“Happiness is the Highest Form of Health”
– Dalai Lama –
WELCOME TO TRANQUIL THERAPIES
SERVICES
A harmonious blend of relaxation and specific muscle work. Therapist begins the massage with relaxation techniques to warm up the tissue, then continues treatment focusing on deeper muscle groups.
A type of massage using long, slow strokes to flush blood towards the heart which gives a feeling of relaxation. Swedish massage strokes are used such as effleurage ( broad lighter strokes to move oil/ lotion ), petrissage (kneading and wringing strokes) and tapotement (shaking and tapping motions to loosed tangled muscle fibres). Clients with heart conditions should not book this type of massage.
Slow intense work done with little oil/lotion that focuses on treating deep connective tissue in the body. It is normal for clients to feel muscle soreness for up to three days after this kind of treatment. Different types of massage can be blended in a treatment plan laid out by the massage therapist.
Pregnancy massage is recommended for women in their second trimester or after 12 weeks up until their due date. This type of treatment can be helpful to decrease specific muscle tension that occurs when muscle loads shift to carry baby weight at the front of the body and swelling. Treatment occurs with clients lying on their side propped with many pillows for comfort. It is like floating on a cloud, definitely the most comfortable massage position.
Massage therapist uses hot stones between 50-60 degrees Celsius as tools to massage with. A mixture of active (stones used in therapist’s hands as tools) and passive (stones laid on specific body parts) can be used. Hot stone massages are tailored to a client’s specific heat preferences and can be adapted into a relaxation or therapeutic style treatment.
Note to clients: lots of oil is used during hot stone treatments so that the stones glide properly. The therapist recommends clients wear old clothing they don’t mind getting oil on.
Pregnant women should not book this type of massage.
TMJ or the temporomandibular joint, to be technical, refers to where the jaw articulates. It is a common area of complaint for clients who grind their teeth, have had extensive dental work, or hold tension in their jaw. Therapists can treat the muscles around the jaw by using gloved hands to massage inside the mouth.
SPECIALTY MASSAGE TYPES
A specific type of massage that helps decrease fluid retention and swelling. Uses lots of gentle shaking and flowing movements to promote lymphatic fluid drainage.
Therapist uses compression and shaking techniques to quickly loosen muscles before sporting events or flushing techniques after exercise to decrease lactic acid.
Note: A sports massage does not replace an athlete’s warm up or cool down.
Massage therapist will teach parents how to do infant massage in order to help with specific baby growth concerns such as digestion, teething and colic.
A type of massage that is performed in a chair specifically designed for massage therapy. It can help make massage more accessible for certain clients due to its adaptability. I like to call chair massage a light sampling of massage that gives clients a taste of what a regular massage is like without committing a large amount of time or money. Other benefits of chair massage include that it is done through clothing, which eliminates the taboo of nudity and that it is performed without oil, which eliminates mess or allergy concerns.
It also only takes only 10-30 minutes, which makes it easier for clients to commit to a treatment and consequently is more cost-effective than the standard one hour massage done on a table.
Note: Chair massage is usually booked for a number of clients for events or as an outcall service, as such it is bookable only by phone.
Time increments
30-45 minutes
A short focused massage session. Suggested for clients just starting massage treatments, children, or those who dislike lying down for long time periods.
60 minutes
The standard time allotment for a massage. Therapist can incorporate the entire body in this massage or focus on specific areas of muscle tension.
75 minutes
An enjoyable extra fifteen minutes added on to a standard one hour massage treatment.
90 minutes
The ultimate massage experience. This block of time allows for a full body massage with extra focus on areas of tension or time for more feet, hand, head, abdominal, scalp or face massage.