Massage Therapy is recorded as one of the earliest forms of physical therapy and was used by different cultures over 3000 years ago. Massage uses a system of stroking, pressing and kneading - known as effleurage, petrissage and friction. Massage stimulates blood circulation and assists the lymphatic system: improving the elimination of waste by-products and stress throughout the body.  Therapeutic massage is both preventive and curative, works well along side traditional allopathic medical treatments, chiropractic and physical therapy. 

Some Benefits Of Massage
   1.Stress release and relaxation.
   2.Soothe emotional tensions
   3.Heal scar tissue
   4.Eases tension, stiffness, and pain.
   5.Improve breathing.
   6.Improve circulation.
   7.Enhance well-being.

Basic Massage Technique:

• Effleurage is rhythmical light touch at the start of a session and gradually moves deeper pressure to increased circulation and stretching of tissues.

• Petrissage or kneading is used on deeper tissues for mobilizing fluids, stretching muscle fibers, and inducing relaxation. 

• Compression is a powerful technique that is particularly effective in mobilizing fluids in very deep muscles and applying a good stretch to the fibers involved. Also used to help release trigger points, and unwind muscular knots.

• Friction techniques are aimed at breaking down lesions, (soft-tissue restrictions) used to separate muscle fibers, and even break down recent scar tissue. When using friction. 

• Feather strokes is a light touch over the skin, signaling the brain to release relaxing neurotransmitters.

Ortho-Bionomy Therapy was developed by Dr. Arthur Lincoln Paul, a British osteopath; Ortho-Bionomy is a unique, gentle body therapy for pain relief, physical and emotional balance; it is a gentle modality, involving hands-on non-invasive positional release techniques that ease and balance neuro-muscular tensions, trigger points and spasms. Sessions can be performed over the clients clothing, positioned on a chair or on a massage table. Ortho-Bionomy is very effective in helping alleviate both acute and chronic pain and stress patterns by reducing chronic muscle tension, soothing the joints, increasing flexibility, improving circulation, and relaxing the entire body.  For more information go to www.ortho-bionomy.org

Myofascial Release, founder John F. Barnes, P.T. is a very effective hands-on technique that provides sustained pressure into myofascial (connective tissue) restrictions to eliminate pain and restore mobility. Thereby enhancing strength, flexibility, unwinding distortions and creates postural and movement awareness. This modality  often works well when used in conjunction with Ortho-Bionomy and CranioSacral Therapy.

This modality is best performed with the client on a massage table, and without the use of oils and lotions on the client's skin. Bed sheets and blankets are used for draping, keeping the client's body both warm and for modesty. For more information go to www.myofascialrelease.com

CranioSacral Therapy  (CST) 10 Step-Protocol, founder Dr. John Upledger, D.O.; utilities gentle, hands-on zero-force techniques that are often performed over the client's clothing while that lay face up on a massage table. CST utilizes a series of delicate manual techniques to release soft-tissue restrictions and to release pressure along the body's meningeal membranes, that surround and protect the brain and spinal chord..   Using a light touch, no more than 5 grams of pressure, (the weight of a nickel) the therapist  monitors the rhythms of the craniosacral system, as it pulsates filling and empting cerebro-spinal fluids, to detect potential restrictions and imbalances through the body.  A session can last from 15 minutes to more than an hour; often the initial evaluation alone is enough to provide relief.   When the central nervous system soft-tissue restrictions are released, often, the body is able to return to its' own optimum level of health and functioning.  Because of craniosacral therapy's positive effects on many of the body's functions, it has been known to alleviate a wide range of illness, pain and dysfunction, including:

• ·         Migraines and Headaches
• ·         Chronic Neck and Back Pain
• ·         Motor-Coordination Impairments
• ·         Stress and Tension-related Problems
• ·         Infant  Disorders
• ·         Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injures
• ·         Chronic fatigue
• ·         Scoliosis
• ·         Central Nervous System Disorders
• ·         Emotional Difficulties
• ·         Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome
• ·         Learning Disabilities
• ·         Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 
• ·         Orthopedic Problems 
• ·         And Many Other Conditions

For more information about CranioSacral Therapy, go to www.Upledger.com

Yoga-Massage Therapy: Using assisted and restorative postures on the massage table with client partially clothed; therapist directs client in breathing techniques, and uses general shiatsu and therapeutic massage techniques to balance energy meridians, promote relaxation and increase body-mind awareness. 

Contraindication- 

There are times when therapeutic massage could be detrimental rather than beneficial to you:

• Body temperature over 100 F, or feeling ill

• Acute Traumas, open wounds, recent bruising, muscle tears, sprained ligament, contusions,  burns

• Tumors, where there is edema, and inconsistent with recent bruising

• Diseased blood vessels - varicose Veins, phlebitis, thrombosis

• Cancer

• Melanoma

• Haemophilia

• Infectious skin disorders - Bacterial infection, Lymphoma, Fungal infection, Viral infections, Herpes

• Whenever you react to a massage session adversely

• Whenever your medical condition warrants seeing a doctor

• Diabetes - not a strict contraindication, but massage has the same effects as exercise on your blood sugar levels, so you need to seek appropriate medical advise and medication.

Contact: 

Tzivia Stein, LMT       214 232-5159

   Tzivia@HealingCircleCenter.org

Claude Barrett, LMT  214 232-5278

   Claude@HealingCIrcleCenter.org