Traditional Thai Massage
Therapeutic & Deep Tissue
Multiple Sclerosis
Yoga Therapy
Stretch-Ability
Chair
Custom Programs
Session Rates
Links for You
Member:
International Assoc. Yoga Therapists (IAYT)
Thai Healing Alliance International (THAI)
Assoc .Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP)
Therapeutic
... tending to cure or restore to health"
[Stedman's Medical Dictionary]
All massage modalities are intended to be therapeutic in nature~ However, each approach is distinct in its application be it to sooth, treat, or rehabilitate.
When asked to specify the difference between therapeutic massage and {quote} regular massage it is helpful to keep in mind that each body has a particular and specific issue to be addressed; it is also just as particular and specific with respect to its treatment, be it emotional or physiological.
We will strive to meet the needs and expectations of our clients by:
- Discussing expectations & client background before initial session
- Modifying each follow-up session according to improvement or client request
- Suggesting possible preventive measures such as stretches & activity modification
- Always providing respectful, individualized care~ Each person is unique, and will be treated with their well-being in mind
Traditional Thai Massage is, by tradition and intent,
a form of deep compassion, or ‘metta’.
Deep Tissue
Muscles are categorized into two general layers: superficial and deep. Deeper muscles are quite often the heavy duty workers, recruited when maximal effort is required for a particular activity, whereas superficial muscles act as synergists to complement the deeper muscle groups or perform smaller, finer movements demanding control or repetition. Generally, deeper tissue tends to be less accessible and can harbor localized damage which is left untreated in lighter work.
For those of you seeking truly deep work, we recommend Thai Massage .
Feet, elbows, fists, knees and hands are used in conjunction with acupressure and deep stretching to achieve the depth required to address chronic structural issues, long-term physical stress or fibrosis due to previous injury or surgery.
Multiple Sclerosis
"I don't want to stop being Who I Am..."
This is a phrase overheard more than once while working in a clinic setting, as well as during a local MS meeting. It is a reflection of the frustration experienced when trying to keep up with the pace of the modern world, and quite frequently the personal stress of juggling a family and well-intentioned friends.
MS is not who you are, but can become a second skin which constricts one in such a way as to challenge even the simplest effort, altering how we are:
- how to go up the stairs
- how to get out of bed
- how to grasp_turn the door handle
- how to make others understand that you are just fine
{"Maybe a little tired, though"}
Massage has been shown to help, from stress management and depression to spasticity and atrophy prevention. The therapist is aware of symptomology and stages of progression, as well as having clinic experience and active participation in local groups. There is also a personal interest due to family acquaintance and consequently the nuances of MS are familiar ground.
All sessions are on location, avoiding the need to put out extra effort. Each individual will have specific restrictions and requirements, therefore each session will be tailored to that day's indications. We also offer private yoga therapy sessions, as well as a weekly class for those with diagnosed MS.
For more information and specifics, please call (812) 331~7423
Traditional Thai Massage
‘Suffering is universal and inevitable...
There is a way out of suffering’
[Buddha]
Due to the confluence of history and geography, this traditional bodywork has its roots in India over 2.500 years ago... Those of you who practice Yoga will be quite familiar with many of the positions taken both by the practitioner & client~ hence the more correct term of Thai Yoga Massage. Still actively used in Thailand's health centers & clinics, it is considered fundamental in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders &systemic illness. Performed on a thick mat on the floor, the body is stretched, rocked & kneaded with a resulting suppling and structural aligning of the body. Both the northern (Nuad Boran) and southern (Jap-Sen) styles are incorporated~ combining the rhythm and stretching characteristic of the northern tradition around Chiang Mai with the acupressure and deep nerve work with origins in and around Bangkok. Unlike westernized massage techniques, no oil or lotion is used & the client remains fully clothed during the session. This traditional healing art will leave you rested yet feeling highly energized.
Steamed herbal packs are incorporated into sessions, and are prepared according to traditional specifications. These wonderful packs are used to free joints, clear the lungs, increase overall circulation, reduce inflammation , and ease pain. Additionally, the synergistic properties of the herbs have a slightly soporific quality which gives the recipient a general sensation of intense lassitude ~ yet interestingly leaves one invigorated and alert following a session.
At EquiLibrium, Traditional Thai Massage with the application of herbal packs is the preferred choice of the therapist when choosing bodywork. We feel that a medical tradition which has been honored and practiced for 2.500 years is worthy of respect and is beneficial as a complete treatment.
Stretch-Ability Sessions
"The physician should combat the characteristics of diseases~
Slackening what is tight and tightening what is slack,
for in this way the affliction would be most alleviated"
[Hippocrates]
As infants, our bodies are astonishingly flexible~ As adults, we lose this freedom of movement due to any number of factors: excessive growth periods during adolescence resulting in an inability for connective tissue to adjust and grow with bone development, aging and subsequent changes in collagen make-up, injury, illness, chronic abnormal posture due to work environment, muscle imbalance due to overuse or building up of opposing muscle groups, and seemingly innocuous causes such as shoes with heels or improper fit, or carrying a child about.
A Stretch-Ability session incorporates classic stretching elements, Yoga and manual techniques such as AIS.** (see below)
Each session is customized to the individual, and a personal routine can be developed according to a client's requirements:
- Health and Prevention
- Rehabilitation
- Athletic
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Increased ability in down-time activities such as Yoga, Hiking, Riding
Having a loose, flexible body is a sensation akin to none!
**The primary obstacle to flexibility is the tightness of fascial and connective tissue over and around a joint, as well as shortening or contracture of muscles affecting movement of said joint; attempts to stretch contracted or fibrosed tissue results in fibers tearing, even on a microscopic level. Our bodies have a built in protective reflex to prevent overstretching~ myotatic reflex contraction~ triggered at the point of maximum stretch. The AIS approach is a manual technique which isolates a given muscle or muscle group by fully contracting the opposing (antagonistic) muscle/group, effectively releasing the load on the target muscle(s) without firing this automatic response.
Yoga Therapy
It is interesting to note that there are more individuals practicing Yoga in California alone than in all of India… It is also noteworthy that the population of the USA is, by statistic, the most unhappy and dissatisfied nation in the world. Could there be a correlation between these facts?! A 1994 German study, which compared a group of women practicing Hatha Yoga to a second group that did not, found that the yoga-practicing group showed markedly higher scores in life satisfaction, and lower scores in aggressiveness, emotionality, and sleep abnormalities .
Yoga is not simply the mastery of asanas (postures). It can be used to calm the mind, relieve stress, reduce pain, and (to you doubters, recent science says so!) to ameliorate medical issues such as asthma, COPD, multiple sclerosis, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, insomnia, depression, high blood pressure and arthritis. (see article)
EquiLibrium offers Yoga as a way to free the body:
- Regaining flexibility/range of motion after injury or surgical procedure
- Increasing balance and proprioception
- Easing pain from arthritis, scar tissue, fibromyalgia, joint contracture
- Getting going again after a long sabbatical from exercise
- Injury prevention… From backyard gardening to the local marathon
- Body awareness... How you use your body, listening to its pain messages, learning to fix potentially damaging movement and postural habits
- With regular, gentle practice an overall toning of the body and sense of well-being lead some to make healthful changes in life-style and thinking patterns as well as having an appreciation (rather than negativism) for their body
Yoga sessions are offered at the client's location:
- By the hour as private sessions
- By the hour as a small group (maximum 4)
- As part of a comprehensive package combining Yoga with
Traditional Thai Massage - As a customized program, tailored to the individual, the instructor will meet with you for a one hour session to evaluate your needs and ability, then create a flexible yoga routine that can be modified as needed. Depending on experience, you can then elect to continue on your own, touching base occasionally to modify poses or alter the routine… Or, continue with private sessions following the customized program.
- Yoga for MySelf (Yoga for MS)
For more information and specifics, please call (812) 331~7423
Chair Massage
A simple way to ease stress and the aches and pains of everyday life. Convenient for workplaces and extended conventions, as well as a pleasant way to reward employees. Please call for specifics on group bookings, event reservations, competitions, and expos.
Contact EquiLibrium from 8am~7pm EST
Appointments & Event Booking
812.331.7423
