Treatments
Remedial massage is designed to balance muscle and soft tissue length, tension and tone which will promote the return of normal joint position; increase the flow of blood and lymph in your body and promote the removal of blockages, damaged cells, scar tissue and adhesions resulting from injury or daily life activities.
It can be used to reduce muscle spasms; and treat muscular injuries, pain and soreness.
All of this is achieved with a combination of deep effleurage, specific targeted pressure, stretching, myofascial release and neuromuscular techniques.
Enhanced well-being, achieved via therapeutic touch, can in turn reduce anxiety and promote a more positive psychological state. As a progressive Massage Therapist, I believe in nurturing rather than battling against the body.
After an initial telephone or email conversation, to determine suitability for treatment, an appointment will be booked. I can come to your home, or a place of work (as long as there is a suitable room available for treatment). Before a first treatment takes place you will undergo a consultation so that I can ascertain the areas you would like treating and any underlying conditions that may be relevant. I will ask you to fill out a form with a brief medical history and discuss any issues and contraindications to massage. Various methods will be used throughout your treatment to both align and release muscle tension in your body. These may include trigger point therapy, fascial release, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. I can also offer manual lymphatic drainage, either as a stand alone treatment or to complement other therapies.
Trigger Point Therapy
A trigger point is a tight band of skeletal muscle inside a muscle group. They can be tender to the touch and can refer pain to other parts of the body.
Trigger point therapy is a soft-tissue treatment that helps release tense, painful knots in your muscles and fascia. Components may include sustained pressure, posture and movement correction and massage.
Deep Tissue Massage
This is a deep hands-on body treatment that requires firm pressure in order to reach the deeper layers of muscle. It is effective in relieving pain and chronic aches. However, each client has different needs and discomfort thresholds and I will always worth with you to make sure the pressure used is suitable for you. Sometimes the whole body is treated whilst at other times a particular area is focused on.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Manual lymphatic drainage is a type of massage that targets the lymphatic system. It is a gentle form of massage which is performed to increase the flow of lymph and drain toxins and other cellular debris. It consists of slow, gentle and circular moments in the direction of the lymphatic circulation and is very relaxing. It can be performed fully clothed.
Hot (and Cold) Stone Massage
An Ancient Science
Stone Therapy is an ancient therapy dating back over 2000 years. The use of stones to bring healing and balance, and the use of tools applied to the human body in conjunction with a body massage, have also been around for as long as humans have existed.
Using heated stones throughout massage therapy brings physiological and psychological responses within the body which results in a number of therapeutic benefits:
Increased circulation which floods the body with oxygenated blood
Increased lymph function
Increased metabolism - improving the rate at which the body processes foods and toxins
Reduced spasticity in the muscle - the muscles soften and relax, allowing for an increased range of motion and reduced tension
Stress is reduced, relieving mental and physical fatigue.
Equally, cold stones are used to help muscular injury and inflammation, prevent swelling and relieve pain.
Using a combination of hot and cold stones causes a rollercoaster effect , stimulating blood vessels in muscles to dilate and contract, flooding the muscles with fresh blood and nutrients whilst increasing drainage of waste products of metabolism.
A Hot Stone Massage is generally a stand alone, full body treatment, however, with prior notice, it can be incorporated into a remedial massage appointment for a specific body site or injury/problem.