Therapeutic Massage Services
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Therapeutic Massage
Massage Therapy is a form of bodywork that is designed to help relax body and mind through a series of tissue manipulations. Your massage therapist will use a series of strokes, sometimes combined with gentle movements and stretches to help ease pain and relieve tension. You will likely experience a number of different styles and modalities such as myofascial, trigger point therapy, scar tissue therapy, reflexology, and Swedish massage techniques.
At Women's Massage Therapy, each massage is a different experience. Your therapist will tailor your massage to fit your needs that day. If your needs change between visits, this means that the massage will be adapted to the changes happening in your body.
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The type of massage that you receive depends a lot on communication. Let your therapist know what your needs are for the session regarding the style of work, amount of engagement, and treatment goals. Maybe you have chronic pain issues that you want to work out, or maybe you need a session of deep relaxation. The best way to have your needs met is to communicate them to your therapist.
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The benefits of this type of body work are wide-ranging and include relief from aches and pains, decreased stress levels in the body, enhanced mental clarity, improved appearance from healthier skin, greater flexibility, and much more.
If you have any kind of medical condition that may prevent you from receiving certain kinds of work, it is best to let us know when you book your session. That way, we can let you know if a doctor's release is necessary. It also gives your therapist a chance to research your condition so that she can be better prepared to work with you if she hasn't worked with anyone with a similar condition before. There are very few conditions where all massage is contraindicated (shouldn't be performed) as there are endless modifications that may be made for your comfort and safety.
Fertility Massage
There can be many reasons why someone may have trouble conceiving, and trouble with fertility occurs at a surprisingly high rate (about 12% of the US population). While no treatment of any kind is guaranteed to result in a pregnancy, many people find massage to be a helpful addition to their fertility plan. The techniques the we use at Women's Massage Therapy combine Eastern and Western styles of bodywork to help foster more positive outcomes. We use warming techniques designed to bring increased blood flow to the reproductive organs, reflexology and acupressure to stimulate their function, and relaxation techniques to help decrease stress and encourage a positive shift in hormone production.
When it comes to fertility massage, timing is everything. It is best to commit to regular sessions, as we need to work with your cycle to achieve the greatest results. While you can receive massage at any point in your cycle, most fertility work can only be done before ovulation. If you have any questions about scheduling or timing, please contact us to discuss your needs.
Prenatal Massage
Prenatal massage is a style of bodywork designed specifically for pregnant people. Pregnancy is a time when a persons body endures tremendous stress due to dramatic physical and emotional changes. Using various techniques specifically developed with the pregnant person in mind, prenatal massage helps to release the pain and discomfort experienced throughout pregnancy. The benefits are often profound, including emotional support, the relief of joint pain due to extra weight and postural imbalance, and improved breathing and relaxation.
Because it is not safe for pregnant people after a certain point to lie face down, all prenatal massages are performed in side-lying (positioning pictured below and left) and/or semi-reclined (positioning pictured below and right)
Labor Massage
Are you interested in receiving massage while in labor? At Women's Massage Therapy, you can come in during early labor for a massage to help you relax. If you have been in early labor for a while and want to get things moving, we can employ some natural labor augmentation techniques. These same techniques can be used to attempt to start a labor if your body and baby are otherwise ready to go.
Labor massage is only available for those whose pregnancies are considered full term. During your massage, we will access several acupressure points, and you will learn where they are so that you can continue on your own if you wish. We will also use some aromatherapy designed to promote relaxation and stimulate uterine contractions.
It is always best to book appointments with at least 24 hours advance notice. If you are in labor and would like a day-of appointment, call to find out availability. There is no guarantee that you will be able to come in that day.
Postpartum Massage
In my opinion, postpartum massage is just as important if not more important than prenatal massage. Your body has just been through a major ordeal and it will take a while for you to recover. Making sure that you are taking care of your body as it heals itself can be instrumental to shortening recovery time and preventing long-term issues from developing.
Many people ask me if I only work with people who are depressed. The term postpartum merely means the period of time following the birth. Postpartum Depression is a form of clinical depression that occurs during the postpartum period.
Although it can be used to help with symptoms of depression, postpartum or postnatal massage is great for many other things.
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In most cases, postpartum massage can help reduce pain related to both vaginal and Cesarean births. It may also decrease symptoms of postpartum depression and provide you with a way to better cope with any negative feelings. Massage can also help to facilitate the healing processes related to surgical scars as well as retrain your muscles for correct posture and alignment.
New parents are often so focused on taking care of their babies, that it can be hard for them to take time out to care for themselves. While this is understandable, it is just as important for you to heal and recover, or if nothing else, just to focus on yourself for an hour.