Specialty Treatments
Rachel's Treatment Modalities
Yoga - Yoga is a mind and body practice. Various styles of yoga combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. It involves movement, meditation, and breathing techniques to promote mental and physical well-being. There are several types of yoga and many disciplines within the practice.
Qigong - Qigong (pronounced chee-gong) is an ancient Chinese exercise and healing technique that involves meditation, controlled breathing and movement exercises. Qi is a concept from traditional Chinese culture that roughly means vital energy, information, breath or spirit. The second character in qigong, "gong," means cultivation or mastery.
Acupressure - Acupressure, is an alternative medicine technique often used in conjunction with acupuncture. It is based on the concept of life energy which flows through "meridians" in the body. Acupressure works by placing pressure on specific points on the body to release qi. Application of pressure requires precision because some 365 points are located on the major channels, plus there are over 650 individual pressure points.
Cupping - Cupping is a type of alternative therapy that has Chinese, Egyptian, Greek and India based roots. It involves placing cups on the skin to create suction called “negative pressure”. The suction can facilitate healing with blood flow. Proponents also claim the suction helps facilitate the flow of “qi” in the body. Many Taoists believe that cupping helps balance yin and yang, or the negative and positive, within the body. Restoring balance between these two extremes is thought to help with the body’s resistance to pathogens as well as its ability to increase blood flow and reduce pain. Cupping increases blood circulation to the area where the cups are placed. This may relieve muscle tension, which can improve overall blood flow and promote cell repair. It may also help form new connective tissues and create new blood vessels in the tissue.
GuaSha - Gua sha is a traditional Chinese healing method in which a trained professional uses a smooth-edged tool to stroke your skin while they press on it. This motion raises small, red, rash-like dots that show under your skin called petechiae. People use gua sha to treat chronic pain all over their body. Gua sha is intended to address stagnant energy, called qi which may be responsible for inflammation. Inflammation is the underlying cause of several conditions associated with chronic pain to help break up this energy, reduce inflammation, and promote healing.
Moxibustion - Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy in which dried plant materials called "moxa" are burned on or very near the surface of the skin. The intention is to warm and invigorate the flow of Qi in the body and dispel certain pathogenic influences.
Thai Yoga massage - In this unique healing system of Thai Yoga Massage, also called Nuad Boran, the practitioner guides the client through a series of yoga postures, while palming and thumbing along the body’s energy (‘Sen’) lines and pressure points. Together these actions result in a comprehensive full body treatment that relieves muscular tension, improves circulation, boosts the immune system and balances the body energetically. Thai Yoga Massage is performed on a mat on the floor; both client and practitioner are dressed in comfortable clothing allowing ease of movement and flexibility. 2,500 years ago this dynamic bodywork therapy based upon yoga and Ayurveda practices, appeared in the temples of Thailand.
Hot stone massage - A hot stone massage is a type of massage therapy. It’s used to help you relax and ease tense muscles and damaged soft tissues throughout your body. During a hot stone massage, smooth, flat, heated stones are placed on specific parts of your body. The stones are usually made of basalt, a type of volcanic rock that retains heat, heated to between 130 and 145 degrees. The stones may be placed along your spine, stomach, chest, face, palms, feet and toes. The stones can be held, make use of Swedish massage techniques or applied to acupressure points.
Ayurveda level 1 - Ayurvedic medicine (“Ayurveda” for short) is one of the world's oldest holistic (“whole-body”) healing systems. It was developed more than 3,000 years ago in India.It’s based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit. Its main goal is to promote good health, and treatments may be geared toward specific health problems. Ayurvedic therapists believe that everything in the universe – dead or alive – is connected. If your mind, body, and spirit are in harmony with the universe, you have good health. When something disrupts this balance, you get sick. Among the things that can upset this balance are diet, physical fitness, genetics, injuries, climate and seasonal change, age, and your emotions.
Fascial mobility (FMT) - Fascial stretch therapy improves the mobility of your nerves & the flexibility of your muscles and fascia by focusing on the fascial lines that connect through and wrap around muscle, nerves, organs, and just about everything else in your body. People of all ages can benefit from fascial stretch therapy, including any patient cleared by their physician for stretching and active movement, fitness enthusiasts, and athletes of all levels. Fascia surrounds each muscle, and connects them to each other both superficially and deep. It also connects tendons, ligaments, and bone to form a body-wide, functional network. Fascia connects to all of your organs and systems, too. By integrating a global perspective on stretching these fascial connections, we can reap twice the benefits as static stretching isolated muscle groups.
Trigger point therapy - Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy, also known as " Trigger Point Therapy ", refers to the treatment of myofascial trigger points (MTrP) or 'trigger points' (TrP) that are found in muscles and fascia. Myofascial trigger points are painful, tense areas that are found in muscles. MTrPs affect muscles and fascia. Myofascial trigger points can be found anywhere on the body and are one of the most common causes for chronic musculoskeletal pain, also known as myofascial pain. The goals of myofascial trigger point therapy are to improve blood circulation to the trigger zone, stretching of the taut bands, increasing calcium/oxygen:energy intake, and the release of surrounding fascia.
Reflexology - Reflexology is the application of pressure to areas on the feet (or the hands). Reflexology is generally relaxing and may help alleviate stress. The theory behind reflexology is that areas of the foot correspond to organs and systems of the body. Pressure applied to the foot is believed to bring relaxation and healing to the corresponding area of the body. Several studies indicate that reflexology may reduce pain and psychological symptoms, such as stress and anxiety, and enhance relaxation and sleep. Given that reflexology is also low risk, it can be a reasonable option if you're seeking relaxation and stress relief.
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) - Emotional freedom technique (EFT) is an alternative treatment for physical pain and emotional distress. It’s also referred to as tapping or psychological acupressure. People who use this technique believe tapping the body can create a balance in your energy system and treat pain. Similar to acupuncture, EFT focuses on the meridian points (or energy hot spots) to restore balance to your body’s energy. It’s believed that restoring this energy balance can relieve symptoms a negative experience or emotion may have caused. Based on Chinese medicine, meridian points are thought of as areas of the body energy flows through. These pathways help balance energy flow to maintain your health. Any imbalance can influence disease or sickness. EFT tapping has also been used to treat people with anxiety and people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Aromatherapy (with use of sound and colour) - Aromatherapy is a pseudoscience based on the usage of aromatic materials, including essential oils, and other aroma compounds, with claims for improving psychological or physical well-being. Ancient cultures in China, India, Egypt, and elsewhere incorporated aromatic plant components in resins, balms, and oils. These natural substances were used for medical and religious purposes. Aromatherapy massage is used for a variety of different reasons, including relaxation, pain management, and improved mood.
Lymphatic flush - Lymphatic drainage massage and detoxification is a form of gentle massage that encourages the movement of lymph fluids around the body. The fluid in the lymphatic system helps remove waste and toxins from the bodily tissues. Some health conditions can cause lymph fluid to build up. While the heart continuously pumps blood through the blood vessels, the lymphatic system relies on the movement of smooth muscles to transport fluid through the lymph vessels. Health conditions can interrupt the normal flow of lymph and toxins, causing fluid to build up in the body, often in the arms or legs, where it can causing swelling and discomfort. Lymphatic massage and detoxification can reduce swelling and improve circulation throughout the lymphatic system and the entire body.
Reiki - Reiki is a form of energy healing that originated in Japan in the early 20th century and is a practice based on the idea that we all have an unseen “life force energy” flowing through our bodies. Reiki practitioners use a technique called palm healing or hands-on healing through which a "universal energy" is said to be transferred through the palms of the practitioner to the patient in order to encourage emotional or physical healing. Reiki is now used by a growing number people to help with relaxation, anxiety, pain management, and depression. The word “Reiki” is a combination of two Japanese words: “rei,” which means “God’s wisdom,” or “the higher power,” and “ki,” which means “life force energy.”
Animal Flow/Primal movements - Animal Flow is ground based movement, made fun, challenging and effective. This system is designed to improve strength, power, flexibility, mobility, and coordination for all levels of fitness enthusiasts. Primal movement patterns are the seven fundamental movements that develop in utero and continue through infancy: Twist, Push, Pull, Bend, Squat, Lunge, and Gait. The goal for human movement is to obtain as much efficiency and proficiency of movement as possible. These fundamental primal movement patterns are essential for navigating life effectively, pain free and promoting overall wellness and longevity.
Percussion therapy - The different types of percussion/vibration machines use fast/slow, hard/soft blows over a short time to shock muscle fibers. These rapid taps or rumbles help the muscles release tension and bring blood flow to the area. Both percussion and vibration machines in combination with traditional therapeutic massage can increase blood flow, elevate body temperature, relax muscle tissue, improved lymph circulation, optimize joint ROM and flexibility and preventing injury. A very valuable therapeutic technique for athletes as they can treat common in-game/workout pains like muscle cramps, muscle soreness, and other performance-inhibiting issues.
Estimated price range: $50-$100
Bundle prices available, vary upon services
Every service is completely customized for you depending on your needs.