Deep Tissue:
Deep tissue massage is used to treat musculoskeletal issues and is especially helpful for chronic injuries, stiffness, and athlete body types. By applying sustained pressure and using slow deep strokes to target the inner layers, it helps to break up scar tissue and adhesions that forms after an injury, reducing tension in muscles, ligaments and joint capsules, and helping to restore mobility.
Aside from injuries, long standing issues, repetitive strains and occupational postures all tend to cause thickening and tightening of the tissues under tension or stress. Deep tissue massage addresses these tissue changes, stretching, smoothing and making them more flexible. Some conditions that respond favourably to deeper therapy are:
• Plantar fasciitis
• Postural / biomechanical stress
• Restricted mobility
• Frozen shoulder
• Sports injuries
Some of our clients simply prefer deeper treatments, feeling that their bodies respond better to the increased pressure. While deep tissue massages can be more intense, please note that “deeper” does not mean “harder and more painful” it can also be relaxing. By changing the speed and angle of techniques, your therapist can sink into the deeper layers more comfortably. Asking your therapist to lighten up or work a bit deeper in not a complaint. Your communication is helpful as it is always the goal of your therapist to work within your comfort zone and provide you with the best care.
All of our therapists are trained in deep tissue massage. If booking online, you can book any of the therapeutic or advanced massage treatments and advise your therapist on arrival of your preference for deeper pressure.
Myofascial Release:
Myofascial Release is a specific treatment technique targeting the fascial system of your body.
Most people think our body’s foundation is built on our structure of over 200 bones. But remember that skeleton hanging in the corner in high school biology class? Look closely, and you’ll see that those bones were held together by pins and wires. In our bodies, our bones actually float in a structure of connective tissues called fascia.
Fascia is connective tissue, a web-like structure that surrounds all tissues in the body: muscle, blood vessels, the viscera and nerves. While it holds structures together, it also allows for movement. Fascia includes ligaments, which join bones to bones, and tendons, which join muscle to bones. The body can be described as one fascial unit with multiple muscle “pockets”. So, it is the fascia that really gives the body structure.
And what a miraculous structure it is! Discussions of how our bodies operate will often mention the idea of “tensegrity”. The underlying concept of tensegrity was originally an architectural term, but it can be applied to buildings or the most important biological structure of all: the human body. It is a way of describing how the structure of our body behaves. We are not designed as compression structures with parts stacked one upon the other like bricks in a wall. We are a complex, interconnected system designed to work and move together; a biological architectural marvel that gains strength from the fascial web that holds us all together. “Tensegrity” was originally coined from a contraction of “tensional integrity”. Like an architect’s geodesic dome, where each part reinforces the strength of the structure, our bodies are linked together in a complex and fluid web, tightly integrated and capable of handling great stresses, thanks to our fascial foundation.
When under stress and strain, the pressure on the fascial tissue can be enormous. This pressure can radiate through the web of tissue, resulting in problems reflected far from the site of the original injury. While traditional massage can alleviate the symptoms of pain in the surrounding muscle, sometimes more intensive work on the fascia itself is needed. Myofascial release usually requires deeper tissue work than traditional massage to release the restriction in the fascia. No oils are used, and the therapist may instruct the client to incorporate certain movements into the myofascial release treatment. Your therapist may use knuckles, elbows and forearms to help stretch the fascia and release the tension. However, the client is always in control of the amount of pressure that is used in their treatments.
Problems with the fascia can arise from postural stress, emotional stress, physical injury, surgery, diseases that produce inflammation, chronic pain – basically, any issue that creates long standing / repetitive tension in your body.
Myofascial techniques can be incorporated into a regular massage treatment, usually preformed at the beginning, as they require no oil. For full treatments of myofascial techniques, please review Structural Integration treatments.
Graston Technique:
Graston Technique (GT) therapy is a manual therapeutic approach that uses a massage instrument to assist therapists in soft tissue manipulation. The goal of GT therapy is to decrease muscular tension and facial restriction within the body. This technique is done by applying an emollient on the surface of the body and using the appropriate sized instrument to scrap the soft tissue in specific directions. This approach allows soft tissues to become more pliable which results in reduced pain, increased range of motion, and improved circulation. This approach allows your therapist to provide treatment on a more uniform level resulting in an equal distribution of pressure with each glide. GT therapy also provides a deeper tissue massage with a shorter treatment time and faster overall recovery and rehabilitation. A pamphlet has been provided for your reading should you wish to know more about GT Therapy.
MPS (Microcurrent Point Stimulation):
Coming soon…