Elisa Clara Spagni’s Massage Therapy Options

Elisa Clara Spagni, Remedial Massage Therapist outlines the differences between the types of massage therapies she has on offer.

RELAXATION MASSAGE

Relaxation massage is all about relaxing. It focuses on giving you time to recover from the stresses of daily life using a combination of different techniques like effleurage, soft tissue, gentle kneading and rolling of skin and muscle, long smooth gliding strokes that are rhythmic and flowing.

The pressure used is deeply relaxing, but not painful.  This treatment encourages and improves circulation, digestion, relaxation and the elimination of toxins.

It relieves stress and tension in muscles creating a sense of well-being invigorating both emotionally and physically.

Relaxation massage is designed to soothe and relax you, not to relieve chronic pain or other underlying ailments.

Relaxation massage can offer the following benefits:

• Lowering blood pressure
• Improving peripheral circulation
• Improving skin tone and appearance
• Improving gastrointestinal motility (bowel movements will become more regular)
• Reducing muscle tension including tension headaches
• Improving stress-related symptoms
• Providing a gentle boost to the immune system if you undergo regular treatments

 Duration: 60 minutes or 90 minutes

ANTI-STRESS MASSAGE

Useful to relieve stress, back pain and muscular injuries, it facilitates healing on a spiritual, emotional and physical level restoring balance and harmony.

During anti-stress massage energy may be stimulated in order to achieve balance.

Medium – firm flowing pressure and vibrating techniques are used on the muscle, clearing meridians and energy blockages, realigning the spine, assisting vascularisation and balancing the Qi.

The intention is to eliminate toxins through purification, strengthen the muscle tone, relax and rejuvenate the body.

Anti-stress massage techniques harnesses the power of healing touch leaving you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

Some of the effects are:

• Improved tissue vascularisation
• Reduced stress related muscle tension
• Return to a state of calm and well-being following stressful situations

Tired, overworked or stressed? …this is for you!

Duration: 60 minutes

AROMATHERAPY

Aromatherapy massage combines the natural therapeutic properties of essential oils and the healing power of massage therapy.

Aromatherapy uses essential oils that are thought to have healing properties, they are the concentrated essences taken from the flowers, fruit, seeds, leaves and bark of certain plants like lavender, bergamot, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemon, orange, thyme, sage, rosemary, geranium…

The essential oils are mixed with a carrier oil like sweet almond, apricot kernel, or grapeseed oil.

Please note: not all oils are suitable for all people or all conditions.

The use of essential oils, selected to suits individual needs boosts well-being, balances and harmonizes the body creates a relaxing and rejuvenating experience.

Following an initial consultation to assess current lifestyle, physical and mental health a personalized treatment will be formulated.

Aromatherapy massage offers powerful physical, emotional and mental benefits;

• Improves the nervous, circulatory and lymphatic system
• Boosts the immune system supporting healing processes
• Improves the muscular system strengthening the entire body
• Creates mental clarity and relaxation
• Alleviates stress and headaches.

Duration: 75 minutes (15 minutes consultation + 60 minutes treatment)

REMEDIAL MASSAGE

Remedial massage deals with muscle fatigue release, balance improvement and rehabilitation.

Remedial massage techniques are used when muscles and tendons become damaged or impaired, knotted, tense or immobile.

Remedial massage treats the whole body holistically and traces the discomfort as far as possible back to the original cause, healing the cause of the disorder and as a consequence alleviating the symptoms.

In its holistic approach remedial massage takes into account the connection, cause and effects processes of the muscular, skeletal and visceral system (respiratory system, digestive, reproductive system and circulatory).

Conditions that can be treated with remedial massage may include:

• Joint problems
• Muscle spasm and cramps
• Muscular atrophy
• Loss of muscle tone
• Sciatica
• Wry neck and headache
• Frozen shoulder
• Poor circulation
• Arthritis
• Fibrositis
• Spondylitis
• Whiplash
• Sports and dancing injuries.

Techniques such as deep pressure, trigger points and longitudinal strokes on shortened and tight muscles are used to locate and repair damage, support and speed up the body’s own repair mechanisms, restore proper function and muscle strength.

Firm stimulating pressure and passive stretching moves are also used.

Some benefits may be:

• stimulating the blood supply allowing toxins in the muscle to be removed
• calming the peripheral nervous system to ease pain and discomfort
• improving the health of the cells, repairing tissues
• toning and relaxing of muscles to improve joint mobility
• easing of stiffness and tension.

Duration: First appointment 60 minutes (assessment + treatment)

Following appointments: 30 minutes (specific area) or 60 minutes (whole body)

SPORTS MASSAGE

Sports massage deals with the health of muscle, connective tissue, range of movement, tone, symmetry, balance of muscle and quality of posture.

If you are a professional athlete, an amateur athlete, or just do weekend fitness for fun this treatment may suit you better.

Different soft tissue techniques are carefully selected to help achieve peak athletic performance, promoting muscle growth and development and enhancing the effects of any training program.

Sports massage can be beneficial pre-event to ensure the body is in optimal condition for competition or post event to aid recovery.

For those in physical/sports training of any kind, sports massage can assist in maintaining consistency, one of the most important aspects for achieving results.

Some benefits that sports massage has include:

• preventing and reducing injuries
• Faster and more effective recovery from your event or training
• Draining away fatigue
• Relieving swelling
• Increasing flexibility and length of muscles
• Dissipation of adhesions, which limit your muscle’s potential
• Advances in power, speed and consistency
• Reducing muscle pain and other soft-tissue injuries during training
• Improving heart rate and blood pressure
• Increasing blood circulation and lymph flow
• Extending your athletic career
• Achieving best results.

Duration: First appointment 60 minutes (assessment + treatment)

Following appointments: 30 minutes (specific area) or 60 minutes (whole body)

PREGNANCY MASSAGE

Pregnancy is a beautiful and precious time in a woman’s life. The body is changing every day adjusting and welcoming a new life.

Carrying a baby changes the centre of gravity in the body and can put a lot of stress on the back, neck, abdominal muscles and shoulders.

During pregnancy the ligaments relax, the pelvic joints become less stable changing the posture and pulling the pelvis forward.

Postural problems and aching lower back are common and can be treated with gentle remedial massage techniques.

Nurturing maternal wellness, this treatment includes comfortable positioning and techniques to alleviate aching legs, sore back, fatigue and emotional tension during this important time.

Suitable for the second and third trimesters, every care is taken to ensure a safe and beneficial outcome.

Pregnancy Massage can improve prenatal health, used along with the guidance and advice of a prenatal care provider it can be incorporated into routine prenatal care.

Studies indicate that massage therapy performed during pregnancy may help:

• Reduce anxiety and decrease stress.
• Promote calm and relaxation.
• Decrease symptoms of depression
• Relieve muscle aches and joint pain
• Improve labour outcomes and newborn health
• Helping to cope with discomfort
• Improve circulation and mobility
• …and just make you feel good.

Please, consult with your Doctor, Midwife, or Obstetrician before beginning your treatments.

Duration: First consultation 60 minutes (consultation + treatment)

Following appointments 40 minutes

POSTPARTUM MASSAGE

Postnatal massage can be as important and beneficial as massage during pregnancy.

Is an effective and holistic approach for the many adjustments to motherhood.

Postnatal massage can help decrease the discomforts of afterbirth and help relax and feel cared for during this intense time of the mothering journey.

The unique postpartum benefits include hormone regulation, reduced swelling, better sleep, improve breastfeeding, helps restore the body to its pre-pregnancy condition, speeding healing and assist with C-section recovery.

Massage after giving birth can help with:

• Low back pain
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Scar healing
• Headaches
• Hand and wrist pain
• Postural dysfunctions
• Depression
• Weakness and fatigue
• Re-establishes pelvic alignment
• Supports healthy lactation
• Facilitates mum and baby bonding
• Reduces stress hormones
• Body, mind and soul are nurtured and rejuvenated, helping you be the best mum you can be.

Other Important Benefits of Postnatal Massage are:

• Provides deep relaxation, very important when you become exhausted after night feedings
• Relieves shoulders and neck pain from carrying and breastfeeding a baby
• Helps restore the uterus to its original state
• Helps to eliminate excess body fluids and reduces fluid retention
• Helps in weight loss by giving new tone to muscles
• Increases blood circulation
• Helps the mother feel good about herself and that make it easier for her to meet the needs of the newborn.

Duration: First appointment 60 minutes (consultation + treatment)

Following appointments 40 minutes

INFANT MASSAGE

Infant massage is a massage carrying a message of love.

A caring touch is good for everyone, but especially for infants who are new to the world and need the reassurance of someone special being there for them.

There are some major benefits for parents who gain an increased awareness of their baby and his or her needs while enhancing the bonding process between care giver and baby.

“Touch therapy” triggers many physiological changes that help infants and children grow and develop.

Research and studies have shown that infant massage alleviates the stress that newborns experience as a result of the enormous change that birth creates.

They have just spent nine months in a wonderful little “home” that fed them, kept them warm, brought them the oxygen they needed, took care of waste products, and provided a gentle rocking motion to soothe them.

Now, the outside world has taken over, and things are not as simple as they were.

Massage enables a smoother transition from the comfortable womb to that of humankind.

The benefits of massage for the infant:

• It helps baby learn to relax.
• It improves immune system.
• It promotes bonding and communication.
• It promotes positive body image.
• It decreases the production of stress hormones.
• It promotes sounder and longer sleep.
• It helps to regulate digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems.
• It helps relieve discomfort from gas and colic , congestion, and teething.

The benefits of massage for parents:

• It improves parent-infant communication.
• It helps parents to understand and respond appropriately to baby’s nonverbal cues.
• It eases stress of parent who must be separated from child during the day.
• It promotes feelings of competence and confidence in caring for baby.
• It provides a special focused time that helps deepen bonding.
• It increases parents’ ability to help child relax in times of stress.
• It is fun and relaxing for parents to massage their children.

Duration: First consultation: 60 minutes (consultation + treatment)

Following appointment: 30 minutes