8821 North 7th Street, Suite 305, Studio 1, Phoenix, Arizona 85020, United States
My Philosophy on Massage and Bodywork
Massage therapy and bodywork are not luxuries but investments in your health. They should be integrated as part of your health and wellness plan just like your doctor appointments.
Bodies are not made by cookie cutters, and no two people are the same. That is why I believe individual treatment plans are essential. As a team, you and I will customize each session to fit your body’s needs.
Pain does not always equal gain in massage and bodywork. Massage therapy and bodywork can potentially give you that ‘feel-good’ soreness pain, but should never give you that, “Ouch! That hurts!” pain. One intention of massage therapy and bodywork is to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and to calm the ‘fight or flight’ instincts that stress can bring about. So, putting someone through an ‘ouch’ pain is not conducive to that goal. If you experience any kind of discomfort or pain it is important that you immediately let your practitioner know.
In my experience when clients ask for deep tissue they really mean deep pressure. Deep tissue massage is not the same as deep pressure. In my learning, deep tissue is the working of the muscles deep within the body; it is not a full-body modality. It is used specifically to focus on one area of the body which allows the massage therapist time to work into each level of the muscle rather than just the top surface muscle. Deep pressure is not a modality but a firmer pressure on the body made by the massage therapist during the massage. While there are various levels of pressure done during your massage I can only go as deep as your body, and my body, will allow.
Massage oils and lotions are important to me, and they should be to you. I primarily use Jojoba oil because it is the closest product there is to the oil your skin naturally produces. I will not use coconut oil as it is known to be comedogenic, which means it can clog pores, and may cause or make acne worse. The lotion I use contains sunflower oil and jojoba oil, as well as cocoa butter, aloe vera leaf juice, and vitamin E. They are vegan-friendly, hypoallergenic, and cruelty-free. I use these unscented oils and lotions as I understand that many people have sensitivities and allergies.
You are important to me. That is why I care about your sensitivities and allergies. While I do not offer aromatherapy at this time, it may be offered in the future. I will strive to learn all my client’s sensitivities and allergies so I can minimize, as best as I can, any exposure to the essential oils I may use in sessions prior to yours.