Services
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy
Biodynamic craniosacral therapy is a gentle yet powerful technique that is effective in releasing neck pain, back pain, mental stress, headaches, insomnia, and more. It optimizes the movement of cerebrospinal fluid through the spine and around the skull using light touch, and has been found to enhance the body's natural healing processes by stimulating the immune system and improving overall physical health. It can also address musculoskeletal issues by releasing restrictions in the body, promoting better posture and mobility.
This therapy provides a very soothing and relaxing healing experience. BCST is particularly effective for patients with trauma because of its slow movement and support of the nervous system. Overall, craniosacral therapy provides a holistic approach to wellness, leaving you feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and better equipped to face your life.
What to Expect
We begin your appointment by talking about your health history and what you would like to get out of the session. You remain fully clothed during the sesion, sitting in a chair to start, then lying on a massage table. With trauma-informed therapy, It is important that you are comfortable and feel safe at all times. Please feel free to ask for adjustments to lighting, temperature, or posture. Your therapist will ask you from time to time what you are experiencing and will help you stay present with whatever that experience is.
Sessions can last anywhere from a half hour up to an hour and a half, depending on your needs and the therapist you are working with. During that time, the therapist will quietly and gently hold parts of your body, listening to subtle rhythms and tracking changes in your system. It is important to note that while a single session can have noticeable effects, it often takes multiple sessions to achieve the results you are seeking.
During the session, you may
enter a quiet meditation-like state
relax so deeply that you fall asleep
feel as if you are dreaming while awake
experience memories or insights while on the table
enjoy a pleasant sense of warmth, softening, widening, or floating
At times, you may experience other kinds of sensations as tension held in the body is released. If this occurs, stay present with your breath and bodily sensations and allow the tension to discharge. Sessions often involve a process of letting go of patterns that inhibit your health and vitality. Once these patterns shift, your therapist can notice changes in your fluids, tissues, bones, and potency. You may experience a sense of integration in your body, mind, and spirit.
At the end of the session, you may
feel relaxed, but also energized
find yourself breathing more fully and deeply
stand straighter and taller
feel more comfortable in your body
be surprised to feel a new sense of peace and ease as you leave the office to return, renewed, to your life
notice an improvement in your sleep patterns
No matter what your experience , your therapist will take some time with you after you are off the table to check in about how you are doing. This is a great opportunity to find words for your experience and reflect on how differently you feel after your session. The effects can also be felt even after you leave your session.
Massage
All massages use a mixture of myofascial and Swedish massage.
Myofascial Massage
Myofascial massage is a technique that treats injuries and discomfort, reducing pain and increasing range of motion. Myofascial massage differs from other types of massage in that it targets the fascia—the membrane surrounding muscles—rather than the muscle itself. Since fascia completely encases every muscle in the body, imbalances in the fascia have serious effects on your range of motion and comfort level. While other forms of massage can overlook the fascia, myofascial massage focuses specifically on releasing tension in this important membrane.
Swedish Massage
Swedish Massage is a very relaxing and therapeutic style of bodywork. It combines oils or lotion with an array of rolling, kneading, and percussion to help the body improve its circulation. The benefits of this type of bodywork are wide-ranging and include relief from aches and pains, decreased stress levels, enhanced mental clarity, improved appearance, and greater flexibility.
Gua Sha
Gua sha is a Ming Dynasty-era Chinese therapy that involves smoothing a sculpted stone or metal over the body to relieve muscle tension, reduce inflammation, and improve lymphatic flow. It increases circulation, hydrates the fascia, and helps release adhesions, creating a more even and radiant skin appearance. Regular use can ease tight muscles, reduce the appearance of cellulite, and promote relaxation. The Chinese and others believe that gua sha improves range of motion and energy flow, providing physical relief and beauty benefits.
Dry Brushing
Dry brushing is an age-old practice with numerous health benefits, making it a staple in holistic wellness and spa treatments. It exfoliates the skin with a natural bristle brush in sweeping motions to promote circulation, stimulate lymphatic fluid, and aid in detoxification. The process awakens nerve endings and elicits relaxation while enhancing the body’s natural functions. Dry brushing removes dead skin cells, and improves skin firmness, tone, and clarity. Paired with massage, it leaves your skin soft and glowing.
Active Isolated Stretching
Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) is a dynamic system for improving flexibility and overall well-being. Stretching your muscles reduces your chance of injury and strengthens your tendons and improves your circulation. This technique activates the opposing muscle, sending a message to your brain to expect the targeted muscle to relax next. Patients with strained muscles, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, or other connective tissue disorders benefit greatly from AIS.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Manual Lymphatic Drainage therapy aims to gently and rhythmically move lymphatic fluid through the body, relieving pressure, swelling, and enhancing the functioning of the immune system. As both a preventative and remedial technique, MLD facilitates faster recovery from injury, reduce swelling and discomfort from pregnancy, and strengthened resistance to illness.
Myofascial Release Therapy
Myofascial release is a soft tissue therapy intended to eliminate pain, increase range of motion, and rebalance the entire body using massage techniques to stretch the fascia and release the bonds between layers of fascia, muscles, and bones. Fascia is the connective tissue that connects and covers all muscles, organs, and skeletal structures in the body. Also known as deep tissue work, direct myofascial release involves working slowly until deeper tissue is reached. Indirect release applies light pressure and gently stretches the fascia; this allows for increased blood circulation and relief from pain.
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger Point Therapy is a style of bodywork that focuses on stimulating and releasing "trigger points" in your body. Trigger points are tender areas of tension similar to acupressure points, except they occur in the belly of the muscle rather than along the energy pathways of the body. These "knots" build throughout a person's life due to physical, mental, and/or emotional stress. During a session, focused pressure is applied through a variety of techniques to release your trigger points. This process can be uncomfortable at times, but should not be painful. The effects are lasting and profoundly transformative.