Massage Methods

Massage Methods

Massage is a systematic manual application of pressure and movement to the soft tissue of the body-- the skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia (the membrane surrounding muscles and muscle groups). It is believed to encourage healing by promoting the flow of blood and lymph, relieving tension, stimulating nerves, stretching/loosening muscles and connective tissue to keep them elastic. Dozens of specialized massage techniques are in use today for the treatment of anxiety, tension, depression, insomnia, and stress, as well as back pain, headache, muscle pain, and some forms of chronic pain. Massage is also frequently used for the treatment of minor sports injuries,repetitive stress injuries, and for the enhancement of physical conditioning. Often times, a massage practitioner will utilize several massage therapy methods in a single massage depending on the client's needs. Nancy designs each and every massage to fit the individual client.

Swedish Massage: Traditional Western Massage
Swedish massage is a therapeutic approach to healing. It applies a scientific system of activity to the soft-tissue structure of the human body. Swedish massage works primarily to induce general relaxation while improving circulation and range of motion.

Deep Tissue Massage: Working into the layers of the body
Deep tissue work is the understanding of the layers of the body, and the ability to work with tissue in these layers to relax, lengthen, and release holding patterns in the most effective and energy efficient way. In deep tissue there is less emphasis on pleasure as the primary goal and more emphasis on altering structure and muscle restriction. The alleviation of pain, bringing better posture, more flexibility, and fluid movement are goals that are possible to achieve with deeper work.

Sports Massage: Maximizing peak performance
Sports massage is a specialty area of traditional massage that assists the body to achieve maximum physical results by speeding up the healing process, erasing muscle memory, increase range of motion due to stretching in the massage, and restores . Administered before physical activity, it can help protect against pain and injuries while boosting performance. Following physical exertion, it helps remove lactic acid and restore normal muscle tone and range of motion. Sports massage is a powerful aid to anyone who wants to use his or her body at maximum efficiency: not only professionals but also weekend athletes; dancers, actors, musicians, and other performing artists; as well as people whose occupations require physical exertion, like painters, construction workers, and busy house wives can benifit from the use of sports Massage. In short, sports massage can help nearly everyone from juniors to seniors.

Stretching: Postural issues are the root cause of most chronic muscular/skeletal conditions. Muscles that are locked and short (hyper-tonic) are a principal factor in these conditions. You might be trying to correct your posture, but muscles with short resting lengths are impeding your efforts. When a muscle is injured, it's resting length shortens. Failure to integrate skilled stretching results in continued joint compression, re-injury and frustration. Skilled stretching techniques re-educate muscles and restores healthy resting lengths. Stretching can be scheduled as a session  or integraged into a massage that will add variety to your bodywork session to help attain a more relaxed, injury-free state.  

Trigger Point Therapies: Myotherapy or Neuromuscular therapy
This refers to any of several systems of working with trigger points. Trigger points are tender areas usually found in tight muscles. They may radiate, or refer, pain to other areas of the body. They can also cause muscle weakness and restricts range of motion. The goal of Trigger Point therapy is to apply sufficient pressure to the trigger points to release their chronic constriction. Following release, muscles containing and surrounding the trigger point are stretched to help prevent recurrence.

Medical Massage: Works from a Doctor's prescription
Medical massage works from a doctor’s prescription. Specific techniques have been developed for treating injuries and a wide variety of illnesses as well as aiding in physical rehabilitation. Medical massage applies the basic strokes of Swedish massage in specialized techniques that are geared toward achieving precise physiological results. The purpose for a medical massage is to obtain reimbursement for car injuries and flex accounts. We can not accept insurance.

Myofascial Release
This approach aims specifically to release tension in the fascia, which surrounds the connective tissue that surrounds and supports the muscle, organs, and bones in the body, in order to restore balance to the entire body. Benefits of Myofascal Release are to provide long- term relief for chronic pain and promote well-being.

Oncology Massage: Is bodywork that is designed specifically to the needs of people who are dealing with cancer and/or it's treatments. The main focus is to enhance healing while "doing no harm" to those whose bodies have lowered immune systems, are at risk for developing lymphedema, stressed by radiation and/or chemotherapy treatments, or recovering from surgery. Read More...

Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD):
MLD is crucial to the effective functioning of the immune system. Lymph is a clear, colorless fluid that flows through the body in a system of vessels similar to those of the blood system. The lymphatic system is responsible for identifying, containing, and destroying disease-producing microorganisms in the body. MLD uses light, slow, repetitive strokes specifically designed to boost the circulation of the lymphatic system, which facilitates the removal of excess water, waste, toxins and foreign substances from body tissue.

Reflexology: Reflex zones in the feet, hand and ears
Reflexology is a technique of manipulating the feet (and, less frequently, the hands) in order to improve circulation, ease pain, and increase relaxation in the body. Based on the theory that all body parts, organs, and glands are associated with specific areas, called reflex zones, in the hands and feet, which serve as a kind if mini map of the whole body. By manipulating the associated zone, changes can be effected in the corresponding body part.

Pregnancy Massage
Helps women minimize the physical and emotional discomforts of pregnancy. Can help alleviate back pain, leg cramps, swelling, and just overall soothing of the body. The Body Cushion Support Systemis used to maximize the comfort and support during Pregnancy Massage at Vytal Bodyworks.

Ionic Detox Foot Spa: Balance - Purify - Boost Immunity  
Life is full of toxins.... in the air we breathe and in the food we eat, not to mention the unhealthy lifestyle choices. Even if we eat healthy and exercise regularly, we are still exposed to air pollutants and contaminants in the food supply. This is a detoxification solution using a technology that is non-invasive, safe,fast and convenient. The Ionic Detox Foot Spa pulls toxins out of your system and restores your body to optimal health. When toxins accumulate in the body, the immune system becomes compromised and we are at higher risk for disease.