Relaxation & Therapeutic Massage

Calm your mind. Release the Tension. Heal your Body.

 

Massage Therapy

One of the oldest and most trusted forms of care. Not just a pampering luxury, but a proven form of natural healthcare.

The quality of life depends, in part, on our ability to be pain free, and to maintain strength and flexibility. Massage Therapy can help you identify and overcome areas of biomechanical restriction and to prevent injury by maintaining flexibility. If an injury has occurred I can help the recovery process with the goal of regaining full range of motion and reducing the restrictions of scar tissue and neuromuscular dysfunction, and regaining muscular balance.

Providing a safe, compassionate, and respectful environment for every person to maximize their innate healing potential.

To provide a truly relaxing massage is an art.
To address chronic pain & acute injuries to give a truly effective therapeutic massage is an art.
To interweave both (when the conditions warrant) requires skill and experience.
 From my experience with over 10,000 hands on hours as a licensed massage therapist, I have found that by reducing stress, creating a safe healing environment, respecting and adapting to the clients unique needs and response to therapy, as well as interweaving both relaxing massage & therapeutic massage, is the optimal way to support the innate healing process.
When a person is in pain (emotionally or physically) it affects not only their body, but their mind and emotions too. The human body is nothing short of a miracle in its ability to heal. All healing comes from within. No doctor, no massage therapist, no medicine or herb, does the healing. Though all these do assist the body in its ability to self heal, it is the innate healing energy that does the healing.
 Every day I strive to improve my art and skills. Every client is different and each client may have different needs and goals for each session. The body responds differently at different times depending on what other parameters are involved at that time. To be effective I need to be adaptable, to listen to what I’m being told by the client, and what their body is telling me as I work.
 In today’s technical-medical world the patient as a whole (body, mind, & spirit) is often overlooked, however the body doesn’t operate that way.

Find your balance, energy & happiness the natural way.

Massage therapy is also a modality of choice for stress reduction. Stress affects us in many ways including high blood pressure, head aches, back aches, arthritis, digestive disorders, and the list goes on. Therapeutic massage helps prevent and restore us from these sometimes debilitating conditions .
Your massage session is always tailored to your specific needs in a holistic fashion. Each session includes Swedish Massage for relaxation ,stress reduction, and circulatory benefit. Specific issues are addressed with multiple methods including Deep Tissue work, Neuromuscular, and Orthopedic massage techniques.
Promotes…
•General relaxation and stress relief.
•Normalize neuromuscular function.
•Reduced muscular tension and associated discomfort.
•Better circulation, Lower blood pressure.
•Recovery from exercise or overuse.
•Improved immune function
•Enhances tissue elasticity and flexibility.
•Increased range of motion in joints.

Orthopedic / Medical Massage in many cases  provides effective treatment in addressing:
•Whiplash injuries
•Rotator cuff injuries
•Bicipital tendonitis
•Thoracic outlet
•Frozen shoulder
•Upper back, mid back  and lower back pain
•Medial and lateral epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow)
•Carpal tunnel

 

Each session is designed specifically to address your current and long term goals. Respectful, professional service in conjunction with a variety of applied skilled techniques are designed to offer a most beneficial and positive experience. Initial session begins with a full health history consultation to ensure the most beneficial approach to you session. Swedish massage, Therapeutic/Orthopedic Massage, Myofascial and Deep Tissue massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Hot Stone Therapy, and Reiki are employed as appropriate to your needs.

Swedish Massage is the basis for most massage that is generally thought of when a general massage is given. Swedish massage consist of long gliding strokes, compression and kneading of the tissue, tapotement ( light tapping, hacking, or chopping techniques ), stretching movements and friction. The massage is generally done with oils or lotions and is very relaxing and soothing. Swedish massage promotes relaxation, better circulation, better flexibility and many other benefits.

Relaxation / Wellness Massage:
Wellness massage is a holistic approach to health maintenance. Relaxation, stress reduction, addressing areas of the soft tissue structure that may be out of balance. These are all addressed seeing the body/mind/spirit as the whole and not compartmentalized. While focusing on a specific issue, say a strained back muscle, can be beneficial in the initial term, addressing the pre-conditions that allow for the situation to become an acute problem is the best approach to prevention or re-occurrence.

Therapeutic/Clinical Massage:
Although all massage can be considered therapeutic in a broad sense, a typical therapeutic massage is oriented towards a particular goal or condition. For example a strained muscle, tight neck muscles, relief of headaches etc.

The therapeutic massage would typically include some Swedish Massage to help relax the client and prepare the areas to be worked deeper. A combination of techniques and modalities would be incorporated into the session for the desired goal. Depending on the condition or injury and how long the problem has been present, several sessions may be required to obtain the best results.

Therapeutic massage may also be used as a preventative measure before and after sports or heavy activity, preventing recurring headaches, lowering or maintaining ideal blood pressure, etc. (for the purposes of insurance, therapeutic / clinical massage must be prescribed by your physician. Clinical/ Therapeutic massage may be billed as Wellness Massage for self-pay clients).

The Orthopedic Massage techniques employed by me have been taught by James Waslaski, LMT. Mr. Waslaski has effectively integrated techniques from the world’s leading structural bodyworkers, osteopathic physicians, chiropractors, physical therapist, exercise physiologists, nutritionists, and athletic trainers to eliminate the most complicated pain conditions. The techniques are designed to release pain immediately by combining sequences of functional assessment, myofascial release, N.M.T, frictioning, muscle energy, P.N.F. stretching, neuromuscular re-education, structural balancing, and patient home care.

Myofascial and Deep Tissue Massage:
All types of massage may ultimately benefit fascia, however specific myofascial work involves the connective tissue both superficial and deep. Fascia surrounds and separates almost every structure and cell in the body. It forms the interstitial space ( space between individual cells). Fascia is involved in structural and visceral support, as well as separation and protection and therefore influences respiration, elimination, metabolism, fluid flow, and the immune systems. Dysfunction in the fascial network compromises the efficiency of the body. Fascial shortening and thickening restrict movement and can be responsible for chronic poor posture, stiffness and reduced range of motion. Myofascial and Deep Tissue Massage addresses these issues to help correct the imbalances they cause.

Polarity Therapy:
The purpose of Polarity Therapy is to locate and release blocked energy. When blocked energy is released, body systems and organs can function normally and healing can take place naturally. Polarity therapy does not treat illness or disease, it affects the body (life) energy, which flows in invisible electromagnetic currents through the body’s organs and tissues. Instead, it stimulates the energy that is inactive in a diseased body part. Polarity therapy works with the five major body currents which are… ether, air, fire, water, and earth and works on the reflex points within the energy patterns of the body. Polarity is a gentle art. The techniques involved include rocking, holding and gentle touch that serve to stimulate and balance the entire body and generally provide a relaxing session.

Foot Reflexology:
In the bodywork community, reflexology means the stimulation of areas beneath the skin to improve the function of the whole body or of specific body areas away from the site of stimulation. Historically, the approach appears to have originated in China. Foot reflexology is the most popular type of reflexology. Reflexology works on the principle of the 10 major zones running through the body. Reflex points for stimulation can be located within these zones. Reflexology applies the stimulus/reflex principle to healing the body. The whole body body, including the hands, head, ears, and torso, has reflex points. Two basic treatment approaches exist. If a reflexive point is tender and therefore likely to be overactive, relaxation and sedating methods are used. If the point is under active, stimulation methods are used. The goal is to unblock energy blocks, stimulate circulation to a given area and create balance within the system.

Trigger Point Therapy/NeuroMuscular Therapy
Trigger points are small hyperirritable spots in muscle or related connective tissue that my cause local pain or pain in a distant referral zone. As an example, your migraine type of headache may in fact be coming from a trigger point/s in your neck or shoulder area. This pain referral may be stopped by locating and releasing these points. The therapist will work these areas when found by using ischemic compression techniques, deep friction, deep muscle stripping, stretching and sometimes cold packs. The work may be discomforting temporarily but is always done within your range of tolerance. Communication between yourself and your therapist during this type of work is necessary for optimal benefit. Many people are amazed to experience long term discomfort disappear or be reduced simply by using these techniques. This has proven well with carpal tunnel type of symptoms, tennis elbow symptoms, headaches, lower back pain, and much more. This work was originally pioneered by Dr. Janet Travell, president JFK’s personal physician.

About Me

Dana Tavares LMT

I am at the most enjoyable and effective point in my career. Having served two of the largest chiropractic offices in our area all while building my private practice for the first fifteen years, now, and for the past five years, I am entirely focused on my private practice, serving my long standing clients and new clients alike.

I am dedicated to the wellbeing of each of my clients and bring a variety of skills into each session as needed. My focus before, during, and after each session is entirely to provide the best care for each person.

Follow the lnk here to learn more about my training and approach to the work I offer.