Body Sense

WINTER | 2016

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Types of Massage & Bodywork ACUPRESSURE Uses the gentle but firm pressure of fingers, elbows, or feet to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body's natural self-curative abilities. When points are pressed, they release muscular tension and promote circulation of blood and the body's life force (chi or qi) to aid healing. ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE Movement education in which the student is taught to sit, stand, and move in ways that reduce physical stress. Teachers use gentle manual guidance and verbal cues to improve posture and movement patterns. Teacher's guidance stresses the adjustment of the head, neck, and torso relationship. At first, teachers closely monitor students. Later, students learn a self-management process. ANIMAL MASSAGE Therapeutic massage provides relief, stimulates healing, and promotes stress reduction in both pets and competition animals. Benefits include enhancing performance by increasing range of motion, maintaining muscle tone and joint flexibility, increasing blood and lymph circulation, increasing oxygen to reduce muscle spasms, and improving disposition. CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY A light-touch, noninvasive method of enhancing the craniosacral system, which consists of membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Encourages the body's natural healing mechanisms to improve functioning of the central nervous system, dissipate stress, and enhance health. DEEP-TISSUE MASSAGE Administered to affect the sublayer of musculature and fascia. Helps with chronic muscular pain and injury rehabilitation and reduces inflammation-related pain caused by arthritis and tendinitis. Generally integrated with other massage techniques. GERIATRIC MASSAGE Addresses the psychological and physiological aspects of aging and its associated diseases. Bodywork, often limited to a shorter time span, is often performed in residential care facilities and can be administered with the client in their wheelchair or bed, depending on their level of mobility. MYOFASCIAL RELEASE Application of sustained pressure and movement into the body's fascial system to eliminate restrictions and emotional patterns that impede progress. Begins by visually analyzing the body's frame, followed by palpation of fascial layers. Gentle pressure is applied in the direction of restrictions. Effective for cervical and back pain, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, neurological dysfunction, and headaches. NEUROMUSCULAR THERAPY Soft-tissue manipulation that balances the body's central nervous system with the musculoskeletal system. Based on neurological laws that explain how the central nervous system initiates and maintains pain, the goal is to help relieve pain and dysfunction by understanding and alleviating the underlying cause. ONCOLOGY MASSAGE Massage tailored to the needs of individuals with cancer. Therapists pay close attention to the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of clients in all stages of cancer— diagnosis, treatment, recovery, survivor, or terminal—and include precautions for radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery, and cover physiology and pathology. REFLEXOLOGY Involves application of pressure to specific reflex areas in the foot, hands, and ears that correspond to other parts of the body. Stimulates body organs and relieves areas of congestion through increased circulation of blood and lymphatic fluids. Works with the body's energy flow to stimulate self- healing and maintain body balance. SPORTS MASSAGE Designed to enhance athletic performance and recovery pre-event, post-event, and for injury treatment. Often delivered at the performance site, with the athlete fully clothed. Pre-event: fast-paced and stimulating; helps to establish blood flow and warm up muscles. Post-event: the intent is to calm the nervous system and reduce recovery time. STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION A 10-session cycle of work in which different angles and degrees of physical pressure are used to stretch and guide the myofascial system—the ligaments, muscles, tendons, and surrounding connective tissues—to a place of easier movement. The goal is to create a more resilient, higher-energy system, free of inhibitions due to past trauma.

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