Craniosacral TherapyGO TO TOP

What is Craniosacral Therapy?

Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle hands-on therapy that focuses on the body’s inherent wisdom in order to direct healing.  The practitioner “listens” to the craniosacral rhythm at various places on the client’s body in order “tune in” and discover the best way to affect positive change at any given time during a treatment.

The craniosacral rhythm is the pulse or flow of cerebrospinal fluid through the meninges of the spinal cord. This rhythmic pressure, is separate from the cardiovascular pulse and the flow of breath and can be detected quite clearly by the practitioner. It’s this rhythm that directs the session, dictating which cranial, sacral or other bones may need attention in order to release tension and allow the free flow of energy and/or cerebrospinal fluid.

Clients are fully clothed and begin supine (face up) on the treatment table while the practitioner conducts the session. Treatments are conducted in increments of 60 and 90 minutes.

Traditional Thai BodyworkGO TO TOP

What Is Thai Bodywork?

Thai Bodywork is based on the ancient form of Thai Healing Arts. Like other forms of Asian massage, it focuses on removing stagnation in the body. Stagnation leads to pain, stiffness or immobility. Thai Bodywork treats stagnation by opening up lines of energy in the body called “Sen Lines”, which are roughly congruent to the Chinese TCM meridian system.

What Are The Sessions Like?

Thai Bodywork is sometimes described as “lazy man’s yoga.” This unique therapy resembles a sort of a dance between the therapist and client. Thai Bodywork is traditionally done on the floor with the client fully clothed, receiving work in supine, prone, sidelying or seated positions. The therapist treats different parts of the body using palms, arms, feet, elbows and knees. The client is taken through a series of different “asanas” or yoga like stretches.

What Can Thai Bodywork Treat?

Thai Bodywork can treat any musculoskeletal problem. Like Tui Na, it is used to treat muscle/joint pain, stiffness and immobility. Since it involves more intense stretches, Thai Bodywork can help increase flexibility in the body. Thai Bodywork is a great therapy for any athlete since it helps to keep the body limber and helps to prevent fatigue and injury.

Trager ApproachGO TO TOP

The Trager Approach is movement re-education. Dr. Milton Trager (1908-1997) developed this unique approach to freeing the body of tension by way of gentle and non-intrusive movement.

In the passive form of movement, the receiver is moved through their pain-free range of motion while lying on a padded table, while seated, or while standing. Originating from a place of calm and deep presence, your practitioner uses touch to communicate a sense of ease, by rocking, swinging, vibrating, shaking, lengthening and pressing. As the receiver identifies new felt positive sensations associated with a freer structure, they are consciously able to ‘let go’ of deep-seated tension. The experience of receiving a Trager session is gently penetrating and profoundly relaxing.

“Part of the process of healing the nervous system is to establish an environment where it is all right to let down and be supported without the process of alertness for survival.” -Bodystories.

Active movement in the Trager Approach was named ‘Mentastics,’ a word Milton coined from mental and gymnastics. These free- form self-care movements are practiced as a way of anchoring and recalling the feeling experience from the Trager table work. This simple and delightful explorative practice to finding lightness and ease in one’s body is what makes The Trager Approach effective, empowering, and long lasting.

Every time you surrender yourself to a feeling of calm and peace, the more at ease you will be in coping with day to day challenges.

Roger Hughes, Trager Approach Practitioner, shares the belief that muscles which are forced to release by means of an overpowering method is, instead, a means of feeding the pre-existing pattern of tension, stiffness and/or pain. There may result a short-term relief, but the underlying pattern remains unchanged and buried in the unconscious mind.

The Trager Approach tames soft tissue resistance to soften and shift into a pattern of movement that is freer and more authentic.

Click here to visit the official Trager Approach website.
Click here to visit the official Roger Hughes website.

Manual Lymph Drainage (Vodder Method)GO TO TOP

The Dr. Vodder Method of Manual Lymph Drainage and Combined Decongestive Therapy

History

Manual Lymph Drainage is an advanced therapy technique developed in Europe by Dr. Emil and Estrid Vodder. In 1832, Dr. Vodder and his wife were working as masseurs on the French Riviera. Most of their patients were vacationing English who were there to recover form chronic colds. All had swollen lymph nodes. At that time, the lymphatic system was taboo for masseurs, as well as, for physicians. Dr. Vodder broke the taboo and treated the swollen lymph nodes intuitively and successfully; the result: the colds vanished. He went on to develop MLD.

Indications

MLD is recognized as the number one therapy for treating and maintaining primary and secondary lymphoedema. Additionally, it has been used in the treatment of over sixty lesser pathologies.

It is effective in the treatment of acute and chronic edema (i.e., lymphoedema, edemas following strokes and local edemas of traumatic origin such as dislocations, tears and fractures), neuromuscular disorders and fascial dysfunction, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, scleroderma, burns, scar therapy, acne, local chronic inflammation in the respiratory tract (including sinusitis and allergies), periodontal disease, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, migraine, circulatory disturbances and digestive tract disorders.

Other Indications

MLD is a potent adjunct in cleansing the body’s tissues of metabolic wastes, excess water, bacteria, large protein molecules and toxins; this includes long term use medications, anesthesia in post surgery recovery, and harmful or poisonous substances that have entered the body through exposure or ingestion.

Scientific studies have proven that the immune system is supported and even boosted as a result of receiving regular MLD treatments. A sluggish lymphatic system increases the chance of chronic illness and disease.

MLD is very effective in countering the body’s natural inflammatory response following soft tissue trauma. These include sprains, fractures, orthopaedic surgeries and replacements, and orthodontal surgery. As a basic rule, the less swelling that occurs, the less bruising and pain will subsequently follow. If received in a timely manner, MLD can dramatically shorten the route to recovery.

Lymph drainage is gentle, rhythmical, and soothes the nervous system.

Click here for the official Vodder System of MLD website.
Click here to visit Roger Hughes website.

We invite you to treat yourself to seasonal MLD treatments as a way of exercising your immune system.