We have many therapists and each therapist tailors their service to their client’s needs. Here is a general overview of what each service is and what to expect.

If you have specific questions, please contact your therapist

Dr. Elle - Sunflower Massage - Massage by Alesha - Reiki by Heighley

Reflexology

Reflexology is an energetic holistic practice, thousands of years old, that affects one part of the body by working on another. Reflexology promotes well being by applying pressure to the reflexes in the feet, hand, face or scalp. For example, someone suffering from a headache would feel relief as the big toe and the thumbs receive pressure. Western styles of Reflexology, pioneered by Eunice Ingram, and Zone Therapy pioneered by Dr. Fitzgerald tend to be more gentle but point specific. Reflexology styles practiced in Thailand, China and India involve significantly more pressure and more closely resemble an acupressure session than a session of foot massage.

Scholarly literature based on clinical research shows this type of treatment is beneficial for generalized pain, headaches, stress, tension, difficult to pinpoint pain, and is particularly helpful for those suffering from IBS, menstrual and menopausal related symptoms, chronic pain, headaches and stress.

  • Can be applied to the reflexes on the Face, Scalp, Hands or Feet

  • During a session, the client will give a basic goal for the session such as promoting general well being, relaxation, pain relief, targeting sinus pain or pressure, etc. The client will sit in a chair or lay down, depending on mobility and the therapist and client will together come up with a treatment plan. The client will remain clothed but remove socks and shoes according to comfort, and then treatment will begin.

Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy is a category of treatment that includes many styles, types and treatments. The treatments included under massage therapy have the following in common in that it is a systemic practice to improve circulation, improve range of motion, decrease pain, and improve all over well being. Massage, in one form or another, has been documented as a medical practice for thousands of years across most cultures. Massage Therapists receive training in muscle tissue type, where each muscle attaches, and the structure and function of each muscle, and other associated tissue. Within Massage therapy there are many modalities. Swedish Massage combines long movements with kneading and gentle percussion. Thai massage incorporates stretching and nerve points to increase range of motion and circulation. Deep Tissue targets the deeper muscles, where as hot stone (or cold stone) uses temperature to release muscle tension.

Most massage therapy taught in the United States generally falls under the category of “Holisitic Massage” and differentiates between wellness based “relaxation” or “spa” massage and more targeted “medical” or “clinical” massage.

  • Wellness based massage may target one to two areas, apply pressure from “light” to “deep” and treat the whole body in the scheduled time period. Therapy may include gentle stretching techniques, hot stones, a combination of long and short flowing strokes, some deep pressure.

  • Deep Tissue Massage is different from deep pressure. Deep pressure does not specifically target the deep muscle tissue, it does target the first and possibly the second layer of muscle tissue. True Deep Tissue techniques can be applied with light or deep pressure and include but are not limited to: trigger point therapy, SMRT, stretching, active isolated stretching, energy balance, MAT, neuromuscular therapy, neuromuscular reeducation. Deep Tissue Massage requires a deep knowledge of muscles, their actions, their attachments, and muscle fiber directionality. This modality usually requires additional education on the therapist’s part.

  • “Clinical” or “Medical” or “Targeted” massage usually treat chronic problems, chronic pain, based on structural issues. A treatment probably will not encompass the whole body in one session. Depending on the issue, your treatment may include a visit to an Osteopath or Chiropractor. Some issues can be resolved in a few sessions!

  • Can be applied to most parts of the body.

  • Pressure can be deep pressure, medium pressure or light pressure. Your treatment should never hurt.

    WHAT TO EXPECT

    • During a session, the client will provide health information so the therapist can determine whether massage is healthy, indicated or contraindicated. There ARE some situations in which massage therapy is not a healthy choice, and your therapist also wants to make sure that your health goals, and concerns are addressed.

    • The therapist will leave the room, and the client will undress to their comfort level - which usually means without clothing, or just wearing underwear. We can work with underpants, but we generally prefer a bra to be removed, because it impacts our ability to do sweeping motions over the back, and most muscles cross the areas that the straps lie against. Whatever you choose is fine. Regardless - Your Modesty will always be protected.

    • the client then lays under the blanket and / or sheet, either face up or face down, or on the side.

    • The therapist will return, make sure that the headrest is comfortable and that there is a bolster under the ankles or knees.

    • If you are cold, uncomfortable, if the face cradle isn’t right, please let the therapist know. We want you to be happy and comfortable

    • Your Modesty will always be protected.

Deep Tissue Massage

  • A massage therapy modality

  • Can be applied to most parts of the body.

  • Deep Tissue is perhaps one of the most misunderstood terms in massage therapy. Deep Tissue and Deep Pressure are two different things. Deep Tissue massage incorporates a series of stretching to affect the deeper layers of muscle. Usually Deep Tissue modalities include pressure point treatment, stretching, or range of motion techniques. Pressure can be light, medium or deep

  • Deep Tissue includes but is not limited to the following modalities: Trigger Point Therapy, stretching, range of motion exercises, strain counter strain, energy balance, neuromuscular therapy, work affecting the fascia covering each muscle and / or bone, and myotherapies such as SMRT and MAT

Body Work

  • Massage Therapists sometimes refer to their practice as “body work” instead of “massage” because the term massage, in some areas implies a spa type massage

  • A general term that applies to various massage therapy and other techniques applied to the body.

  • Modalities can include but are not limited to: Polarity Therapy, Yoga, Massage Therapy, Thai Massage, Facials, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Reflexology, Tattooing,

    Trigger Point Therapy / Pressure Points / Acu Points

    Trigger Points are different than Pressure Points and are also Different than Acupressure / acupuncture points, but they share some common features.

    • Can be applied to some parts of the body

    • Trigger Points are defined as : specific points in tight banded muscle tissue, and are characterized as being the hardest and densest part of the knot in the muscle. When treated, they will relax the entire muscle.

    • Pressure Points are defined as areas on the body that are sensitive when pressure is applied to them.

    • Acu points /Acupuncture / Acupressure points are points as defined by Traditional Chinese Medicine that are either Ahshi points (sore points on the body that hurt when pressed) or clinically proven, specifically described points along each of the 14 energetic meridians in the body. Just like blood flows through the body along specific paths along our vascular system, energy has been demonstrated to flow through the body along very specific, mapped out paths through the body through the day.

      • Each of these 14 meridians corresponds to an “organ” but does not have the same function that the organ actually does. For example the Large Intestine meridian is associated with systems in our body which are the “get rid of” functions. So like the Large Intestine itself is the colon and “gets rid” of our food waste, the Large Intestine meridian also includes allergies and sinuses which “get rid” of the waste in the air we breathe and waste in our skin.

        • Acupuncture / Acupressure points along each meridian act the way reflexology on the foot acts. Each meridian corresponds to the body as a whole, so treating something like allergies depends on what is causing the allergy issue. Chinese Medicine then takes things into account such as diet, the type of person you are (stomach pain caused by anxiety would be treated differently than stomach pain caused by heartburn caused by too much anger, or stomach pain caused by an insufficiency in the digestive system, or stomach pain caused by a surplus of fatty foods, or a problem with the gall bladder).

          • This is different than how more western ideas of acupuncture work, in which you might quickly treat sinuses by pressing Large Intestine 21.

          • Acupuncture / acupressure points are very specific points along each of the 14 Chinese energetic meridians which can interfere with the proper flow of energy through the body. A dysfunction in one or more of these points can cause too much or too little energy to flow and is generally associated with different areas of the body.

    • Trigger Points in the muscle tissue tend to occur in the same places for most all people. Trigger points can be described as active or latent, and there can be several active trigger points in every hypertonic muscle. All trigger points have associating latent or radiating points. Trigger Point theory suggests that untreated active points and untreated radiating latent points can reactivate treated trigger points. In other words, if you treat a trigger point you, if you don’t treat them all, they will come back.

    • You can treat trigger points in the following ways: Pressure, dry needling, hot stones, a tennis ball, massage therapy, etc.

    • Trigger Points generally occur in the same places in each muscle, hence the association with pressure and acupoints, but they do not have to be in those same places in all people. Pressure Points are points in the body that have a pain response when depressed.

    • Trigger Point therapy is rarely used as a stand alone modality and is usually used in conjunction with another therapy such as massage therapy, hot / cold stones, SMRT, stretching, neuromuscular, strain counter strain, MAT, energy balance, etc.

    • Spa Massage / Hot Stone Massage

Facial Massage / Facials / Acupressure Facial

Acupressure Facelift Protocol

Acupressure Facial

Reiki / Energy Work / Biofeedback / Muscle Testing

Ionic Footbath

Meditation

Hypnosis / Weight Loss Hypnosis / Smoking Cessation Hypnosis / Past Life Therapy

Coaching / Counseling / Life Coaching / Health Coaching

Herbs / Essential Oils / Nutrition / Wellness