Swedish massage therapy is the modality that comes to mind when most people think about massage. As the best-known type of bodywork performed today, one of the primary goals of the Swedish massage technique is to relax the entire body. This is accomplished by rubbing the muscles with long gliding strokes in the direction of blood returning to the heart. However, Swedish massage therapy goes beyond relaxation – it is exceptionally beneficial for increasing the level of oxygen in the blood, decreasing muscle toxins, improving circulation and flexibility while easing tension.

Deep tissue massage is designed to relieve pain and muscle tension throughout the body. This type of massage is extremely beneficial because it reaches the deepest layer of muscles, fascia (connective tissue surrounding the joints) and tendons. The goal in deep tissue massage is to breakdown adhesions (tense areas within the muscle). Adhesions in the muscle are very important to address because they cause pain, inflammation and limit motion of the muscles and joints.

Myofascial release is a safe and very effective hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the myofascial connective tissue restriction to eliminate pain and restore motion. This technique targets the fascia, the connective tissues that wraps around your muscles and other parts of your body. This connective tissue web becomes bound down following injury or stress. Trauma, inflammatory responses and/or surgical procedures create myofascial restrictions that can produce tensile pressures that do not show up on many of the standard tests (x-rays, myelograms, CAT scans, etc.) but cause acute and chronic pain. This treatment can provide relief to those experiencing pain from headaches, backaches, or other chronic pain issues. It can also help with pain relief from injuries, illness, and diseases, especially those affecting soft tissue areas. The goal of this treatment is to help you regain mobility, your range of motion, and a pain-free life.

Massage therapy during pregnancy is a wonderful complementary choice for prenatal care. It is a healthy way to reduce stress and promote overall wellness. It helps relieve many of the normal discomforts experienced during pregnancy, such as backaches, stiff neck, leg cramps, headaches and edema (swelling). In addition, pregnancy massage reduces stress on weight-bearing joints, encourages blood and lymph circulation, helps to relax nervous tension, allowing you to sleep better and can help relieve depression or anxiety caused by hormonal changes.