Your massage appointment will consist of: a greeting, discussion of your main concerns and goals for the treatment, disrobing time, actual massage treatment, and prescribed stretches and exercises, if required.

Massage therapy is one of the oldest healthcare practices known. References to massage are found in ancient Chinese medical texts written more than 4,000 years ago. Massage has been advocated in Western healthcare practices since the time of Hippocrates, the "father of medicine."

Massage therapy is the scientific manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for the purpose of normalizing those tissues and consists of a group of manual techniques that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, and/or causing movement to parts of the body. While massage therapy is applied primarily with the hands, sometimes the forearms or elbows are used. These techniques affect the muscular, skeletal, circulatory, lymphatic, nervous, and other systems of the body. The basic philosophy of massage therapy embraces the concept of vis Medicatrix naturae , which means "aiding the ability of the body to heal itself."

Generally, massage is delivered to improve the flow of blood and lymph (fluid in lymph glands, part of immune system), to reduce muscular tension or flaccidity, to affect the nervous system through stimulation or sedation, and to enhance tissue healing. Therapeutic massage may be recommended for children and adults to deliver benefits such as the following:

relieving symptoms associated with pregnancy, injury, chronic or repetitive stress/strain
reducing muscle tension and stiffness
relieving muscle spasms
increasing joint and limb flexibility and range of motion
increasing ease and efficiency of movement
relieving points of tension and overall stress; inducing relaxation
promoting deeper and easier breathing
improving blood circulation and movement of lymph, key to healing and general good health
relieving tension-related headaches and eyestrain
promoting faster healing of soft tissue injuries, such as pulled muscles and sprained ligaments
reducing pain and swelling related to injuries
reducing the formation of scar tissue following soft tissue injuries
pre surgery preparation, reduce post surgery healing time, even to postpone or avoid surgery altogether
enhancing health and nourishment of skin
improving posture by changing tension patterns that affect posture
reducing emotional or physical stress and reducing anxiety
promoting feelings of well-being
increasing awareness of the mind-body connection and improving mental awareness and alertness generally

Massage therapy may also be recommended for its documented clinical benefits such as improving pulmonary function in young asthma patients, reducing psychoemotional distress in individuals who suffer from chronic inflammatory bowel disease, helping with weight gain, improving motor development in premature infants, and enhancing immune system functioning.

Deep Tissue Massage is used to release chronic patterns of muscular tension using slow strokes, direct pressure, or friction directed across the grain of the muscles, to reduce pain, scar tissue, "knots" or trigger points, and adhesions, and to increase free range of motion. It is generally applied with greater pressure and to deeper layers of muscle than traditional Swedish or Relaxation massage, which is why it is called deep tissue, and is effective for chronic muscular tension.

Massage can seriously change you life!