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There are over 150 modalities or styles of massage provided around the globe.  At Hands on Health over 90% of our clients come to receive our “Integrative Massage”.  This approach is so popular because our therapists combine a wide variety of specialities that no two massages (or therapists) are the same, just as no two clients are the same.  The freedom this approach allows the therapist is evident in our ability to design and cater a massage session to each clients needs.  Below is a short list of some of the many modalities from around the globe; some offered as stand alone treatments at Hands on Health, some not offered at all, and many as part of our Integrative Massage in Asheville.

 Acupressure

Acupressure (a blend of “acupuncture” and “pressure”) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) technique derived from acupuncture. In acupressure physical pressure is applied to acupuncture points by the hand, elbow, or with various devices.

Ayurvedic massage

Ayurveda is a natural health care system originating in India that incorporates massage, yoga, meditation and herbal remedies. Ayurvedic massage, also known as Abhyanga is usually performed by one or two therapists using a heated blend of herbal oils based on the ayurvedic system of humors.

Balinese massage

Balinese massage techniques are gentle which makes the patient feel relaxed and calm throughout. The techniques include skin rolling, kneading, stroking, etc. The massage therapist applies aromatheraphy oil throughout the massage. A patient’s blood, oxygen and energy flow is said to increase as a result of the treatment.^{[citation needed]} Balinese hot stones are an option.

Barefoot Deep Tissue

Barefoot Deep Tissue also known as Barefoot Compressive Deep Tissue, or Barefoot Sports Massage, is a blend of Eastern barefoot techniques, such as Barefoot Shiatsu Massage, coupled with Western manual medicine, encompassing Deep Tissue, Myofascial Release, Trigger Point Therapy, transverse friction, compression, tension, shear, PNF, stretching, as well as parasympathetic response, on clothed clients using no oil. Dara Torres, 41-year old Olympian, received barefoot compression massage on a daily basis in her training program.^[14]

This modality typically uses the heel, sesamoid, arch and/or whole plantar surface of foot, and offers large compression, tension and shear forces with less pressure than elbow or thumb, and is ideal for large muscles, such as in thigh, or for long-duration upper trapezius compressions.^[15] The unclothed cousins of this modality are Keralite, Yumeiho, Barefoot Lomi Lomi, Fijian Barefoot, Chavutti Thirummal.

Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, which is a form of barefoot effleurage, combines western science and contemporary American ingenuity, for therapists who specialize in deep tissue work using Swedish techniques performed by the massage therapists feet.^[16]

Bowen therapy

Bowen technique involves a rolling movement over fascia, muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints. It is said not to involve deep or prolonged contact with muscle tissues as in most kinds of massage, but claims to relieve muscle tensions and strains and to restore normal lymphatic flow. It is based on practices developed by Australian Tom Bowen.^[17]

Champissage

Champissage is a massage technique focusing on the head, neck and face that is believed to balance the chakras.

Deep Tissue Massage (Incorporated into all of our integrative therapies)

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 also not uncommon for receivers of Deep Tissue Massage to have their pain replaced with a new muscle ache for a day or two. Deep tissue work varies greatly. What one calls deep tissue another will call light. When receiving deep tissue work it is important to communicate what you are feeling.

Esalen Massage

Esalen Massage was developed by Charlotte Selver and works with gentle rocking of the body, passive joint exercises and deep structural work on the muscles and joints, together with an energetic balancing of the body.

Hilot

Hilot is a traditional healing technique from the Philippines that also includes massage techniques. The massage techniques relax stressed muscles. Hilot also includes joint manipulations to help relax stressed muscles.

Hilot encompasses a wide variety of techniques beyond the treatment of stressed muscles. Hilot is used to reset dislocated and sprained joints, diagnose and treat musculoligamentous and musculoskeletal ailments, and even to aid in giving birth and to induce abortion.

Hoffman Massage

Hoffman massage is a system of intuitive massage and bodywork developed by Bronson Bertschinger. The main idea behind the Hoffman system of massage and bodywork is based on the facts that humans are very complex and consist of material, emotional, subtle and spiritual energy. We are too complex to fit into a routine style of treatment that many massage schools and styles teach. Hoffman massage uses techniques that are aimed to affect and balance many systems of the body in the treatment. Techniques vary from deep touch to very subtle energetic healing.

 Lomi Lomi and indigenous massage of Oceania

Lomilomi is the traditional massage of Hawaii. As an indigenous practice, it varies by island and by family. The word lomilomi also is used for massage in Samoa and East Futuna. In Samoa, it is also known as lolomi and milimili. In East Futuna, it is also called milimili, fakasolosolo, amoamo, lusilusi, kinikini, fai’ua. The Maori call it roromi and mirimiri. In Tonga massage is fotofota, tolotolo, and amoamo. In Tahiti it is rumirumi. On Nanumea in Tuvalu, massage is known as popo, pressure application is kukumi, and heat application is tutu. Massage has also been documented in Tikopia in the Solomon Islands, in Rarotonga and in Pukapuka in Western Samoa.^[18]

Medical massage (Advanced Integrative Massage, Manual Lymph Drainage)

Massage used in the medical field includes decongestive therapy used for lymphedema^[5] which can be used in conjunction with the treatment of breast cancer. Light massage is also used in pain management and palliative care. Carotid sinus massage is used to diagnose carotid sinus syncope and is sometimes useful for differentiating supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) from ventricular tachycardia. It, like the valsalva maneuver, is a therapy for SVT.^[19] However, it is less effective than management of SVT with medications.^[20]

Meso-American

In Meso-America as in other areas of the world an indigenous form of soft tissue and structural massage has developed. Today this art survives thanks to the many Sobadoras/es or Hueseros/as that have handed-down these techniques via oral tradition.

Myofascial release (Incorporated into Integrative Massage)

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 equilibrioception. Myofascial release usually involves applying shear compression or tension in various directions, or by skin rolling.

Postural Integration (Aspects incorporated into our Integrative Massage)

Postural Integration (PI) is a process-oriented bodywork combining deep tissue massage with breathwork, body movement and awareness as well as emotional expression.

Raynor Massage

Raynor Massage has a goal of finding any tension in the muscles and any blockage in the flow of chi and getting rid of it. Usually it is a very deep tissue form of massage with an emphasis on deep abdominal massage and “emotional releases”.

Reflexology massage (Foot Reflexology offere at Hands on Health)

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.

Russian Massage (Aspects incorporated into our Integrative Massage)

Russian Massage has three phases. The first phase is gentle, slow and mild. The second phase is hard, deep and fast. The third phase is similar to the first phase which is slow and gentle.

Shiatsu (Zen Shiatsu offerd at Hands on Health)

Shiatsu (指圧) (”shi” meaning finger and “atsu” meaning pressure.) is an eastern (oriental) born 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 persons back, legs and feet (special set up is required for the “foot” shiatsu).

Stone massage (Hot Stone Offere at Hands on Health)

A stone massage uses cold or water-heated stones to apply pressure and heat to the body. Stones coated in oil can also be used by the therapist delivering various massaging strokes. The hot stones used are commonly river stones which over time, have become extremely polished and smooth. As the stones are placed along the recipient’s back, they help to retain heat which then deeply penetrates into the muscles, releasing tension.

Structural Integration

Structural Integration’s aim is to unwind the strain patterns residing in your 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 (Part of our Integrative Massage)

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.^[21] It has also been shown to be helpful in individuals with poor circulation. The development of Swedish massage is credited to Per Henrik Ling, though the Dutch practitioner Johan Georg Mezger adopted the French names to denote the basic strokes.^[22] The term “Swedish” massage is not really known in the country of Sweden, where it is called “classic massage”.^[23]

Thai massage (Offered at Hands on Health)

Known in Thailand as นวดแผนโบราณ (Nuat phaen boran, IPA: [nuɑt pʰɛn boraːn]^{[missing tone]}), meaning “ancient/traditional massage”, Thai massage originated in India and is based on ayurveda and yoga. The technique combines massage with yoga-like positions during the course of the massage; the northern style emphasizes stretching while the southern style emphasizes acupressure.

Traditional Chinese massage

Two types of traditional Chinese massage exist - Tui na (推拿) which focuses on pushing, stretching and kneading the muscle and Zhi Ya (指壓) which focuses on pinching and pressing at acupressure points. Both are based on principles from Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Trigger point therapy

Sometimes confused with pressure point massage,^[5] 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.^[24] and in 2007 a paper was presented showing images of Trigger Points using MRI.^[25] 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.

Visceral manipulation

One form is Mayan abdominal massage which is practiced in many countries in Latin America. This type of massage was developed by Elijio Panti of Belize and brought to the United States by Rosita Arvigo. Even though Panti was a respected and well known user of Mayan massage, he did not develop this modality. “Mayan Massage” techniques have been used since before the Spanish conquest and is still practiced today by many Sobadores or Hueser.

 Watsu

Watsu is the combination of hydrotherapy and shiatsu developed by Harold Dull. The work is done in skin temperature water with both the therapist and practitioner in the water, usually a pool which is between 3.5 ft to 4 ft (100–120 cm) deep. The work entails much movement in the water and practitioners believe that it incorporates the activation of the energy lines derived from shiatsu.

 ”Massage.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 16 Dec 2009, 15:18 UTC. 18 Dec 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Massage&oldid=332054791>.

In the world of massage therapy there exists many modalities – from Swedish massage to Lymphatic massage, all tailored to produce very specific results. One such massage technique, deep tissue massage, has continued to increase in popularity, due in part to its ability to release an enormous amount of tension in a world where tension reigns on every corner.  At Hands on Health we combine techniques to create our Integrative Massage.  Since we find the vast majority of our clients enjoy deeper work, we may be more accurate to call our treatment “Deep Integrative Massage.”

Deep tissue massage is effective because of its technique – consisting of slower, stronger massage that stimulates deep into muscles.  This can be especially helpful for athletes who expose their muscles to daily, intensive conditioning, or those who suffer with chronic aches and pains.  Deep tissue massage will noticeably loosen muscles, alleviate pain, and increase mobility – all significant benefits for those with soft tissue pain and soreness.  

In many cases, a deep tissue massage has replaced the classic Swedish massage in terms of frequency of use (notice we don’t even offer swedish massage).  Whereas many people around the country once sought out a massage for simple relaxation, now they are seeking a massage that also stimulates, conditions, and heals.

Those suffering from certain conditions may also find deep tissue massage to be quite therapeutic. Sufferers of chronic pain, fibromyalgia, edema, muscle cramping, and even carpal tunnel syndrome may find significant relief from deep tissue massage. The pressure exerted on different groups of muscle tissue stimulates circulation in areas of pain.

Deep tissue massage, however, is not for everyone. There can be mild to moderate discomfort during the massage as tight muscles are worked, and there can be a day or two of soreness following the deep tissue massage – similar to after you complete a particularly rigorous workout.

But if you are comfortable with a stronger, more focused massage as well as the soreness that may accompany it, then a deep tissue massage may be for you.  Just communicate your needs with your massage therapist and let us handle it from there.  It is important that communication stay open throughout the treatment so you can express discomfort or ask for greater depth and intensity.

by Lee Stanford RN, LMBT #8020

Golden Rule #1 - Drink ample fluid

Golden Rule #2 Avoid alcohol, sugar and tobacco

 

You can create a 5 star health retreat for your innards by making the right choices in your intake before a massage.
These very basic suggestions may be great guidelines for daily life, but it is especially helpful the day before and the day of receiving bodywork of any kind. One physical effect massage has on the body is that it gently compresses the muscles,organs, bones, blood and lymphatic vessels, fat (adipose tissue) and other soft tissue that make up your insides and everything all the way to the surface of the skin. As this repeated compression and release of the tissues occurs, your body-parts, down to the cellular level, are being bathed in fresh blood and lymphatic fluid which carries fresh nutrients and fluids to every cell, and carries away wastes. Naturally you want the best ingredients to get infused into your tissues for maximum healing and tissue recovery, which is in your power.

Drink ample fluids. Take the fluids steadily through the waking hours, rather than realizing you haven’t had any fluids for the last 4 hours and try to make up for it by glugging a jug of water down in 5 minutes flat. 2 Liters per day is a general safe guideline for healthy individuals. There is no simple formula for calculating how much fluids will flush your system. Your best bet is to judge by the color of your urine; the goal being pale yellow to clear, which indicates that you are properly hydrated.
Purified water, organic vegetables, homemade organic soup, herbal teas are all fantastic choices and will ensure the best absorption into your entire system. Imagine that what you take into your body is the foundation of your massage treatment and deeper, more prolonged benefits from receiving massage will be your immediate reward.

Avoid alcohol, sugar, and tobacco is advised, “because they ‘re bad for you!” Well, Mom may be right, but consider the theory that these items are acid-forming inside our body which means they create a change in your bodies pH. A litany of research is supporting the concept that many illnesses and degenerative conditions thrive in an acidic environment. Some examples are cancer, diabetes, arthritis, fibromyalgia, gout, and systemic yeast Infections to mention only a few.
Yes, you guessed correctly, alcohol, sugar, and tobacco are some of the most extreme factors in producing an acidic environment inside your body. This does not directly correlate to foods that are acidic such as an orange, but to foods that are acid-forming inside your body. This concept can be complicated, and requires some patient reading to get the basics clear. If you are interested in pursuing the subject in depth, I have a link at the bottom of the page under “Fantastic Links”.
I try to seek out sites which are fascinating, helpful and evidence based. (I’m kind of a geek about stuff like this.)

I would like to acknowledge that there is some debate regarding whether what you eat can effect your pH systemically, or in your blood and tissues. While the scientific data continues to be tallied, it is safe to follow what respected authorities in Eastern and Western medical communities regard as good, common sense nutrition for optimal health.
“Let your food be your medicine, and medicine be your food” -Hippocrates, nicknamed the Father of Western medicine.

You can give your massage a luxury spa upgrade by following these simple guidelines at home before, and after receiving massage/bodywork
and beyond!

To schedule a massage with Lee Stanford RN, LMBT call 828-505-2899
Hands On Health Massage Therapy Center
830 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
or make an appointment online at
www.hohasheville.com

Fantastic links

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=63
www.whfoods.org
www.mayoclinic.com

By Christina King L.Ac.

Chinese medicine traditionally believes that the human body is a microcosm of the external environment. As the seasons change, our habits and lifestyle should also change. A balanced state of health comes from respecting and observing the seasonal changes of the year by adjusting our lifestyle accordingly. In Chinese medicine, winter is viewed as a time for renewal. It is a time for our energy to go into storage and for our bodies to rejuvenate, in preparation for the activity of the coming spring.

So what does this mean, practically speaking? How do we ‘put ourselves into storage’? First off, get plenty of rest. Winter is the time to save our energy. This is reflected in the natural world: it gets light later in the morning and dark earlier in the evening. This is nature’s way of telling you to get more sleep! Especially if you are feeling run down or extra busy, make an extra effort to get to bed a little earlier. Even an extra 15-30 minutes of sleep a night will help you to feel better and be more alert throughout your day. Being well rested also has the benefit of helping to keep your immune system functioning optimally, which is important during cold and flu season.

Secondly, make sure you are dressed appropriately for the weather. Your grandmother was right! You should never go outside without wearing the appropriate layers to protect yourself from the colder weather. Chinese medicine believes that at the back of the neck, that the body is particularly vulnerable to wind and cold weather. Wearing a scarf is an easy way of keeping your neck protected and of keeping the rest of your body warm.

It is also important to eat food that is appropriate for the season. In the winter, we want to be warm, so the foods that we eat should also be warm. Winter is a perfect time to enjoy soups, stews, and other hearty meals. Leave the salads for the summer time. In the winter, cooking fruits and vegetables is the way to go. In Chinese thought, the spleen and stomach, the key organs of digestion, are responsible for transforming the food we eat into energy. It makes it a lot easier on the spleen, especially in the winter, if the food we eat is already warm. This makes the transformation of food into energy easier and ensures your body is able to generate the energy it needs.

If you do find yourself feeling ‘off’ or under the weather, it would be advisable to consider an acupuncture treatment to get you back on track. Acupuncture can regulate the way that energy flows in the body, bringing you back to a greater state of health and wellness. Acupuncture can treat a variety of conditions, from musculoskeletal pain to digestive troubles. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 828-505-2899.

What is Thai Massage? By Lee Stanford, RN, LMBT

 

Many are intimidated by this exotic name, but it is one of the most down-to-earth types of bodywork I have ever experienced.  It is performed on a mat on the floor while you remain clothed, preferably loose fitting clothes like what you would wear to the gym or yoga class.  The treatment includes rhythmic compressions (like kneading dough), along energetic lines and acupoints (pressure points) referred to as Sen lines, and passive yoga stretches.  It is referred to as Thai Yoga Bodywork for these reasons.  It does a wonderful job of releasing tight muscles and achieving overall relaxation but also opens up the joint capsules and helps return adequate blood flow deep into the joints and tendons.  The most frequent descriptions immediately following a treatment is feeling deep relaxation, improved body alignment, and feeling fully energized, instead of groggy or sleepy. 

 

Does Thai Massage hurt? 

The massage works deeply, but there is no health benefit from causing you to cringe in pain during a treatment, in fact we will be trying to release knotted muscle fibers, not cause them to shrink up to protect against an attack.  The compressions begin gently, then gradually work deeper and slower to release the bound up tissues that are causing discomfort, thereby thwarting chronic pain and dysfunction.  The passive stretches are tailored to your individual range of motion and comfort and stops just before we cross that pain threshold.  The usual immediate reaction during a stretch is “AAhhhhhh yes!”

 

Thai Massage is Natural Preventive Medicine!

In Thailand, children would do “Thai massage” for their parents who performed hard labor just so they could get up and go to work the next day without injury.  Thai Yoga Bodywork can prevent injury from developing due to overuse and repetitive actions of muscles.  This Bodywork is actually a branch of medicine in Thailand that is estimated to be more than 2,500 years old and migrated to Thailand.  I recommend a fascinating article that describes it beautifully in Massage & Bodywork Magazineby Perry Garfinkel entitled, “Thailand Reclaims Its Ancient Medicinal Roots”.

 

Thai massage can be enjoyed by absolutely everyone including children and seniors.  It is ideal therapeutic work for athletes to improve their muscle recovery after events and while training, to improve alignment, endurance, and flexibility.

If life is your sport than Thai Yoga Bodywork can aid in meeting every challenge.

If you live, or are visiting Asheville, then sign up for a Thai Massage at

Hands On Health Massage Therapy Center. 

You may sign up online, or

call us 7 days a week at (828) 505-2899.

830 Hendersonville Rd.

Asheville, NC 28803

*Mention that you read about it here and recieve 10% off your first treatment!

One of the more common issues I have found people coming  to Massage Therapists for is Plantar Fasciitis. It is a pretty good indicator that this is the problem if there is pain along the bottom (plantar) surface of the foot, especially at the heel when they are putting weight on the foot. The pain subsides when weight is lifted off and is resting. Typical causes of Plantar Fasciitis involve walking, running, things that put repeated stress on the fascia. Also, having high arches predisposes people to this condition.

Massage Therapy is GREAT for relieving the symptoms while rest is the best cure. Ice Therapycan be used in conjunction with massage to relieve symptoms as well. In the acute stage, ice applications and keeping weight off of the foot are important to reduce inflammation and avoid reinjuring the fascia. Once the inflammation has decreased, cross-fiber friction of the plantar surface of the heel can help reduce the possibility of adhesion formation. As long as it causes no significant pain and the acute inflammation is resolved, passive movement of the foot will have a similar effect and can help increase range of motion. If there is any swelling of the ankle and leg due to inactivity, deep effleurage and lymphatic massage techniques can be used to move the collected fluids away from the foot. Any muscular spasms and myofascial trigger pointswill benefit from deep effleurage, petrissage and static compression in the muscles. These may especially be found in the tibialis anterior and posterior and peroneus longus muscles, all of which insert onto the plantar surface of the foot. Movement therapy, especially passive stretching and isometric exercise, can help these muscles retain their normal tone during the period of rest required in the treatment of plantar faciitis.

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Thriving as a massage therapist in Asheville, NC takes time, dedication and patience.  My first week here, I remember being told “You can’t swing a cat without hitting a massage therapist in asheville“!  Of course, my first thought was, “Who says that???”  Then I got excited, because I realized it really was kinda true, and that meant a few things… One, there must be people who wanted massage.  Two, even if there are a lot of massage therapists, the cream will always rise to the top.  Three, I wanted to work with the cream, and there most definitely are talented therapists in Asheville; and now many of them work at Hands on Health.  So if you are new to Asheville massage or Hands on Health, welcome.  Among our team you can rest assured you will find the care you need,  Be Well!

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