What is it?
Massage is the scientific and systematic manipulation of soft tissue, primarily muscles, not bones. Massage on normal tissue is a pleasant sensation. However, massage in the area of an injury or chronic pain, may cause some discomfort at first, which usually lessens considerably after the first few minutes. Pain can be minimized, and I will work carefully within your limits of comfort. Always let me know if you feel any discomfort, so adjustments can be made. Never suffer in silence. Massage is a regular health maintenance activity, not a luxury. When your body is properly relaxed, your body will function according to the way it was designed.

What will the session be like?
I will begin by asking you some general health questions. This is very important due to the fact that in some conditions massage may not be appropriate. I will then leave the room while you undress and relax on the table, covering yourself with a fresh sheet. You will leave your underwear on, but draw them halfway down your buttocks so that the lower back and hip muscles can be accessed. You will be draped at all times except for the areas that are being worked on. If you would like an additional blanket for warmth, please ask. I will use a body lotion which is good for your skin and absorbs well. For really sore muscles, I may use other suitable products.

What should you do during the massage?
Nothing. Just let go, be a rag doll. Do not try to be helpful. I will move your arms or legs as needed. If I need your help, I will ask for your assistance. There is no need to make conversation, however, providing feedback is encouraged. Just relax and breathe deeply.

What should you do after the massage?
I will leave you for a few minutes to relax. Do not get up immediately. Slowly rise from the table, as you may feel a bit lightheaded from the increased oxygenation of your system. Drink extra water for the next 24 hours to flush away the toxins that have been released from your tissues.

How will I feel after my massage?
You will most likely feel very mellow, relaxed, and perhaps sleepy. If you have had a very long session of 1-1/2 to 2 hours, be careful driving, as you may feel as you would if you had a few glasses of wine.

Benefits of Massage
Today, many Americans turn to therapeutic massage and bodywork for pain relief, rehabilitation, relaxation, or physical or mental rejuvenation. Together, therapeutic massage and bodywork provides many physiological and psychological benefits.
On a physiological level, massage and bodywork increases circulation to all areas of the body, primarily to the muscles that are directly manipulated. Better circulation translates to more oxygen and nutrients for body tissues. Therapeutic massage and bodywork relieves muscle spasms; prevents muscle tears; sprains and strains; increases flexibility and enhances athletic performance. In addition, massage and bodywork directly or indirectly affects every system of the body and promotes health, prevents illness and injury, and speeds recovery.
Massage therapy and bodywork eases tension and helps people cope with stress more effectively. It slows racing thoughts and worries, helps consumers to reconnect with their body, and brings attention to the mental and physical needs of their bodies so that they may better take care of themselves. It promotes a sense of wholeness and helps enhance one’s self-image, while keeping energy levels high. Massage therapy and bodywork can be effective in preventing illness and other physical ailments if received on a regular basis.
Other benefits of massage therapy and bodywork are to:

- strengthen the immune system;
- prevent disease;
- reduce blood pressure and stress;
- increase circulation;
- relieve pain and stiffness in athletes;
- increase mobility and speed the healing process for those recovering from surgery or injury;
- gain a sense of wholeness and balance within the body;
- aid people with paralysis (such as stroke victims);
- ease women through their pregnancy, and
- provide relief to those suffering from chronic back pain.

Services provided:

Acu-Massage is the combination of massage and acupuncture. The method of treatment will depend on the condition. This is a specialty of mine and I have been very successful in treating the following conditions: neck pain, lower back pain, leg injuries, shoulder pain, elbow injuries to name just a few. Please visit the acupuncture section of this website.

Swedish Massage is the most popular type of massage and is often referred to a relaxation massage. It uses the method of long gliding strokes and other techniques on the outer layers of muscles to increase circulation, mental and physical relaxation and addresses stress and muscle tension.

Sports massage enables athletes to attain their highest potential by allowing them to engage more often in vigorous physical training and conditioning. Sports massage is a more vigorous and deeper massage than other techniques. It reduces the chance of injury and if injury has occurred, helps restore mobility and flexibility while enhancing the reduction of recovery time.

You are massaged fully clothed in a special chair designed to relax you. Because the chair is completely portable, you may see chair massage at the airport or health club, or you may want a practitioner to come to your office or business to massage the staff or guests at a party. Rated Light. Rated Medium

Deep Tissue Massage is designed to reach the deep portions of thick muscles, specifically the individual muscle fibers. Using deep muscle compression and friction along the grain of the muscle, its purpose is to separate the fibers of the muscles and release both toxins and deeply held patterns of tension. Rated Deep.

This service differs from typical massage services mainly in intent. A goal is established, perhaps to alleviate pain in the back, neck or knee etc. or to increase movement. Once the desired goal has been determined a treatment or series of treatments are established. Since no two people have the same reasons for coming to me, each treatment schedule is customized to your needs. Most individuals come to me after suffering with their condition for several months. The result is they feel better after the initial visit however; it will most likely take several visits to create a true change in the soft tissue damage. Discounts of 20% are offered to office patients due to the necessity to schedule several sessions. I am unable to offer this discount to in home treatments due to the time for traveling and parking. This discount is based upon the written referral from another Health care provider.

Release Therapy - All muscles, arteries, bones, organs, etc. are held together by a Saran wrap kind of tissue called fascia. Myofascial Release works by the manipulation of the fascia that connects and surrounds muscles. Because the fascia is body-wide, a tension or trauma in one part of the body can affect another part. The fascia responds to the trained touch to release the adverse effects of inflammation, tensions and trauma.

Myotherapy is a method of relaxing muscle spasm, improving circulation and alleviating pain. It works by defusing "trigger points", which are intense knots of muscle tension that often refer pain to other areas of the body. When a trigger point is under excess emotional or physical stress it often responds by throwing a muscle into spasm. Spasm, in turn, causes pain. The myotherapist erases the spasm by pressing on the appropriate trigger points for several seconds by means of fingers, knuckles, and elbows and then re-educates the affected muscle to its normal resting relaxed condition with special exercises designed for each individual problem.

Neuromuscular Therapy is a program of recovery from acute and chronic pain syndromes by utilizing specific massage therapy, including the pressure of trigger points, to eliminate the causes of pain patterns. This approach brings about balance; patients experience more freedom and energy in their lives. Rated Deep

Popularized in the United States by physiotherapist Eunice Inghram in the 1930s, this is an acupressure type technique performed on the hands and feet and is based on the ancient Oriental theory that meridian lines or pathways carry energy throughout the body. Because each zone or part of the body has a corresponding reflex point on the feet, stimulating that reflex point causes stimulation in the natural energy of the related organ. Crystalline-type deposits and/or tenderness indicate a dysfunction, and pressure is applied to clear out congestion and restore normal functioning and health.