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Information about the type of massage therapy that I offer:
I offer an integrative massage, drawing from the massage modalities listed below. In this way, you will benefit from the best aspects of the modalities, in an appropriate therapy for your current state of well-being.
In simple terms, I will give you a great massage! I
work on the mat, table, massage chair, or a regular chair.
Massage Modalities offered include:
Zen Shiatsu, Chinese, Thai, Swedish, Sports, Deep Tissue, Medical, Hot Stone, Cold Stone.
Zen Shiatsu, Chinese, Thai, Swedish, Sports, Deep Tissue, Medical, Hot Stone, Cold Stone.
Here are some examples of my integrative
massage style (click here for more)
Zen Shiatsu is incorporated into a Swedish Massage, performed on the massage table. The relaxing strokes of Swedish Massage combined with Hara diagnosis and balancing of the meridians as found in Zen Shiatsu, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Zen Shiatsu is incorporated into a Swedish Massage, performed on the massage table. The relaxing strokes of Swedish Massage combined with Hara diagnosis and balancing of the meridians as found in Zen Shiatsu, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
A Swedish Massage is performed on the mat, combined with Traditional Thai Massage, and other therapies are combined as needed. You will be draped appropriately at all times.
A massage session based on only one of the modalities, in the classical technique of that modality. For example, a Zen Shiatsu session is done on a mat, with the client fully clothed, in light cotton or silk clothing. Chinese Massage (Acupressure, and Tui Na), is done on a massage table, or with the client seated, with the client fully clothed in light cotton or silk clothing.
I work on the mat, table, a massage chair, or regular chair. The mat will offer the best support and body mechanics for both the therapist and client, especially for Zen Shiatsu and Traditional Thai Massage, or any modality combining with either or both. The massage table is more familiar to most people, and works well for any modality. The massage chair is only used while the client is fully clothed, and works well for people who do not have the time to be on the table or mat.
Just come in, fill out a brief intake form and medical history. If possible, it's best to not have any food for a couple hours before. We will talk first, plan your session, and then we will have a great massage therapy session. It is not uncommon to have a massage therapy session go to two hours. Both of us will have more energy and feel relaxed after the session. That is because both of us go to the source of life energy and healing. It's hard to explain, but it is really great!
For chair massage, I can do a lot in only ten minutes. 15 or 20 minutes is better.
For table or mat massage:
Half an hour is very short, but I can treat one area of the body.
An hour is OK for a specific part of the body, and it can work for a full body massage. If any problem areas come up during the massage, we will work on the problem areas, and will have to skip working on other parts of the body.
For a full body massage, plan on an hour and a half.
We can accomplish deep, transformative work in two hours.
Regular sessions are best. Weekly appointments work well.
Mahalo, Namaste,
Steve
Massage Modalities explained:
Zen Shiatsu
Zen Shiatsu is an internal healing art, meditative and transforming. Zen Shiatsu follows Traditional Chinese Medicine in Five Element Theory, The Meridian System, Acupressure points (Tsubos), and the flow of Ki or Chi (life energy) to determine and assist proper balance in Yin and Yang. Hara (abdomen) Diagnosis is traditionally employed to determine Kyo or Jitsu states of the client, which are then balanced by working with the Chinese Meridians and Acupressure points, through stretching, and pressure with fingers, thumbs, palms, elbows, feet, knees. A Zen Shiatsu session is traditionally done on a mat, with the client fully clothed, in light cotton clothing.
Zen Shiatsu is an internal healing art, meditative and transforming. Zen Shiatsu follows Traditional Chinese Medicine in Five Element Theory, The Meridian System, Acupressure points (Tsubos), and the flow of Ki or Chi (life energy) to determine and assist proper balance in Yin and Yang. Hara (abdomen) Diagnosis is traditionally employed to determine Kyo or Jitsu states of the client, which are then balanced by working with the Chinese Meridians and Acupressure points, through stretching, and pressure with fingers, thumbs, palms, elbows, feet, knees. A Zen Shiatsu session is traditionally done on a mat, with the client fully clothed, in light cotton clothing.
Shizuto Masunaga is the father of this technique. He
incorporated his experience of shiatsu into his studies of Western
psychology and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). He refined the
existing methods of diagnosis, and developed special exercises, called
'Makko Ho', to stimulate the flow of Ki, and he also developed
extensions of the Traditional Chinese Meridians. His system of Shiatsu
is called 'Zen Shiatsu' after Zen Buddhism.
Traditional Chinese Massage
Acupressure is an ancient healing art that predates Acupuncture, It is said to be at least 5000 years old. Acupressure uses the same points and meridians as Acupuncture but without using needles. Traditional Chinese Medicine seeks proper balance of Chi (life) energy (Yin, Yang) in the body, through balancing the acupressure points and meridian pathways. Tui Na is an ancient, energetic form of Traditional Chinese Massage, dating back to the Shang Dynasty, 1700 BCE. It involves a wide variety of massage strokes, stretches, and adjustments to help the flow of Chi.
Acupressure is an ancient healing art that predates Acupuncture, It is said to be at least 5000 years old. Acupressure uses the same points and meridians as Acupuncture but without using needles. Traditional Chinese Medicine seeks proper balance of Chi (life) energy (Yin, Yang) in the body, through balancing the acupressure points and meridian pathways. Tui Na is an ancient, energetic form of Traditional Chinese Massage, dating back to the Shang Dynasty, 1700 BCE. It involves a wide variety of massage strokes, stretches, and adjustments to help the flow of Chi.
Traditional Thai Massage
TTM (Traditional Thai Massage) is said to be developed by the physician attending the Buddha, Siddartha Gautama, over 2500 years ago. He is said to have attended the Buddha three times every day. His name was Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha, an Indian Ayurvedic Doctor of great legend, known to Thais as Father Doctor, and crowned three times in India as the 'King of Doctors'. TTM has been described as a blend of Ayurvedic medicine or passive Yoga, with Traditional Chinese Medicine, as in the energy pathways or meridians, and possibly with ancient, indigenous Thai Massage with unknown roots. The Sen lines of TTM sometimes follow the TCM meridians, and sometimes follow the Indian Nadis, or both.
TTM (Traditional Thai Massage) is said to be developed by the physician attending the Buddha, Siddartha Gautama, over 2500 years ago. He is said to have attended the Buddha three times every day. His name was Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha, an Indian Ayurvedic Doctor of great legend, known to Thais as Father Doctor, and crowned three times in India as the 'King of Doctors'. TTM has been described as a blend of Ayurvedic medicine or passive Yoga, with Traditional Chinese Medicine, as in the energy pathways or meridians, and possibly with ancient, indigenous Thai Massage with unknown roots. The Sen lines of TTM sometimes follow the TCM meridians, and sometimes follow the Indian Nadis, or both.
As in Zen Shiatsu, TTM is traditionally done on a mat,
with the client fully clothed in light cotton or silk clothing. It
involves stretching, and pressing on the nadis (points) with the
thumbs, palms, elbows, knees, and feet. Sessions can range from one
hour to 90 minutes, to two hours. In Thailand, sessions can last for
three hours. I have been to Thailand five times, and experienced TTM
many times. I have been to India six times. The benefits of Traditional
Thai Massage are well-known and appreciated throughout the world.
Swedish Massage
Swedish Massage is well-known in the US. It is said to have originated in Sweden with the work of Pehr Henrik Ling, in the early 19th century. He believed that movements of the body had the power to protect, educate, express, and heal. He developed four different systems of movement, and his system of medical gymnastics was known as the Swedish movement cure. He established the Royal Institute of Gymnastics in Stockholm in 1813. Dr. M. Roth wrote a book about Ling's medical gymnastics in 1851, and Dr. George Taylor of New York introduced the Swedish movement cure to the United States in 1854. Johann Mezger, a physician in Amsterdam during the late 1800s and early 1900s, was credited with reviving the interest of massage in medical settings.
Swedish Massage is well-known in the US. It is said to have originated in Sweden with the work of Pehr Henrik Ling, in the early 19th century. He believed that movements of the body had the power to protect, educate, express, and heal. He developed four different systems of movement, and his system of medical gymnastics was known as the Swedish movement cure. He established the Royal Institute of Gymnastics in Stockholm in 1813. Dr. M. Roth wrote a book about Ling's medical gymnastics in 1851, and Dr. George Taylor of New York introduced the Swedish movement cure to the United States in 1854. Johann Mezger, a physician in Amsterdam during the late 1800s and early 1900s, was credited with reviving the interest of massage in medical settings.
The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the
oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. It can be
either relaxing or invigorating, depending on the technique used.
Effleurage, Petrissage, Friction, Tapotement, and Vibration are the
main strokes, all flowing toward the heart.
Swedish massage can shorten recovery time from muscular
strain by removing wastes from the muscles and other structures. It has
many benefits, including relaxation, improved circulation, and breaking
up adhesions.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue massage is also known as structural alignment. It works on the deeper layers of muscles and fascia. It is normally administered as a Swedish Massage, with deeper intent and pressure. It does not need to be painful to be effective.
Deep Tissue massage is also known as structural alignment. It works on the deeper layers of muscles and fascia. It is normally administered as a Swedish Massage, with deeper intent and pressure. It does not need to be painful to be effective.
Medical Massage
Medical Massage is defined as massage that is medically necessary to treat a specific problem as prescribed by a physician for a patient. It can be applied to treat specific injuries or issues that a client is experiencing.
Medical Massage is defined as massage that is medically necessary to treat a specific problem as prescribed by a physician for a patient. It can be applied to treat specific injuries or issues that a client is experiencing.
Sports Massage
The intent of sports massage is to assist the athlete in performance and to maintain and improve the well-being of the athlete. There are specific phases of sports massage, as in pre-performance, during performance, and post-performance. The history of sports massage can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome as an important therapy in the training of athletes. Athletes have always held massage in high esteem.
Hot Stone/Cold Stone MassageThe intent of sports massage is to assist the athlete in performance and to maintain and improve the well-being of the athlete. There are specific phases of sports massage, as in pre-performance, during performance, and post-performance. The history of sports massage can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome as an important therapy in the training of athletes. Athletes have always held massage in high esteem.
I have personally selected these basalt stones for their healing energies and shapes from a beautiful natural beach on the Oregon Coast, where they have been shaped by the energies of the sea. They are heated in an oven, then plunged into cold water to reduce their temperature so they will not burn my hands (or your skin!). Then they are incorporated into a Swedish massage on bare skin, using oil or lotion with water to assist in moving them over the skin. They are very effective in releasing muscular tension and knots, and they have powerful healing energy. Cold Stones are effective in Contrast Hydrotherapy, and for injuries.
more on integration (this is somewhat technical)
The massage therapy session will vary for each client, based on what they are presenting to me. There certainly are more common patterns of tension in the way the body is held. For these common conditions, I have learned efficient ways of addressing them.
However, I have learned that there is a deeper cause of the imbalance that must be addressed rather than a palliative approach to just relieving the immediate symptoms, usually expressed in hypertonic muscles, pain, restricted range of motion, headache, etc.
A keen interest of mine is structural alignment, to help the client achieve alignment in posture, to be effortless in movement. Excellent posture will take care of many problems.
Next time you see a person with excellent posture, ask them how they have achieved and maintained their posture. It is very likely they will have studied dance, yoga, or both.
When I see a client, I will look for the root cause or causes of postural imbalance, and work towards correcting these. This always involves proactive response by the client. People are always interested improving their state of wellness, and an aligned person is an energized, content person with a purpose in life.
The kind of massage therapy that I do integrates and aligns energy in how the body is being held. This will align the muscles, aligning the skeleton accordingly as the muscles change in their relative tension, much as a piano, a violin, or a guitar would be tuned.
I believe the best way to approach all of it is a gentle one, with no pain, or very little pain involved. This takes more time, but it is worth it, as the result will last. I have found that the body does not like to be rushed. Pain is a warning signal by the body/mind that the session should be lighter, slower, or paused/stopped.
I am incorporating lots of yoga into the session, as well as elements from the following massage modalities.
Foremost in these modalities is Zen Shiatsu (Japanese view of TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine), and of course Acupressure, Tui Na, Traditional Thai (I love Thai), and the western modalities mentioned above.
The hot stones can be very effective in deep myofascial work, on adhesions, for example, and also on deeply entrenched hypertonic muscles. I also emply PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation), and other forms of MET (muscle energy technique) as needed for hypertonic muscles, especially facilitated ones.
For the lengthened muscles, I educate the client on specific exercises to correct the muscular balance, often employing yoga asanas. We work with the breath as a foundation for all of it. Intention is paramount, the awareness of chakras (yoga), sinking roots into the earth (Tai Chi), flow of dance movement (ballet - Luigi Jazz Dance, more), all these and more are helpful to renew into the source of life and power.
The essence of the massage therapy sessions are that they are relaxing, yet transforming, inspiring for both the client and myself as we work together towards the state of supreme wellness.
Raja Classic Yoga classes every
Friday 6am, 90 minutes.
Supreme Wellness lecture-demo series every Mon. evening through Dec.
28, 7-7:30pm.
To schedule your massage and/or yoga session,
call me at (503) 724-2755.
Business Hours: Mon. through Fri., 9am to 9pm, with
appointments available on weekends.
schedule a massage now!
Steve J Davis, RYT, LMT, NCTMB. YA #29243, OBMT #13099.
Bally Total Fitness, 15353 SW Sequoia Parkway, Portland, OR 97224
(503) 724-2755, healinglight.info, steve.yoga@yahoo.com
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