Massage Services
Remedial Massage
Remedial Massage is a holistic, client centred approach to healthcare that has both physical and psychological benefits. It combines the healing effects of human touch with scientific knowledge of anatomy, and understanding of the physiological effects of applying massage techniques to our bodies.Client History & Assessment
A Remedial Massage Therapist assesses each clients' suitability for treatment by taking a medical history and some baseline measurements of pain & functionality, so progress and response to treatment methods can be monitored. This informal information session is a great chance for you, as the client, to make a connection with your therapist, and make sure all of your health concerns are communicated. Carol will let you know how she can help you with Remedial Massage. She may refer you to a more appropriate healthcare provider if that will give you a better outcome.
- Your assessment session may include:
- medical & lifestyle history
- postural & gait observations
- muscle & joint functional tests
- hands on palpation of muscles. Please bring any recent relevant scans, Xrays, or medical reports.
Effective Treatment Protocols
A Remedial Therapist applies targetted, effective, massage treatment protocols to musculoskeletal injuries and conditions.
- In a Remedial Massage session Carol may combine a variety of techniques from the following therapies:
- Trigger Point Therapy
- Myofascial Release
- Therapeutic/Swedish Massage
- Sports Massage
- Traditional Chinese Massage/Tui Na
- Hot Stone Therapy to achieve the best outcome for you.
Client Education
An important aspect of Remedial Massage is helping you learn how to take good care of your body.
- Carol will introduce you to self-help & health-promotion strategies
- avoidance of aggravating factors
- strengthening exercises
- stretching & postural improvement exercises
- self-massage techniques; including ways to manage stress:
- basic healthy nutrition
- a regular exercise program
- simple breathing & relaxation exercises; so you can participate fully in your rehabilitation & ongoing health maintenance.
Traditional Chinese Massage
Traditional Chinese Massage, or Tui Na, uses the same system of energy meridians and points as Acupuncture. It has been used for over 3,000 years to achieve improvements in general health and well-being, and for the treatment of physical injuries, stiffness and muscle soreness.
Tui Na encourages and supports the body's natural healing processes.
Tui Na uses gentle thumb and hand pressure, and a variety of massage techniques (including hand rolling, brisk rubbing, elbow work, gentle plucking, stretching and warming) to encourage the free flow of chi, or life energy, throughout the body, removing blockages, and harmonising body and mind.
Tui Na relaxes the body and calms the mind.
Tui Na reduces tension holistically, allowing the body to be more comfortable, and the mind to be still. As the flow of chi is normalised, all the body's systems function more efficiently, and all of a persons resources become available.
Get your engine re-tuned!
Whatever the state of your health, Traditional Chinese Massage feels like having all the rough spots smoothed out - improving your general health and enhancing well-being, so you can start running on all cylinders again! So no matter how you are feeling when you arrive, you'll enjoy the benefits of a Tui Na 'tune up'. Often the full effects of this gentle, yet powerful, therapy are not completely felt until several days later.
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger Point Therapy is a specialised neuromuscular therapy used to relieve the pain and muscular dysfunction caused by the tiny areas of localised muscle hypertension known as Trigger Points (TrPs).
TrPs can be released using a variety of techniques including static pressure, deep longitudinal stroking, direct needling, and with an electronic acupuncture device such as the AcuPlus.
Amazing Pain Relief
Many of my clients have been totally amazed by the pain relief they receive from Trigger Point Therapy. Releasing TrPs is especially beneficial after a fall, an injury, or surgery.
Tired, stiff, or aching muscles? Get those TrPs treated!
- TrPs can be either latent or active. Latent TrPs and their assossiated tight bands of muscle fibres contribute to:
- muscle shortening
- excessive muscle tension
- and muscular weakness. People with latent TrPs in their muscles experience stiffness, and loss of muscular strength and stamina.
Active TrPs produce the same diminished muscle function, plus, they are the cause of strong localised and referred pain. Pain from TrPs can be extremely strong and debilitating. It is often mistaken for pain due to arthritic joints, nerve compression or damage, misaligned bones, and other chronic pain producing conditions. TrPs are a major contributor to the pain of migraine headaches, and can even cause pain that is mistakenly diagnosed as organ disease.
Benefits of releasing Trigger Points:
- relief from chronic pain
- reduced muscular tension and improved flexibility
- increased muscular strength and stamina
- increased blood circulation and lymphatic flow
- more efficient oxygenation and removal of waste products and toxins from cells
- faster recovery from physical effort and training
- quicker recovery from injury or surgery
- restore tissue pliability
- reduce adhesions between fascial layers
- lengthen shortened muscles
- relieve strain on over stretched muscles.
- is a densely woven net of collagen fibres that provides the framework for all our other body systems
- extends as one complete interconnected structure from head to toe
- surrounds, interpenetrates, and attaches to every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein as well as all of our internal organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord Without fascia we would be a sack of random, unconnected, bones, organs, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels with no way of moving!
- increased circulation and lymphatic flow, = more efficient removal of waste products and toxins from cells;
- softening of scar tissue and reduction of adhesions and fibrous tissue = increasing muscle function, strength, and flexibility;
- reduction in tension and stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system = improved digestive function and general well being.
- Full body Therapeutic Hot Stone Treatment
- Oiled Hot Stone Gliding
- Full body therapeutic massage
- Full body Therapeutic Hot Stone Treatment
- Traditional Chinese Meridian Balancing Massage
- Oiled Hot Stone Gliding
- Full body therapeutic massage
- Full body dry brushing skin exfoliation
- Therapeutic Hot Stone Treatment
- Oiled Hot Stone Gliding
- Full body therapeutic massage using specially formulated organic oils & creams
- Full body dry brushing skin exfoliation
- Full body therapeutic swedish massage
- Specially formulated organic oils & luxurious creams
Myofascial Release
- Myofascial Release is a very effective hands-on technique that can help relieve pain and restore normal range of motion following injury, surgery, or the cummulative effects of gravity & wear and tear over the years! Sustained pressure is applied to tissue restrictions in muscles (myo) and connective tissue (fascia) to:
- Thus restoring balance to joints, and providing an opportunity to improve posture and general musculoskeletal function.
Neuromuscular Therapy
Neuromuscular Therapy combines Trigger Point Therapy with Myofascial Release to even greater therapeutic effect! Releasing the taut bands of muscle fibres caused by trigger points makes it easier to relieve restrictions in the fascia, and changing the fascial restrictions in muscles on one side of a joint releases the tension that may be causing muscles elsewhere to develop trigger points... so these two techniques work very well together, and will often be used in Remedial Massage treatment sessions.What is Fascia?
- The fascia is a specialized connective tissue system of the body that:
Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic Massage is a relaxing, Swedish style full body massage. It has many health benefits and is the perfect antidote to feeling stressed out!
Therapeutic Massage enhances the body's natural healing mechanisms.
Therapeutic Massage uses oil to facilitate smooth, gliding massage techniques that increase blood and lymph flow, bringing more oxygen to the soft tissues of the body, and helping to clear away waste products. You can enjoy the harmonising effect of therapeutic massage as your muscles are gently stroked and kneaded to ease muscular tension and calm the nervous system, bringing about a sense of relaxation and peacefulness.
Therapeutic Massage helps to prevent and alleviate muscular pain and discomfort by releasing muscle spasm and relieving chronic tension.
Once your muscles have been warmed and relaxed Carol will focus on any problem areas. She will be working more deeply and slowly, to release muscle spasms, breakup adhesions or "knots", and return proper blood flow, muscle function and movement to areas of chronic tension that may have been stiff and painful or lacking sensation due to restricted blood flow. During this deeper work it is important that you, as the client, give Carol feed back regarding the level of pressure you are comfortable with. And remember, it is your body and your massage, so please always indicate to Carol if you would like her to do more (or less) work in any particular area.
A good therapeutic massage will be energising as well as relaxing, invigorating tired muscles and promoting a sense of euphoria and well being.
Most people see massage as a welcome escape from the stresses of our fast paced modern world and are mainly interested in the relaxation benefits of a therapeutic massage but that is only half the story... After the deeper work is done Carol will soothe and re-invigorate your body with an assortment of faster paced techniques designed to be both stimulating and relaxing to the soft tissues. She will be working to create even muscle tone throughout your body, re-connecting your awareness with areas of your body that may have lacked sensation, so giving you a more complete and connected sense of your physical self.
Therapeutic massage is a holistic natural therapy.
Therapeutic massage is a journey through relaxation, relief from tension and pain, invigoration, and re-connection, to a more complete sense and awareness of your whole body. After the more invigorating part of your journey Carol may use gentle passive stretching and movement to further relax your muscles and allow you to feel for yourself how much better movement your body is capable of now that you are less tense. To finish your massage she will be using long, smooth, gliding strokes and gentle shaking and vibration to integrate the massage work into a complete whole body experience, and ensure you emerge from your journey feeling both relaxed and refreshed.
Sports Massage
Sports Massage is a form of massage developed to specifically treat the needs of people, such as athletes, who demand maximum effort from their bodies, often in a competitive situation. As well as helping to maintain the physical body in top condition, sports massage is useful in helping a tense competitor to relax before an important event. Sports massage aids in recovery after an event, and can be of immense benefit assisting the natural healing process when an athlete is injured.
Improve your Athletic Performance
Sports massage works all the muscles of the body, deeply and thoroughly, with close attention paid to the specific needs of people involved in each type of sport.
The musculature of the body develops in response to the demands placed upon it, and it is important to keep the whole body supple so imbalances that may impede performance do not occur.
Sports massage uses a variety of techniques including kneading, deep longitudinal stroking, transverse stroking, squeezing, friction, percussion, rocking and shaking, and passive stretching.
Benefits of Sports Massage include:
Hot Stone Massage
Deeply relaxing and re-vitalizing, Carol's Hot Stone Massage is a wonderfully soothing treatment for all lovers of heat! As well as a full body 'hands on' massage, you'll also receive the benefits of a Therapeutic Hot Stone Treatment, and experience the thermal bliss of Oiled Hot Stone Gliding!
Therapeutic Hot Stone Treatment
Careful placement of heated stones over acupuncture points or chakras ensures you receive the maximum therapeutic benefit, as your body absorbs the energy from the stones.
Oiled Hot Stone Gliding
Smooth, round, heated stones soothe away tension as they glide trails of warmth along your muscles. Circulation improves, pain is eased, and well-being enhanced as stress melts away...
60 min. Hot Stone Massage
Your 60 min. Hot Stone Massage begins with a Therapeutic Hot Stone Treatment for the back and back of legs. You'll enjoy a relaxing scalp massage while the stones on your legs are warming and softening your muscles. After Carol removes the stones and massages your legs, you'll get your first experience of oiled hot stone gliding - so soothing for the soles of your feet and your calves! All the while the heat from the stones on your back will be deeply warming and relaxing you. Soon Carol will massage your back and then use oiled hot stones to completely soothe away any remaining tension. Drifting peacefully you'll be so relaxed that you almost don't want to move when it is time to turn over! With hot stones warming your centre, you'll simply melt while Carol massages your arms and the fronts of your legs... To complete your treatment choose either a chinese face massage or a foot massage.
90 min Hot Stone Massage
Relax with hot stones and enjoy the additional therapeutic benefits of a meridian massage!
120 min Thermal Spa Massage
- Skin Care and Hot Stone Massage combined for an amazing relaxation experience:
Skin Care Massage
- Don't miss this divine chance to be pampered with a blissful relaxation massage and Skin Care treatment:
As well as being wonderful for keeping your skin healthy and smooth, dry skin brushing is relaxing too. And Carol's specially formulated organic oils & luxurious creams glide onto your freshly exfoliated skin like silk!