Deep Tissue Techniques

These are probably the most commonly applied techniques during a remedial massage session. They consist of strategic application of pressure to specific muscles and other soft tissue structures. Generally, the more slowly and deeply we can work, the better. You will be encouraged to relax and breathe deeply. Often you may be asked to perform simple movements in order to help muscles release whilst they are being worked on. 

We will always aim to work well within your pain threshold. This is not only for your comfort, but also in order to help facilitate the physiological processes required for relaxation and release.

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger points are based on the idea that a single specific point within a muscle can be the key to releasing the entire muscle, and can also clear referred pain patterns from elsewhere in the body. So rather than just massaging the location where pain is being felt, we can also work on the associated trigger points that may be referring pain into that area.

A classic example is the headaches that are often caused by neck and shoulder tension. For more examples check out Travell & Simons' Trigger Point Manual.

Myofascial Tension Technique

This technique consists of slow and broad pressure, that is usually a lot lighter than the previously mentioned deep tissue techniques. It focuses work on the body's fascia (the white stuff that wraps around every muscle and organ within the body).

This technique is great for increasing range of motion in joints, and removing that feeling of restriction or 'stuckness' that is not necessarily associated with any pain.

Sports Massage

Sports massage is a fast-paced massage style. Before an event, it is designed to warm up the athlete and prepare their body for specific movements. Following an event, it is used as a means of accelerating the body's natural healing processes. It is usually quite deep, but less intense and covers a broader area than a regular remedial massage treatment.

Cupping

If regular massage techniques push down on the body, then cupping is a bit like pulling the tissues up away from the skeleton. Cupping can be a great way to rapidly increase circulation and accelerate healing.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

The lymphatic system is a vital part of our immune system. It consists of a large network of vessels, ducts and nodes full of clear lymphatic fluid, which spread throughout the body, not dissimilar to blood vessels.

Unlike our cardiovascular system though, which has a pump (the heart) to continuously move blood around the body, our lymphatic system relies on the continual contraction and relaxation of muscles in order to move lymphatic fluids around the body. If the body does not move over long periods of time, or the delicate lymphatic vessels are damaged or blocked in some way (disease, infection, surgery, etc.) then fluid can build up and cause visible swelling underneath the skin.

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is an incredibly gentle and relaxing technique, targeted at lymphatic structures just below the surface of the skin. It begins at the centre of the chest and works outwards towards the extremities, emphasising major lymph node locations along the way.

Although the effects may be visible after the first session it may take up to 10-12 regular sessions for the swelling to clear completely. Often the swelling will need to be continuously managed if the causative factors cannot be addressed.

Relaxation

Sometimes all the poking and prodding of painful massage techniques is just too much. Relaxation techniques can help to calm the mind, soothe the nervous system, and relieve stress. If this sounds like something you need, you can request an entire session of relaxation, or we can blend more relaxation techniques throughout the session, however you like.

Assisted Stretching Techniques (PNF)

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is one of my favourite stretching techniques. All those big long words are just a fancy way of describing a technique that aims to change your brain's point of view:

The body will automatically prevent a joint from moving beyond it's perceived "safe" range of motion. Unfortunately for most of us this "safe" range, is simply the range we are most accustomed to using in our day to day life, and far less than that of our innate anatomical potential!

By actively contracting a muscle at the end of it's passive range, we find the subsequent relaxation of that muscle tends to result in an overall increase of its original length (basically you lay back and relax, and I will gently assist in stretching your muscles and joints further than you would normally be able to on your own).