So you’re about to get your first massage. Your excited, you’ve heard great things about it, but your pretty nervous at the same time. Feeling some anxiety before your first session is completely normal (and extremely common).

Massage has a healing effect, most of us would agree. However, there are health benefits that have been studied through peer reviewed research that now finally show that massage does produce physiological changes in the body.

Everyone has heard of “muscles,” but it is surprising how many people have never heard the term “fascia” before.  Fascia is an extremely important functional aspect of the structure of our bodies, comprised of connective tissue that surrounds organs and muscles. 

Foot Reflexology is one of the oldest modalities of massage therapy. The thought is that by applying thumb and finger pressure to certain areas of the feet, corresponding organs, systems and areas of the body are affected in a positive way.

Managing stress is more important to the health of the body than some realize. Stress hormones affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. During your body’s response to stress, you breathe faster, trying to distribute oxygen-rich blood throughout the body.

Muscle stripping is a deep tissue massage technique where the massage therapist targets a specific band of muscle fibers and applies pressure directly from the origin to the insertion of the muscle.

Plantar Fascitiis is a condition where there is pain, tenderness and inflammation of the plantar fascia (a thick band of soft tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot and connects your heel to your toes.) Plantar Fasciitis is the most common cause of foot pain in athletes.

Most people have a job in which they are sitting at a desk all day.  But did you know sitting all day in the same position can create health problems?  From sore back and neck muscles to high blood pressure, this blog aims to look at what this could be doing to your health and what you can do about it.

The aging process certainly causes wear and tear on the body, and by the time a person reaches retirement age, many muscles and tendons have either been either overworked or under-utilized over the years, causing muscle contracture and an imbalance between the muscle groups. 

Sciatica is a common condition we treat clients with. Sciatica is characterized by numbness, tingling and/or pain that radiates along the route of the sciatic nerve, usually on one side of the body, but in some cases it can affect both sides.

Scoliosis is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine, in either a “C” or “S” shape. In addition, there is also usually a rotational component present in addition to the lateral (sideways) curvature, meaning that one or more of the vertebrae may be slighty rotated (twisted). 

Osteoarthritis is a condition that occurs due to natural wear and tear of the cartilage between the joints.  As the cartilage wears away, there is no protection between the bones, and they rub against each other, causing inflammation and pain.  One of the most common places this occurs is the knee. 

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a technique that supports and enhances the functioning of the body’s immune system by stimulating movement of lymph, resulting in greater immune system functioning.

Low back pain is extremely common and is one of the reasons many clients come and see us for massage therapy. Tight musculature and fascia in the lower back, whether it is due to working at a desk 6-8 hours a day, poor posture, or weak abdominal muscles can contribute to a dull ache, pain, inflammation and/or tenderness in the low back.

Fibromyalgia is idiopathic in nature (meaning there is no known cause).  Even though the exact cause is not known, there are measures that can be taken to help lessen the pain and discomfort associated with this sometimes debilitating condition. Exercise, relaxation and stress reduction are among some treatment options, with massage therapy being a highly recommended treatment option for the condition.