|
Massage Techniques: I often get asked about the
different techniques that I use in massage. Each massage is customized to
the client's needs and I often use a variety of techniques during one session,
varying them according to whether the client is experiencing pain, where they
are experiencing it and according to what I'm feeling. Techniques are
referred to as "modalities" in the world of massage and here are some of the
main modalities that I use:
Myofascial Release
This form of work addresses the connective tissue around the muscles, the fascia,
and by doing so can help the muscles release. Fascia surrounds
every muscle, blood vessel, nerve and organ in the body and can sometimes be
like a "saran wrap" in the body. Tension in one part of the body can lead
to pain in a different part. I have had training from the "guru" of myofascial
release, John Barnes, and I believe it is a powerful technique for pain relief.
For more in depth information on this technique, visit
myofascialrelease.com
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger Point Therapy is also a powerful tool for pain relief. Two
doctors, Travell and Simons, carried out extensive research into trigger point
referrals in the body and discovered a lot of common referral patterns.
For example, a trigger point in your glutes can lead to pain in your calf.
Just because you have a pain in your calf, doesn't necessarily mean that the
origin of the pain is in the calf muscle. I have taken a 100 hour course
just in this modality alone since knowing the patterns of pain referrals is
vital in knowing where to work on a person's body. For more information on
Trigger Points, go to
wikipedia's
description for a quick run down.
Therapeutic Massage
I have taken many courses for specific conditions such as carpal tunnel
syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, whiplash, low back pain, upper back pain,
frozen shoulder, TMJ syndrome and headaches. The techniques I have learned
on these courses are all geared towards bringing the client from a painful to a
pain free state.
Prenatal Massage
It is only right that a pregnant woman should get a lot of attention
during the most important time of her life. I am a CERTIFIED PRENATAL
MASSAGE THERAPIST and have been trained by one of the best teachers in the
field, Kelly Lott.
This is to ensure that I have knowledge in knowing how to help the pregnant
client with pain only associated with pregnancy.
Sports Massage
Sports massage is used to prepare the athlete for peak performance, to
drain fatigue, to get oxygen to the muscles for faster repair and to prevent injury.
There are different techniques used for pre or post event.
Swedish Massage
This is probably the most widely used form of massage and I usually use
Swedish massage techniques as a basis for other techniques to be added on.
The term "Swedish massage" actually refers to a group of techniques that are
designed specifically to relax muscles by applying strokes towards the heart and
by applying pressure against bone and other muscles. This form of massage
flushes metabolic waste from the muscles, increases circulation, stretches the
ligaments and tendons to make them soft and pliable. Swedish massage also helps with stress by
decreasing stress hormones and increasing endorphin levels, thus creating a
sense of well-being.
Reflexology
Did you know that you can relax the whole body by having a foot massage?
This is because of reflex points on your feet relating to organs and other parts
of your body. Reflexology is a very detailed foot massage, where pressure
is put on areas of the feet that may hold tension. I like to refer to
reflexology as "pushing the homeostatic buttons" of the recipient and thus helps
them to heal. Click
here for more information on reflexology.
|
|
|
