My Thai Massage / Massage Treatments
Drawn from several styles of bodywork, my massage treatments are dynamic, utilizing a combination of power, depth, sensitivity, specificity and motion. I adapt my work based on client preferences and clinical goals. Through a mixture of intuition and knowledge, I work to improve flexibility, rehabilitate injury, support athletic performance, address massage-indicated medical conditions and stress management.
Each client intake begins with an extensive assessment and medical history in order to determine the best treatment plan for you. Accounting for structural, functional and energetic factors, I analyze your situation in order to develop a treatment plan. Clients often comment about my work as deep but gentle at that same time. I work to find the just the right amount of pressure to soften and release tissue without causing a spasm-pain response, using repetition and rhythm to reset neuromuscular signals between soft tissue and the overall nervous system.
My work is typically a combination of techniques, theories and strategies. I use my knowledge of the human anatomy, physiology and pathology to assess the condition of tissue and formulate your treatment. Additionally, my study of Chinese medicine, Japanese Shiatsu, and Thai Traditional massage allows me to also address the imbalances from another perspective. You might think of it as a yin-yang approach - addressing both action and stillness, hardness and softness, structure and function, East and West.
My massage tool boxIn modern practice, massage therapy is not a single technique, or even a single set of techniques. Rather, it is a broad heading for a range of approaches that share common characteristics.
Here are descriptions of the massage modalities I have studied and utilize in my approach to your needs.
Traditional Thai Massage
Sports / Event Massage
Medical MassageMyofacial / Trigger Point Release
Swedish / Relaxation Massage
5-Element Shiatsu / Acupressure
Tui Na
Myofacial / Trigger Point Release
Traditional Thai Massage
This massage originated in India over 2500 years ago and is often referred to as "passive yoga". The theoretical basis for this style of bodywork is the existence of the "energy body" which includes "sen" or energy lines through which life force flows. Through compression and pressure on specific points, as well as stretches to release blockages, a free flow of energy is restored. Thai massage is performed on a futon over clothing. No oil or lotion is used. This is one of the world's oldest healing modalities. It is a blend of massage, acupressure, energy work, and gentle yoga stretches. The client wears comfortable clothing and lies on the floor on a soft mat. Benefits from a session may include: releasing tight joints, stretching muscles, increasing range of motion, and reducing stress. Thai massage is known in Thailand as Nuat Phaen Boran, correctly translates only as ancient massage or traditional massage, and also known as Thai ancient massage, traditional Thai massage.
Sports Massage
Sports massage focuses on muscles relevant to the event. For athletes who train continuously, the goal is to enhance endurance, lessen the chance of injury and shorten the time needed to recover from an event. Sports Massage may utilize a variety of techniques such as classical Swedish Massage, trigger point therapy, and hydrotherapy (hot/cold application). Prior to an athletic event, Sports Massage may be used with stretching in order to help athletes to loosen, warm and prepare their muscles so that their performance and endurance might be enhanced. Following an athletic event, Sports Massage may be used to relieve pain, prevent stiffness, and return the muscles back to their normal state. Sports Massage may also be used for injury rehabilitation.
Medical Massage
Medical massage is performed with the intent of improving conditions or pathologies that have been diagnosed by a physician. A wide variety of modalities or procedures are utilized to focus the treatment based on the physician-diagnosed condition. It is outcome based massage, primarily applying specific treatment protocol(s) targeted to specific problem(s). Administered only after a thorough assessment and evaluation by the massage therapist. Performing medical massage requires a firm background in pathology and utilizes specific treatments appropriate to working with disease, pain, and recovery from injury. The therapist may work from a physician’s prescription or as an adjunct healer within a hospital or physical therapy setting.
Myofascial / Trigger Point Release
Myofascial Release is a form of bodywork that is manipulative in nature and seeks to rebalance the body by releasing tension in the fascia. Long, stretching strokes are utilized to release muscular tension. Myofascial Release is a manual therapy technique that is utilized to help relieve pain and tension that is due to injury or stress. It involves releasing and unwinding the fascia (connective tissue) that surrounds each muscle and interconnects all of the other internal parts of the body. This tissue layer, which connects every muscle, tendon, ligament, bone, and organ in our bodies, can store memories of physical trauma. Releasing these restrictions allows us to discharge recurring emotional as well as physical pain. Sessions can include craniosacral work, stretching techniques, and deep touch.
Swedish Massage / Relaxation
Swedish Massage refers to a variety of techniques specifically 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. This form of massage was created in the late 18th century by Henry Peter Ling in Sweden. It involves the use of kneading, stroking, friction, tapping, and vibration and may provide relief from stiffness, numbness, pain, constipation, and other health problems. The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Other possible benefits include stimulation of circulation, an increase in muscle tone, and a balance of the musculo-skeletal systems. Swedish massage shortens recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the tissues of lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes. It increases circulation without increasing heart load.
Five Element Shiatsu / Acupressure
Shiatsu is a pressure-point massage technique developed in Japan in which finger pressure is applied to specific points on the body to stimulate meridians, or pathways through which Qi (life energy) flows. It utilizes a combination of pressure and assisted-stretching techniques. Shiatsu is performed on a floor mat over clothing. There is no oil or lotion used. This combination of acupuncture and Oriental massage was developed in the 18th century in Japan. The goal of Shiatsu is to maintain health and wellness by using the fingers and palms of the hands to press and rub painful spots on the body.
Five Element Shiatsu is similar to 5 Element Style Acupuncture, drawing on Classical Chinese Medicine understanding that the body and the person are interconnected - nothing can be isolated, removed or treated without affecting the balance of the whole. Practitioners look for patterns of deficient and excess conditions within the Five Element/Twelve Meridian system.
Benefits of Shiatsu include reduced stress and fatigue, increased circulation of blood and lymph, reduced blood pressure and muscle stiffness, and increased vitality, stamina, and energy.
Tui Na
Tui Na is a form of Chinese manipulative therapy often used in conjunction with acupuncture, moxibustion, fire cupping, Chinese herbalism, tai chi, and qigong. Tui na is a hands-on body treatment that uses Chinese taoist and martial art principles to bring the body to balance. The practitioner may brush, knead, roll/press and rub the areas between each of the joints (known as the eight gates) to open the body's defensive (wei) chi and get the energy moving in the meridians as well as the muscles. The practitioner can then use range of motion, traction, massage, with the stimulation of acupressure points; this is claimed to treat both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, as well as many non-musculoskeletal conditions. Tui na is an integral part of TCM and is taught in TCM schools as part of formal training in Oriental medicine. Many East Asian martial arts schools also teachtui na to their advanced students for the treatment and management of injury and pain due to training. As with many other traditional Chinese medical practices, there are several different schools with greater or smaller differences in their approach to the discipline. It is related also to Chinese massage or anma.
Each client intake begins with an extensive assessment and medical history in order to determine the best treatment plan for you. Accounting for structural, functional and energetic factors, I analyze your situation in order to develop a treatment plan. Clients often comment about my work as deep but gentle at that same time. I work to find the just the right amount of pressure to soften and release tissue without causing a spasm-pain response, using repetition and rhythm to reset neuromuscular signals between soft tissue and the overall nervous system.
My work is typically a combination of techniques, theories and strategies. I use my knowledge of the human anatomy, physiology and pathology to assess the condition of tissue and formulate your treatment. Additionally, my study of Chinese medicine, Japanese Shiatsu, and Thai Traditional massage allows me to also address the imbalances from another perspective. You might think of it as a yin-yang approach - addressing both action and stillness, hardness and softness, structure and function, East and West.
My massage tool boxIn modern practice, massage therapy is not a single technique, or even a single set of techniques. Rather, it is a broad heading for a range of approaches that share common characteristics.
Here are descriptions of the massage modalities I have studied and utilize in my approach to your needs.
Traditional Thai Massage
Sports / Event Massage
Medical MassageMyofacial / Trigger Point Release
Swedish / Relaxation Massage
5-Element Shiatsu / Acupressure
Tui Na
Myofacial / Trigger Point Release
Traditional Thai Massage
This massage originated in India over 2500 years ago and is often referred to as "passive yoga". The theoretical basis for this style of bodywork is the existence of the "energy body" which includes "sen" or energy lines through which life force flows. Through compression and pressure on specific points, as well as stretches to release blockages, a free flow of energy is restored. Thai massage is performed on a futon over clothing. No oil or lotion is used. This is one of the world's oldest healing modalities. It is a blend of massage, acupressure, energy work, and gentle yoga stretches. The client wears comfortable clothing and lies on the floor on a soft mat. Benefits from a session may include: releasing tight joints, stretching muscles, increasing range of motion, and reducing stress. Thai massage is known in Thailand as Nuat Phaen Boran, correctly translates only as ancient massage or traditional massage, and also known as Thai ancient massage, traditional Thai massage.
Sports Massage
Sports massage focuses on muscles relevant to the event. For athletes who train continuously, the goal is to enhance endurance, lessen the chance of injury and shorten the time needed to recover from an event. Sports Massage may utilize a variety of techniques such as classical Swedish Massage, trigger point therapy, and hydrotherapy (hot/cold application). Prior to an athletic event, Sports Massage may be used with stretching in order to help athletes to loosen, warm and prepare their muscles so that their performance and endurance might be enhanced. Following an athletic event, Sports Massage may be used to relieve pain, prevent stiffness, and return the muscles back to their normal state. Sports Massage may also be used for injury rehabilitation.
Medical Massage
Medical massage is performed with the intent of improving conditions or pathologies that have been diagnosed by a physician. A wide variety of modalities or procedures are utilized to focus the treatment based on the physician-diagnosed condition. It is outcome based massage, primarily applying specific treatment protocol(s) targeted to specific problem(s). Administered only after a thorough assessment and evaluation by the massage therapist. Performing medical massage requires a firm background in pathology and utilizes specific treatments appropriate to working with disease, pain, and recovery from injury. The therapist may work from a physician’s prescription or as an adjunct healer within a hospital or physical therapy setting.
Myofascial / Trigger Point Release
Myofascial Release is a form of bodywork that is manipulative in nature and seeks to rebalance the body by releasing tension in the fascia. Long, stretching strokes are utilized to release muscular tension. Myofascial Release is a manual therapy technique that is utilized to help relieve pain and tension that is due to injury or stress. It involves releasing and unwinding the fascia (connective tissue) that surrounds each muscle and interconnects all of the other internal parts of the body. This tissue layer, which connects every muscle, tendon, ligament, bone, and organ in our bodies, can store memories of physical trauma. Releasing these restrictions allows us to discharge recurring emotional as well as physical pain. Sessions can include craniosacral work, stretching techniques, and deep touch.
Swedish Massage / Relaxation
Swedish Massage refers to a variety of techniques specifically 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. This form of massage was created in the late 18th century by Henry Peter Ling in Sweden. It involves the use of kneading, stroking, friction, tapping, and vibration and may provide relief from stiffness, numbness, pain, constipation, and other health problems. The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Other possible benefits include stimulation of circulation, an increase in muscle tone, and a balance of the musculo-skeletal systems. Swedish massage shortens recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the tissues of lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes. It increases circulation without increasing heart load.
Five Element Shiatsu / Acupressure
Shiatsu is a pressure-point massage technique developed in Japan in which finger pressure is applied to specific points on the body to stimulate meridians, or pathways through which Qi (life energy) flows. It utilizes a combination of pressure and assisted-stretching techniques. Shiatsu is performed on a floor mat over clothing. There is no oil or lotion used. This combination of acupuncture and Oriental massage was developed in the 18th century in Japan. The goal of Shiatsu is to maintain health and wellness by using the fingers and palms of the hands to press and rub painful spots on the body.
Five Element Shiatsu is similar to 5 Element Style Acupuncture, drawing on Classical Chinese Medicine understanding that the body and the person are interconnected - nothing can be isolated, removed or treated without affecting the balance of the whole. Practitioners look for patterns of deficient and excess conditions within the Five Element/Twelve Meridian system.
Benefits of Shiatsu include reduced stress and fatigue, increased circulation of blood and lymph, reduced blood pressure and muscle stiffness, and increased vitality, stamina, and energy.
Tui Na
Tui Na is a form of Chinese manipulative therapy often used in conjunction with acupuncture, moxibustion, fire cupping, Chinese herbalism, tai chi, and qigong. Tui na is a hands-on body treatment that uses Chinese taoist and martial art principles to bring the body to balance. The practitioner may brush, knead, roll/press and rub the areas between each of the joints (known as the eight gates) to open the body's defensive (wei) chi and get the energy moving in the meridians as well as the muscles. The practitioner can then use range of motion, traction, massage, with the stimulation of acupressure points; this is claimed to treat both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, as well as many non-musculoskeletal conditions. Tui na is an integral part of TCM and is taught in TCM schools as part of formal training in Oriental medicine. Many East Asian martial arts schools also teachtui na to their advanced students for the treatment and management of injury and pain due to training. As with many other traditional Chinese medical practices, there are several different schools with greater or smaller differences in their approach to the discipline. It is related also to Chinese massage or anma.
