things).  CranioSacral Therapy, originally developed by physician William Sutherland,  provides a very soothing and relaxing healing experience and may be done without lotions or over clothing: 

• Releases internal pressures surrounding bones between the skull and the sacrum.
• Rejuvenates and restores internal energy.
• Reduces emotional sensitivity and emotional blockage.
• Reduces nervous tension and bodily stress.
• Removes physical symptoms of diseases or side effects of some medications.
• Improves circulation and decreases stiffness in the joints.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep Tissue Massage is not the same, and is often confused with firm pressure. Deep Tissue Massage is a form of bodywork designed to relieve tension in deeper layers of tissue by moving past, or through more superficial muscle or tissue. Due to the nature of deep tissue work, open communication during the session is crucial to make sure you don't get too uncomfortable. Water should be increased to aid with the flushing and removal of toxins that will have been released from deep tissue massage:

• Accesses deep tissue through pressure causing tenderness afterwards but provides longer lasting results.
• Highly effective for releasing chronic stress and can potentially provide relief to muscle groups. 
• Relaxes the nervous system and the improves levels of stress hormones. 
• Regulates and improves sleep by boosting serotonin.
• Reduces symptoms related to anxiety, depression, stress and high blood pressure. 

Energy Work

Energy work is based on the belief that everyone has a \"life force\", and that the body needs to sustain its balance for optimum health. Anytime you experience emotional or physical illness, it indicates that your life force has simply become unbalanced. I work directly with your energy field to restore balance and flow to your entire system. And once your energy field has been restored to full health, your body will follow.

BENEFITS:

• Decreased anxiety.
• Enhanced sleep quality.
• Greater energy.
• Improved concentration.
• Increased circulation.
• Reduced fatigue.

Myofascial Massage

Myofascial Massage differs from other types of massage in that it targets the fascia - the membrane surrounding muscles - rather than the muscle itself. Since fascia completely encases every muscle in the body, imbalances in the fascia can have serious effects on your range of motion and comfort level. While other forms of massage can overlook the fascia, myofascial massage focuses specifically on releasing tension in this important membrane.

BENEFITS:

• Improves range of motion and overall flexibility not just in muscles but in surrounding tissue.
• Corrects muscle imbalance by loosening tissue surrounding muscles.
• Reduces blood pooling and pain from venous insufficiency.
• Hydrates your tissues and increases blood flow.
• Relieves muscle soreness and joint stress.

Pregnancy Massage

Pregnancy Massage is a style of bodywork designed specifically for pregnant women. Pregnancy is a time when a woman's body endures tremendous stress due to dramatic physical and emotional changes. Using various techniques specially developed for the expecting mother, Pregnancy Massage helps release the pain and discomfort experienced throughout pregnancy. The benefits are profound, including emotional support, the relief of joint pain due to extra weight and postural imbalance, and improved breathing and relaxation:

• Boosts  energy and improves sleep quality.
• May lower risk of certain pregnancy-related complications.
• Reduces gestational discomfort.
• Reduces stress and lifts your spirits as your body changes. 
• Improves self-image and helps foster pre-birth mother/child bonding.
• Help regain body back faster after childbirth.

Reflexology

Reflexology is a type of bodywork that focuses on applying pressure to the specific nerve zones in your feet, unlike other foot massages that intends to  relieve tension in the feet themselves. Reflexology is a far more in-depth science that aims to harmonize your entire body through points on the feet, hands or ears. According to reflexology, every part of the human body is mapped into your feet. 

• Calms the nervous system reducing stress and anxiety.
• Relieves joint and muscle pain and tension.
• Boosts immune function improving recovery from colds and bacterial infections.
• Relieves inflammation and clears up sinus issues.
• Corrects hormonal imbalances, may boost fertility.
• Improves systemic function.
• Improves symptom related numbness or tingling.
• Improves symptoms related to cancer drugs (peripheral neuropathy).

Reiki

Reiki is a Japanese form of energy work that cleanses and balances the energy systems in the body. Self-healing mechanisms strengthen, helping to establish optimum health. During a session, I work directly with your energy field to remove blockages, detoxify your system, and restore your vital life force energy. Reiki utilizes a gentle series of hand positions placed about an inch away from the body to conduct the necessary energy force between us. Some clients prefer direct contact but either can be done over clothing and without lotion:

• Static hand placements minimize discomfort for radiation therapy patients. 
• Great for treating symptoms related to heart disease, anxiety, depression, addiction, chronic pain, infertility, neuro-degenerative disorders, autism, Chrohn's disease, fatigue, chemo or radiation therapy. May help some forms of insomnia. 
• Beneficial for clients who are highly sensitive to touch therapies. 

Swedish Massage

Swedish Massage is a very relaxing and therapeutic style of bodywork that combines oils or lotion with an array of strokes such as rolling, kneading, effleurage, percussion and tapotement. I consider Swedish Massage to be ideal for relaxation and more of a "warm up" to other more therapeutic modalities. 

• Relaxes tight muscles and stretches connective tissue.
• Loosens joints and improves mobility and range of motion.
• Firms muscle and skin tone and increases muscle strength and stamina.
• Calms the nervous system and stimulates circulation of blood and oxygen.
• Decreases blood pressure and increases blood volume.
• Relieves symptoms related to anxiety, depression, fatigue, emotional or physical stress.
• Improves lymphatic drainage of metabolic waste and speeds healing from injury and illness.
• Relieves symptoms related to acute or chronic pain associated with many different forms of injury or illness, conditions or disease.

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger Point Therapy is a style of bodywork that focuses on stimulating and releasing \"trigger points\" in your body. Trigger points are tender areas of tension similar to acupressure points, except they occur in the belly of the muscle rather than along the energy pathways of the body. These \"knots\" are built up throughout a person's life due to physical, mental, emotional and/or environmental stress. During a session, focused pressure is applied through a variety of techniques in order to release your trigger points. Deep breathing techniques will help to manage pain that may be generated by applied pressure. However, the effects are longer lasting and profoundly transformative:

• Restores mobility and flexibility which helps promote blood flow.
• Offers a longer-term solution for chronic pain and reduces the amount and degree of re-occurance.
• Loosens muscle groups which in turns improves the overall progress of physical rehabilitation.
• Tenderness is often felt afterwards at the application site but has proven to offer longer-term pain relief.
• Great for treating headaches, joint pain, back pain,  muscle pain.

SPECIALTY MASSAGE

Specialty Massage involves an additional certification or utilizes tools required to bring about specific results.  

Gua Sha   Lymphatic   Medicupping   Metameric   

Gua Sha

Gua Sha is a natural, alternative therapy that involves scraping of the skin with a massage tool to improve circulation.  Practitioners believe that Gua Sha releases unhealthy bodily matter from blood stasis within sore, tired, stiff or injured muscle areas to stimulate new oxygenated blood flow to the areas, thus promoting metabolic cell repair, regeneration, healing and recovery:

• Breaks down stagnation and releases toxins.
• Encourages lymphatic function.
• Reduces inflammation, puffiness while rejuvenating skin cells.
• Tones the skin by increasing blood flow.
• Reduces wrinkles by moving lymph fluid.
• Eases muscle tension.

Lymphatic Drainage

Manual Lymphatic Drainage aims to gently and rhythmically move the lymph through the body, especially swollen areas of the body, relieving pressure and enhancing the functioning of the immune system. As both a preventative and remedial technique, MLD can be used for a wide range of purposes including faster recovery from injury, reduction of swelling and discomfort from pregnancy, and strengthened resistance to illness:

• MLD removes metabolic wastes, excess water, toxins, bacteria, large protein molecules and foreign substances from the tissues.
• MLD applies gentle, rhythmic and precise hand movements to alleviate pain by greatly reducing the pain signals sent to the brain.
• Great for pre or post surgical proceedures, pregnancy, stress release, cancer patients or terminal diagnoses. 

Medicupping

Medi-Cupping is a type of vacuum therapy intended to help encourage lymphatic function, increase blood supply to an area, relieve tension related to scar tissue restrictions and general inflammation, and relieve chronic pain conditions. A machine creates the negative pressure within the cups that is needed to lift tissue away from the body and draw fluid into the interstitial spaces beneath the skin layer, which is where your Lymphatic system resides.  The cups may remain static or can be gently pulled across tissue to draw  inflammation out and release toxins to be carried away via the lymphatic system. The machine has the capability of controlling the amount and type of suction. Suction may be applied in a steady flow or in a pulsating fashion, and at your desired degree for your comfort, without removing the cups as required in other types of cupping modalities: 

• Pain and tension relief.
• Increased lymphatic function.
• Cellulite reduction.
• Face lifting effects of clearer, smoother skin, reduced lines and wrinkles, relaxed facial muscles, restored facial circulation.
• Headache relief.
• Scar tissue reduction and improved scar tissue health and appearance. 

Metameric Massage

Metameric massage is a technique based on the theory that the body holds on to emotions relating to experiences that phyco-sematically create emotional blockages causing tension and pain in associated systems or areas of the body. The Massage Therapist segments the body from right to left to clear blockages and restore nerve inervation to associated organs and tissue. 

BENEFITS:

• Improves muscles and skin tone.
• Encourages circulation and the mobility of muscle bands.
• Improves joint mobility.
• It corrects improper postural issues.
• Releases toxins and improves circulation of oxygen and blood.
• It improves organ function and reflex.
• Rebalances the nervous system by reducing stress and muscle tension.