Massage

HISTORY

Massage is arguably one of the oldest healing traditions. Many ancient peoples were convinced of the therapeutic properties of massage and used it to treat a variety of ailments.

Massage therapy, including myofascial release, is the practice of kneading or manipulating a person’s muscles and other soft-tissue in order to improve their wellbeing or health. It is a form of manual therapy that includes holding, moving, and applying pressure to the muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia.

BENEFITS OF MASSAGE

One of the immediate benefits of massage is a feeling of deep relaxation and calm, because massage prompts the release of endorphins – neurotransmitters that produce feelings of wellbeing.

Levels of stress hormones, such as adrenalin, cortisol and norepinephrine, are also reduced by massage. Studies indicate that high levels of stress hormones impair the immune system and can lead to dysfunction in the body.

Some of the benefits of massage and myofascial release include:

• pain relief

• headache relief

• reduced muscle tension

• improved circulation

• stimulation of the lymphatic system

• reduction of stress hormones

• increased joint mobility and flexibility

• injury prevention and rehabilitation

• improved posture

BODY SYNERGY APPROACH

Often chronic mystery pain can be traced back to seemingly unconnected areas of a client’s body, like their core, ribs or feet. This is why the initial assessment is such an important tool of the Body Synergy approach. Instead of moving straight to the treatment of localized pain, the initial assessment allows me to explore the interconnections between a client’s pain and other areas of their body. These assessments are conducted by observing the position of a client’s body at rest and during a series of everyday functional movements, which highlight rotational or compression issues in the body, allowing me to target these issues for massage or strengthening treatment.