Techniques

Here is a list and brief description of some of the techniques that I use in my sessions.

Click on a highlighted phrase to learn more about each technique.

I tend to use both "indirect" and "direct" techniques, depending on the condition that a client presents and their preference of treatment.

Direct Techniques:

Direct technique involves engaging the muscle(s) in their tension directly,as in myofascial release, deep tissue work, passive and active-assisted stretching , and Swedish massage.

Indirect Techniques:

Indirect work is more characteristic of bodywork, and involves locating lines of tension throughout the body and working with them in a more holistic way, using a very light, focused touch. Craniosacral therapy, Strain/ Counterstrain and Functional/Indirect are examples of indirect techniques.

Direct Work

Myofascial Release

Myofascial Release is a form of massage therapy that involves stretching and manipulating connective tissue or fascia of the body. I use myofascial release more than any other technique due to its effectiveness in treating and removing adhesions and layers of fasica.

Swedish massage:

involves long, smooth strokes along muscles and is one of the most common forms of massage. It is exceptional for increasing the level of oxygen in the blood, decreasing muscle toxins, improving circulation and flexibility while easing tension.

Deep Tissue Massage:

Deep tissue massage :is very useful for really getting into deeper layers of muscle after a sufficient amount of circulation enters through other methods . It can help dissolve very tight knots and lines of tissue that have been dehydrated .

Many people prefer this type of massage: however, it will cause a strong inflammatory response, often with a release of endorphins( your body’s natural painkillers) , can be painful , and can cause soreness for several weeks, depending on your response to the work.

Indirect Work:

Positional Release(Strain-Counterstrain):

Strain-Counterstrain is a type of "positional release" created in the early 1960s by Lawrence Jones, D.O. It is a hands-on treatment that alleviates muscle and connective tissue tightness by the use of very specific treatment positions held for 30-90 seconds. During the procedure, the involved tissue is "slackened" causing a relaxation of the "spasm" which, in turn, allows local areas of inflammation, trapped within the painful tissue to dissipate.

Following this "release" there is an immediate reduction of pain and tension in the involved tissue. This relaxation helps restore normal joint mobility and is also beneficial to other structures in the region that may have been compressed. This gentle and painless technique is a very effective treatment for a wide variety of orthopedic conditions such as headaches, fibromyalgia, sciatica, tendinitis, chronic neck pain, and post-surgical conditions.

Lymphatic Drainage

A customized form of bodywork, lymphatic massage may help the lymph system do its job better. By understanding the anatomy and function of this delicate system, your massage therapist can assist your body in clearing sluggish tissues of waste and swelling.

Though lymph vessels are found throughout the body, most of them—about 70 percent—are located just below the skin. These fragile vessels work to pick up fluids between the cell spaces when gentle pressure is applied to them from increased fluid build-up, muscle contractions, or the pressure of a therapist’s hands. By using very light pressures in a rhythmic, circular motion, a massage therapist can stimulate the lymph system to work more efficiently and help it move the lymph fluids back to the heart.

Furthermore, by freeing vessel pathways, lymphatic massage can help retrain the lymph system to work better for more long-term health benefits.

Massage therapists versed in lymphatic drainage therapy, an advanced form of lymphatic massage, can identify the rhythm, direction, and quality of the lymphatic flow and remap drainage pathways.

Muscle Energy or MET:

A low-intensity, non-invasive technique to increase range of motion in joints quickly and effectively. Basically it invoves the therapist isolating tension in a particular joint and having the client do a very slight contraction against it, which has the effect of restoring normal muscle tone to the area.

In general every individual can benefit from Muscle Energy Technique, but in particular MET is quite helpful for people who complain of restrictions in their movements, back ache, head ache, scoliosis, sciatica, improving local circulation, and other conditions.

Craniosacral Therapy:

Craniosacral Therapy(CST) is a gentle yet powerful method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system – comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.

I have found it to be very effective to treat a number of conditions (see below), but I use it primarily as a method of quickly locating fascial restrictions wherever they may occur. Using a light touch and a precise amount of pressure (5 grams, or the weight of a nickel), I am able to "listen" with my hands to large or small restrictions.

At the same time, the technique is very relaxing and pleasant. The restrictions of nerve passages are eased, the movement of cerebrospinal fluid through the spinal cord is optimized, and misaligned bones can be restored to their proper position.

By complementing the body’s natural healing processes, CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and is effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction, including:

( a partial list)

. Migraine Headaches

· Chronic Neck and Back Pain

· Motor-Coordination Impairments

· Stress and Tension-Related Problems

· Fibromyalgia and other Connective-Tissue Disorders

· Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)

· Neurovascular or Immune Disorders

· Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

· Post-Surgical Dysfunction

· Colic

· Scoliosis

· Chronic Fatigue