Why My Massage Is Unique

I believe strongly in the healing power of touch and that intentional touch is vital to health and wellness.  As a result of my personal belief about touch, I bring a lot to each massage.  I believe the power behind touch is presence.  Presence is a lot more than being in close proximity.  It has to do with awareness, seeing and feeling how your body is reacting to touch, listening to intuition, and fully participating in our time together.  I work intentionally, often slowly, feeling the unique structure of your body and locating areas needing more focused attention, while listening to my intuitive sense.

In addition, I incorporate stretching and yoga into massage, further deepening the positive effects you will feel.

 
Benefits of Regular Massage From the Same Therapist

Receiving regular massage will help you to feel better about your life, feel healthier, and encourages you to seek out ways to experience life in a less-stressful way.  Seeing me as a regular client offers even greater benefit, as I get to know you and your body, and you get to know my style.  Sessions then get much more finely tailored to specific needs that you have.

I do Swedish/Esalen and Deep Tissue massage.  I also work with people who live with HIV/AIDS and who are undergoing drug treatments such as Interferon Therapy. Therapeutic massage sessions often include a combination of Swedish and Deep Tissue techniques along with limb movement and stretching while massaging. Prior to the massage, we will talk about your needs and the type of experience you seek. 

Swedish/Esalen Massage

The Esalen modification of Swedish technique is what assists me with bringing the power of presence to massage.  Esalen massage was developed by the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California that uses Swedish techniques, while also seeking to help the person live more comfortably in his or her own body, and integrate mind, body and spirit into a more harmonious whole person.  The philosophy of Esalen is that touching is a basic need like air and water. Getting in touch with one's own body leads to a more effective way of loving and relating to others, and that healing comes from within as well as from the outside.  

Swedish massage includes a variety of techniques designed to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against deeper muscles and bones, and rubbing in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart.  The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles.  Swedish massage shortens recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the tissues of lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes.  It increases circulation and stretches ligaments and tendons, keeping them supple and pliable.  Swedish massage also stimulates the skin and nervous system and soothes the nerves themselves.  It reduces stress, both emotional and physical, and is suggested in a regular program for stress management.

Deep Tissue Massage

My approach to deep tissue involves working with your body to prompt muscle release rather than trying to force release.  In my experience, trying to force muscles into submission is more likely to result in your body protecting itself rather than releasing.  My goal is to take the time to find your unique resilient edge, where muscle can be worked without painful forcing or mashing.

Deep tissue massage focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue.  It aims to release chronic patterns of tension in the body through slow strokes and deep finger pressure, either following or going across the fiber of the muscles, tendons and fascia.  A deep tissue massage helps loosen muscle tissues, release toxins from muscles and get blood and oxygen circulating properly.  Because many toxins are released, it is important to drink plenty of water after a deep tissue session to help eliminate these toxins from the body. 

HIV and Massage 

There is a body of evidence that massage therapy helps to bolster immune function in both healthy people and those fighting disease.  Studies include those done at the University of Miami Medical Center (Journal of Neuroscience, Vol. 84, pp. 205-217), which found in a study of HIV positive gay men that not only were anxiety and stress levels reduced after massage, but that the majority of men in the study experienced an increase in their number of killer T-cells and killer T-cell cytotoxicity.  Massage can be an effective part of your overall wellness plan when dealing with impaired immune function.