Brandy Ledford LMT RNFR MAT MMT

facilitate the release of emotional trauma held in the body. Deep Tissue - Deep tissue massage is designed to relieve severe tension in the muscle and the connective tissue or fascia. This type of massage focuses on the muscles located below the surface of the top muscles. Deep tissue massage is often recommended for individuals who experience consistent pain, are involved in heavy physical activity (such as athletes), and patients who have sustained physical injury. It is not uncommon for receivers of deep tissue massage to have their pain replaced with a new muscle ache for a day or two. The term “deep tissue” is often misused to identify a massage that is performed with sustained deep pressure. Deep tissue massage is a separate category of massage therapy, used to treat particular muscular-skeletal disorders and complaints and employs a dedicated set of techniques and strokes to achieve a measure of relief. It should not be confused with “deep pressure” massage, which is one that is performed with sustained strong, occasionally intense pressure throughout an entire full-body session, and that is not performed to address a specific complaint. Deep tissue massage is applied to both the superficial and deep layers of muscles, fascia, and other structures. The sessions are often quite intense as a result of the deliberate, focused work. When a client asks for a massage and uses the term “deep tissue”, more often than not he or she is seeking to receive a full-body session with sustained deep pressure throughout. If a practitioner employs deep tissue techniques on the entire body in one session, it would be next to impossible to perform; it might lead to injury or localized muscle and nerve trauma, thereby rendering the session counterproductive. Lomi Lomi - a forearm based massage brought here from Hawaii that focuses on deep relaxation with broad strokes and a constant flow. Myoskeletal Alignment Therapy - Myo (muscle) Skeletal (Bones) Alignment is a series of muscular focused techniques that encourages the body to correct dysfunction in relationship to muscle and bone. It employs thinking of the body as a whole rather than one problem being singular but rather a symptom of a larger problem. Medical massage - Medical Massage is a controversial term in the massage profession. Others use it to describe a general category of massage and many methods such as deep tissue massage, myofascial release and triggerpoint therapy as well as reiki, osteopathic techniques, cranial-sacral techniques and many more can be used to work with various medical conditions. Myofascial Release - refers to the manual massage technique for stretching the fascia and releasing bonds between fascia, integument, and muscles with the goal of eliminating pain, increasing range of motion and proprioception. Myofascial release usually involves applying shear compression or tension in various directions, or by skin rolling. RAPID - Neurofascial Reset - a movement based therapy, focuses on engaging the deeper fascia located at the periostium (bone) which heightens the nervous system and by doing so decreases pain associated with that tissue. In addition to pain reduction and sometimes elimination, it releases tension and constraint within muscles, tendons and ligaments. It is also helpful in increasing strength and over all freedom of movement without the aid of other modalities as well as helping with lymphatic drainage. Great for athletes, injuries, scar related loss of strength and lymphatic swelling of legs after long flights. Reiki – helps the body heal physically and emotionally through drawing in of energy from the Holy Spirit. Integrative Reflexology - is based on the principle that there are reflexes in the hands and feet that relate to every organ, gland, and system of the body. A combined treatment of Western reflexology with eastern concepts and techniques creating a unique treatment. Can be combined with a foot scrub and essential oils to aid in over all treatment. Shiatsu - (shi meaning finger and atsu meaning pressure) is a Japanese therapy that uses pressure applied with thumbs, fingers and palms to the same energy meridians as acupressure and incorporates stretching. It also uses techniques such as rolling, brushing, vibrating, grasping and, in one particular technique developed by Suzuki Yamamoto, pressure is applied with the feet on the person's back, legs and feet. Sports massage - Also known as manual therapy, manipulative therapy, or manual & manipulative therapy, this is a physical treatment primarily used on the neuromusculoskeletal system to treat pain and disability. It most commonly includes kneading and manipulation of muscles, joint mobilization and joint manipulation as well as stretching. Structural Integration - aim is to unwind the strain patterns residing in the body's myofascial system, restoring it to its natural balance, alignment, length, and ease. This is accomplished by deep, slow, fascial and myofascial manipulation, coupled with movement re-education. Various brands of Structural Integration are Kinesis
Myofascial Integration and Rolfing. Swedish Massage – Uses five styles of long, flowing strokes to massage. The five basic strokes are effleurage (sliding or gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), friction (cross fiber) and vibration/shaking. Swedish massage has shown to be helpful in reducing pain, joint stiffness, and improving function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee over a period of eight weeks. Trigger Point Therapy -Sometimes confused with pressure point massage, this involves deactivating trigger points that may cause local pain or refer pain and other sensations, such as headaches, in other parts of the body. Manual pressure, vibration, injection, or other treatment is applied to these points to relieve myofascial pain. Trigger points were first discovered and mapped by Janet G. Travell (president Kennedy's physician) and David Simons. Trigger points have been photomicrographed and measured electrically and in 2007 a paper was presented showing images of Trigger Points using MRI.These points relate to dysfunction in the myoneural junction, also called neuromuscular junction (NMJ), in muscle, and therefore this modality is different from reflexology, acupressure and pressure point massage.