Alignment Massage
A Unique Massage with Alignment in Mind
Massage with intuition, skill, and expertise.
What it is.... Medical/orthopedic modality with trigger point and Myofascial therapy. Thai inspired stretching to improve mobility. Guided by intuition.
Why....The body can not move freely if muscles are tight. This technique allows for the increased mobility and reduction of pain. Working with the Skeletal structure in mind.
What it is NOT.... It is not relaxation or spa techniques. The pressure IS deeper and stretching is necessary to return range of motion to the body.
FAQ'S
How is Alignment Massage different from a 'deep tissue' massage?
It is similar. Alignment Massage has many of the same techniques used to get the results. Many confuse deep tissue with deep pressure; when in reality deep tissue is just accessing the underlying layers of muscle that are on the surface. Techniques used to access these areas are trigger point, Myofascial release, and stretching which is the core to my Alignment Massage.
Why do you say it is not a relaxation massage? Does it hurt?
Relaxation massages tend to have a flow and ease tension on the surface. The techniques used in alignment massage are pressure (trigger point) and heat (Myofascial). Relaxation massages incorporate more oil/lotion for ease of glide. My style uses less lotion to allow for heat to build and can be uncomfortable to some but not painful. Relaxation massages tend to have varying pressures from light to deep. A lot of techniques I do tends to be on a deeper side.
What is the best time for me to book? A 60-minute or a 90-minute?
That really depends on you. I usually advise a client to start with a 60-minute if you have never had this technique before; but in reality 90-minutes provides time for a full body experience and greater alignment improvement. Some clients stay booking 90-minutes because of the results. Some will book 60-minutes when the have a noticeable improvement and want more of a maintenance schedule.
When you say 'alignment', is that like a chiropractic adjustment?
No. Chiropractors and massage therapists work completely different parts of the alignment. Soft tissue (muscle) is massage therapy; whereas, chiropractic works with joints and the mobility of the spine. The 'crack' or 'pop' you hear are gases escaping from the joint capsule that has built up. You may hear some that gas release through massage, but that is the muscle loosening and allowing for joint release. Therefore, chiropractic care and massage therapy compliment each other well.
What is Thai Inspired stretching?
Thai is a modality that originates from the Far East. Thai techniques resemble that of Yoga. Therefore, the massage is done using this stretching technique which is an 'assisted' stretch. By relaxing and letting me do the stretch it allows the body to move gently past where it currently allows and provides greater mobility than what you would get if it is done on your own.
I'm in physical therapy for a specific concern with mobility. Will this help or should I wait?
Having physical therapy and this type of massage work compliment the progress you are seeking. You may notice results quicker than just receiving one or the other. I work with clients that are usually receiving several different treatments at the same time (chiropractic, acupuncture, dry needling, etc.) In my years of experience clients also try my massage before going to physical therapy.