Basic Massage
Best place to start!
If your not sure what type of massage best suites your needs, then booking a basic 50 minute massage is the place to start!
Once you have your first appointment with me, we can discuss types of massage or enhancements that may suit your specific needs and go from there.
What makes massage so good for you?
Massage therapy works with your heart by reducing its workload improving the surface circulation. The relaxing response received from a massage also helps to reduce stress and anxiety via the sympathetic nervous system which controls your fight or flight response.
An immediate benefit of massage is a feeling of deep relaxation and calm. This occurs because massage prompts the release of endorphins – the brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that produce feelings of wellbeing. Levels of stress hormones, such as adrenalin, cortisol and norepinephrine, are then reduced.
Aside from the relaxation aspects of massage, when working muscles with mechanical pressure, you increase muscle compliance resulting in increased range of joint motion and decrease passive and active stiffness. Rubbing the muscles and using pressure facilitates circulation by breaking up congested areas and allowing a flush of blood with the relaese of pressure. This increase in blood flow to muscle tissue feeds your cells both oxygen and nutrients.
What are knots?
According to UW Health, “A ‘knot’ is an area of overexcited muscle tissue that gets tight, and it gets tight for lots of different reasons: repetitive stress, overuse, poor posture, or too hard as an athlete. It’s basically a specific localized area where muscle is not relaxing like it should be. The tension in the muscle can put pressure on nerves and cause pain.” These tender spots are sometimes also referred to as trigger points or myofascial pain.
Learn more about knots, why we get them and how massage helps by reading UW Healths article here.