Body & Soul
Vancouver Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is designed to loosen tight muscles and improve circulation throughout the body, massage therapy spans a variety of therapeutic approaches to improve an individual's health and well-being. Our therapists are some of the best in Vancouver and are experienced in Classic Swedish-Deep Tissue and Sports-Massage, Thai Massage, Chair Massage and Shiatsu.
Physical Benefits of Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is an excellent way to relieve muscle soreness and manage stress. And since your muscles work more efficiently massage therapy, it ensures that you’ll get the most out of your next workout!
Mental Benefits
Massage therapy creates a relaxed state of alertness, reduces mental stress and enhances your capacity for calm thinking and creativity.
Emotional Benefits of Massage Therapy
Massage therapy offers a nurturing touch, helps to reduce anxiety, and contributes to your feelings of well-being.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) is a highly specialized treatment used to increase fluid movement within the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is critical to optimal health as it removes wastes and pathogens from the body, and helps balance the distribution of fluid within the tissue.
Like the circulatory system, the lymphatic system is a series of vessels that move fluid throughout the body. However, while the circulatory system has the heart to pump and move fluid, the lymphatic system relies on external mechanical pressure to stimulate the lymph vessels to move fluid.
The MLD technique was founded in the 1930s in Austria by Dr. Emil Vodder. MLD uses gentle yet precise techniques to stimulate fluid movement in the lymphatic system. Specifically, the gentle massage increases the frequency and amplitude of vessel pumping.
MLD is used for a number of purposes: it can be used to improve immunity, to relieve pain and swelling of an injury, to reduce stress by calming the sympathetic nervous system, and to effectively assist in skin healing. MLD is commonly used to treat:
- Venous oedema and leg ulcers
- Primary and secondary lymphedema
- Burns, scars, and acute traumas
- Pre- and post-surgical healing
- Facial paralysis
- Neuralgia
- Tinnitus, sinusitis, laryngitisa, and adhesive capsulitis
- Acne and rosacea
- Conditions of the digestive tract including constipation, diverticulosis and colitis
In order to become a certified MLD therapist, individuals must complete several levels of post graduate studies and training through the Dr. Vodder School in Austria, and take additional training/courses every two years. We are lucky to have, Rachel Shiu one of only four certified MLD therapists in the Lower Mainland, practicing at Body & Soul.
For further information:
Classic Swedish Massage
Long rhythmic strokes progressing in pressure target tight sore muscles and promote relaxation.
Deep Tissue/ Sports Massage
Similar style to the classic Swedish massage, using stronger more localized movements, trigger point techniques and stretches to target deeper muscle tension.
* If you are looking for deeper muscle relief and less relaxation, we suggest you try this treatment.
Hot Stone Massage
In this technique, the therapist uses heated stones to massage the body. The stones are used as tools to deliver effective tissue and muscle massage at a pressure level comfortable to the client. The hardness of the stones allows the therapist to address specific problem areas with more detailed work or deeper pressure. The heat from the stones relaxes muscles and increases blood flow to the area being worked on which further accelerates the healing process. This increase in circulation and the relaxation of the muscles also aids in mental relaxation.
Energy Work
Energy Work is a therapy that initiates healing and well-being. Suited for persons who are depressed, fatigued or anxious, energy work is also a method of personal growth and spiritual enlightenment. During an Energy Work session, the therapist works to unblock and balance the chakras within the body.
Check the front desk for appointments with Alexina.
Traditional Thai Massage
Traditional Thai Massage reverses the gradual stiffening that we experience with age. This helps increase circulation, decrease muscle pain and relieves stress. This unique form of massage is done on a mat on the floor. No oils are used, and the patient is dressed in loose clothes.
In the west Thai-Yoga Massage is becoming known a fantastic new bodywork experience for many people. In the east however, Thai-Yoga Massage is a tradition that dates back about 2000 years. It was good enough for the Buddah, and it's good enough for you.
This elegant healing art has many influences; it's dance-like quality is similar to a martial arts routine between the practitioner and recipient. The practitioner gently guides the recipient into different stretched or yogic postures, using all parts of their two bodies as a system of levers and pulleys. This leaves one with the feeling of having yoga done to you.
Thai-Yoga
Massage's rhythmic rocking gently relaxes as the practitioner
helps open any constricted areas of energy flow in the recipients body through coaching of breath. Thai Massage increases the range of motion in all the joints and stimulates circulation and energy flow with the use of accupressure massage along the energy lines of the body, leaving the recipient feeling refreshed and energized.
Thai-Yoga Massage is a holistic treatment which addresses a variety of complaints; injuries, tight muscles, poor posture, low energy, headaches, even anxiety and depression. Because
the acupressure massage follows energy lines in the body which
stimulate the internal organ system, Thai-Yoga Massage is effective for treating such things as digestive disorders and helps to balance and release suppressed emotions.
Chair Massage
Chair massage therapy is done in a specialized massage chair with the client fully clothed and relaxed. It usually lasts for about 20 minutes and focuses on your neck and back.
Shiatsu
With roots in thousands of years of Eastern healing arts, Shiatsu is a hands-on healing massage. The Japanese word “Shiatsu” translates as “finger pressure” and involves deep soothing pressure that is applied using thumbs, palms, elbows and knees. Often referred to as “acupuncture without needles” the use of pressure follows specific pathways and points on the body and stretches are also an important part of the treatment.
Shiatsu offers relief of pain, tension, mental or emotional pressure and improvement of many conditions with its non-invasive and whole-body approach. A vital quality of Eastern theory is that it does not separate mind, body and spirit.
The Shiatsu Treatment
During the treatment you wear comfortable, flexible clothing and lay on a cotton futon at floor level (a massage table can be used when patient mobility is limited). Oils are not used in Shiatsu massage.
In addition to comfort and relief, Shiatsu stimulates the body’s lymphatic, circulatory, digestive, nervous systems and is a deeply relaxing experience. The treatments themselves are not “the cure” to a condition but rather they restore the body’s amazing, innate self-healing ability. It is a process of helping you return to your natural state of health and can also be used as preventative medicine, the highest goal of the healing arts.
The Shiatsu Practitioner
A Registered Shiatsu Therapist (RST) is a practicing member of the Shiatsu Therapy Association of BC and has received training that encompasses traditional Eastern medical theory and conventional Western anatomy, physiology and pathology. For more information see the Staff Profile of Lynn.
Beyond these disciplines, most shiatsu therapists travel a road of continuous personal development through meditation and spiritual practice, bringing peace and presence to the mat.
Click here to read more about Lynn Zeleschuk, our Shiatsu Practitioner.
Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral Therapy is a profoundly effective and sophisticated hands-on bodywork that is gentle yet deep. It re-balances the nervous system which releases tension in the connective tissue. This decreases pressure in joints and re-aligns bones. It works by releasing physical restrictions, thereby creating space, improving the blood flow and improving the body's ability to self heal. It is suitable for physical concerns aswell as emotional, psychological and spiritual concerns.
Treatments are extremely relaxing and people walk away feeling a sense of renewal.
Some of the conditions successfully worked with are:
* Arthritis
* Asthma
* Autism
* Back pain
* Birth trauma
* Bronchitis
* Cerebral Palsy
* Colic
* Depression
* Digestive problems
* Drug withdrawal
* Dyslexia
* Exhaustion
* Fall or injury
* Frozen shoulder
* Hormonal imbalances
* Hyperactivity
* Immune system disorders
* Insomnia
* Lethargy
* Menstrual pain, PMS
* Migraine
* Sciatica
* Sinusitis
* Spinal curvatures
* Sports injuries
* Stress related illnesses
* Tinnitus and middle ear problems
* TMJ (jaw) disorders
* Visual disturbances
Check the front desk for appointments with Alexina.
Bowen Therapy
The Bowen technique is a safe and effective way to address any pain or discomfort in the body and can be used for anyone, from the newborn to the elderly.
A treatment consists of sequences of small gentle moves, each at a specific site on the body. There is maneuvering of a muscle, tendon, ligament or fascia, pleasant to the recipient. People who have received the Bowen technique often say they have never experienced such a relaxing technique before.
Practitioners of Bowen Therapy have found that the effects are lasting and rapid for a wide range of conditions. This technique works by resetting the body to a more relaxing and healing state where balance can be restored via acupuncture meridians, improving lymphatic drainage, clearing toxins, improving joint mobility, normalizing tissue integrity and relieving pain very quickly.
This gentle and effective modality brings substantial relief frequently after the first session, and generally clients only need two or three treatments, usually one week apart. Treatment sessions can last from 20-30 minutes.
Check the front desk for appointments with Alexina.