Lisa Bedoya Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork
617.455.7085
Massage & Bodywork
Bodywork - Bodywork is a general term for therapies involving touch and/or movement of the body. Examples include Massage, Craniosacral, Rolfing, Reflexology, Shiatsu, Feldenkrais, Reiki, etc. Sometimes defined as bodywork are movement-only programs such as Yoga and Pilates.
Massage - Massage is a sistematic manipulation of the soft tissues of the body to enhance health and healing, used most commonly to refer to manual treatment of the muscles and connective tissues.
Bodywork - Bodywork is a general term for therapies involving touch and/or movement of the body. Examples include Massage, Craniosacral, Rolfing, Reflexology, Shiatsu, Feldenkrais, Reiki, etc. Sometimes defined as bodywork are movement-only programs such as Yoga and Pilates.
Massage - Massage is a sistematic manipulation of the soft tissues of the body to enhance health and healing, used most commonly to refer to manual treatment of the muscles and connective tissues.
Relaxation Response - Stress is the underlying reason for every imbalance in the body, including that which may lead
to serious illness. Physical and emotional stressors impact the mind and body by means of a complex neuromuscular
process commonly known as the "fight or flight" response. Virtually every type of massage is some variation of the
theme of decreasing stress by bringing balance to the body and thus eliciting the opposite of the fight or flight
response, the "relaxation response". Here is a link to an article by a Dr. Neil F. Neimark, who nicely describes the
relaxation response and ways to evoke it (besides getting a massage.)
Swedish Massage - The "classic" massage that most people think of when they think of massage. Combines the use of oil or lotion with an array of strokes: gliding, kneading, friction, percussion, vibration and "Swedish gymnastics" which are gentle, passive movements of the joints. Benefits are wide-ranging and include relief from aches and pains, decreased stress levels in the body, enhanced mental clarity, and greater flexibility.
Deep Tissue - Relieves tension in the deeper layers of tissue in the body, i.e., those closer to the skeleton and more difficult to access. Usually the muscles are warmed up using Swedish Massage. As they relax and loosen it is possible for the therapist to move past the superficial layers. Deep muscles are often "postural muscles". They work constantly, although largely outside of our awareness, to hold the body in its upright position. Effective for releasing areas which are chronically stressed due to misalignment, repetitive motions, and past lingering injuries.
Massage Cupping Bodywork TherapyTM - Unique therapy which uses glass or plastic cups to create suction and negative pressure over a tight muscle or joint. The suction lifts and separates the layers of muscle and connective tissue, and increases blood flow into the area. Muscle tension decreases, pain subsides, and mobility is improved. Since they can be applied and left to do their work while therapist treats other areas, use of the cups can increase the efficiency of a massage session. (BACK TO TOP )
Trigger Point - Trigger points are tender areas of tension in your body that you may think of as "knots." These areas usually contain inflammationm metabolic waste and a lack of oxygen due to overstimulation of the muscle. Emotional or physical stress can cause a negative feedback loop to develop betweent the brain and body, so the muscle "forgets" to relax. Pressure to the triggers points interrupts the "pain cycle" and normalizes the tissue.
Sports Massage - An application, or use, of massage rather than a different type of massage. Uses various massage strokes and stretching to enhance performance and prolongs a sports career by helping to prevent injury, reduce pain and swelling, relax the mind, increase flexibility, and improve recovery rates. Can be done immediately before an athletic event to warm up the muscles for optimal performance, or after the event to help return the body to homeostasis. Also often done during training periods to keep the muscles in peak condition. (BACK TO TOP)
Reiki - Japanese form of energy healing that balances the energy patterns in the body. As a result the body's natural self-healing mechanisms strengthen, helping to establish optimum mental, emotional, and physical health. Uses a gentle laying of hands on or slightly above the body to conduct the necessary energy force between client and practitioner. Benefits range from the release of habitual mental/emotional stress to alleviating chronic pain.
Inner Seeing - The "Hollow Bone" is a Native American concept which describes the practitioner as an empty conduit through which healing energy passes and which is conveyed to the client. The practitioner gently holds the head or feet of the client and directs the energy into and through areas of blockage along the central column, as in Craniosacral. It is subtle and deeply relaxing like other energy techniques such as Reiki.
CranioSacral - The CranioSacral system refers to the membranes and fluid that surround the brain and spinal cord, as well as the bones of the head and spine. Like other connective tissue in the body, these meninges (coverings ) develop adhesions which restrict the movement of the bones and of the cranial fluid which bathes and nourishes the central nervous system. Craniosacral Therapy gently removes restrictions and restores balance to the central nervous system and spine. Commonly used for relief of headaches, TMJ pain, stress, and long standing pain. (BACK TO TOP )
Swedish Massage - The "classic" massage that most people think of when they think of massage. Combines the use of oil or lotion with an array of strokes: gliding, kneading, friction, percussion, vibration and "Swedish gymnastics" which are gentle, passive movements of the joints. Benefits are wide-ranging and include relief from aches and pains, decreased stress levels in the body, enhanced mental clarity, and greater flexibility.
Deep Tissue - Relieves tension in the deeper layers of tissue in the body, i.e., those closer to the skeleton and more difficult to access. Usually the muscles are warmed up using Swedish Massage. As they relax and loosen it is possible for the therapist to move past the superficial layers. Deep muscles are often "postural muscles". They work constantly, although largely outside of our awareness, to hold the body in its upright position. Effective for releasing areas which are chronically stressed due to misalignment, repetitive motions, and past lingering injuries.
Massage Cupping Bodywork TherapyTM - Unique therapy which uses glass or plastic cups to create suction and negative pressure over a tight muscle or joint. The suction lifts and separates the layers of muscle and connective tissue, and increases blood flow into the area. Muscle tension decreases, pain subsides, and mobility is improved. Since they can be applied and left to do their work while therapist treats other areas, use of the cups can increase the efficiency of a massage session. (BACK TO TOP )
Trigger Point - Trigger points are tender areas of tension in your body that you may think of as "knots." These areas usually contain inflammationm metabolic waste and a lack of oxygen due to overstimulation of the muscle. Emotional or physical stress can cause a negative feedback loop to develop betweent the brain and body, so the muscle "forgets" to relax. Pressure to the triggers points interrupts the "pain cycle" and normalizes the tissue.
Sports Massage - An application, or use, of massage rather than a different type of massage. Uses various massage strokes and stretching to enhance performance and prolongs a sports career by helping to prevent injury, reduce pain and swelling, relax the mind, increase flexibility, and improve recovery rates. Can be done immediately before an athletic event to warm up the muscles for optimal performance, or after the event to help return the body to homeostasis. Also often done during training periods to keep the muscles in peak condition. (BACK TO TOP)
Reiki - Japanese form of energy healing that balances the energy patterns in the body. As a result the body's natural self-healing mechanisms strengthen, helping to establish optimum mental, emotional, and physical health. Uses a gentle laying of hands on or slightly above the body to conduct the necessary energy force between client and practitioner. Benefits range from the release of habitual mental/emotional stress to alleviating chronic pain.
Inner Seeing - The "Hollow Bone" is a Native American concept which describes the practitioner as an empty conduit through which healing energy passes and which is conveyed to the client. The practitioner gently holds the head or feet of the client and directs the energy into and through areas of blockage along the central column, as in Craniosacral. It is subtle and deeply relaxing like other energy techniques such as Reiki.
CranioSacral - The CranioSacral system refers to the membranes and fluid that surround the brain and spinal cord, as well as the bones of the head and spine. Like other connective tissue in the body, these meninges (coverings ) develop adhesions which restrict the movement of the bones and of the cranial fluid which bathes and nourishes the central nervous system. Craniosacral Therapy gently removes restrictions and restores balance to the central nervous system and spine. Commonly used for relief of headaches, TMJ pain, stress, and long standing pain. (BACK TO TOP )
lisa@lisabedoya.com