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Feathers 'N Flight specializes
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Hot Stone
Massage
 Black
basalt massage stones are heated in water, coated with
sweet-smelling massage oil, and used to massage the client's
body - arms, legs, face, toes, hands, upper chest, and back.
The warmth and weight of the stones provides an unparalleled
relaxation experience! Surround yourself in candlelight, the
gentle fragrance of incense, and the soft sounds of water
splashing and copper bells chiming from the nearby fountain as
this exquisite luxury melts all your stress away.
Hot Stone massages take one and a half hours to complete,
and are generally only performed at my office
location (though I may, by request, be willing to travel
to a client's home.) Special rates apply; see my Rates
and Packages page for details!
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Deep
Tissue Massage
This massage style is
targeted at the deeper tissue structure of the muscle and
fascia (the tissue that surrounds muscle bundles, kind of like
saran-wrap, and holds important things like veins and nerves
in place). The primary techniques focus on the physiological
release of tension or congestion in these tissues, and a light
lotion is used to reduce friction on the skin as the muscles
are manipulated.
Deep tissue massage is particularly suited to clients who
suffer from tightness and pain associated with habitual poor
posture, and repetitive activities. For example, sitting at a
desk all day long can put serious strain on your lower back
and neck areas, even your upper shoulders, especially if you
have a hard time keeping your back in perfect alignment for
eight hours a day! Athletes, too, often encounter problems
with these types of knotted tissues from the constant and
repetitive demands made on certain muscle groups as they
train.
It should be noted that a deep tissue massage can be
uncomfortable at first, as I must sometimes apply intense
pressure in order to reach and relieve the offending muscle
contractions. You may experience soreness in particularly
difficult areas for a day or two later. But, most clients say
that afterward they find themselves feeling much better, with
greater flexibility and ease of movement, and that their pain
is drastically reduced. Also, with regular sessions the tight
spots are not only loosened, but don't form as easily anymore
either, and that usually makes each subsequent session a
little more comfortable.
Deep tissue massage is the primary specialty of Feathers
N' Flight, and is usually incorporated to some extent
into every session. Its intensity can be adjusted to the
client's comfort level; just make sure that you let me know if
you need lighter pressure. I can perform these massages at
just about any location,
and offer some great package deals
for those who want regular treatment!
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Trigger
Point Therapy
A
trigger point is a small, contracted knot in the muscle
tissue. Often it feels like a partially cooked piece of
macaroni, or a small pea buried deep in the muscle. Trigger
points affect the muscle by keeping it both tight and weak.
They maintain a constant tension on the muscle fibers
connected to it, which can produce pain not just in the muscle
but also in the joints and ligaments associated with it.
As if that weren't bad enough, these trigger
points can also restrict circulation, resulting in an
interruption of your body's metabolism. The wasteful
by-products of metabolic processes accumulate in the muscle
because they can't move themselves through the tightened knot,
and in the process the oxygen and nutrients your body needs
are blocked from getting to their destinations. Once formed,
these trigger points can remain stored in the body for months
or even years unless some intervention occurs. Imagine how
much damage they can do in that kind of time!
While most treatment of pain is based on the
assumption that the cause of pain will be found at the site of
pain (seems logical, right?) trigger points are sneaky. They
almost always send their pain elsewhere, and the sites of pain
are referred to as "messengers" -- letting you know
that something, somewhere, isn't quite right. In the case of
trigger points it's a good idea to work around the site of
pain before actually tackling it directly. It's kind of like a
cause and effect theory - it's hard to eliminate the symptoms
of a problem without first finding the cause.
Whereas general deep
tissue techniques apply to larger areas, trigger point
therapy is very precise and focused on these small knots, and
involves manipulation and targeted pressure to encourage the
muscle to relax and let go. This type of therapy is often used
in coordination with deep tissue work in order to eliminate
some of the most intense areas of muscle spasm. I can perform
these massages at just about any location,
and offer some great package deals
for those who want regular treatment!
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Sports
Massage
A sports based massage focuses
primarily on the concepts of circulation and stretching, both
extremely important for athletes as they are consistently
building and challenging their bodies.
Circulation is vital to proper nutrition of body tissue,
and therefore is vital to any athlete who wants the most
efficient (and least painful) results from their training.
Intensive physical exercise means that the body's cell
metabolism increases, and good circulation helps the body rid
itself of the toxic byproducts that accumulate from that
metabolism. Have you ever experienced those sharply painful,
sore muscles the day after a heavy workout? That pain is
caused by lactic acid, which builds up when muscles have been
worked into an anaerobic state. If it isn't moved out of the
muscle tissue it results in lots of stiffness and sensitivity
later. Massage moves these substances out of the body, and
helps stimulate new cell growth to repair damaged tissues.
Preventing congestion in the muscle tissues as they are being
broken down and rebuilt can also improve reflexes, as the
neurological pathways between the nervous system and the
muscle fiber are kept clear and ready for use.
In addition to circulatory massage, the technique known as
MET (Muscle Energy Technique) emphasizes stretching to keep
muscles lengthened, and to prevent straining from overuse.
Constant contraction of muscles causes them to shorten
naturally, and in order for an athlete to maintain flexibility
and a full range of motion, stretching sessions are just as
important as the rest of their training.
Sports massage is ideal for any athlete who participates in
a consistent routine of physical activity, particularly if
they are prone to use certain muscle groups more than others,
or have a history of injuries. With regular massage treatments
incorporated into a training
program, an athlete can maximize the benefits of their
workouts while minimizing the damage (and danger of damage) to
their body in the process. I can perform these massages at
just about any location,
and offer some great package deals
for those who want regular treatment, or want to combine a
massage program with a workout package!
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Neuromuscular
Massage
When the body undergoes
stress, be it mechanical, postural or emotional, it often
attempts to compensate for the pain or loss of mobility in one
area by overusing another area. This can cause changes in the
way the brain's signals communicate with the muscles, and too
many such changes can result in an even greater reduction of
mobility, muscle fatigue, and sometimes even depression, as
some parts of the body are called upon to do the work of
others.
Such neuromuscular changes are harmful to the body as they
produce further physiological dysfunction. It's a
progressively destructive cycle, as the stressed and weak
areas are never forced to get any stronger because the rest of
the body is compensating for their loss. And meanwhile, the
areas that are being overworked end up also suffering from
stress, which means the body must rearrange the workload again
and again until eventually nearly every possible muscle group
is in pain.
Neuromuscular therapy treatment (NMT) aims to stimulate the
reflexes associated with the source of the problem, be it a
joint or muscle, in order to redirect the body to use those
functions instead of compensating elsewhere. NMT involves an
assessment of the client's posture, and soft tissue
manipulation; massaging the tissues with light strokes at
first, and progressively getting deeper. This technique helps
reveal areas of tension, contracted tissue and
hypersensitivity.
Clients who have suffered from chronic pain in one
particular area (lower back, neck, a specific joint) will most
likely be in need of at least some NMT treatment in order to
experience full relief. I can perform these massages at just
about any location, and
offer some great package deals
for those who want regular treatment.
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Emotional
Release Therapy
A more specialized form
of deep tissue massage, emotional
release therapy targets not just the physiological symptoms of
muscle tension but also the emotional and psychological
causes. Poor posture, one of the main culprits for incorrect
spine alignment and the cramping, tired muscles that result,
isn't always just due to environmental factors. Sometimes it
has been picked up from one's family and friends from
childhood; sometimes it develops as a reaction to certain
forms of punishment and/or emotionally charged situations.
Slumping shoulders and a rounded spine can result from low
self-esteem, fear and depression, and occasionally simply the
memories of previous negative experiences.
Memory and emotion have a powerful effect on the
human body, more so than most people realize. Traumatic and
stressful situations in life have the tendency to manifest in
the body as tight, contracted muscles. Painful lumps and knots
form as a physical response to the body's emotional state. And
sometimes, long after the immediate emotional chaos has
quieted down, your body is still holding on to the physical
consequences of those feelings. Emotional release therapy
involves both deep tissue and trigger
point techniques, concentrating on small areas for longer
periods of time. Intense, targeted pressure on certain tight
spots can be painfully overwhelming, and cause repressed or
stored emotions to surface.
In addition, some of the principles of reiki are
also incorporated into this therapy. Not only are the negative
emotions allowed to surface and dissipate, I concentrate
positive energy into my touch to replace the unhappy energies,
with the purpose of leaving you feeling lighter, happier and
far less burdened by the end of the session.
Because this is an extremely intensive therapy,
both physically and emotionally painful, it requires a high
level of trust between therapist and client. There must be a
willingness on your part to explore and express past and
present trauma and worries, including financial anxieties,
relationship problems, even unpleasant and sometimes crippling
memories. Due to the very personal nature of this type of
therapy, it is not always possible for every client to
experience it... and sometimes it may occur when neither of us
has intended it! I can perform this therapy at virtually any
location, though I recommend my home
studio or your
personal residence, as comfort and a sense of privacy is
essential to the success of this treatment. Emotional Release
sessions are priced the same as
my other standard massages.
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Chair
Massage
I can perform chair massages
at your place of business, for group parties, wellness
seminars, health events, and more. Chair massages are a great
way to reward your employees for a job well done, and increase
productivity and morale. They're also a fun way to celebrate a
girls' spa night, or to raise awareness (and funds) at a
special event. Massages may range from 5 minutes to 20 minutes
based on the client's preferences. I can provide my own
massage chair, promotional materials, and display table - you
just provide the space and the people! See my rates
page for pricing info.
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