Most of us know what it feels like to have a relaxing massage. This usually entails working with the client on a couch. Each session lasts for one hour, although 30 and 90-minute treatments can be given. The practitioner uses four main techniques or “movements”. These techniques are effleurage (a stroking or gliding movement), petrissage (a picking-up and kneading movement), friction (a pressure application), and tapotement (a percussive or striking movement).
Massage is excellent for muscular and physical relaxation, aiding the venous return of blood to the heart, improving lymph flow, and relieving congestion.
Neuromuscular Therapy and Deep Tissue
Did you know there are many other forms of massage that can be used to stimulate and heal the body? Here are just a few approaches
Muscle Energy Technique: Muscle energy technique (MET) allows either a single muscle or a group of muscles to be contracted against resistance. This enables a state of relaxation to occur (post isometric relaxation) after which the muscle/s can be brought to a new resting length.
Myofascial Release: Myofascial release is a lengthening of the connective tissue. This connective tissue, also known as fascia, is continuous throughout the body and connects all the muscles. If shortened, it can lead to pain and dysfunction.
Positional Release: Positional release entails moving the part of the body where the pain occurs into a position of ease so that neurological resetting can occur. This can lead to a partial or total resolution of the initial problem.
Neuromuscular Technique: Neuromuscular technique (NMT) is both an assessment and a therapeutic tool. One of its aims is to deactivate myofascial trigger points. Trigger points are small, dysfunctional areas within a muscle that can refer to pain in other parts of the body.
Thai Yoga Massage
Thai yoga massage is practiced on a futon with the client fully clothed - ideally clothes that are loose and baggy
in order to allow movement. The massage is founded on the idea of working with the body’s “sen”, or energy pathways, which are similar to the meridians in Chinese medicine. No oil is used during the treatment and the practitioner simply uses hands, forearms or feet to move the energy. The principle is to apply acupressure, stretching and twists to shift energy and bring about a sense of well-being and relaxation. Generally, the practitioner works intensively with the recipient while staying very alert to what their body can and cannot do. This means that the treatment is very much about ensuring that the client is re-balanced in body and spirit. In this way, it can help to ease all kinds of complaints. These can include headaches, asthma, constipation, and frozen shoulder.
Each session lasts for 90-minutes although for one hour, and shorter, are also offered.
Indian Head Massage
Indian head massage lasts for thirty minutes with the client seated and fully clothed. Also known as Champissage, this form of massage was brought to the West by Narendra Mehta in the 1970s. In India, massage has traditionally always be a big part of family life. In the Western world, however, where touch is not quite as acceptable, most people find that one of the first places they experience tension is in their shoulders. Indian head massage recognises this and allows the recipient to relax so that their breathing becomes deeper and more oxygen is supplied to the body. The practitioner starts the massage on the shoulders and goes on to cover the arms, neck, head and face. It is excellent for relieving stress and all that entails – stiff shoulders, headaches, tiredness and general irritability.
For more information, and to book a treatment.
Mark Dudley 07813105741 or markdudley365@gmail.com
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