Five Element Wellness Center

Massage

Massage Therapy

Five Element Wellness Center has highly trained, licensed and experienced massage therapists on call. We offer massage therapy for relaxation, health and fitness purposes. A good massage restores balance and well being. It releases muscular tension and allows your body to move more freely and with greater strength. It counters the effects of stress, anxiety, the lack of exercise and the shortage of rest as it facilitates the flow of vital energy.

Our therapists will make sure you're completely comfortable whether it's your first massage or your fiftieth. We specialize in three types of massage: Deep Tissue, Swedish and Hot Stone. Please take the tine to read Safety Precautions and Contraindications below if you think you might benefit from massage.

Pregnant women should certainly discuss massage with their physician prior to making an appointment. They should also let us know of their condition before the massage.

Deep Tissue Massage

A massage with strong, penetrating strokes to relieve soreness in specific areas of the body. Designed to improve circulation, stretch muscles for better flexibility and release deeply rooted tension. It is used to treat muscle, tendon and ligament injuries, and the effects of crippling diseases. It is remarkably effective on skeletal structures that lie deep within the body that cannot be reached with the fingers in regular massage. It is done transversely on muscle fibers and has no relationship to relaxation massage.

Deep Tissue Massage works by breaking down scar tissue and crystallization in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. restoring proper balance between the muscular and bone structures. Deep Tissue Massage increases the blood circulation, very helpful to injured and aging areas that have experience decreased blood supply.

Whether it be injury or a muscle disorder, Deep Tissue Massage gets results. When muscles become injured, they automatically restrict natural movement to avoid further damage. This is natural and useful for a time. However, after a preliminary period of rest, it is necessary to begin exercising and strengthening the injured muscle to redevelop the tissue in a safe and orderly fashion. Otherwise, it begins to atrophy. Each day without therapy causes the injured muscle to grow more moribund .

After a while you will have to ask yourself, "Do I carry my muscles around or do they carry me?" Superficial techniques cannot be expected to correct the problems. These techniques can help reduce inflammation, aid circulation, and soothe hyper-toned muscles, but the root problems will remain buried deep in your tissue. Scar tissue (lesions) and inappropriate attachments (adhesions) in addition to the atrophy will have developed. A penetrating technique is clearly necessary if such tissues are to be affected in a permanent, positive way. Deep Tissue Massage is the most successful form of remedial physical therapy to address these problems.

Deep Tissue Massage is a very specific massage technique, utilizing heavy pressure. Deep Tissue therapists look for shortened muscles and distorted postural patterns. With slow deep strokes, the therapist works to lengthen the muscle fibers, to restore balance, and to reestablish structural and functional integrity to the greatest degree possible for the client. Deep Tissue Massage increases range of motion and restores economy of motion. It often seems the very opposite of soothing and relaxing techniques that we normally associate with massage.

Swedish Massage

Swedish Massage refers to a variety of techniques specifically designed to relax muscles by applying pressure on them against deeper muscles and bones, and rubbing in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart. Swedish Massage was developed in the 1700's by a Swedish doctor named Per Herrick Ling, making it one of the oldest scientifically organized massage disciplines.

The underlying purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. It shortens recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the tissues of lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes. It increases circulation without increasing the client's heart rate. Additionally, it stretches the ligaments and tendons, keeping them supple and pliable while stimulating the skin and soothing the nervous system. Like most massage, Swedish massage reduces the effects of stress and is indicated as part of a healthy program for stress management.

Swedish massage employs a variety of techniques. These include long strokes, kneading, friction, brisk tapping or tapotement, percussion, vibration, gliding strokes called effleurage, kneading movements known as petrissage and shaking motions.

Swedish massage feels good. It is relaxing and invigorating and has beneficial affects on the nerves, muscles, glands, and circulation.

Hot Stone Massage

Hot Stone Massage is a technique using smooth stones, usually basalt as the medium for delivering the therapeutic elements during the massage. The stones vary in size and shape to better enable the therapist to custom fir the massage to any area of the body, including the face.

The stones are heated well above body temperature, lubricated and applied to the client's body in long flowing strokes. The therapeutic elements are the location of the massage, the penetrating heat of the stones and the pressure of the strokes. The combination softens connective tissue, radiating into muscle and bone. The latter can stimulate hemoglobin production among other things. The muscles, of course, relaxed by the heat and continuous pressure the stones, easing stress, tension, and anxiety.

There are a couple of notable differences between hot stone massage and more traditional massage techniques. First, hot stone massage is a more gentle touch than other techniques. The stones, the lubricating oil and gravity are supposed to do the work. The therapist simply ensure that these elements are properly directed. Second, it is entirely possible that the therapist may not directly touch the client during a session. Even so, hot stone massage is often able to provide the same relief as more aggressive deep tissue techniques, making it an excellent alternative for people who have a low pain threshold.