Swedish massage is perfect for relaxing your body and your mind. During the session, your practitioner will use long, gliding strokes along the musculature to achieve this goal. While relaxation is often the major focus of Swedish massage, other benefits of this modality include increasing circulation, increasing muscular flexibility, strengthening immunity, reducing toxin build-up, and reducing stress hormones. While many people choose Swedish massage for the full-body relaxation experience, feel free to ask your therapist to focus on certain areas of stress throughout your session.
Deep tissue massage shares a lot of the same benefits as Swedish massage. Through deeper pressure and more specific work this modality will allow your therapist to access deeper layers of tissue. This focused work is especially beneficial in cases of pain or injury. Please communicate with your therapist during the session to allow her to work within your level of comfort.
A trigger point is a small area of tight muscle that “triggers” referral sensation in another area. For example, headaches can be caused by trigger points in the neck and upper back muscles. Additionally, neck pain can be a result of trigger points in the shoulder. During the session, your therapist will communicate with you regarding the intensity and location of the trigger points. By applying specific, sustained pressure to these areas, the referral pain will subside. Over time, trigger point work can reduce and relieve areas of chronic pain in muscle tissue.
Sports massage is perfect for anyone who is invested in regular physical activity. Whether you are an Olympian or a weekend warrior, you can benefit from regular massage. Sports massage focuses on the muscle groups that are challenged by your sport. Your therapist will review these areas with you to ensure you are getting the most out of your session. If you are already serious about your workout schedule, sports massage can enhance your routine by preventing injury, reducing recovery time, encouraging muscle flexibility, and mentally preparing you for your events. If you participate in a sports team or group training, please ask your therapist about on-site massage for tough training days and competitions.