Massage
Medical / Therapeutic massage
Your doctor may prescribe a medical massage if you have been injured in a car accident, on the job or any other injury for which requires a massage that is medically necessary.
I also work with doctors, naturopaths, physical therapists, chiropractors, and other health care practitioners, providing massage care when it is absolutely essential for their patients.
What is Medical Massage?
A medical massage is extremely therapeutic and is always performed in a medical environment, where it’s directed by the doctor or any other healthcare provider. Performing a medical massage requires extensive training (beyond the state’s basic 500-hour licensing requirement) in clinical and orthopedic massage techniques, pathology and contraindications, medical communication and documentation, insurance billing, professional ethics, and legal issues.
I have a basic and advanced massage training and education and I am committed to lifelong learning and professional development!
Medical Conditions Treated with a Massage
Here is a list of medical conditions where a medical massage is most effective:
Medical Massage Rates
My medical massage rates are calculated on the analysis of the Usual, Customary, and Reasonable (UCR) charges for the Seattle area and RVU (Relative Value Unit) pricing. The current rates stand at $40/15 minute unit per CPT code 97124 (massage), $45 per 97140 (Manual Therapy Techniques), and $20 per 97010 (hot and cold pack application).
Copies of medical records are available (with consent of the patient). Please note as allowed by law, I may charge a reasonable cost for furnishing copies of my records and notes. The reasonable cost of reproducing copies of written or typed documents is out lined below:
*See the Amended Washington State Register and RCW 70.02.010 (12) for more information on these fees.
Wellness / Therapeutic massage
My wellness massage clients typically come to me to help them manage stress levels, increase body awareness, address minor injuries from any strenuous activities, or to simply relax for an hour or so.
A relaxing massage session can dramatically help you relieve the stress of everyday life and generally immensely improve your outlook on life! Where else can you get an hour of complete serenity and bliss but with a highly trained professionals’ undivided attention?
Relaxation:
The hectic lives of most Americans and people in the 21st century in general, leaves a small window to just kicking back and relaxing at the end of the day. Everything is always on the go. There is a limit to how much our bodies can handle, so it is imperative to step back sometimes from the fast lifestyle and check ourselves into an hour of soothing Therapeutic Massage.
Stress Management:
Maybe it’s your boss, co-worker, or all that time in traffic? Or perhaps your stressing about how there’s not enough hours in a day to do all of your work? Whatever the cause may be, a simple massage can help you manage the stress in your life. So turn off your phone, forget all of your obligations and slip into an hour of peacefulness!
Body Awareness:
Similar to dance classes, daily yoga routine or a tai chi practice, a massage can remind you that you do have a body and it is designed incredibly for more than just driving your car, or going through the motions at work.
Injury Treatment:
Many of my clients are exceedingly active whether it be hiking, running, rocking climbing, dancing or any other physical activity. In the end, vigorous activity can harm your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. For this special area I use a Sports Massage and Injury Treatment techniques to help my Wellness Massage clients stay in optimal shape.
Computer and Desk Work:
A massage friend once told me, “I’m not sure I know what human beings are designed for, but I know what they’re NOT designed for-sitting at the desk all day!” When you sit in a chair, looking at your computer screen, and using your mouse, it can leave you with aches, pains and stiffness in your back, neck, wrists and hands. It doesn’t matter how comfortable your chair is, how “ergonomic” your mouse is, or how “high-tech” your pc is, because none of them will help you escape from the aftermath.
Deep Tissue Massage
As its name implies, deep tissue massage is the manual treatment of deep anatomical structures. The work is slow, deep, and very specific – working either parallel with or perpendicular to the targeted muscles, tendons, or ligaments. Among the many benefits of deep tissue massage:
I use my fingertips, knuckles, hands, elbows, and forearms during deep tissue massage. A classic deep tissue move is slow running the point of the elbow (olecranon process) down the length of the spine, next to the spinous processes of the vertebrae. This releases both the superficial erector spinae muscles and the deeper transversospinalis muscles.
I will often ask you to breathe into the area I’m working on during a deep tissue session. This both gets you to focus on the affected area and promotes movement that improves the efficacy of the work.
Contrary to a widely held myth, deep tissue massage doesn’t have to hurt to be effective. One of my deep tissue massage teachers said, “If you are specific, you can go deep.” If you have thorough anatomical knowledge – if you know the origin, insertion, and action of each muscle – and understand how muscles and tendons work, then you can work effectively on very deep structures without causing pain. This is how I most often do deep tissue massage.
Swedish Massage
I think that Swedish massage is what most people first imagine when they think of massage.
Swedish massage is the foundation of most modern Western massage education for a reason. It is a well-established, systematic way to manipulate muscles and other tissues in a very relaxing way. Among the many benefits of Swedish massage:
Sports Massage
Sports massage can mean a lot of different things. Many people first learn about it when they see rows of massage tables in tents at the end of a marathon or other event – that’s called event sports massage.
Sports massage also encompasses preventative and treatment work performed on athletes during the long non-performing stretches of their athletic lives between races, games, matches, and other events. This is what I do. I don’t do on-site sports massage at athletic events. Instead, I work on athletes in my office, helping them with:
Lymphatic Drainage for Soft Tissue Injuries
You got swelling? Is it from an injury or surgery? I can help you with Lymphatic Drainage for Soft Tissue Injuries? Decreasing edema from injuries is an essential technique when doing treatment work. Swelling in the tissue is much more prevalent than it might seem, especially with car accidents, impact injuries, post-surgical conditions and flared chronic injuries. This technique can begin to release the energetic trauma of an injury as a precursor to cranial work.
This modality is crucial for supporting the body when clients have been managing long-term pain when both the tissue is guarded, inflamed, and the nervous system stuck in sympathetic mode or ‘freeze’.
*Swelling as a result of injury/surgery only!
Thai Yoga Massage
Are you tired? Thai Massage is maybe for you! What is Thai Massage?
Thai massage has been practiced more than 2,500 years ago in India. It made its way to Thailand, where the Ayurvedic techniques and principles gradually became influenced by traditional Chinese medicine. For centuries, monks performed Thai massage as one component of Thai medicine.
What Does Thai Massage Feel Like?
Thai massage is more energizing and rigorous than more classic forms of massage. Thai massage is also called Thai yoga massage, because the therapist uses his or her hands, knees, legs, and feet to move you into a series of yoga-like stretches. Many people say Thai massage is like doing yoga without any work.
Muscle compression, joint mobilization, and acupressure are also used during treatment. People describe Thai massage as both relaxing and energizing.
What Should I Expect During My Visit?
Thai massage is usually done on a padded mat on the floor but I adopted techniques to the table due to clients comfort. No oil is applied, so you are fully dressed. You are usually asked to bring or wear comfortable clothing to the massage.
A typical Thai massage is 60 minutes to two hours long.
Many people find that Thai massage has the following benefits:
Ashiatsu is great for clients who desire a gratifying, results-driven treatment session. It’s well suited and adaptable to meet the needs of physically fit individuals, larger clients and those who can never seem to get enough pressure in a massage. It can of course be modified for those who prefer moderate pressure as well. It’s also great for chronic upper and low back pain relief, improved posture and joint mobility, sciatica, tight hamstrings, IT bands and kyphosis to name few. Whether the work you do is physically active, or involves working at a computer, this form of massage is definitely worth considering to help you feel better and more balanced in your body. Discover for yourself why Ashiatsu called the deepest and the most luxurious massage!
Massage for Auto Accident Injuries
If you have been in an automobile accident, your doctor may prescribe massage as part of your treatment plan. Massage can address the stress that goes with a traumatic event like a car accident, and it can help address many of the injuries that are common in a motor vehicle accident.
Immediately after a car accident, massage therapy can help you recover by helping to restore balance to your autonomic nervous system – i.e., the relaxation benefits of massage can help reverse the effects that the shock and trauma of a car wreck can have on your nervous system.
Massage also promotes circulation of both blood and lymph, which can help manage the swelling (edema) that usually comes with auto accident injuries. During the sub-acute stage (a few days to a few weeks, or even longer, after the accident), massage can help maintain and improve range of motion and may help prevent the formation of scar tissue and other myofascial adhesions.
Later in your recovery, orthopedic massage can address specific musculoskeletal injuries like whiplash, neck pain, back pain, headaches, shoulder sprains/strains, etc.
No two car accidents are the same, and everyone responds differently, so I always adapt my treatments to your unique needs.
Services & Rates
Deep Tissue / Ashiatsu / Relaxation / Swedish Massage / Lymphatic Drainage / Lymphatic Facilitation
Deep Tissue / Ashiatsu / Relaxation / Swedish Massage
Deep Tissue / Ashiatsu Massage / Swedish / Relaxation
Deep Tissue / Ashiatsu / Relaxation / Swedish Massage
Deep Tissue / Ashiatsu / Relaxation / Swedish Massage