Treatments (Modalities)

Same techniques as the swedish/classic massage but with a sustained deep pressure throughout the session.  Usually done on a general full body or specific area — ie back, legs not necessarily to address any specific condition.

Aim:  To release tension in the whole body or certain areas such as the back or legs.

Same techniques as the swedish/classic massage but more deliberate and focused on the deeper tissues be it joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments or fascia.

Aim:  To release severe tension in the deeper tissues and usually addresses a specific complaint. Deep tissue massage is more focused and could feel more intense.              

ie– Adhesion, scar tissue, strains, low back pain, chronic pain etc.

Also known as Pre/Post Natal Massage is performed by a trained perinatal specialist.  Specific techniques can reduce pregnancy discomforts and concerns and enhance the physiological and emotional well-being of both mother and fetus.  Labour is usually shortened and easier.

Aim:   Used to reduce stress, increase circulation, decrease musculoskeletal pain and discomfort, decrease ligament and tendon pain, improve physiological functioning, enhances emotional well-being of both mother and fetus and speed up postpartum recovery.

Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is an active technique requiring clent participation.  Basically used to contract and passively stretch out a muscle that is tight and relax the opposite muscle.  Each muscle (agonist) has an opposing partner (antagonist) if the agonist is not treated then the antagonist will also become affected.  Similar modalities are Proprioceptor Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) or Reciprocal Inhibition (RI).

Aim:  Used to increase range of motion and reduce pain in restricted barriers

Combines traditional massage movements with the use of a suction device to create negative pressure on the skin for myofascial release.

Onsen, a Japanese word meaning “at rest” or “at peace”, to the founder of Onsen (Rich Phaigh) this means “Balance”.  Onsen is a “painless technique used for eliminating pain cased by imbalances in joints and muscles.  It is simple, safe, effective and painless:.  It is a tool that can be used to assess structure imbalances and correct them.  It is based on three components:  Muscle Energy Technique (MET), Post Isometric Relaxation and Transverse Friction Massage.

Aim:  To assess soft tissue pain and correct these body structure imbalances.

Designed to return joints to their normal range of motion as well as reduce pain from joint movement.

Relaxation massage uses any number of the techniques above usually at a slower, rhythmic pace with lighter pressure.  Less emphasis is placed in working out specific complaint areas and more on promoting relaxation and general well-being.

Aim:  Usually its a general full body or whole back massage to create a relaxation affect by calming the nervous system, increasing blood flow stimulation the body’s lymphatic system and promoting a sense of well-being. —  i.e. relieve stress, PTSD, or just for an overall sense of well-being.

There are three aspects of sports massage used to help enhance athletic performance or recover quicker.  These are Pre-event, Post-event and Injury treatment.

Pre-event is done on site usually 30 minutes prior the event.  The techniques is short fast-paced and stimulating.  A lot shaking, compressions and vibration movements involved.

Aim:  To increase blood flow, warm up the muscles and get them ready for action.

Post-event is also done on site 10 – 15 minutes after the event.  A lot slower stroking and efflueage techniques used.

Aim:  To calm the nervous system, slow down the inflammatory response and help flush out toxin and waste from the body, such as lactic acid or DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness).  Helps in speeding up recovery time.

Injury Treatment is performed either on site or at the clinic, depending to what extend the injury is.

Aim:  To help speed and improve healing time.

Paul St. John’s Neuromuscular therapy (NMT) seeks out the cause of pain, focusing on creating a balance between the muscular and nervous systems.  It is a method used for assessing, treating and preventing soft tissue injuries and chronic pain.  This based on five basic principles — bio mechanics, ischemis (local painful area that does not refer), trigger points, posture, and nerve entrapment/compression.

Aim:  Same as Trigger point work except the MNT also focuses on any present influences and eliminating them.  Attention is paid to body mechanics to correct negative postural patterns possibly causing ischemic, trigger points or nerve entrapment/compression.

Also known as Classic Massage in other parts of the world, describes the core techniques learned in massage schools.  It consists of five basic strokes, most flowing towards the heart.  These techniques consist of stroking/effleuerage, kneading/petrissage, hacking/tapement, shaking/vibration, and cross fiber/friction.

Aim:  To help reduce pain and stress, promote relaxation, increase circulation, restore body balance, enhance overall well-being.  This is the core technique during any massage session.

The client is fully clothed on the massage table and the therapist helps to relieve tension in the back, neck, shoulders and legs with passive stretches and gentle pressure points along the body’s energy lines. 

Aim: Used to increase flexibility and to relieve muscle and joint tension.

A little more intense than a pure relaxation massage and deals with specific issues either acute or chronic.  More pressure may be used but not necessary.

Aim:  To work out knots/adhesions or trigger points and to break down scar tissues. 

ie- Headache, whiplash, chronic pain, acute pain etc.

Trigger points are localized areas which are hyperirritable or highly sensitive located in a specific taut muscle or connective tissues.  It is called trigger point because it refers or triggers pain somewhere else usually along the same taut band of fibers or nerves supplying this area.  Sustained pressure, vibration or a little stretching applied to these points will deactivate them.

Aim:  Used to relieve muscular pain and dysfunction and increase blood flow.  By applying static pressure on the points for a few seconds the muscle begins to relax and allow blood, oxygen and nutrients to pass through thus decreasing pain.