Massage Therapy & Bodywork Descriptions

Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy Specialists
Emily Ball, LMT, RMT »  P: 716.725.7184 E: EmilyBallLMT@gmail.com
Amanda Rayburg, LMT, Birth Doula »  P: 716.604.7276, E: Amanda.Rayburg@gmail.com   

Getting a massage can do you a world of good. And, getting a massage frequently can do even more. Taking part regularly scheduled self-care can play a huge part in how healthy you’ll be with each passing year. Budgeting resources for bodywork at consistent intervals is truly an investment in your health.

Just because massage feels like a pampering treat doesn’t mean it's any less therapeutic. Massage therapy is the application of soft tissue manipulation techniques to the body, generally intended to reduce a variety of stresses and fatigue while improving circulation. Working with your practitioner, the two of you can establish a treatment plan that best meets your needs and goals.
Massage Therapy can relieve physical and emotional stress, reduce muscle fatigue and tension, improve sleep, increase energy and stamina, enhance your resistance to illness, relieve muscle pains and headaches, improve thinking and awareness, decrease repetative stress syndromes, encourage better posture, generate more flexibility, build awareness of breathing, and promote relaxation which you can take with you through your day!                                                                             

Some things to consider when booking a massage therapy appointment, descriptions of massage therapy & massage modalities

3. During Your Bodywork Session
Your therapist will guide you to the massage table, describe how to dress down to your level of comfort and show you how to lie on the table  (between the top and bottom sheet) after the therapist leaves the room.  Your level of comfort is your own so, here are a few guidelines; you may leave your underwear on, or off; if you would like your shoulders worked on, remove your brassiere; if your legs will be worked on, please remove your pants. You may also choose to remain fully clothed. While working, the therapist will continuously move the sheet, revealing only the areas to be worked on and leaving private areas covered at all times.

We will check in with you throughout the massage regarding pressure and how you're feeling. With a bit of time, we develop a keen awareness of what pressure is suitable for your unique body. Intense sensation is productive, extreme pain is not. HEAT therapists in part work to help you discover your boundaries in a comfortable and safe way. It is also normal to experience a range of emotions as muscles holding stress are relieved and released. Often, responses to relaxation include yawning; the need to move or change position; temperature fluctuations; changes in breathing; emotional feelings; energy shifts; memories; ; stomach gurgling, movement and/or expression of intestinal gas; sighing, and  falling asleep. We are here to guide your through this recuperative process. 

Your therapist will signal the end of the massage and leave the room. Feel free to take a nice, long, relaxing breath, roll on to your side, and slowly get up from the table. Once you are fully dressed, open the treatment room door or go into the reception area to await your therapist.

At this point payment and any gratuity is accepted, and scheduling your next appointment is advised. Your therapist may offer some stretching advice for areas of concern.

4. After Your Bodywork Appointment
Following your appointment please drink plenty of water. Massage therapy releases stress and that stress needs to be flushed from your system! Some soreness and tenderness following massage therapy is normal for 24 to 48 hours. If you feel sore or tender in specific areas beyond those hours please advise your therapist to reduce pressure in those areas at your next massage appointment. If you feel literal pain please call your massage therapist, they may suggest that you see your primary care physician for possible unknown conditions.

*Conditions That Affect Massage Therapy
(please express these to your therapist when scheduling your appointment)
There are some health and wellness things to think about for discussion with your massage therapist. Your massage therapist will have their hands in contact with your skin, is there anything they need to know? 
Conditions like scabies, lice, whole-body contagious skin disease, athletes foot or any other contagious skin situation is a contraindication for massage therapy.
Do you have any lesions, boils, eczema, dermatitis, edema (swelling, usually around a joint), recent tattoo or piercing or have you been in an accident recently? For your and your therapist's protection,  your therapist will avoid contagious or open skin and may choose to utilize essential oils for problem skin areas, with your permission. 

If you have had an accident recently, and are experiencing any symptoms suggesting the need for expertise beyond a massage therapist's scope of practice, and have not seen a doctor, your massage  therapist may refuse you service until you have clearance from your physician.

Body art including piercings and new tattoos involve compromised skin—a contraindication for massage therapy. The safest course in this situation is to wait for any pain or itching to resolve before receiving massage in an area with a new tattoo. The following  are average healing times for piercings, which would be locally contraindicated for massage therapy and/or affect table positioning:

Cheek: 4 to 5 months / Ear Cartilage: 4 months to 1 year / Nipple : 3 - 6 months / Ear Lobe: 6 to 8 weeks / Eyebrow: 6 to 8 weeks / Nostril: 2 to 4 months / Nasal Septum: 6 to 8 months / Navel: 4 months to 1 year / Lip: 2 to 3 months

A Note on Ethics
Massage therapists/bodywork practitioners are not qualified to perform spinal or skeletal adjustments; or to diagnose, prescribe or treat physical or mental illness and nothing said in the course of the session given should be construed as such. Massage therapists in New York State are licensed professionals, designated LMTs.  Any illicit or sexually suggestive remarks or advances made by you will result in immediate termination of your session, and you will be liable for payment of the scheduled appointment.

Cancelations
If you need to cancel an appointment,  please give your therapist 24 - 48 hours notice. Imbibing alcohol prior to receiving massage therapy is unadvised.

What is Massage?

Massage, or massage therapy, is a system of structured palpation or movement of the soft tissue of the body. The massage system may include, but is not limited to, such techniques as:

• Stroking

• Kneading

• Gliding

• Percussion

• Friction

• Vibration

• Compression

• Passive or active stretching within the normal anatomical range of movement

• Effleurage (either firm or light soothing, stroking movement, without dragging the skin, using either padded parts of fingertips or palms)

• Petrissage (lifting or picking up muscles and rolling the folds of skin)

• Tapotement (striking with the side of the hand, usually with partly flexed fingers, rhythmic movements with fingers or short rapid movements of sides of the hand)

These techniques may be applied with or without the aid of lubricants, salt or herbal preparations, hydromassage, thermal massage or a massage device that mimics or enhances the actions possible by human hands. The purpose of the practice of massage is to enhance the general health and well-being of the recipient.
Massage does not include the diagnosis of a specific pathology, the prescription of drugs or controlled substances, spinal manipulation or those acts of physical therapy that are outside the scope of massage therapy.

Who Does This Work?

Massage Therapist is the preferred title in the United States, many other terms have less than medical reputations.
Massage therapists in New York have to complete at least 1,000 of training, and pass a licensing exam given by the state of New York: we are LMT’s!
Additionally, we need to have 36 continuing education credits completed and certified every 3 years to maintain our license registration.
Please respect all that work by using the preffered term. Would you call a Physical Therapist a physique? Just sayin.

Modalities : types of Massage Therapy

Swedish: The most common type of massage is Swedish massage therapy. It involves soft, long, kneading strokes, as well as light, rhythmic, tapping strokes, on topmost layers of muscles. This is also combined with movement of the joints. By relieving muscle tension, Swedish therapy can be both relaxing and energizing. And it may even help after an injury.

Deep-Tissue Massage: 
Techniques that utilize deep-tissue/deep-muscle massage are administered to affect the sub-layer of musculature and fascia. These techniques require advanced training and a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology. The muscles must be relaxed in order to effectively perform deep-tissue massage; otherwise, tight surface muscles prevent the practitioner from reaching deeper musculature. It helps with chronic muscular pain and injury rehabilitation, and reduces inflammation-related pain caused by arthritis and tendinitis.

Medical Massage: Performing medical massage requires a firm background in pathology and utilizes specific treatments appropriate to working with disease, pain, and recovery from injury. The therapist may work from a physician’s prescription or as an adjunct healer within a hospital or physical therapy setting.

Trigger Point Therapy: is an integrating, noninvasive therapeutic modality for the relief and control of myofascial pain and dysfunction. The goal of treatment is the client’s recovery from, or a significant reduction in, myofascial pain. The treatment goal is achieved through a systematized approach.
Treatment consists of trigger point compression, myomassage (MYO means MUSCLE), passive stretching, and a regime of corrective exercises. Success may be measured subjectively by the level of pain reduction experienced by the client and objectively through increased range of motion, strength, endurance, and other measures of improved function.
Trigger point therapy relies heavily on client-therapist interaction, including verbal and nonverbal elements. The myotherapist encourages the client to be personally responsible for their improvement, with attention to such factors as nutritional intake, stress, proper exercises, mechanical abnormalities, and other physical components. These elements protect the client from delayed diagnosis, delayed treatment, or contraindicated treatment.

Prenatal/Pregnancy Massage: When performed by a trained perinatal specialist, many methods of massage and somatic therapies are both effective and safe prenatally and during labor and postpartum periods of women’s pregnancies.
Prenatally, specific techniques can reduce pregnancy discomforts and concerns and enhance the physiological and emotional well-being of both mother and fetus. Skilled, appropriate touch facilitates labor, shortening labor times and easing pain and anxiety.
In the postpartum period, specialized techniques rebalance structure, physiology, and emotions of the new mother and may help her to bond with and care for her infant.
Specialized, advanced training in the anatomy, physiology, complications, precautions, and contraindications is highly recommended, and many practitioners require referrals from physicians prior to therapy.

Connective Tissue Therapy: Also known as bindegewebsmassage, Connective Tissue Therapy (CTT) techniques are designed to specifically affect the connective tissue of the body. CTT was developed in Germany by Elizabeth Dicke. After diagnosis of a serious medical problem, she experimented with different types of massage on herself. She found when she applied light pressure through the skin and connective tissue in one area of the body, there was a related effect at a distant site.
“The technique consists of the massage therapist subtly hooking her fingers into the skin and superficial connective tissue while performing a dragging or pulling stroke that somewhat stretches the skin. CTM leaves a visible mark that looks somewhat like an abrasion or burn, but which goes away without leaving a scar.” (From Alternative Healing, by Hugh Burroughs and Mark Kastner, Halcyon, 1993.) In Germany, it is considered a physical therapy technique; in many parts of Europe, it is considered a medical technique. In the United States, connective tissue massage is taught in many massage schools. Many practitioners who graduated from the Finger Lakes School of massage might describe CTT thusly: Connective tissue runs throughout our bodies in a sort of web. Every organ, muscle, tendon, ligament, etc is connected to this web. Working with the connective tissue of one area affects all other areas as the relaxing and healing message is sent throughout the web. This type of massage generally focuses on one area for a longer period of time, so while these sessions may not make external contact with the whole body, the entire physicality of your person is addressed. Connective Tissue Therapy is slow; it allows the muscles time to relax and accept healing so that deeper work can be accomplished. CTT is a massage therapy modality that requires an intentional state of presence.

Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT): This comprehensive program of soft-tissue manipulation balances the body’s central nervous system with the musculoskeletal system. Based on neurological laws that explain how the central nervous system initiates and maintains pain, the goal is to help relieve the pain and dysfunction by understanding and alleviating the underlying cause.
Neuromuscular therapy can help individuals who experience distortion and biomechanical dysfunction, which is often a symptom of a deeper problem. It is also used to locate and release spasms and hypercontraction in the tissue, eliminate trigger points that cause referred pain, rebuild the strength of injured tissues, assist venous and lymphatic flow, and restore postural alignment, proper biomechanics, and flexibility to the tissues.

Myofascial Release: the three-dimensional application of sustained pressure and movement into the fascial system in order to eliminate fascial restrictions and facilitate the emergence of emotional patterns and belief systems that are no longer relevant or are impeding progress. It is an effective therapeutic approach in the relief of cervical pain, back pain, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, neurological dysfunction, restriction of motion, chronic pain, and headaches.
First, an assessment is made by visually analyzing the human frame, followed by the palpation of the tissue texture of various fascial layers. Upon locating an area of fascial tension, gentle pressure is applied in the direction of the restriction

Kinesthetic Awareness through Movement (KAM): 
Developed by dancer/choreographer Elaine Summers, kinetic awareness is a system of bodywork that aims to increase knowledge of the human body by understanding tension as a positive and necessary part of movement affecting health, attitude, and emotional well-being. Designed to improve mental image, clients can gain a heightened sensitivity to posture and movement. All parts of the body are encouraged to be free to move in all directions in which it’s possible. A goal of kinetic awareness is to free the body so it is always moving away from pain and toward pleasure. There are five phases of awareness, including attention to breathing, simultaneous movement of body parts, level of tension, speed of movement and relation to others.

Active Isolated Stretching: Performing an Active Isolated Stretch of no longer than two seconds allows the target muscles to optimally lengthen without triggering the protective stretch reflex and subsequent reciprocal antagonistic muscle contraction as the isolated muscle achieves a state of relaxation. These stretches provide maximum benefit and can be accomplished without opposing tension or resulting trauma.

Mayan Abdominal Massage: (with Amanda Rayburg) Maya Abdominal Massage is a noninvasive, external, massage technique. It guides internal abdominal organs into their proper position for optimum health and well-being. Maya massage improves organ function by releasing physical and emotional congestion from the abdomen.
The technique applies anatomy, physiology, herbology, and naprapathy along with Ancient Maya healing techniques to address common female complaints such as painful or irregular periods, varicose veins, lower backache, infertility, and more. The techniques also address male complaints such as prostrate swelling and inflammation, frequent urination, and impotency.
The technique works by relieving congestion and blockages to improve the flow of chi and fluids of the circulatory, lymphatic, and nervous systems to prevent the progression of chronic disease symptomology.
Dr. Rosita Arvigo, DN, developed Maya Abdominal Massage after apprenticing with Don Elijio Panti, the last of the traditional Maya shamans in Central America. The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Massage combine modern science with traditional healing and wisdom to produce a holistic path to physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Cranial Sacral work: Craial Sacral modalities work with the cerebrospinal fluid in the body, the goal is to access this rhythmic fluid and hold space for that rhythm to move into harmony. In cranial sacral unwinding the limbs are moved to their points of restriction, the practitioner waits for a note from the limbs (the fluid) to gently move the limbs beyond these restrictions.

Aromatherapy: The use of essential oils (extracted from herbs, flowers, resin, woods, and roots) in body and skin care treatments is known as aromatherapy. Used as a healing technique for thousands of years by the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, essential oils aid in relaxation, improve circulation, and help the healing of wounds.
Specific essential oils are blended by the aromatherapist and added to a carrier oil, such as almond oil, to be used during the massage. Each oil has its own unique characteristics and benefits. Aromatherapy diffusers are utilized to fill the massage room with the scent of the oils.
Use of this technique declined as the modern pharmaceutical industry developed. However, the French chemist Gattefossé revived the art by coining the term aromatherapy and by publishing a book on the subject in 1928.

Shiatsu, Thai Massage & other TCM Modalities

TCM: Traditional Chinese Medicine

Hara: The source of health, vitality, and power, the hara is the physical center of the body. Bounded by the lower rib cage and the pelvic bowl, the hara includes all the vital organs of the body, with the exception of the heart and lungs—but even these have a reflexive, energetic presence here.
The hara is the center of “me”-ness. The first three chakras, which deal with basic survival needs and ego/personality development, coalesce and interact here, culminating in a sense of individuality. It is an emotional center. (Adapted from “Hara,” by Kondañña, Massage & Bodywork, June/July 2001.) 

Dantien: The area of the hara, approximately two finger-widths below the navel, is called the lower dantien (or tanden). Dan means the medicine of immortality; tien means field. It is the field of the elixir of life, sometimes also called the “Sea of Qi.” The Ren Chong, kidney, stomach, liver, and spleen channels pass through it. The qi of the organs and meridians of the entire body collect in the lower dantien, like a vast storehouse of power. (Adapted from “Hara,” by Kondañña, Massage & Bodywork, June/July 2001.)

Five Element Shiatsu:This technique is based on classical Chinese medicine’s law of the five elements. The five-element system views the human body as a microcosm of the universe with the tides of energy and emotions waxing and waning. These energies and emotions are stored in the visceral organs and move through specific pathways or meridians in the body in a regular and cyclical fashion. When these energies or emotions become blocked, or deficient or excessive through stress, trauma, or disease, the five-element practitioner may use carefully controlled pressure on certain meridian points to help move the energy or emotions. This restores the natural cycle of energy and emotional movement, thus helping the person’s natural ability to heal.

Acupressure is an ancient healing art that uses the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities. When these points are pressed, they release muscular tension and promote the circulation of blood and the body’s life force (sometimes known as qi or chi) to aid healing. Acupuncture and acupressure use the same points, but acupuncture employs needles, while acupressure uses the gentle but firm pressure of hands and feet.
Acupressure continues to be the most effective method for self-treatment of tension-related ailments by using the power and sensitivity of the human hand. Acupressure can be effective in helping relieve headaches, eye strain, sinus problems, neck pain, backaches, arthritis, muscle aches, tension due to stress, ulcer pain, menstrual cramps, lower backaches, constipation, and indigestion. Self-acupressure can also be used to relieve anxiety and improve sleep. There are also great advantages to using acupressure as a way to balance the body and maintain good health. The healing touch of acupressure reduces tension, increases circulation, and enables the body to relax deeply. By relieving stress, acupressure strengthens resistance to disease and promotes wellness.
In acupressure, local symptoms are considered an expression of the condition of the body as a whole. A tension headache, for instance, may be rooted in the shoulder and neck area. Thus, acupressure focuses on relieving pain and discomfort, as well as responding to tension, before it develops into a disease—before the constrictions and imbalances can do further damage.
The origins of acupressure are as ancient as the instinctive impulse to hold your forehead or temples when you have a headache. Everyone at one time or another has used their hands spontaneously to hold tense or painful places on the body. More than 5,000 years ago, the Chinese discovered that pressing certain points on the body relieved pain where it occurred and also benefited other parts of the body more remote from the pain and the pressure point. Gradually, they found other locations that not only alleviated pain, but also influenced the functioning of certain internal organs. (Definition, in part, from the book Acupressure’s Potent Points, by Michael Reed Gach, director of the Acupressure Institute, Bantam, 1990.)

Thai Massage: Also called nuad bo rarn, Thai massage has been taught and practiced in Thailand for approximately 2,500 years. Although the origins are somewhat vague, credit for Thai massage is given to a famous Indian doctor, Shivago Komarpaj, who was the personal physician of the Buddha and Magadha king. Historically, manipulation was one of four major branches composing traditional Thai ceremonies or magical practices. This is based on the theory the body is made up of 72,000 sen, or energy lines, of which ten hold top priority. Thai massage also involves peripheral stimulating, meaning it acts as an external stimulant to produce specific internal effects. This point serves as the main division between Thai and Western massage.
Thai massage is practiced on a firm mat on the floor instead of on a table, instrumental in the effective use of the practitioner’s body weight. Except for the feet, the client remains fully clothed, so draping is not necessary.