MASSAGES

We offer two different types of massage at Images: Swedish or Hot Stone.

Swedish Massage

Swedish Massage is the most commonly offered and best known type of massage. It was developed by a Swedish physiologist, Henri Peter Ling at the University of Stockholm in 1812. It uses a firm but gentle pressure to improve the circulation, ease muscle aches and tension, improve flexibility and create relaxation.

Swedish massage employs five different movements:

• Effleurage =long, gliding strokes
• Petrissage = compression / kneading of individual muscles
• Friction = concentrated pressure – breakdown fibrous thickening
• Tapotement = percussion – hacking or tapping
• Vibration = to relieve pain fatigue

 

The therapist generally uses massage oil to facilitate making long, smooth strokes over the body. Swedish massage is done with the person covered by a sheet or towels, a technique called “draping”. One part of the body is uncovered, massaged, and then covered up before moving on to another part of the body. This keeps the body warm and cover both prior to and after each area is massaged.

Specialized movements are used to deepen massage movements, to enable deeper muscles to be treated. If muscles are sore, tight or swollen even gentle massage can feel very strong or “deep”.

Swedish massage is the foundation for other types of Western massage, including sports, deep tissue and aromatherapy massages.

Hot Stone Massage

The stones are used in two ways during the massage. One is to impart heat onto the body by laying stones under the client with a layer of fabric between the client and stone (a sheet or towel) and/or on top of the client, again upon a towel. Stone layout typically will be along both sides of the the spine, or along the chakra centers on top and baseball sized stones would be placed in the hands.

The second way is while these layout stones are delivering concentrated centres of heat, the therapist is simultaneously massaging the client with oiled, heated stones held in the palm of the hand and uses the stones with firm strokes along the muscles of the legs, arms, and torso areas. the stones can also be used to work deeper into small problem areas.

An authentic hot stone massage is not simply the “gliding” of heated stones lightly upon the surface of the skin, but rather the stones are used as tools to deliver effective tissue and muscle massage at a pressure level comfortable to the client. The client can request light, medium or deep pressure, which is the beauty of the hot stone massage technique. It can be customized in an instant to the request of the client.

The hardness of the stones makes for a fantastic deep tissue massage and is easy on the joints of the therapists hands.A good stone massage, when properly performed, will accomplish many of the goals and benefits of other massage modalities. Many paths often lead to the same destination – and so it is with a great stone massage.

The heat from the stones relaxes muscles, increase the blood flow to the area being worked on which further accelerates the healing process. This increase in circulation and the relaxation of the muscles also aids in mental relaxation. Mental relaxation is key when a Therapist is attempting to work into deeper muscles of the body.

Massage Precautions

Massage is not recommended for certain people:

• infectious skin disease, rash, or open wounds
• immediately after surgery ( it is recommended that a wait of 6 weeks at least before we can massage – get your doctors permission)
• immediately after chemotherapy or radiation, unless recommended by your doctor
• Prone to blood clots. There is a risk of blood clots being dislodged. If you have heart disease, check with your doctor before having a massage
• Pregnant women should check with their doctor first if they are considering getting a massage. Massage for pregnant women requires special techniques and safe oils (usually blank – no essential oils)
• Massage should not be done directly over bruises, inflamed skin, unhealed wounds, tumors, abdominal hernia, or areas of recent fractures.

 

Additional Tips

• Don’t eat a heavy meal before the massage and always visit the bathroom to avoid needing an interruption.
• If it’s your first time at the clinic or spa, arrive at least 10 minutes early, so you can have a few minutes to rest and relax before starting the massage.
• Be sure that your massage therapist has your complete health history, because people with certain conditions should not have massage.
• If you feel discomfort at any time, let your massage therapist know. We can decrease our pressure or change our movements to suit.

 

Massage Pricing