What type of massage do you need?

Have you ever gone for a massage and you know what it is you want but don't know what "modality" to ask for? Hopefully the following information will help you understand what it is you're looking for and the benefits of each type of massage. What type of massage will you choose for your journey?

If you don't understand what these treatments are, don't be afraid to ask, we will be more than happy to give you more details.

Will it be for the body where you can choose from several modalities including:
- Swedish Massage - gentle, light touch. Helps reduce tension, soothe sore muscles, increase circulation and induce relaxation.
- Deep Tissue - What we call "working out the knots". If you need a lot of pressure to work out the tight muscles in your body then this is the treatment for you.
- Heated Stone - Warm stones are placed on stress areas of the body to help tight muscles relax. Once the muscles begin to relax they are massaged with more hot stones. The heat causes blood vessels to dilate and increases metabolic action to help flush out wastes/toxins from the body. White blood cells increase, therefore helping with the immune system.
- Reflexology - restores balance and harmony to the body by:
  - Balancing the body's systems and organs
  - Induces deep relaxation
  - Boosts circulation
  - Aids elimination
  - Brings relief to acute and chronic conditions
    - Revitalizes energy
    - Cleanses the body of toxins and impurities
    - Stimulates creativity and productivity.
- Shiatsu/Tuina - translated means finger pressure. Shiatsu works energy meridians in the body while Tuina works on specific points of the body that hold energy (knots).
- Body Wrap or a Sugar or Salt Scrub? The perfect exfoliate…a combination of either sugar or salt, mixed with oil and aroma therapy. Your body is gently massaged to remove dead, dry skin then gently wiped down with warm moist towels. Your skin feels silky smooth and refreshed after this treatment.
- Paraffin dip for your hands and feet? Are your hands and feet feeling dry and chapped? A paraffin dip is just the thing to bring moisture back into your pours.
- Mommy to be? We can provide a specialized massage to relax sore back and hip muscles, tired feet and cramped leg muscles (not recommended in the first trimester).
Will it be for the mind where we take you through a guided meditation?
- Learn how to allow your mind to slow down and let everything relax.
- Meditation improves the ability to deal with daily stressors. Since stress is minimized your quality of sleep is also improved.
Will it be for the spirit? (clothing on treatments)
- Reiki - a subtle, yet powerful Japanese energy technique used to enhance vitality, reduce stress and promote healing. The laying on of hands is peace inducing as well as therapeutic.
- Chakra balancing (pronounced Shock-Rah) You may ask "what is a Chakra?" We are believed to have seven Chakras. They are whirling, concentrated centers of energy that are measurable patterns of electromagnetic activity for receiving, assimilating and transmitting life-force energy to and within the body.
  - Both color and sound affect the charkas, especially when used together. Each of the charkas or energy centers is associated with a specific tone of the musical scale and with a specific color. Certain music and tones can help heal energy imbalances in the charkas by assisting the body to release unwanted thoughts and feelings and to come into its natural state of balance and harmony through deep relaxation and entrainment.
  - When our physical, emotional, mental or spiritual bodies are out of vibrational harmony, sound and color are projected into the charkas. Correct vibrational patterns can be restored enhancing overall well-being.
  - Sound produces changes in the autonomic, immune, endocrine and neuropeptide systems.
Will it be something to help something else?
- Aroma Therapy. Are you aware that your sense of smell can create wonderful healing affects? Think of how you feel when you light a scented candle. Aroma Therapy is that and so much more. Aroma Therapy is using the essential oils of plants, flowers, seeds, leaves and roots to promote health and well-being. The scientific reasons behind why and how aroma therapy works involve the human body and our response to scent. Our bodies carry the scents to the parts of the brain that involve our emotions and hormones - this explains why you feel more relaxed when you light a lavender candle. Aroma Therapy can be added to any of the above treatments at your request. (Please advise us of any allergies if you are requesting Aroma Therapy.)
- Ear Coning. Does it seem difficult to hear things as clearly as you used to? Are you constantly putting Q-Tips in your ears to get the wax out? If so, you may want to consider ear coning. A process is used to gently warm the wax and bacteria build-up in the ear canal, a slight vacuum is created with this process so the toxins within the ear canal can be gently and safely removed.