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Our Massage Styles / Services
Massage involves a manual application of pressure and movement to soft body tissues – the skin, muscles, tendon and ligaments. It helps the body to “heal itself” by promoting the flow of blood and lymph, stimulating nerves, conditioning the skin, and stretching and loosening muscles to keep them elastic. Massage also has a positive psychological effect. When we are stressed, our breathing becomes more rapid and shallow, our hearts work harder and digestion slows down. Chronic stress can influence a number of illnesses including migraines, depression, and hypertension. Massage therapy can help to relieve tension and counteract the effects of stress on the body.
Aromatherapy combines the soothing, healing touch of massage with the therapeutic properties of essential oils. Aromatherapy is an holistic treatment which can have a profound effect on the mind, body and emotions. It is derived from the ancient practice of using natural plant essences to promote health and well being. It consists of the use of pure essential oils obtained from a wide assortment of plants, which have been steam distilled or cold-pressed from flowers, fruit, bark and roots.
Aromatherapy can help ease a wide assortment of ailments; easing aches, pains, and injuries, while relieving the discomforts of many health problems. Aromatherapy also acts on the central nervous system, relieving depression and anxiety, reducing stress, relaxing, uplifting, sedating or stimulating, restoring both physical and emotional well being.
Swedish massage is one of the most commonly taught and well known massage techniques developed in the late eighteenth century as the first systematic application of therapeutic massage in the West. Therapists use a combination of kneading, rolling, vibrational, percussive and tapping movements with the application of oil or lotion to reduce friction on the skin.
The main purpose of Swedish Massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Some other benefits include shortening recovery time from muscular strain, increased circulation without increased heart load, stretching of ligaments and tendons, skin stimulation and soothing of the nervous system. It reduces stress, both emotional and physical, and is suggested as part of a regular program for stress management.
The sequence of techniques usually used in a session of Swedish Massage is:
- Effleurage: gliding strokes with the palms, thumbs and/or fingertips.
- Petrissage: kneading movements with the hands, thumbs and/or fingertips.
- Friction: circular pressures with the palms of hands, thumbs and/or fingertips.
- Vibration: oscillatory movements that shake or vibrate the body.
- Percussion: brisk hacking or tapping.
- Passive and Active Movements: bending and stretching.
Deep Tissue Massage releases the chronic patterns of tension in the body with the use of slow strokes and deep finger pressure on the contracted area of the muscles, tendons and fascia. The therapist assesses the quality and texture of the deeper layers of the musculature and slowly works into the deep layers of the muscle tissue. Specific hand positions and strokes are used to coax the release of muscle congestion and provide relief from chronic tension and pain.
Trigger Point Therapy is a pain relief technique to alleviate muscle spasms and cramping. The therapist locates and deactivates "trigger points", which are often tender areas where muscles have been damaged or acquired a reoccurring spasm or kink that worsens painfully when aggravated. Pressure is applied to the trigger point for a short time, which can be momentarily painful but is greatly relieving. The muscles are then gently stretched to complete the relaxation process.
Myofascial Release techniques are long, stretching strokes, gentle traction, pressure and positioning, used to coax muscles in spasm to relax and break the adhesions in the fascia. Fascia is a connective tissue, a complex supportive web, affecting all components of the musculoskeletal, nervous and organ systems. It surrounds groups of muscle fibres, and entire muscle groups and organs. This tissue, when constricted, through physical and emotional traumas, can cause chronic pain and physical dysfunction. As these fascia adhesions are broken down, blood flow returns to the muscles and tension is released that has long been stored in the fascia, allowing more functional flexibility and mobility of the muscles.
Remedial Massage provides a healing treatment that can be gentle or strong, deep or shallow. When muscles and tendons become damaged or impaired, knotted and tense or immobile, remedial massage holistically treats the whole body and traces the discomfort or dysfunction as far as possible back to the original cause, in an attempt to heal both the cause of the disorder as well as treating the symptoms.
Remedial massage uses several specialised techniques which including deep tissue massage and mobilisation techniques on localised areas of your body, to locate and repair damage, to support and speed up the body's own repair mechanisms, and to achieve the following:
- Blood Supply Stimulation – Massage helps the blood to circulate which nourishes and re-establishes a system to keep the muscles and fascia healthier. Indications of poor circulation include cold hands and toes, swollen ankles, feet and fingers.
- Toxin Clearing – Toxic poison in the muscles can take the form of persistent bruising or inflammation. Soft tissue work through remedial massage works to clear the toxins bringing back health to the body.
- Skin Nourishment – Massage gives the skin a healthy glow, refreshing skin that may have become dry as a result of poor circulation.
- Calming of the Peripheral Nerves – Nerves that have become damaged by injury or infection can be treated by soft tissue massage that will help to bring in fresh blood to nourish the area. Regular gentle massage helps sensitive areas to recover and regain their natural function.
- Swelling Reduction – Massage above and around an inflamed joint encourages the fluid that is causing the swelling to disperse, promoting healthy lubrication and allowing swollen areas to return to normal size and movement.
- Relaxation – There is nothing like massage to bring about relaxation. When tension is removed from the tight muscles of the neck and shoulders, the whole back, the legs and the arms, it is no surprise that people often fall asleep during the healing process. People suffering from stress or poor sleeping habits should get regular massage.
- Remove Stiffness – Overworked muscles often stiffen up, cramp or expand painfully. Deep soft tissue remedial massage works to break down the spasm and soften up the hard tissue releasing the stiffness.
- Muscle Strengthening – Regular massage is an effective treatment to bring back muscle strength and tone. This is best suited to sufferers of a break whereby the muscle has not been used for many weeks and weakness has built due to non-use.
- Joint Mobility – Joints and muscles work together therefore if a joint is damaged or displaced, the surrounding muscles are put under strain. Remedial massage helps to relax the muscles, making bone adjustment easier. Follow-up treatment will strengthen the area, helping to prevent recurrence. Good massage is essential to heal injuries such as disc lesion in the back and whiplash in the neck.
- Body Re-Balancing – Massage improves body mobility especially in the upper back neck area which is often restricted as a result of bad habits in posture.
- Injury Treatment – Muscles, tendons and ligaments are all susceptible to injury and need skilled massage and exercise to bring about improvement.
- Pain Reduction – Tension and spasm in the muscles is often the cause for the pain people have in arms, legs, back, neck and head. Using massage to release the pain at the root of the problem will often relieve symptoms such as headaches.
Thank you for the privilege and trust in us to assist you becoming pain free.
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