Services
Massage Studio
Types of massage offered at Hope In Hands:
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue work is the most common, most sought out modality of massage. Slow strokes and intense pressure help relieve chronic tension, pain, and restricted movement. Deep tissue work begins with long massage strokes applied to the superficial muscles (those closer to the surface of the skin) to increase blood flow and prepare the body for more pressure. As pressure increases, painful myofascial trigger points ("knots") are being released and shortened skeletal muscles elongate.
Therapeutic Relaxation
Therapeutic Relaxation massage, also known as Swedish massage, provides full-body relaxation. It’s ideal for anyone recovering from an injury and it’s an excellent way to relieve stress, tension, and sore muscles. If you’re having a hard time relaxing, but aren’t necessarily looking for “deep” work, then you will benefit greatly from this modality of massage. The pressure applied to your body during a therapeutic relaxation session is based on your comfort level and can vary from light to firm.
Neuromuscular Therapy
Neuromuscular therapy (NMT) is a targeted form of deep tissue work; it is a precise examination and treatment of the body’s soft tissues. NMT considers perpetuating factors that may be causing your pain. For example, if you have shoulder pain, the entire shoulder girdle and the muscles of the neck and torso that connect to the shoulder girdle must be included in the treatment to insure mobility of the scapula (shoulder blade).
Trigger point therapy is used in NMT to alleviate pain by isolating hyper-irritable areas in the fascia--the connective tissues that provide a framework of support and separate muscle groups and organs throughout your body--and applying firm, pointed pressure followed by the release of pressure and comforting effleurage (circular) strokes until the trigger points release. Myofascial trigger points ("knots") can be extremely stubborn, which can mean that multiple sessions are necessary to meet your therapeutic goal.
Myofascial Release
Myofascial Release (MFR) helps relieve discomfort and pain in clients who experience shortness and tightness in skeletal muscles and/or connective tissues. This can include tissues that restrict motion and pull the body out of alignment, which can lead to overcompensation--the "favoring" of one side or shoulder, etc. MFR encourages blood flow, stretches and loosens the fascia so that it and the structures surrounding it can move more freely, and restores symmetry. At Hope in Hands, MFR is used in addition to other treatments to help prepare clients for deeper work.