Sympatico Massage: Performed on a massage table or massage mat on floor. No use of oils, and treatment is applied over clothing. Loose cotton clothing is best such as baggy gym sweats, drawstring yoga or tai chi pants, or even flannel pajama pants and loose t-shirt (for women sports bra is recommended under t-shirt). Hummingbird uses finger, palm, forearm/elbow, and bamboo massage tools to apply light to firm pressure to soft tissue. Sympatico Massage is a synthesis of Shiatsu, Thai, and Tui Na massage modalities and the techniques used are:
Acupressure— using finger pressure along what are called body meridians. Body meridians are channels through which life energy/force called chi, or qi, or ki, flows. The application of finger pressure is to stimulate/balance the flow of life energy/force (including blood and lymph) through the meridians/soft-tissues, as blocked or restricted flow leads not only to pain and discomfort but can also lead to even more serious ailments and chronic conditions;
Rocking/Shaking— using gentle pressure, the therapist uses a push/release motion to rock the clients limbs and torso, promoting relaxation and release of tension and/or holding (holding is a sub-conscious guarding condition that may be due to past or present physical or emotional traumatic/stressful experiences);
Compression— the application of downward pressure into the muscle/soft tissue using palms, forearms, soft fist or bamboo massage tool;
Friction/Squeeze/Release— the use of finger pads, knuckles, forearms to apply vigorous moderate to firm back and forth and/or circular, lateral pressure to soft tissue and joints, along with rapid squeezing/pulling/releasing of soft tissue to break up stagnation and stimulate blood/lymph/chi flow;
Stretching/Joint Mobilization— the therapist guides the clients body through passive (the client remains relaxed and does not assist) range of motion of head, hands, feet, limbs and torso. The movements extend and release muscle and fascia (connective tissue) and rotate/flex joints;
Regular Sympatico Massage treatments helps keep the body limber, life energies balanced, and immune system toned and responsive. ~~~~
Myofascial Decompression (Cupping): The use of glass/plastic/silicone cups to create targeted suction of soft tissue. The duration of a single applied cup ranges from 5 sec - 5 minutes, depending on placement on body, amount of suction, and treatment need. Myofascial Decompression is distinct from Therapeutic Cupping used in Acupuncture or Hijama. Massage therapists use cupping to address only conditions of muscle tension and fascial adhesions (sustained compression of tissue layers—imagine pages in a book stuck together). Chronic muscle tension and fascial adhesions restricts not only the smooth movement of joints and hinders the 'glide' of muscle fibers and fascia, but also restricts the flow of blood/lymph/qi(chi) through the tissues, causing both a build up of cellular waste in the interstitial fluid (the fluid in-between cells) and a constant pressure on nerve endings, resulting in varying degrees of discomfort and pain. The suction of the cups both 'opens' and creates space within the layers of soft tissue, releasing muscle tension, increasing circulation, and draws the stagnant interstitial fluid up toward the surface of the tissue to be removed by the lymph system. Cupping does result in circles where the cups were placed due to the expansion of capillaries and stagnant blood/interstitial fluid in the tissues coming to surface. Depending on skin tone and the condition of the blood and interstitial fluid, the color of the circles may range from light pink to deep purple, and normally fade within a few days. The circles are NOT bruising or the result of damage to the skin/tissues.
Though not necessarily for everyone, many clients who have tried cupping with me ask for it again due to the pain and tension relieving effects. And in my self-treatment I have found cupping effective for relieving active trigger-points.
~~~~
Tok Rei: A Reiki enhanced Tok Sen treatment.
Tok Sen— is a meditative massage modality from northern Thailand known for the use of wooden and/or rubber hammer/mallet and smooth, blunt wooden 'chisels'. The hammer and 'chisels' are used in a rhythmic light or firm tapping along energy/organ/myofascial meridians in the body called Sen lines. Like Acupressure or Acupuncture this can promote invigoration, or calm, the flow of life energy through the body, and the sound of the wood/rubber on wood taping has a meditative, and 'letting go' effect on mind/body of the client.
Reiki— is an 'energy healing' modality. It is thought of as being 'channeled through' a practitioner to the client, but in my experience it seems the client and myself both become enveloped in Reiki—it simultaneously surrounds and arises within both the client and myself. The term Reiki is the combination of two Japanese kanji: Rei=Divine, Miraculous; and Ki=Life Energy or Life Force. I offer to think about Reiki in this way: The name is from Japan, but what the name refers to is Universal. Many healing modalities around the world use the healing energy that is referred to by the word Reiki. I feel/think of Reiki as a 'frequency' of the Universal Great Life Force that is the cause and support of all life forms. This 'frequency' is like a master chord to which all lifeforms can harmonize and 'be in tune' with. When harmonized to this certain 'frequency' of the Great Life Force the result is calmness with peaceful feelings of contentment and trust or faith. (I learned this in part from my inward personal experiences, along with witnessing animal behavior—as when practicing putting myself in a state of channeling Reiki in my backyard, a feral cat would sometimes calmly approach and without fear relax and turn their bodies as if to receive the Reiki where they needed it!) The resultant feeling/states of calmness and contentment and trust/faith in turn enhances and 'expedites' the healing properties inherent in all life forms. As an example, because healing is inherent in my body, a cut will naturally heal given time, with Reiki, the inherent power to heal is enhanced and the cut will heal faster and in some cases with less, or as I have miraculously witnessed a few times, no scarring! How or whether and to what degree healing happens as a result of Reiki treatments is not 'guaranteed', as the prime condition seems to be a person's faith, spiritual faith as opposed to religious faith—meaning, not determined by a particular outward religion or religious practice, but rather the result of an inward trait all lifeforms have to a greater or lesser degree. (Many are the religious people whose faith proves to be shallow, and many are the people whose faith is quite deep, yet do not follow or believe in any particular religion).
Tok Rei can be an excellent way to 'reboot' and 'clear the cache' physically mentally and spiritually and support the body/mind/soul's natural healing abilities.
~~~~
Harmonic Touch Shamanic Reiki: Healing voice tones and chanting with light touch acupressure and hand 'brushing' (sometimes I use a wand of rosemary branches for the 'brushing'). After a vision I had in which I was visited by three Tibetan masters who, like in the paintings, were seated on lotuses coming out of the clouds in the sky behind me (and though they were behind me in this vision, I had 360 degree sight and could clearly 'see' them). I was told by a feminine being who appeared next to me that I was to receive a gift, and then experienced a strange sensation as one after another, the Masters began chanting behind me. A rotating object made of bone or wood appeared in front of me at eye level. There were inscriptions on it I could not understand, but as they changed with each Master who began to chant behind me, I thought perhaps the inscriptions were the name or had something to do with the Master who was chanting. From the very next day after the vision, there would unexpectedly arise in me voice toning that I intuitively understood resulted from the 'gift' I was given and as having healing promoting qualities. I did not know how to take what happened to me, and though it felt right, I did not like, and was very shy about letting other than people very close to me know of the healing gift. A year or two later, upon awakening I heard a voice in my head calmly say "Go to massage school." When I stepped through the doors of National Holistic Institute in Emeryville CA., to meet with the admissions person, I knew immediately Massage Therapy was my 'calling', and was to be the way for sharing my healing gift with those who need it. The healing voice toning happens of it's own arising when I meet a client, or even when communicating by phone or text or email, or even if someone tells me about them and mentions their name. This is how I know if I am to share the gift with a particular person. I can make no prediction of results from what I call Harmonic Touch treatments, but every single client who received this treatment reports they got something beyond their expectation and are very grateful, so much so I am embarrassed by it. Interestingly, it is not uncommon that the spirit or soul of a client's ancestor, a parent or grand- parent or great grandparent, appears to me, (and sometimes the client is aware of this also). The ancestor gives advice/guidance for me to relate to the client, or just shares love through me. I smile to remember there was a time when I would not believe in such things, but now have no choice but to believe as I have experienced wonderful personal witness.
Again, Harmonic Touch happens as it happens and I in no way 'conjure' or determine what transpires—I am simply in a meditative/prayer state when doing Harmonic Touch, and follow as I am guided by THAT what has led me to this path of massage therapy/faith healer.
~~~~
Kinesiology (Sports) Taping: Originally developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese chiropractor, kinesiology tape provides support without limiting movement. Kinesiology is the scientific study of human movement and kinesiology tape is designed to mimic the skin's elasticity allowing full range of motion/movement. The tape is a blend of elastic cotton and nylon and a uses medical grade adhesive that is water/sweat resistant so needs not be removed for performance, working out, or for showering and so can and is intended to be left applied for 2-5 days. The unique elasticity of kinesiology tape has a 'recoil' that creates a 'lifting' of the skin, facilitating a space between skin and underlying tissue/joints. Kinesiology tape also seems to change the information the sensory nervous system sends about pain and compression/tension in the body, and many clients experience a lessening of myofascial pain after application of kinesiology tape. Massage therapists, physical therapists, sports trainers/enthusiasts, and chiropractors use kinesiology tape to treat/prevent injuries by applying the tape to support, 're-educate' and enhance muscle/fascial/joint function.
Often kinesiology tape is applied after stress/injury, but I also use it for myself as a support/preventative. If I know I have a long day of massage, I tape my wrists ,elbows, shoulders and low back that morning and come the end of the day have none of the customary soreness/weakness of my muscles/joints! ~~~~