Massage Basics

Massage is the practice of applying structured or unstructured pressure, tension, motion, or vibration — manually or with mechanical aids — to the soft tissues of the body, including muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments, joints, lymphatic vessels, and organs of the gastrointestinal system to achieve a beneficial response. Massage Therapy is performed primarily by a professional Massage Therapist but is often used as a form of therapy by other Healthcare practitioners such as Chiropractors, Osteopaths and Physical Therapists.

The types of massage I offer aid the processes of injury healing, relief of psychological stress, for pain management pain, and for the improvement of circulation. Explanation of the types of massage I am qualified to offer are listed in the Profile and Credentials section below.

In my practice I want you to be comfortable, therefore I have several treatment options available that involve lying on a massage table, sitting upright in a massage chair, or lying on a pad on the floor.

Communication

Good communication is essential to effective massage. Before we begin we will discuss the type of treatment expected: intention of the massage, areas to be massaged and to be avoided in full body massage, the amount of pressure that is comfortable, preferred techniques and how they will affect your body and overall wellbeing. Your first visit will include discussion of your medical history and current physical condition.