In-Home Massage Services in NJ & NYC: Massage Modalities Offered

What is Reiki? Reiki is a system of hands-on healing that was developed/discovered by Mikao Usui after three weeks of uninterrupted fasting and meditation on revered Mount Kurama, in Japan. Reiki refers to universal life energy, much like the 'chi' energy referred to in Chinese healing systems, 'Prana' of Hindu systems of religion and healing, and even the notion of 'the Force' explored in George Lucas' classic science fiction Star Wars film series.

A form of complementary therapy, and not massage therapy by precise definition, Reiki involves channeling 'healing energy, prana, spirit, or chi' into the client. This is done with hands placed flat, palms down, as in the traditional 'laying of the hands'. Practitioners often also conscious use these techniques to channel energy while performing other forms of massage on the client.

Kirlian high-voltage photography has demonstrated that a person practicing such 'energetic therapies' is, in fact, able to induce changes to the resistance and amount of 'energy' flowing from their hands. What this means, at this point, is debatable, however, it is quite clear that something is actually happening, and positive results claimed are not simply placebo effect, but may actually involve some form of yet unknown healing. Before skeptics spit out their coffee, consider that when a person is kind and helpful to another, both parties' chemical balance of the brain is altered for the better, circulation and breathing may be affected positively, and other observable, measurable changes occur that, in and of themselves, bring healing.

What is Hot Stone Massage? During a Hot stone massage, the Massage Therapist places hot stones on your back, and sometimes legs and even arms, which help loosen muscles, and improve local blood flow. The set of stones is often comprised of a range of sizes, and the larger ones retain heat like a radiator. The moist warmth feels amazing; the stones are usually soaked in warm water. Having stones along the back most definitely alters the manner in which the therapist may work. Deep tissue massage may be aided by the use of heat radiated by the warmed stones. Hot Stone Massage is considered is one of the most relaxing modalities, most agree, in the hands of a competent LMT.

:Some therapists also use the stones to massage the client, either replacing their hands during that session, or using the stones as a supplemental implement at various times, for certain muscle groups. Believe it or not, Hot Stone Massage is a tradition that goes back to almost every one of our pre-modern cultures. The key with this modality is to find an attentive and skilled practitioner. Keeping track of the stones, while doing a massage session, can be quite a multitasking endeavor, reminiscent of the arcade game Tapper.

What is Craniosacral Therapy? Craniosacral Therapy is a system formulated by physician William Sutherland, D.O. in the early twentieth century, and is now associated with Dr. John Upledger and his famed Upledger Institute. This treatment is often described as profoundly relaxing.

By applying subtle pressure to the spinal and cranial bones, the practitioner helps to 'bring the nervous system into harmony', dissolving stress and strain. This modality addresses past traumas to the body, including generalized nervous tension. This system is often used for easing neck and back pain, chronic pain, mental stress, migraines and other headaches, TMJ Syndrome, and fibromyalgia

The cerebrospinal fluid flow fluctuates rhythmically, and may be balanced by the Craniosacral Therapy practitioner. The mobility of the intra-cranial and intra-spinal dural membranes, cranial bones, and sacrum are all addressed, using extremely light pressure, usually about the weight of a coin.

Doctor Sutherland had had the privilege of studying with the founder of osteopathy, Andrew Taylor Still. Sutherland proposed that the sutures on the cranial bones were actually not fused, but rather able to move. Sutherland observed that the sutures were, "...beveled, like the gills of a fish, indicating articular mobility for a respiratory mechanism."

This concept ran counter to the idea of his day, as most doctors and researchers thought that the bones of the skull did not move in any manner. According to Sutherland's findings, the dural membranes, which are a layer of the meninges, the membranes enveloping the central nervous system, act to guide the motion of cranial movement, allowing a sort of wave motion of contraction and expansion to occur. The nervous system was found to be mobile, and not fixed.

What is Sports Massage? Sports Massage involves the stretching of the muscles, as well as massage, using a diverse blend of modalities and techniques, with a focus on helping key muscle groups in use during sports training and performance.

Sports Massage may be practiced at home, at the training center, or before, during, or after a game or performance. With Sports Massage, timing is everything: A massage before a dance performance isn't going to be done for the same reasons as a massage after; before you want to loosen up and get ready mentally and emotionally, and after, the massage is focused on recovery, relaxation, and any injuries.

What is Myofascial Release? Myofascial Release is an extremely light pressure modality focused on helping the body's fascia to become more fluid and less constricted. The fascial system cover the body like an inner wet suit under the skin, and is affected, and can affect, everything in the body.

Myofascial Technique is specifically designed to gently stretch the fascia, releasing the binding between fascia, integument, and muscles. This helps eliminate long-standing conditions caused by scarring and past injury to the body. Myofasical Release technique began from both Physical Therapy and Structural Integration techniques, the first complete system created by Michael Leahy.

What is Neuromuscular Therapy? Neuromuscular Therapy is a deep tissue modality is a form of massage used to help clients with pain issues. By noting the client's posture and bodily position at rest, the practitioner then addresses any perceived abnormalities by site specific, trigger point, and systematic massage work. This system was developed by Dr. Stanley Leif, in 1934.

What is Pre-Natal Massage? Massage for pregnant women is a massage modality helps relieve some of the bodily and emotional stress associated with pregnancy, and has been proven in studies to be safe and effective, indicated for non-complication pregnancies. Specifically, areas addressed include sciatica, lower back pain, leg and foot circulation and pain.

What is Postnatal Massage? Postnatal Massage has been traditionally practiced on every continent, and is considered essential in various cultures. In India, the postpartum woman receive "Jaapa", or Therapeutic massage at home, practiced by MaliShwali. This modality helps restore the body, and specifically the tummy, to its pre-birth form. Postpartum massage can also help with circulation, as well as pain issues, helping with the lower back, buttocks, sacrum, still sore from the pregnancy, and upper back pain from breastfeeding in awkward positions for so much time. Therapeutic Massage can help increase breast milk production, by stepping up oxytocin and serotonin levels in the brain. This modality also helps with postpartun depression.

What is Massage for Children? What is Pediatric Massage? Are the two the same thing? Massage for Children, or Pediatric Massage, is massage that is performed on children from the age of infant to young adult, and is appropriate for healthy kids, children with issues, and child-athletes, and has been pioneered, studied, and popularized, by Tina Allen. Kids get stressed, although we often consider childhood to be a stress-free time in life. Stressors include tension from schoolwork, long hours, athletic and sports training, social issues, and more. Injuries from sports are addressed, as well as general de-stressing. A CPMT (Certified Pediatric Massage Therapist) is trained to work with this specific population, and may even have further specializations, such as working with Autistic Children, working with Infants, working with Kids with CP, and more.

Pediatric Massage has been shown in numerous studies to be of benefit to kids in many ways. Some children's parents seek massage for their child so they can de-stress from school and a hectic lifestyle. Other children have medical issues. And another group of kids is child-athletes, very serious competitors or performers who take their sport or art seriously, and essentially receive Pediatric Sports Massage.

What is Geriatric Massage? Can Geriatric Massage be performed at a Hospice or Nursing Home?

Geriatric Massage helps elderly people feel better by providing much-needed touch to patients, helping alleviate depression, increasing immunity, and bettering quality of life. Elderly people seem happy to know someone cares enough about them to help them feel better.