Swedish Massage Back to Top
Swedish Massage is the foundation of every massage, and a very relaxing and therapeutic style of bodywork. It combines oils or lotion with an array of strokes such as long-flowing forearm strokes, rolling, kneading, and percussion to help the body improve its circulation. The benefits of this type of bodywork are wide-ranging and include relief from soreness and chronic pain, decreased stress levels in the body, grounding & balancing, and greater flexibility. Swedish massage can help increase the lymph flow in the body, flushing waste from the tissues and increases surficial blood flow.
If you have never experienced a massage, and/or would just like an extremely relaxing and not-too-deep experience, Swedish is for you. People with certain conditions such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome can benefit greatly from this type of massage.
Neuromuscular Therapy Back to Top
Neuromuscular therapy is a system of massage techniques that were developed in the 1930's by Dr. Stanley Lief in England. It uses a holistic approach towards healing, emphasizing and stimulating the body's natural ability to heal itself. Neuromuscular therapy also enhances the function of joints and muscles, and accelerates the overall healing process by facilitating the release of endorphins.
By definition, Neuromuscular Therapy is the utilization of static pressure on specific myofascial points to relieve pain. This technique manipulates the soft tissue of the body (muscles, tendons and connective tissue) to balance the central nervous system. In a healthy individual, nerves transmit impulses (which are responsible for every movement, function and thought) to the body very slowly. Injury, trauma, postural distortion or stress cause nerves to speed up their transmission, inhibiting equilibrium and making the body vulnerable to pain and dysfunction. It is therefore necessary to stabilize low levels of neurological activity to maintain normal function and overall health.
Neuromuscular Therapy will be used to address five elements that cause pain:
- Ischemia: Lack of blood supply to soft tissues which causes hypersensitivity to touch
- Trigger Points: Highly irritated points in muscles which refer pain to other parts of the body
- Nerve Compression or Entrapment: Pressure on a nerve by soft tissue, cartilage or bone
- Postural Distortion: Imbalance of the muscular system resulting from the movement of the body off the longitudinal and horizontal planes
- Biomechanical Dysfunction: Imbalance of the musculoskeletal system resulting in faulty movement patterns (i.e., poor lifting habits, bad mechanics in a golf swing of tennis stroke, computer keyboarding).
Deep Tissue Massage Back to Top
Deep Tissue Massage is a form of bodywork that aims to relieve tension in the deeper layers of tissue in the body. Deep Tissue Massage is a highly effective method for releasing chronic stress areas due to misalignment, repetitive motions, and past lingering injuries. Due to the nature of the deep tissue work, open communication during the session is crucial to make sure you don't get too uncomfortable.
When there is chronic muscle tension or injury, there are usually adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Adhesions can block circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and inflammation. Deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement. To do this, the massage therapist uses deep gliding, direct deep pressure (often with the elbow), and transverse or longitudinal friction.
Will Deep Tissue Massage Hurt?
At certain points during the massage, most people find there is usually some discomfort and pain. It is important to tell the massage therapist when things hurt and if any soreness or pain you experience is outside your comfort range. There is usually some stiffness or pain after a deep tissue massage, but it should subside within a day or so. The massage therapist may recommend applying ice to the area after the massage.
Precautions For Deep Tissue Massage
This type of massage is NOT recommended for people with:
- infectious skin disease, rash, or open wounds
- immediately after surgery
- immediately after chemotherapy or radiation, unless recommended by your doctor
- people with osteoporosis
- prone to blood clots. There is a risk of blood clots being dislodged.
- pregnant women
- bruises, inflamed skin, unhealed wounds, tumors, abdominal hernia, or areas of recent fractures.
Pregnancy Massage Back to Top
Pregnancy Massage is a style of bodywork designed specifically for pregnant women. Pregnancy is a time when a woman's body endures tremendous stress due to dramatic physical and emotional changes. Using various techniques specially developed for the expecting mother, Pregnancy Massage helps release the pain and discomfort experienced throughout pregnancy. The benefits are profound, including emotional support, the relief of joint pain due to extra weight and postural imbalance, and improved breathing and relaxation.
After working with pregnant women for 5 years, Amy felt it was time for some advanced training. She completed Kate Jordan's Bodywork for the Childbearing Year in October 2003. As a certified pregnancy massage therapist, Amy has increased her knowledge and skills to effectively treat the common muscular dysfunctions of the pregnant woman's body. Depending on the client's anatomy and personal requests, pregnancy massage is performed sidelying, semi-reclining with a support wedge, and/or in the Prego Pillow™ which allows the woman to lay face-down. Amy is a member of the Albuquerque Birth Network, and gives presentations on pregnancy massage.
Please inform Amy if your pregnancy is considered "high-risk", as an approval from your doctor or mid-wife may be necessary prior to your first massage appointment.
FAQ's About Pregnancy Massage
Why should you receive massage during pregnancy?
Pregnancy is a time of massive change in a woman’s body: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Hormonal shifts, metabolic, and structural changes occur in the physical body. A woman may experience mood swings, ambivalence, and issues surrounding her self-image. The pregnant woman is likely to feel stress from all these changes. The effects of stress can be detrimental to pregnancy outcome. Studies of the effects of touch on the human pregnant body have shown to directly reduce these stressors.
Massage therapy during pregnancy can:
Increase blood and lymph circulation, thereby reducing edema (swelling),
Relieve muscle spasms, cramps, and myofascial pain,
Increase endorphin levels,
Provide emotional support to assist in minimizing mood swings, and
Reduce anxiety and depression.
Labor support studies have shown that massage therapy can improve labor outcomes such as lowering the chance of prematurity, labor complications, length of labor, use of medications, and reduced number of cesarean sections (Kennell & Klaus, 1988-1991, Birch, 1986).
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) symptoms may occur in hands and arms during pregnancy due to increased fluid. Many pregnant women notice the symptoms during the night, when gravity allows the fluid that has accumulated in the legs during the day to redistribute to the rest of the body. Amy has advanced training in repetitive use injuries, like CTS.
Most women don’t realize you can receive massage within days or weeks after birth. Post Partum massage helps with milk production, alleviates muscle strain due to labor and delivery, balances hormones which can help decrease the onset of post-partum depression, reduces fatigue and facilitates a speedy recovery.
What should you expect during your session?
Massage during pregnancy is often specific to the lower back, hips, gluteals, legs, feet, upper back and neck, but tailored to the client’s needs. Although deep tissue techniques are never used during a pregnancy massage, a firm swedish massage can usually alleviate muscular pain. Only light strokes 
are performed on the inside of the legs due to the risk of dislodging a blood clot from within the deeper veins of the legs during pregnancy. During the first trimester, you can safely lay on your stomach provided this is comfortable. Some women experience breast sensitivity early in the pregnancy. A small rolled up towel placed between or above the breasts usually alleviates this discomfort. When face-up, a small wedge is placed under the right hip to relieve pressure on the large abdominal blood vessels. During the second and third trimesters, massage is performed side-lying or using a Prego PillowTM, which safely allows the pregnant mom to lay on her stomach. A large foam wedge is used for the semi-reclining position during the second and third trimesters. Massage during pregnancy should be pleasurable (not painful) and will promote feelings of calm, well-being, and relaxation. The treatment room temperature is adjusted to your needs. A robe is available should you need to use the restroom during your session.
Misconceptions about prenatal massage
If the therapist touches my feet I might go into labor. Totally untrue. While it is believed that acupressure points on the ankle, feet, shin and hands can bring on labor, it must be specific work with the set intention of stimulating the uterus, not just simply massaging the feet to relieve swelling and joint pain. As long as the therapist has the knowledge of these points, gentle swedish massage on the feet and lower legs is perfectly safe and tremendously beneficial during pregnancy.
Massage during the first trimester is dangerous. There is no physiological reason to skip massage in the first trimester. Some day-spas and therapists will refuse to see a woman in her early pregnancy simply because the statistical chance of her miscarrying is greater and they wish to avoid any liability the woman may, in her distress, place on them. Massage produces endorphins, lowers catecholamine (stress hormones) and can lower blood pressure. This is reason enough to schedule a massage during the first trimester. Begin your pregnancy with a happy and healthy mind/body!
It’s best to wait to get a massage towards the end when I feel really uncomfortable. Why? By the time you feel really miserable, it will take several sessions to unwind. Stay on top of your discomfort and start receiving massage as a part of your prenatal wellness now! You may be surprised to know that your developing baby benefits from prenatal massage as well. Research shows that pregnant women experienced reduced anxiety, improved mood, reduced back pain, and increase sleep after receiving massage. The massaged women had fewer complications in labor and fewer premature babies. While research is ongoing in this area, it may be that massage is effective in lowering the stress-related hormone cortisol, which is one indicator of premature babies. Since massage therapy is one way to reduce stress, one could conclude that prenatal massage can have a positive effect on the development of your baby.
Massage of my belly should be avoided during pregnancy. Gentle massage of the abdomen is safe and beneficial to the mother and baby. Tightness and stretching of the abdomen is common; massage can relieve some of these uncomfortable feelings. Also, special moisturizers can help with dryness of the abdominal tissue.
Important Note: Certain conditions may require your doctor/midwife’s approval before you receive massage. These include: undiagnosed pregnancy induced hypertension, previous pre-term labor, severe (pitting) edema, or other conditions your doctor deems “high-risk”.
Sports Massage Back to Top
My sports massage focuses on two areas:
restorative sports massage -- given during training to allow the athelete to train harder and with less injury.
rehabilitative sports massage -- aimed at alleviating pain due to injury and returning the body to health.
You don't have to be a professional to benefit from Sports Massage. Recreational runners, cyclists, skiiers, and rock climbers all come to Amy for treatments.
Medical Massage/Insurance Cases Back to Top
Heartline Massage Therapy accepts personal injury and worker's compensation cases in the State of New Mexico. In the event of an injury sustained in a car accident, your car insurance should pay for massage therapy as long as you have "medpay" on your plan. For an injury that has occured on the job, the State worker's compensation should pay for therapy. Amy will file the insurance paperwork for reimbursement, so there is no out of pocket expense for your treatments. Typically, you will come for treatments once a week until significant improvement is seen in your pain/dysfunction.