Fusion Treatments

East meets West

Having a strong foundation in Western (table) massage techniques, I am quite confident with all of the Swedish strokes such as Effleurage, Petrissage, Friction, Vibration and Tapotement. Honestly, I can't help but include some of the western sensability with every Thai Massage session when the situation indicates. Some of these classic Swedish strokes can be done properly without any oil. If oil is needed the target area will be exposed. You may be asked to remove clothing during a fusion session and this can always be accomplished in a discrete maner.

Also from my study, I have experience with Chinese 5 Element Theory and it's place in the practice of Shiatsu. The thumb pressure techniques of the Bangkok style massage that I often explored in Thailand are virtually one-in-the-same. Your Fusion request can include Shiatsu techniques as well.

I have also extensive studies in Medical massage and am ready to employ specific techniques toward the treatment of chronic pain syndromes and overuse conditions.

I urge you to be as complete as you possibly can while filling out the health history questionaire. This information is always useful to me as I formualte my approach and plan a sequence.

Incorporated into one of the world's oldest healing modalities, my style of Thai massage is a blend of acupressure, medical massage work, and yoga-like stretches.

If you have had the pleasure of a session in Thailand you may already know that there are two main types of Thai Bodywork. In Bankok the style is more likely to share a greater similarity with Japanese Shiatsu, characterized by hard pressure allong the Sen lines using the thumbs and elbows, etc. In Northern Thailand the style is more likely to be heavily focused on the stretching techniques that originally inspired me to pursue the craft. I tend to emphasize both styles, allowing my experience and intuition to guide me allong with whatever is revealed in the interview preceding the session. These and other Western assessment techniques guide me on just what to do in each area of the body in order to maximize the sevice for you.

Your benefits from a typical session include: relaxed muscle tissue, release within restricted joints, overall stress reduction, and increased range of motion throughout the body.

Swedish Strokes

Effleurage means to glide or flow and is the first stroke we learn in the study of Swedish massage. Effleurage is used to apply lubricant, whether oil, cream, lotion, or powder. This stroke is also used to get the client used to your touch.Fingers gliding, hands or forearms over an area of the body, slowly allowing the pressure to sink down deep into the skin and the underlying muscles. Repeating this several times in the same area, following the shape of the client's body with this stroke over the entire body part that is being workied on. This is a good stroke for palpating the tissue and locating any tightness in the muscles and soft tissues. Effleurage moves lymph and blood and gets the soft tissues warmed up and prepared for additional strokes. Sometimes it is the only stroke you need to perform as a massage therapist to make a client's pain go away. It is the stroke that not only starts a massage, but also ends it. Once all of the other Swedish massage strokes have been completed, this stroke is once again performed to finish off the massage.

Petrissage, which means to knead is done by grasping the soft tissue firmly in the hand with a lift and a squeeze, letting go, and grasping more tissue and repeating the process all the way across the body part. This is most effective on the tissues when it is done firmly and slowly. Repeat this several times using the same technique and then change to another variation of this type of stroke. Everyone loves a good back massage. While I perform variations of this kneading stroke on the back during table massage, a good deal of my clients doze off. Petrissage empties the soft tissues of waste and toxins and allows them to fill with freshly oxygenated blood to nourish them. This stroke also flattens and stretches the tissues.There are several variations such as one or two-handed, fulling, and skin rolling to name a few.

Friction comes from a Latin word that means to rub. It is also known as compression because the tissue is pushed down and squeezed together. Compression is best suited to increase circulation and is good for massaging bony areas like the ankles, knees and the back of the neck, along with tendons and ligaments. This type of stroke includes superficial warming, deep compression, chucking wringing, rolling, cross-fiber, and circular.

Vibration is a stroke thatcomes from a Latin word that means shaker. It is fast shaking, trembling, and slower rhythmic rocking using the fingertips, hands, and sometimes electrical appliances.

Jostling is another word for the coarse variation of vibration. Jostling loosens muscles that surround joints.

Rocking can be comforting to the client, much like when you rock a baby to sleep. Hands or feet can be used to rock the body or a specific body part on the table. The area that I am most likely to use this technique is the low back. This is quite relaxing, increases circulation, relieves pain, and relieves congestion in the upper respiratory tract.

Tapotement is a French word that means a light blow. Repeated strikes of the hands on a body part delivered with rhythm. There are six main types taught in the practical portion of your massage classes.

Variations of this popular stroke are tapping, slapping, cupping, hacking, pinching, and soft-fisted beating. The names sound sort of violent, but they are not. They are always be done lightly and should not hurt at all.