What kind of massage do you do? is a question I never quite know how to answer. Most massage therapists don't use just one discipline at a time.  We listen to your needs and, with your permission, blend techniques we think will best relieve your pain or enhance your relaxation. 

For the record, and I am sorry it even has to be mentioned, no sexual requests or language will be tolerated.

There are many modalities of massage that you may be familiar with:  Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, Myofascial, Sports, Pre-natal, Thai Yoga, Hot Stone or Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) also called scraping or Graston Technique. 

Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is a light pressure massage which is excellent for increasing circulation.  A swedish massage may leave you feeling relaxed and lightly energized.

Deep Tissue
Deep tissue massage is best used in small, local areas.  Deep tissue massage can be excellent for releasing knots and chronically held muscle tension. 

Many people believe that deeper pressure is better, and if a massage doesn't hurt, it isn't working.  This is not true.  Working with too much pressure, and the body determines how much pressure is too much, can also cause a muscle to tense protectively and resist the therapists' best efforts. 

An important thing to consider is that sensation is purely subjective.  What feels deep to you may be very different in comparison to someone else.  Your feedback in the moment is essential, as I have no other gauge to rely on.  I rarely do very deep tissue massage because there are more effective ways to relax deep tissues of the body.  

Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger points are tender spots that cause pain to be felt somewhere else.  For example, pain in the head may originate in the neck, and pain down the thigh may come from a point in the lower back or hip muscles.  I describe Trigger Point Therapy as Poking Really Hard. It isn't about how hard the point is pressed, though.  Static pressure, time and patience all play a part in causing the point to melt away or just give up and let go.

Myofacial Release
Myofacial release affects the deep tissues of the body without deep pressure or pain.  It uses slow, steady holding and traction to warm the fascia and create space for muscle tension release.  

Myofascial refers to myo, meaning muscle, and fascia, a weblike structure that surrounds every part of your body from bone, nerves and muscle to the inside of your skin.  It's the silvery/purple stuff you've seen if you've ever handled uncooked chicken parts.  The best metaphor for fascia that I know of is an orange.  Inside the orange peel is a white pulp holding the fruit together and connecting it to the skin.  Beneath that, each orange wedge is separated and held together, and inside each wedge are individual "cells" of orange.  Our fascia works a bit like that.

Fascia is made of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.  It takes longer to warm and soften than does muscle.  If the fascia is tight, it restricts movement and gives tense muscles no room to stretch or relax.  With gentle traction, tortion and time, myofascial massage affects the deepest tissues of the body without deep, direct pressure.  Myofascial release is true deep tissue massage.

Sports Massage
Pre-event sports massage is vigorous and lightly energizing.  It prepares for action by improving blood flow and range of motion.  Post-event massage aids in recovery by releasing lactic acid from the muscle and promotes flexibility.

Pre-Natal Massage
I ain't gonna lie...I love babies.  The act of growing a baby, however, means major physical changes for mom.  After your first trimester (12th week) a pre-natal massage allows you to rest on your side supported by pillows and enjoy a gentle full body massage which will help relieve upper and lower back pain, swelling of the feet and ankles, and just make you feel taken care of.  We can't work with deep pressure since baby would get the first of the toxins to be released, but we can help you to relax with swedish or myofascial release.

Thai Yoga Massage
Thai Yoga massage is based on the ancient practice of Hatha Yoga and Ayurvedic energy systems. Performed in comfortable clothing on a mat on the floor, or incorporated into your table massage, your therapist will open your “Sen” energy lines with palm and thumb pressure, then assist you into Yoga based postures to gently stretch and lengthen muscles, and relieve tension in the joints.

You'll feel more open, more flexible and more freedom of movement.  You don’t have to be super fit or ultra limber to enjoy Thai Yoga massage as all stretching is kept within your level of comfort.

Free Extras!!!

Add heated Synergy Stones to your Therapeutic Massage
Synergy Stones are hand crafted massage tools designed by a massage therapist and made here in the USA. Their shapes and textures allow them to flow with the contours of your muscles, joints and skeletal structures, as well as work specifically on Trigger Points and muscle knots.

A Synergy Stone massage blends soothing warmth, custom pressure, and slow, flowing massage techniques to more deeply relax tense muscles and encourage stubborn knots to melt.  Whether you use Synergy Stones only where you need them most, or indulge in a full body Synergy Stone massage, you’ll love that you can receive the benefits of deep tissue massage in complete comfort.

Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)
Commonly called "scraping", IASTM uses wooden or stainless steel tools and friction techniques to coax even the most stubbornly stuck muscle tension or knots into releasing.