Types of Massage

There are a variety of different styles, types and techniques of massage utilized by Bonny in her massage practice. Below is a description of some of these popular and well known types of massage being used today.

• Acupressure
• Bamboo Massage
• Cupping Therapy
• Castor Oil Packs
• Deep Tissue Massage
• Reiki
• Shiatsu and Tui Na - Oriental Bodywork
• Stone Massage
• Swedish Massage
• Animal Massage
• Trigger Point Therapy

Acupressure

Acupressure works with the meridians within the body and is founded on the principles of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). It follows the basic principle of acupunncture and follows the paths of points on the body to help to bring clients to a health by balancing their bodies and Chi.

Bamboo Massage

Various size sticks of custom crafted natual bamboo, (some of which are capped for safety and comfort) are used for revitalizing massage. The body is oiled and the strokes are varied for depth and comfort. This is a distinctly different and detailed style of work and brings about profound relief and relaxation to the client.

Cupping Therapy

Cupping massage is a popular and highly beneficial therapeutic modality, that can be used for supplemental therapy or alone. Clients will receive multiple benefits with this enjoyable therapy. Clients will experience comfortable massage relief and an easy detox application.

This ancient therapy aids in balancing our bodies, and safely provides gliding cupping and gua sha, for relief of muscle soreness, stale chi, stagnant blood, resulting in relief of pain, stress, and giving deep tissue results in a comfortable way.

Moveable/Gliding cupping is a unique treatment to remove external and internal pathogens from the body and restore the circulation of blood. Cupping therapy works for up to 4 inches within the skin. It provides for a wonderful deep tissue massage, not limited to the area of direct treatment but also to the areas the relevant nerves are controlling. It also activates the lymph system, and assists in reduction of cellulite, and skin toning, as a few good examples.

Cupping effects help facilitate a return to balance of organs, as well as improve the circulatory and nervous systems, and locally has a remarkable effect on stiff muscles with it’s pull and gliding properties aiding in pain reduction, and removing toxic substances from the skin.

Cupping therapy dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, andmany Middle Eastern cultures. One of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, theEbers Papyrus, describes how the ancient Egyptians were using cupping therapy in 1,550 B.C.

Supporters of cupping therapy believe the suction of the cups mobilizes blood flow to promote the healing of a broad range of medical ailments.

Stone Massage

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.[2]

Castor Oil Packs

Edgar Cayce referred to Castor Oil as “Palma di Cristi” …the oil that heals. It is a much needed age-old remedy being brought back and incorporated into current healing therapies.

Application of topical castor oil packs is soothing and gentle for detoxification and healing. This treatment results in relief of pain, stress, and promotes rejeuvenation to the body, mind, and spirit.

Combined with cupping, castor oil packs help detox the body, aiding in pain reduction, and works with the lymphatic system to facilitate amazing cleansing and restoration of health and wellness to the patient.

Deep Tissue Massage

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.[2]

REIKI

Reiki is described as spiritually guided Life Force Energy .It is done with passive touch (a simple laying on of the hands to the body), to conduct healing energy to the client, and is a form of relaxing touch-energy therapy. The client is fully clothed and this is not a form of massage therapy. "Rei" means of God, and "Ki" (Chi) is life force energy, which we are given from God.

Bonny facilitates God's loving healing energy using Christ-centered prayer and gentle laying on of hands, and reminds her clients that any healing that takes places is between them and our Father God.

Shiatsu and Tui Na - Oriental Bodywork

Shiatsu ("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. Tui Na shared the eminence of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), and the techniques vary with rolling, wiping,chopping,vibrating, pulling/stretching, and a variety of other strokes. It works to balance the Yin/Yang and the treatment involved the use of a wide range of specific manual techniques, all of which have particular effects and areas of influence.

Swedish 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. 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. The term "Swedish" massage is not really known in the country of Sweden, where it is called "classic massage".[2]

Animal Massage

Massage for Animals? Absolutely!!

Massage therapy is not just a luxury. It is an essential part of total pet care and has proven to be integral with good nutrition, holistic preventative medicine, energy healing, and health maintenance.

Our animal companions are living spiritual beings…family members who share our lives and are always there for us with their constant support and unconditional love. We should treat them as we would our human loved ones.

Some of the benefits of massage include: relief from pain, anxiety, and muscle spasm; increased range of motion; support for all of the body’s systems; and faster recovery from injury and/or surgery. Geriatric massage is a comfort to the aged, infirm, arthritic or disabled animals. Sports massage aids the animal athlete in optimizing performance, such as agility or showing. Diagnostic massage can help you to detect health problems early on to bring to the attention of your vet.

Gentle massage for the hospice patient can help keep the body more comfortable, and provide a special caring touch.

(Note: *Massage is not a substitute for Veterinary care. Any illness/injury should be evaluated by a vet first.)

Reiki Energy Healing is also a wonderful therapy for animals and people alike. Reiki means: spiritually guided Lifeforce energy. It is done by a simple “laying on of the hands and is a non-manipulative form of touch/energy therapy. Together with massage therapy, it both revitalizes and balances the health of animals. It gives a sense of calming and caring that all animals need. In the terminally ill, it is especially beneficial during hospice care and can help by easing the transition of passing over.

Our pets deserve the best we can give them. Along with your loving care, give them the gift of wellbeing!

By: Bonny Donnelly Goslee LMT.RM. CAMT (Certified Animal Massage Therapist)

“Circle Of Life Healing” ~United Care for People and Pets~

Appointments and Classes available!

Contact: www.circleoflifehealing.com - (786)-385-7211

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger points or trigger sites are described as hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers. Trigger point practitioners believe that palpable nodules are small contraction knots[ambiguous] and a common cause of pain. Compression of a trigger point may elicit local tenderness, referred pain, or local twitch response. The local twitch response is not the same as a muscle spasm. This is because a muscle spasm refers to the entire muscle entirely contracting whereas the local twitch response also refers to the entire muscle but only involves a small twitch, no contraction. The trigger point model states that unexplained pain frequently radiates from these points of local tenderness to broader areas, sometimes distant from the trigger point itself. Practitioners claim to have identified reliable referred pain patterns, allowing practitioners to associate pain in one location with trigger points elsewhere.[2]