Massage Modalities

Swedish
The primary purpose of a Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release muscle tension. It reduces emotional and physical stress and is suggested in a regular program for stress management. Typically, this is light to firm pressure.

Deep Tissue
DT massage is a massage technique that focuses on the deeper layer of muscle tissue. DT massage releases chronic muscle tension through slower strokes and more direct deep pressure applied to the muscle. More profound is not an indication of pressure. Deep tissue and Deep pressure are two different things. You should be able to breathe during this; holding your breath decreases oxygen to the blood. Oxygen is essential for healing and nutrients for the tissues.

Stone Massage
This nice add-on during the session not only adds heat but also extra relaxation. Hot stones are basalt stones heated to a safe temperature by metal plates. Then, when the perfect temperature is reached, they are massaged to unravel tension in the body for a highly relaxing experience. The benefits of hot stones are that most clients find them comforting and relaxing, heat helps therapists go deeper without exerting more effort or causing discomfort, and provides pain relief.
Cold Stones are a little less known but provide fantastic relief. Cold stones are often used during face massages to help decrease swelling and lymph. Cold stones also help with inflammation or alternating hot and cold stones for a polar opposite effect.

CranioSacral Therapy (CST)
A gentle, hands-on approach that releases tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health and performance. It was pioneered and developed by Osteopathic Physician John E. Upledger after years of clinical testing and research at Michigan State University, where he served as a professor of biomechanics.
Using a soft touch, which is generally no greater than 5 grams – about the weight of a nickel – practitioners release restrictions in the soft tissues that surround the central nervous system. CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster disease resistance, and it's effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.
It is a gentle, non-invasive form of bodywork that addresses the head, spinal column, and sacrum bones. The goal is to release compression in those areas, alleviating stress and pain.
CST seeks to restore the natural position of the bones, decrease stress from chronic injuries, and provide relief from migraine headaches, neck and back pain, temporomandibular joint disorder (the joint inflammation that connects the lower jaw to the skull), and more.

Thai
This ancient form of massage targets deep into the muscles by using bodyweight, feet, forearms, legs, knees, and hands on a mat on the floor. The client is fully clothed in workout/comfortable type clothes. Thai massage combines yoga, acupressure, massage, and energy balancing all at once for a relaxed yet energized feeling at the end of your massage. Lots of stretching and range of motion, breath coaching. Pregnancy & problems with bones/joints are contraindicated. This can also be performed partially on the table during a regular massage.
Here is a link to a demo from my instructor:
Living Sabai Youtube Channel

Energy Balancing
Feeling “stuck,” can’t sleep, or something feels off? Everything on this earth has energy, and when it is not in balance, it can make you feel not quite yourself. Balancing the energy centers throughout the body, using essential oils and crystals, unwinding via holding hands, color breathing, and other techniques can help to rejuvenate and ground you. I do clearing and balancing energy, chakra work, clearing meridians, and activating sen lines.

Reflexology
Reflexology is the application of appropriate pressure to the feet, hands, or ears by the hands or a tool to bring about physiological and psychological changes in the body. Each area is tied to an organ of the body.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage
While gentle strokes can be compared to a light massage, the technique is directed at the delicate lymph vessels below the skin. The goal of MLD is to increase lymph flow, whereas massage is focused on muscles. While both have therapeutic benefits that are equal in importance, they are different in performance.  Therefore, a client or patient can expect the pain-free, relaxing benefits of Vodder-style MLD. It can be performed clothed or unclothed.
Although "Drainage" is in the name, we don't drain anything except during direct post-surgical sessions. (BBalanced Wellness does not perform this. You must be without drains.) Gentle massage assists the lymph to move. Since lymph does not have its own pumping systems, like the circulatory or digestive systems, lymph is moved by muscle movement. That is why the more active a person is, the more their lymph is being moved. The less a person moves, the more time the lymph has to settle and cause acne, edema, phantom pain, etc. The Lymph system is the body's cleansing system; it helps to protect the body from infections and to move debris out of the body. Below is a chart showing some of the conditions/areas MLD can help with.

Pre/Postnatal
It focuses on the unique needs of the mother-to-be as her body goes through the dramatic changes of pregnancy. It enhances the function of muscles and joints, improves circulation and general body tone, and relieves mental and physical fatigue.

Myofascial Release
MFR is an interactive stretching technique that provides maximum relaxation to tense tissues. Fascia, or connective tissue surrounding and penetrating every tissue and organ of the body, may stick to muscle, causing pain and/or dysfunction. Gentle pressure and traction create a fascial release. The therapist determines the stretch's direction, force, and duration based on feedback from the client’s body. Efficient posture and movement are the goals of this treatment. Myofascial release is a practical therapeutic approach in relieving cervical pain, back pain, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, neurological dysfunction, restriction of motion, chronic pain, and headaches.

Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger Point is a therapy that applies concentrated finger pressure to "trigger points" (painful, irritated areas in muscles) to break cycles of spasm and pain. It appears that most muscular pains have a trigger point that causes the muscle to go into spasms. Trigger Point Therapy involves placing pressure on that trigger point so that the muscle can relax and the pain can be lessened. The pressure is generally applied with fingers, knuckles, and elbows. This form of therapy is often followed by stretching the muscles.