Therapeutic Massage--ranging from relaxation to deep tissue.  Each session is customized to each individual.   Pressure ranges from light to deep--again, depending on each individual.   The massage session will include one or more of the following modalities:  Swedish massage, deep tissue massage (not necessarily deep pressure), reflexology, Craniosacral Therapy, Myofascial Release, assisted stretches.  My massage work has become my own style, incorporating various techniques learned over my many years of practice.  I work with each individual to customize the session to what her/his needs are at the time of the session.  (763-441-0041 to schedule)

•  Swedish massage is the basic technique that I use.  It promotes movement of the blood and lymph throught the body using gliding, friction and kneading strokes.  Swedish massage is excellent for improving circulation, boosting the immune system, and releasing tension/tightness in your muscles.  It also boosts the levels of serotonin in your brain and decreases cortisol (the stress hormone), which can aid in fighting depression and anxiety.

• Deep Tissue Massage is similar to Swedish massage, using broader, stronger strokes to relieve severe tension within the deeper muscles and connective tissues of the body.  This technique can be quite intense, but can result in relief from chronic musculoskeletal problems or injuries.

• Tension Tamer (Upper Body and Full Body)-- This customized massage is either 60 minutes (upper body) or 90 minutes (full body). It is specifically designed to help release chronic upper body tension and provide tension or sinus headache relief. The 60 minute session will be upper body only focusing on scalp, face, neck, shoulders and upper back. The 90 minute session will also include massage of the arms, legs and will allow additional time spent on back and shoulders.  It will include the use of gentle facial cupping. The use of cool marble facial stones is optional (but clients with sinus tension tend to like them)

• Massage Cupping is essentially the oposite of typical massage therapy. Instead of exerting pressure on the different points of the body for healing, massage cupping uses suction to raise the skin, tissues and muscles upwards. Massage cupping has been known to be used over the centuries by all cultures and the oldest records of traditional Chinese medicine talk about using the therapy to cure a range of ailments. In contemporary times, massage cupping is seen as an effective, non-invasive, inexpensive, and safe form of treatment that can be used by itself or in combination with other forms of therapeutic approaches. In my practice, it an additional modality that I have available to include in a session.

What are those marks?  Cupping can cause skin discoloration, ranging from light red marks to the appearance of bruising.  The marks are more likely to appear from stationary cupping than from gliding cupping.  Therapists believe these marks result from blood being pulled to the skin's surface and the release of toxins.  The marks are harmless and not painful, and they fade within a few days.  Theoretically, if you receive regular cupping massage, the marks will no longer appear, or will appear less prominently, after a few massages.   

•  Reflexology involves applying pressure to the feet with specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques with minimal or no oil. It is based on the belief that the feet mirror the body and that working these points can effect these areas of the body.

•  Craniosacral Therapy is a very subtle technique that works with the natural rhythm and flow of the body's cerebrospinal fluid to correct imbalances and boost immune function.   It has also been used to relieve pain from migraines, TMJ disorders, and fibromyalgia.  I do not do a session of just Craniosacral Therapy--this is inclusive in the beginning of many 60 or 90 minute sessions.

• Heated stones--heated stones used throughout the massage are an add-on service for an additional charge. The heated stones are used to glide effortlessly along your body and provide almost immediate relaxation of the whole body, improved circulation (which helps nourish the muscle fibers), and deeper penetration into the muscle tissue for improved tension release. (763-441-0041 to schedule)

• Assisted stretches--assisted stretches are incorporated into many massage sessions.  Helps improve flexibility and range of motion.