Remedial massage is effective in treating a wide range of conditions and ailments, such as, but not limited to:
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Tension headache
- Jaw pain
- Frozen shoulder
- Arthritis
- Sciatica
- Tennis elbow
- Plantar fasciitis
- Stress
- Muscular spasms
- Muscle cramps
- DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)
- What frequency works best for a remedial massage?
A new injury or condition can often be resolved within a few treatment sessions. However, a chronic and long standing condition will often require a series of treatments to return the area to its normal function. This will usually include a number of weekly massages. The frequency of these massages will slowly decrease until they are only required for occasional maintenance of the injury.
While everyone's needs will be a little different depending on their lifestyle, regular remedial massages work best. Ideally, a maintenance massage should be performed on a regular monthly basis to promote mobility and improved functionality. This helps to stop conditions from becoming more problematic and painful.
For advice specific to your body’s needs, ask your remedial massage therapist how often you should have a massage.
A new injury or condition can often be resolved within a few treatment sessions. However, a chronic and long standing condition will often require a series of treatments to return the area to its normal function. This will usually include a number of weekly massages. The frequency of these massages will slowly decrease until they are only required for occasional maintenance of the injury.
While everyone's needs will be a little different depending on their lifestyle, regular remedial massages work best. Ideally, a maintenance massage should be performed on a regular monthly basis to promote mobility and improved functionality. This helps to stop conditions from becoming more problematic and painful.
For advice specific to your body’s needs, ask your remedial massage therapist how often you should have
a massage.
Trigger point therapy
Trigger point therapy is a form of remedial massage therapy in which direct pressure is applied to specified points on tender muscle tissue to bring about a reduction in muscle tension and pain relief.
- What activates a trigger point?
Each muscle has potential trigger points which can become activated by muscle overuse, inflammation, trauma, electrolyte imbalances, infections and nerve pain.
These trigger points can cause pain over the muscle affected or refer pain and thus be felt in another area of the body. Other trigger points are only felt when the muscle is directly palpated by the therapist.
The taut bands of muscle that accompany trigger points are often easily identified on palpation. Pain can quickly be minimised with sustained compression on the affected tissue for 30 to 90 seconds. Some discomfort may be experienced when the compression is applied but the therapist will position the muscle to minimise the discomfort until such time it subsides completely.
- What conditions benefit from trigger point therapy?
Trigger point therapy is recognised as an effective treatment for pain. The main reason behind its success appears to be related to chronic pain patterns. The establishment of chronic pain patterns occurs within a few months of an injury.
Once established, these pain patterns are difficult to reverse by other conservative treatment techniques. Trigger point therapy is often useful in breaking this pain cycle.
In particular, trigger point therapy is useful when other forms of traditional western treatments have failed to fully eliminate your pain. In our experience, trigger point therapy is useful in the relief of most types of pain. For more advice, please ask your trigger point therapy practitioner.
Trigger point therapy is recognised as an effective treatment for pain. The main reason behind its success appears to be related to chronic pain patterns. The establishment of chronic pain patterns occurs within a few months of an injury.
Once established, these pain patterns are difficult to reverse by other conservative treatment techniques. Trigger point therapy is often useful in breaking this
pain cycle.
In particular, trigger point therapy is useful when other forms of traditional western treatments have failed to fully eliminate your pain. In our experience, trigger point therapy is useful in the relief of most types of pain. For more advice, please ask your trigger point
therapy practitioner.
Hot rock massage
The benefits of hot rock massage include increased circulation, increased oxygen, relaxation, reduced tightness and elimination of toxins. Drink plenty of water after the massage to flush these toxins away. Additional benefits include the opening of lymph glands and a more pliable body which can be used to enhance massages.
- What to expect
Hot rocks can access deep tissues without causing pain and makes the body more pliable. This form of massage can be combined with other treatments such as sports massage and remedial massage for enhanced benefits.
Let your therapist know if the rocks are too hot for you. She can always adjust to suit your taste. The heat gets absorbed quickly into the body and goes to where it is needed, so she will be keeping the stones as hot as you can handle it. Hot rock massage comes from Hawaii. They call it Pohaku Wela Wela. Pohaku which means stone and Wela means hot. Combined, Pohaku Wela Wela means very hot stone.
Your lymphatic system’s major role is to collect excess fluid from the tissues, purify it and return it to the bloodstream. This role is important because many substances are continuously leaking out of the blood capillaries into the surrounding tissues. When your lymphatic system fails to sweep up these excess fluids, they can accumulate, cause swelling and potentially increase the risk of infection. An efficient lymphatic system helps to defend your body against germs, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi that may cause illness. Luckily, an effective lymphatic system silently works in the background, keeping you healthy.
The lymphatic system drains the fluid into specific regions of your body, such as your armpits and groin where there is a concentration of lymph nodes. The lymph nodes contain lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) and some of these lymphocytes contain antibodies that fight off germs (including cancer cells) and stops infection from spreading throughout the body. The good news is that lymphatic massage rapidly speeds up your lymphatic system and its capacity to fight disease and viruses. It removes toxins and waste products, reduces swelling, filters lymph fluid and blood. This all leads better health.
Deep tissue massage
A deep tissue massage is a type of massage aimed at the deeper tissue structures of the muscle and fascia, also called connective tissue.
Deep tissue massage uses many of the same movements and techniques as lighter styles like Swedish massage, but the pressure will generally be more intense. It is a focused massage used to release chronic muscle tension and knots.
A quality deep tissue massage helps to loosen muscles, release toxins and gets blood and oxygen circulating properly.
A deep tissue massage is a type of massage aimed at the deeper tissue structures of the muscle and fascia, also called connective tissue.
Deep tissue massage uses many of the same movements and techniques as lighter styles like Swedish massage, but the pressure will generally be more intense. It is a focused massage used to release chronic muscle tension and knots.
A quality deep tissue massage helps to loosen muscles, release toxins and gets blood and oxygen
circulating properly.
- Will a deep tissue massage hurt?
It should not hurt. It is likely to be a bit more uncomfortable than a light Swedish massage, especially if you have some large chronic knots. Can adjust to your comfort.
- How fast will I get results with a deep tissue massage?
Most people report unbelievable relief immediately after their first deep tissue massage.
- What can help reduce soreness?
It is hard to gauge just how firm your first deep tissue massage should be, so let your massage therapist know if it feels too hard. In fact, undoing chronic knots and tension over a lifetime are best achieved with an integrated program that includes exercise, posture work, relaxation techniques and regular massage program to retain your muscle tension habits.
Sports massage
Sports massage is done with the intention of returning you to your desired sports activity with the same or an even better level of functionality. Sports massages can include more aggressive techniques to reach deeper muscle tissue.
Sports massage will often utilise a variety of modalities such as remedial massage, trigger point therapy, cross fibre techniques and deep tissue work. Primarily, the difference lies with the specific injury.
- How does a sports massage differ from a regular massage?
Regular massages usually mean those treatments offered at beauty spas or relaxation clinics. Both environments offer valid treatments for overworked, stressed muscles.
However, sports massages and remedial massages differ in both their purpose and the techniques used. Whilst nearly all massage therapists can perform regular massages, only those with specific sports massage skills are adequately equipped to perform effective treatment.
The primary goal of recovery massage is to reduce the amount of recovery time required. However, the following are also important goals of the treatment:
- Reduce muscular tension
- Reduce immediate muscle soreness
- Prevent DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)
- Prevent injury
- Promote a state of relaxation
- Relieve increased muscle tone
- How can a sports massage help my physical sporting performance?
- Reduce the chance of injury
- Improve power & performance by increasing muscular flexibility & joint range of motion
- Increase vascular flow to tissues, maximising nutrient & oxygen supply
- Improve elimination of lactic & carbonic waste products
- Shorten recovery time post injury
- Decrease fatigue
- Reduce the chance of injury
- Improve power & performance by increasing muscular flexibility & joint range of motion
- Increase vascular flow to tissues, maximising nutrient & oxygen supply
- Improve elimination of lactic & carbonic
waste products
- Shorten recovery time post injury
- Decrease fatigue
Kahuna massage
Kahuna massage is a therapeutic massage technique based on the teachings and practices of the ancient Hawaiian Kahunas. In the language of native Hawaiians, ‘Huna’ means ‘secret knowledge’. A master practitioner of any of the Huna arts is known as a ‘Kahuna’. Traditionally, massage (‘lomilomi’) was practised in the Hawaiian Islands both for relaxation and as one of the Kahuna healing arts.
The Kahuna massage technique is very vigorous and rhythmic. The practitioner uses his or her fingers, palms, wrists and even their forearms as they move rhythmically around the table. It has a deeply relaxing effect unlike a conventional massage.
- Benefits of Kahuna massage
Kahuna massage is said to stimulate the lymphatic, circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems, so it may be of therapeutic benefit for a variety of disorders. It is said to be particularly beneficial for a number of emotional problems including:
- Stress
- Depression
- Grief
- Exhaustion
- History of Kahuna massage
For thousands of years, adolescents in Hawaii have taken part in a rite of passage ritual that involves 7 to 10 days of Kahuna massage and healing. The massage was performed by Kahunas and is believed to help with emotional issues and reduce negative thoughts and feelings.
Since the eighteenth century, Kahuna massage has been enabling youth to become happier and healthier adults. Today, you can receive the same benefits of the Kahuna. Narelle McArdle, our massage therapist, has completed 6 levels of Kahuna massage with Mette Sorensen, an expert body worker/energy worker centred on connecting with positive energy.
For thousands of years, adolescents in Hawaii have taken part in a rite of passage ritual that involves 7 to 10 days of Kahuna massage and healing. The massage was performed by Kahunas and is believed to help with emotional issues and reduce negative thoughts
and feelings.
Since the eighteenth century, Kahuna massage has been enabling youth to become happier and healthier adults. Today, you can receive the same benefits of the Kahuna. Narelle McArdle, our massage therapist, has completed 6 levels of Kahuna massage with Mette Sorensen, an expert body worker/energy worker centred on connecting with positive energy.
Therapeutic massage
Massage therapy may also improve your circulation. This enhances the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to muscle cells and helps remove waste products or reduce swelling. These circulatory effects of massage may have value in the treatment of some inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis.
Massage therapy induces a relaxation response, which lowers your heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure. Plus, it boosts your immune system and generally decreases the physical effects of stress.
These effects suggest that massages may be helpful for a wide range of conditions.
- What conditions benefit from a therapeutic massage?
Massage therapy helps your body in numerous ways. Massages can relax muscle tissue, which may lead to decreased joint and nerve compression, increased joint and muscle range of motion. This commonly results in less pain and improved function.
- Therapeutic massage benefits the following conditions
- Stress
- Anxiety
- General well being
- High blood pressure
- Arthritis
- Low immunity
- Minor injuries
- When are the best times for a therapeutic massage?
The best time for a therapeutic massage is when you feel yourself getting worked up or when you are just not feeling your best.
Others find a regular therapeutic massage every month or two to be a great dose of prevention therapy.
- What duration is the best for a therapeutic massage?
If you have never had a therapeutic massage before or it has been quite some time since your last massage, then your initial treatment should ideally be for 60 to 90 minutes so that the therapist can work through those tired muscles at an even pace. This is to minimise any possible soreness the following day.
Relaxation massage
Relaxation massage is a smooth, gentle, flowing style that promotes general relaxation, relieves muscular tension, improves circulation and overall range of movement.
This is the style of massage you will find performed at day spas. Your therapist will aim to relax, revive and rejuvenate you at a depth that does not cause discomfort.
Relaxation massage is a smooth, gentle, flowing style that promotes general relaxation, relieves muscular tension, improves circulation and overall range
of movement.
This is the style of massage you will find performed at day spas. Your therapist will aim to relax, revive and rejuvenate you at a depth that does not
cause discomfort.
Swedish massage
Swedish massage is probably the most well-known form of relaxation massage.
While a relaxation massage is wonderful for you, it is less effective than deeper forms for reducing soft tissue tension. We normally recommend deeper styles when you are suffering from pain. Many choose a relaxation massage when they just want to relax!
Please discuss your needs with your massage therapist. They will be happy to tailor a massage solution for you that combines a relaxation massage with other styles that address your issues.
Pregnancy massage
A pregnancy massage is a combination of relaxation massage and remedial massage. The massage therapist adapts their techniques to address the changes a woman goes through during her pregnancy.
For instance, in the early stages, the therapist will work on relaxing the body and loosening the muscles related to stress and any lingering injuries that the mother may have, so they are not a concern in the later stages of the pregnancy.
In the second trimester, the therapist will change the technique. Not only will they focus on the upper body area but also on the lower body region including the hips and legs.
As the pregnancy progresses to the third trimester, the treatment will include more flowing movements to address fluid retention. It will also focus on the lower body region to loosen any tight muscles in preparation for the birth. It may also incorporate the arms, hands and feet in the cases of swelling.
Pregnancy massage is just as important for the mother as it is for the child. Please discuss your needs with our massage therapist. They will be happy to tailor an effective massage solution as well as address your individual, ever-changing needs, during this amazing time of your life.
A pregnancy massage is a combination of relaxation massage and deep tissue massage. The massage therapist adapts their techniques to address the changes a woman goes through during her pregnancy.
For instance, in the early stages, the therapist will work on relaxing the body and loosening the muscles related to stress and any lingering injuries that the mother may have, so they are not a concern in the later stages of
the pregnancy.
In the second trimester, the therapist will change the technique. Not only will they focus on the upper body area but also on the lower body region including the hips and legs.
As the pregnancy progresses to the third trimester, the treatment will include more flowing movements to address fluid retention. It will also focus on the lower body region to loosen any tight muscles in preparation for the birth. It may also incorporate the arms, hands and feet in the cases of swelling.
Pregnancy massage is just as important for the mother as it is for the child. Please discuss your needs with our massage therapist. They will be happy to tailor an effective massage solution as well as address your individual, ever-changing needs, during this amazing time of your life.
- What are the benefits of a pregnancy massage?
- Reduces stress & anxiety about the pregnancy
- Relaxes sore back & hips
- Reduces headaches associated with pregnancy
- Aides restless legs
- Helps with sleep deprivation & tiredness
- How does a pregnancy massage help me?
Pregnancy massage helps you by targeting specific areas of the body that need to be relaxed or given more movement. It is important to prepare the body for the many changes that will come instead of trying to fight them. Pregnancy is a joyful time in everyone's life, but it is also the most taxing on the body. It makes sense to keep your body moving for its ultimate
well being.
Pregnancy massage helps you by targeting specific areas of the body that need to be relaxed or given more movement. It is important to prepare the body for the many changes that will come instead of trying to fight them. Pregnancy is a joyful time in everyone's life, but it is also the most taxing on the body. It makes sense to keep your body moving for its ultimate well being.
While everyone’s needs will be a little different, depending on their lifestyle, regular pregnancy massages work best on a monthly cycle. This usually correlates to the baby’s ‘major growth cycle’, in which the body goes through an enormous change.
For specific advice, please ask your massage therapist how often you should come in.
