Active Release Therapy-Sports Massage

Why just massage it when you can make it move too? 👀

Working through the quads while my client actively straightens their knee.

Hands-on + movement = 👌

Every body needs something different.
Some clients need gentle movement and mobility. Others genuinely enjoy a much deeper stretch experience.

It’s not about pushing everyone further, it’s about understanding the individual in front of you and adapting the session to them.

Your body. Your tolerance. Your treatment. 🥨

Stretching isn’t always about forcing yourself further.

With assisted stretch therapy, I can control the position, support the limb and gradually increase the stretch while the client stays relaxed.

Here I’m working with the hamstring while using my knee to add a little more controlled pressure through the range.

It’s not about forcing flexibility.

It’s about exploring what your body can comfortably tolerate ,with a little help.

Stretch. Move. Repeat.

We spend so much time talking about tightness at the back of the neck, but we can’t forget about the muscles at the front.

I love using this position to give the anterior neck muscles a gentle stretch while accessing the soft tissues around them.

And because there are some pretty important structures in this area, pressure is extremely light and controlled. This isn’t an area for digging around or applying excessive force.

Sometimes the muscles you’re not thinking about are the ones worth giving a little attention to.

Front AND back. Your neck is a whole system. 🧠

Child’s pose is great.

But sometimes your body just doesn’t want to give you that extra bit of movement.

That’s where assisted stretching can come in.

By adding gentle, controlled pressure through the lower back, I can help you explore a little more range while you focus on breathing, relaxing and letting the body move.

It’s not about forcing you deeper.

It’s about giving your body the opportunity to experience movement it might not comfortably access on its own.

Not every massage needs to stretch you, manipulate you or “fix” something.

Sometimes clients come in and they just want an hour off from the world.

They don’t want to be stretched.
They don’t want to be assessed.
They don’t want to work on anything.

They just want to lie down, switch off and let someone else take care of them for an hour.

And that’s completely okay.

So don’t be afraid to tell your massage therapist:
“I just need an hour to myself.”

Your wellbeing doesn’t always need to be productive. 🤍

When your thoracic spine needs a little persuasion 👀

Using a Mulligan belt around the thoracic spine while guiding the movement with the client’s arms crossed.

The belt gives me a little extra leverage while I guide the movement through the thoracic spine combining hands on treatment with movement rather than simply trying to “stretch” the area.

Because sometimes your body needs a bit of guidance to explore movement it isn’t accessing very well on its own.

The new table isn’t just there to look fancy.

Being able to move the head section while I’m working means I can combine movement + soft tissue work rather than keeping the body completely static.

Here I’m working through the thoracic region while taking the spine through controlled flexion and extension , changing the position of the tissue as I work.

It gives me another way to explore movement, loading and tissue response during treatment.

More tools in the toolbox = more options on the table. 🔧

Same stretch. Tiny adjustment. Completely different sensation. 👀

She’s already in a figure of 4 position here, but I then ask her to pull her toes up towards the ceiling.

That small change in foot position can change how the stretch feels through the hip and glute.

It’s a good reminder that stretching isn’t always about pushing further.

Sometimes the better question is: What can I change about the position?

A slightly different foot, hip or pelvic position can completely change the experience of a stretch.

Small adjustment. Big difference.

Because I’m not interested in just finding a tender spot and sitting on it.

I’m combining pressure through the glute with movement at the hip, changing the position of the tissues underneath my hand and giving the body a little more to work with.

Internal rotation. External rotation. Pressure. Movement.

It’s not just massage. It’s how I use movement to explore what the body is giving me.