Description of Services and Treatment Techniques

Wellness Massage

The manipulation of muscle and connective tissue using various Swedish Massage techniques(see below) to enhance function, aid in the healing process and reduce stress. Perfect for the person needing to de-stress with minor muscular issues. Total relaxation goal.

Advanced Wellness Massage

This massage includes deeper pressure and/or utilizes more techniques than the Wellness Massage. It is designed specifically for the person who has an intense work-out schedule or who has serious muscular issues.

Lymphatic (Drainage) Treatment

A very light massage technique which encourages lymph flow in the body. It is especially beneficial in aiding detoxification, edema(swelling), pre- and post- plastic surgery and post- liposuction. It can also help with cellulite treatment, scar tissue and spider veins.

Reflexology

Alternative (ancient Chinese in origin) medical treatment involving the application of pressure to specific areas of the the foot, which correspond to areas of the body. Reflexology may also relieve stress, reduces pain, anxiety and depression.

Reiki

A clearing, balancing and healing energy treatment. Reiki is a complementary and alternative medical practice utilizing vibrational energy fields to affect health. It is a simple, natural and safe treatment anyone can receive. Reiki treatments are received fully clothed. Many clients like to add a Reiki session on to the end of their massage session.

Facial Massage

The ultimate "Face-Lift" treatment. This facial massage incorporates a cleansing, exfoliation, mask and hot towels! The extensive massage to the face is designed to tone and rejuvenate the underlying muscle and collagen layers and with repeated treatments actually produces a younger looking facial structure. Add the shoulder, neck and scalp massage and you will feel like a whole new you! It truly is the ultimate!!

Be Kneaded employs an 'As Natural as Possible' use of products, from the massage lotion to facial product to essential oils. If you have any skin sensitivities or allergies, please let me know.

Infrared Light Treatment

This type of safe superficial heat penetrates connective tissue, as well as skeletal and smooth muscle. When used for up to 30 minutes, infrared and far-infrared light offer several benefits including increased perspiration, calorie burning, excretion of lipophilic toxins, immune system stimulation and decreased sympathetic tone allowing for vasodilation for at least 24 hours. A review published in Alternative Medicine Review concluded that regular use of either radiant heat or far-infrared units benefits people with chronic fatigue, chronic pain and other conditions.[3]

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep Tissue massage is designed to relieve severe tension in the muscle and the connective tissue or fascia. This type of massage focuses on the muscles located below the surface of the top muscles. Deep tissue massage is often recommended for individuals who experience consistent pain, are involved in heavy physical activity, such as athletes, and patients who have sustained physical injury. It is also not uncommon for receivers of Deep Tissue Massage to have their pain replaced with a new muscle ache for a day or two. Deep tissue work varies greatly. What one calls deep tissue another will call light. When receiving deep tissue work it is important to communicate what you are feeling.[2] Note: There is a difference between "deep" and "pressure". The purpose of Deep-Tissue work is to actually affect deeper under-lying muscles, this can be accomplished on certain muscles by heavy pressure, but often the therapist has other and more effective methods of reaching the deeper muscle layers. Talk to your therapist about what you are want to accomplish in your sessions.

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is a form of soft tissue therapy used to treat somatic dysfunction and accompanying pain and restriction of motion. This is accomplished by relaxing contracted muscles, increasing circulation, increasing venous and lymphatic drainage, and stimulating the stretch reflex of muscles and overlying fascia.[2] Please note that this is not your usual full-body massage as this technique is a slower concentrated method targeting specific muscle groups.

Prenatal Massage

Prenatal massage is similar to massage during non-pregnancy in terms of the goals (relaxation, pain relief, increased circulation & mobility, etc.). However, due to the changes undergone during pregnancy, modifications are made. To accommodate swollen tender breasts and a growing belly, special pillows, positioning and techniques are utilized to ensure comfort for both the expecting mother and baby. With increasing weight, a changing center of gravity and the many other changes associated with pregnancy, prenatal massage can help provide relief and a sense of well being that is much deserved.[1]

Sports Massage

Sports massage is actually a form of Swedish massage that is delivered to athletes. Most commonly, sports massage focuses on increasing blood and lymphatic fluid flow, reducing and eliminating pain as well as tender trigger points, and increasing range of motion of the affected area. Sports massages can be broken into 4 distinct types - the pre-event sports massage, the post-event sports massage, the restorative sports massage and the rehabilitative sports massage. As the names indicate, each type of sports massage has a different focus for the athlete as they are delivered at different times during their training and performance schedule.[1] Be Kneaded provides restorative and rehabilitative Sports Massages.

Hot Stone Massage

A stone massage uses cold or water-heated stones to apply pressure and heat to the body. Stones coated in oil can also be used by the therapist delivering various massaging strokes. The hot stones used are commonly river stones which over time, have become extremely polished and smooth. As the stones are placed along the recipient's back, they help to retain heat which then deeply penetrates into the muscles, releasing tension.[2] Be Kneaded's Hot Stone Massage utilizes heated river stones and are incorporated into your massage, throughout your whole massage.

The following are commonly used modalities and techniques commonally or additionally utilized by Be Kneaded Massage and Wellness in providing the most for your massage experience.

Swedish Massage

Swedish massage uses five styles of long, flowing strokes to massage. The five basic strokes are effleurage (sliding or gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), friction (cross fiber) and vibration/shaking. Swedish massage has shown to be helpful in reducing pain, joint stiffness, and improving function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee over a period of eight weeks. It has also been shown to be helpful in individuals with poor circulation. The development of Swedish massage is credited to Per Henrik Ling, though the Dutch practitioner Johan Georg Mezger adopted the French names to denote the basic strokes. The term "Swedish" massage is not really known in the country of Sweden, where it is called "classic massage".[2]

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger points or trigger sites are described as hyper-irritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers. Trigger point practitioners believe that palpable nodules are small contraction knots[ambiguous] and a common cause of pain. Compression of a trigger point may elicit local tenderness, referred pain, or local twitch response. The local twitch response is not the same as a muscle spasm. This is because a muscle spasm refers to the entire muscle entirely contracting whereas the local twitch response also refers to the entire muscle but only involves a small twitch, no contraction. The trigger point model states that unexplained pain frequently radiates from these points of local tenderness to broader areas, sometimes distant from the trigger point itself. Practitioners claim to have identified reliable referred pain patterns, allowing practitioners to associate pain in one location with trigger points elsewhere.[2]

Reciprocal Inhibition

A very effective non-massage technique requiring the client's participation. This form of therapy engages the opposing muscle group of the affected muscle. By doing so, the problem muscle is allowed to release and relax, alleviating the pain in that muscle.

Essential Oils- Aroma Therapy

Essential oils (EO's) are utilized by the body both through the skin and air. I use only high quality, organic when possible, EO's from reputable sources. The benefit(s) of adding EO's to your session can range from aiding in relaxation and pain relief to unstopping that stuffy nose. Although there are certain EO's which are safe during pregnancy, I do not utilize Aroma Therapy with my Mothers To Be.

Instruction

Stress and ergonomic advice freely administered, meditation and guided meditation instruction available. Please feel free to inquire about specific details.