Massage  Therapy has been practiced for thousands of years as a source of relaxation and stress relief. Today, if you need or want a massage, you can choose from among 80 massage therapy styles with a wide variety of pressures, movements, and techniques. These all involve pressing, rubbing, or manipulating muscles and other soft tissues with hands and fingers. Sometimes even forearms, elbows, or feet are used.

Massage is the act of pressing, rubbing or manipulating muscles and other soft tissues using your hands, fingers or elbows. Its purpose is to relax those muscles, ease pain and strain and stimulate circulation.

The major categories of massage include:

Deep Tissue: Deep tissue massage is best for giving attention to certain painful, stiff “trouble spots” in your body. The massage therapist uses slow, deliberate strokes that focus pressure on layers of muscles, tendons, or other tissues deep under your skin. Though less rhythmic than other types of massage, deep tissue massage can be quite therapeutic — relieving chronic patterns of tension and helping with muscle injuries, such as back sprain.

Neuromuscular Therapy Massage: Neuromuscular therapy is a form of soft tissue manipulation that aims to treat underlying causes of chronic pain involving the muscular and nervous systems. This medically-oriented form of massage addresses trigger points (tender muscle points), circulation, nerve compression, postural issues, and biomechanical problems that can be caused by repetitive movement injuries.

Shiatsu Massage: In Japanese, shiatsu means “finger pressure.” For shiatsu massage, the therapist uses varied, rhythmic pressure on certain precise points of the body. These points are called acupressure points, and they are believed to be important for the flow of the body’s vital energy, called chi. Proponents say shiatsu massage can help relieve blockages at these acupressure points.

I also perform massages for relief of:

• Back and Neck Pain,
• Carpal Tunnel,
• Computer Strain,
• sports injury relief
• The prevention of injuries
•  Stress realease and relaxation Massage

There are a variety of other methods for giving massages. What I often do is combine these many methods according to the type of ailment you are suffering from. If there is no ailment per se and you are just looking to relax and let the stress of the day flow out of you, the massage will be more soothing and gentle. If you have a bad cold or your sinuses are stuffed up, then reflexology is in order. There are times when you may not know that an issue has caused something to occur in your body; however, because of my years of experience, I may find it for you, release the tension, and send you off feeling rested and refreshed.

Valentina Boonstra