massage
techniques
Massage therapy means different thing to different people. The general definition is “the manual manipulation of soft body tissues (such as muscle, connective tissue, tendons, and ligaments) to enhance health and well-being”.
Massage is often used for specific reasons, such as relief from pain, relaxation, stress reduction, or enhancement of athletic performance. Whether there is a specific goal or not, massage therapy tends to increase the general health and wellness of the recipient.
Balanced Oak does not have you pick a style of massage, but rather offers therapeutic massage by
blending techniques and customizing a massage therapy session for your specific needs.
Swedish Massage
Swedish Massage is typically a light to medium pressure massage using long smooth strokes with the application of oil or lotion to manipulate the soft tissues of the body. The many benefits of Swedish massage may include relaxation, improved blood circulation (to speed healing and reduce swelling from injury), improved flexibility, ease of tension, and assist with pain management.
Deep Tissue
Deep Tissue Massage is not a specific modality, rather it is the end result of many massage techniques. It is an umbrella term for bodywork that works deep into the muscles and connective tissue to release chronic aches and pains, but does not necessarily mean ‘hard pressure’. Think of the body as an onion. You have to work through the outer layers to get to the deeper layers. Sometimes this may involve utilizing a more firm pressure, however, sometimes it doesn’t.
Acupressure
Acupressure is a form of touch therapy that utilizes the principles of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. In acupressure, the same points on the body are used as in acupuncture but are stimulated with finger pressure instead of with the insertion of needles. Acupressure is used to relieve a variety of symptoms and pain.
Lymphatic Massage
Lymphatic drainage massage is a specialized massage type that gently assists the lymphatic system in maintaining the body’s fluid balance, blood circulation, and immune mechanisms. The light rhythmic movements, applied without massage oil, stimulate the lymphatic system without compressing the vessels. Often used following cosmetic surgery to reduce swelling and flush byproducts of anesthesia out of the body.
Thai Massage
Thai Massage is a therapeutic modality that incorporates the use of the therapist’s hands, thumbs, elbows, forearms, knees, and feet to manipulate the client’s body with acupressure, deep muscle compression, stretching, joint mobilization, and reflexology. Benefits include relaxation, reduced stress, improved circulation, increased energy, increased flexibility, and improved range of motion. Balanced Oak incorporated several Table Thai techniques into the session.