Massage Techniques

Massage Therapy

• Swedish / Relaxation Massage
• Therapeutic and Deep Tissue Massage
• Prenatal and Elderly Massage
• Hot Stone Massage
• Cupping
• Reflexology

Massage Therapy is generally considered part of complementary and alternative medicine. It's increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations.

Studies of the benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension. Some studies have found massage therapy may also be helpful for:

• Anxiety
• Digestive disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches
• Insomnia related to stress
• Myofascial pain syndrome
• Soft tissue strains or injuries
• Sports injuries
• Temporomandibular joint pain

Beyond the benefits for specific conditions or diseases, some people enjoy massage because it often produces feelings of caring, comfort and connection. Despite its benefits, massage isn't meant as a replacement for regular medical care. Let your doctor know you're trying massage and be sure to follow any standard treatment plans you have. Above information is an excerpt from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/massage/art-20045743

Bowen Technique was developed by the late Tom Bowen of Geelong, Australia. It is a method whereby our client's can learn to manage their own pain and stress along with relaxation and detoxification. This unique approach can manage the stress of migraine headaches, back discomfort, shoulder injuries, TMJ, muscle aches and discomfort, sciatic nerve issues, and scoliosis.

The Bowen technique is a series of simple, gentle, non-invasive moves done across muscle and connective tissue - with client fully clothed (loose clothing, i.e. sweats/t-shirt best). Instead of over-powering the body, these moves encourage and assist the body to heal itself. Often, relief is often experienced immediately. Range and fluidity of motion are generally restored or enhanced rapidly, and most injuries or conditions are alleviated in a minimal number of sessions.

We are fortunate to have been taught Levels I, II, III and IV by the late Milton Albrecht of Auburn, California. Milton had the “touch” and the intuitive instincts of Tom Bowen, and he imparted his passion and Bowen instincts to us, his students, to the best of his ability. All of Milton's clients and students loved him; he was second to none - not even Tom Bowen himself, in our opinions. (Disclaimer here: We did not know Tom Bowen.)

A little about Milton: Excerpts from: Bowen Therapy International "Milton J. Albrecht was the first Bowen therapist certified outside of Australia, sponsoring the first Bowen seminar held in the U.S., in September, 1989. Milton became internationally well-known for his progressive interpretation of Tom Bowen's Australian modality". "...Milton never advertised, and even though he saw 25 people a day, six days a week, his reputation grew strictly by word of mouth. He usually saw 4 people each hour, and because there are usually 2-10 minute waiting periods between moves, Milton could go from client to client. He would often ask the client's family or friends to observe the session so he could explain not only what he was doing, but how they could help themselves in the future." "...People were flying in from all over the country for treatments, and because Milton grasped Bowen therapy so completely, they either wanted to take the seminar, or recommended a colleague."

One Interpretation of the Bowen Technique

The term "Bowen Technique" is commonly used to describe a number of interpretations of a body work that is based on the methods used by an informally trained Australian named Thomas Ambrose Bowen (1916-1982). It is a complimentary technique in that all the interpretations seek to facilitate the body's natural capacity for self-regulation and healing. These approaches are all similar in that they employ a unique form of moves that address the stress of mechanical and neural dysfunction. Each of these approaches generate beneficial input through its interpretation of the "Bowen" move. In this Interpretation of the Bowen Technique the term, "move" describes a process of tactile intervention that is specific in relation to various characteristics.

The typical "move" is distinctive in that it is directed to a target area, involves some use of skin slack, and a has a specific "direction." The most simplistic interpretation of the Bowen Technique employs standardized sequences of predetermined moves to elicit a response, while more complex interpretations apply individualized intervention based on observation and understanding of the body. It is our understanding that Tom Bowen considered his knowledge and understanding of the body a "gift from God."