How much of my body is exposed
with draping?

The following massages are most beneficial when contact can be made with oils and/or lotions to the skin. You may disrobe to whatever level is comfortable for you. Your entire body may be covered, but for the area that I am working on for you. Please see “What to Expect” if you would like to know more about disrobing (or non-disrobing) procedures.

Swedish Massage

You, the client, disrobe to whatever level is most comfortable for you; proper draping will accompany this massage.

Swedish massage is a wonderful introduction to massage therapy in general, as the strokes utilized in this modality are also found in Sports Massage, Hot Stone Therapy, and to a lesser extent, Neuromuscular massage.

Principally, Swedish massage is the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for the purpose of establishing or maintaining good health. You as the client should indicate what level of pressure is preferred.

If this is your first massage, then I will begin with light to moderate pressure and note how your body feels during and afterward. Typically, though, this is NOT a deep-pressure modality, and you should feel very relaxed. There is massage oil or lotion used.

Neuromuscular (Deep Tissue)

You, the client disrobes to whatever level is most comfortable for the particular body region being addressed, and proper draping will accompany this massage.

Whereas some of the other modalities principally relax patients and relieve minor pain, deep neuromuscular work zeroes in on both the problem and effect.

Neuromuscular therapy analyzes the source of pain (ie: postural distortion, nerve entrapment) and utilizes a trigger-point approach as well as your bio-mechanics in an attempt to rejuvenate and alleviate painful conditions.

Please note that while applications of heat to the problem area precede the actual massage, the client should apply ice to the region worked after the session is completed, to minimize soreness felt the following day. Yet, please note that some increase in soreness is common with this modality, and typical improvement for a specific condition requires between 4-6 visits. There is a light amount of massage oil or lotion used.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is using water for therapeutic purposes. This may occur as hot applications or cold applications(cryotherapy) and may be experienced by the client as a foot bath (perhaps with Epsom salt, cayenne pepper, or ginger), steam bath, and hot tub.

Depending on the type of application being used, the client may disrobe to allow access to whatever body region is being treated (ie: feet, or entire body with swimsuit for steam bath).

Often, cold and hot applications are utilized in the same session to introduce a specific therapeutic effect. By increasing and decreasing (hot and cold) blood and lymphatic flow, hydrotherapy applications can assist the body in detoxifying. There is no massage oil or lotion used.

Sports Massage

Most often, Sports massage occurs at a particular sporting event; as such, the client is typically attired as befits the event.

Post-event massage would involve the client disrobing to whatever level is most comfortable for the particular body region being addressed, and proper draping will accompany this massage.

Event massage occurs as either pre-event, inter-event, or post-event and the massage application varies accordingly. Pre-event sports massage prepares the athlete for the event. Inter-event massage keeps the athlete tuned up between events. Post-event massage flushes out metabolic wastes and reduces muscle spasms and soreness.

In a clinical setting, Sports massage is performed as a maintenance method, incorporating both injury prevention and rehabilitative care. Typically, Swedish Massage movements are applied in a more vigorous manner in sports massage, and the duration of treatment is shorter in comparison to other modalities, with the exception of chair massage. There is massage oil or lotion used.

Hot Stone Massage

You, the client, disrobe to whatever level is most comfortable for you. Proper draping will accompany this massage.

Hot stone massage is the use of heated stones integrated with massage therapy techniques (ie: Swedish moves). Basically, the heated stones radiate deep penetrating temperature to the body, bringing about physiological changes in the body. These changes aid the body in self-healing.

You will lay on a massage table with appropriate clothing and with draping. This modality is extremely soothing and relaxing also. There are no massage oils or lotions used for Hot Stone Massage Therapy.

**Please note that the use of cold marble is typically used as a form of alternating therapy. There is massage oil used.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of essential oils, often administered with a massage oil as a carrier. While essential oils are used in products ranging from toothpastes to foods and drinks, in a massage application essential oils work on psychological as well as physiological levels, enhancing relaxation or stimulating the nervous system.

You, the client, disrobe to whatever level is most comfortable for the particular body region being addressed, and proper draping will accompany this massage.

It is critical that the therapist allow the client to first experience the particular essential oil through smell BEFORE any application on the body, since everyone has a potentially different reaction to a specific oil. Other modalities, particularly Swedish, often combine aromatherapy with the massage to enhance the therapeutic value. There is massage oil used.

Please remember and keep in mind that you, the client, should always inform the therapist if any technique is too deep (painful or intense), or anything connected with the massage is uncomfortable (including draping).

Please also remember to always re-hydrate after a massage by drinking plenty of water following your massage for 24 hours; this will help flush out toxins such as lactic acid and reduce any residual soreness.