Swedish Deep Tissue Massage
Massage is an ancient form of healing, used for thousands of years to offer relief from pain, to restore good spirits, provide comfort, boost energy, and to rejuvenate muscles. Massage actually speeds up the natural healing processes of the body, calms the mind, and settles the emotions.
Massage therapy is the manipulation of soft tissues of the body for a therapeutic effect. Massage incorporates a variety of manual movements designed to stretch and relax muscles, tendons, ligaments and connective tissue of the body and in doing so can effectively increase joint mobility. It also increases the efficiency of the circulation and the body's ability to use its oxygen and glucose stores, reducing pain by soothing the nervous system which allows the body to rest and repair itself.
Why use massage?
The tactile action of massage has a great many useful effects.
Massage will: Enhance one's awareness of body and breathing and so improve posture; Relieve accumulated tension and restore flexibility to tight, sore muscles; Break down waste products held in the muscles and improve the cleansing role of the lymphatic system.
It is effective in the treatment of:
- back and neck pain
- joint pain
- Neuropathies due to soft tissue entrapments such as: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome and sciatic pain.
- migraine and tension related headaches
- TMJ (temporomandibular joint) dysfunction
- hypertension
- general muscular spasm and tightness
- repetitive strain injuries
- pregnancy related conditions
- athletic injuries
- whiplash
- chronic tension due to stress
What happens when I get a massage?
Upon arriving for your first appointment, the therapist will ask you to fill in a medical case history form to inform your therapist about any potential health risks. The therapist will leave the room to allow you to get undressed and onto the table. They will also leave the room for you to get dressed once the massage is over. We also ask you to fill out an informed consent document.
Once on the table, you will be fully covered by a sheet and/or blanket. For a full body massage, most people undress completely, though you may choose to wear underwear or remain clothed. Specific draping techniques are used to ensure your modesty is never compromised. At all times during the massage, you will remain under the sheet with only the part of your body being worked on uncovered.
Swedish Massage is performed on a massage table with pillows or props in place to maximize your comfort. Oil or lotion is applied directly to the skin to reduce friction in order to allow better access to deeper structures. The amount of pressure applied is dependent on you. "No pain, no gain" does not necessarily apply to massage since pain is the body's way of indicating an injury or problem is present. You can stop or modify the treatment at any time.
Always tell your massage therapist if you feel any discomfort so he/she can adjust their pressure to a more appropriate level.
An hour is a common length for a treatment although a half-hour can be an excellent introduction to massage. Depending on your needs, your therapist can suggest a suitable time frame for your treatment.
Any massage therapist will be happy to discuss your questions before you book an appointment.
Most of all relax and enjoy!
How does somebody become a massage therapist?
Registered Massage Therapists have completed a minimum of 2200 hours of training at a government approved school of massage and have been examined and licensed by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario. Registered Massage Therapists are considered primary health care providers therefore no doctor's prescription is required (unless specified by your insurance provider in order to be eligible for coverage)