“Yes” was my response.
This lead to a conversation about WHY my clients keep coming back and WHAT exactly I do.
I don’t really do the spa massage. Swedish style is incorporated but it’s only used as a warm up or cool down of the muscles and mind.

My primary focus is what I refer to as Injury Rehabilitation. Now, my definition of an injury varies a bit from what you or your doctor may refer to as an injury. To me, it’s everything from being in a car accident, being pre or post surgery, waking up with a sore neck and reduced range of motion (not being able to turn your head) as well as pain from repetitive misuse (sitting at a desk and developing overly tight hamstrings and hips that feed into low back pain).
All of these scenarios have muscles that are in a state of Dysfunction. THAT’s what I think of when I think Injury. Muscle Dysfunction.

You’ve somehow injured your body and I work with you to find WHERE your muscles need help.

My passion is to work with those “injured” clients and help them move out of pain! I love getting the muscles to relax to the point where I can find the individual portions of the muscles that are trapped in a state of dysfunction.

Now, I also tell my clients that, although I may instruct them to come nearly every week for a period of time, my goal to get them out of pain and into a maintenance massage schedule. For some clients that’s once a month, twice a month or even once every 6-8 weeks. The interval that works best for you will be determined by you.

My client made a point that THIS attention to detail, understaning of the anatomy and physiology of the body and ability to find and help problem areas really makes me unique. Sure, I can do relaxation massage. But it doesn’t bring me joy.

I Love it when a client comes in with reduced range of motion and pain and walks out 70-100% better after just one session!
Now, I do not claim to “heal” people. I do not claim that my massage sessions will hold at that rate for more than a couple of days. What I DO claim is that, working with you, we will find a way through massage as well as other techniques I feel will benefit your overall wellbeing will allow you to live a more pain free and balanced life.

THAT’s what makes me unique.

In reviewing her medical history, the face pain and also paralysis on her left side was due to a tumor that was growing on her brainstem.  The tumor was removed surgically in 2008, but not without permanent damage to the nerves that control her face, hearing and balance.  She had completed physical and speech therapy after surgery

The primary focus of the session was to relax the muscles and hopefully affect the “charlie horse” sensation.

I spent nearly the entire hour with the client laying face up on the table so I could work her face, neck and upper back.

Using connective tissue massage, neuro-muscular massage, trigger point and deep tissue massage techniques I was able to get her muscles to release partially.

The main muscles I targeted were the Platysma, Masseter, Sternocleidomastoid Levator Scapulae and Trapezius.

After our first session she said she was feeling great and that her face didn’t have that knotted feeling.

She returned for an appointment two weeks later and reported that, for the first time in two years, she had been pain free for two whole days!

The session on  3/18/11 focused not only on the face muscles but also spent more time releasing the muscles  around her upper trapezius that had stayed tight with some discomfort.

I instructed her how to massage her masseter (one of the chewing muscles) that seemed to be the main culprit of her charley horse by inserting her thumb into her mouth and massaging the muscle between her thumb and finger.

I’m hoping with a few more sessions and instructions on self care she will be able to keep her pain at bay since there’s apparently nothing that can be done to help the damaged nerves.

I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to help such a fantastic woman get relief from her apin and teach some techniques that will continue to help her at home!

-Shanthi