Services

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) activates the body’s own self-corrective healing mechanisms to relieve pain and stress, repair injury, increase resistance to disease and release both physical and emotional trauma.  Because this is a gentle touch therapy CST does not activate resistance within clients’ bodies and muscles much like other massage therapies can.  Craniosacral therapy sessions encourage deep nervous system relaxation and allow the brain waves to balance and harmonize, which is super important in a culture where people are habitually stuck in busy, multitasking, beta-brain wave functioning.

This therapy releases pain, tension, unconscious holding, unhelpful thoughts, memories, traumas, emotions, fears, and anxieties in order to create a deep sense of peace and calm. Because CST positively influences the functioning of the central nervous system, it has been shown to alleviate a wide range of conditions, including traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, migraine headaches, chronic fatigue, motor-coordination impairments, chronic neck and back pain, scoliosis, central nervous system disorders, TMJ, orthopedic problems, sensory disorders, and stress-related dysfunctions such as depression, insomnia, poor digestion and anxiety.

CST focuses on the central line of the body, called the ‘midline,’ which includes the 22 bones that make up the human head, the 24 vertebra and sacrum, the brain, the cranial nerves, the spinal cord and spinal nerves, the cerebrospinal fluid and the system of membranes inside the cranium and spinal column protecting and nourishing the central nervous system, as well as the heart.  Working along the midline encourages health and well-being in the bones, tissues, spaces, fluids and fields where the spirit, the soul and the ‘breath of life’ reside, where heaven meets earth, where inspiration enters, where love, devotion and creativity pour forth, where life is experienced, and where life continues.

Zen Shiatsu is a therapeutic bodywork technique that applies pressure, energy and intention along the energy pathways/meridians of the body. It works much the same way as the East Asian medical system of acupuncture; just without needles.  The main goal of Zen Shiatsu is to support and strengthen the body’s natural ability to heal and balance itself. It works on the whole person – not just the physical body, but also with the psychological, emotional and spiritual aspects of being.  Zen Shiatsu builds health, strength, flexibility, vitality, and balance.  When a part of the body is energy deficient, and not pulling its weight, other areas of the body must overexert to pick up the slack.  

The treatment goal of Zen Shiatsu is to energize these deficiencies, therefore allowing the symptoms of overactivity to melt away.  Zen Shiatsu commonly reduces stress, increases energy and clarity, reduces fatigue, anxiety, aches and pains in the head, neck, shoulders and back, reduces joint pain, boosts the immune system, improves sleep, and promotes robust health and well-being. In addition, a Zen Shiatsu session can address issues that have a predominantly emotional base such as anger, joy, worry, sadness, shock, preoccupation, and fear.

Cupping Therapy dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures. The old Chinese medical maxim holds that pain results from the congestion, stagnation, and blockage of Qi, or vital energy, vital fluids, lymph, phlegm, and blood. If pain is the essence of disease, then suffering is a result of obstructed or irregular flow in the body. Chinese cupping is therefore a method of breaking up the blockage to restore the body’s natural flow of energy.

Cupping Therapy sessions with Melissa involve placing glass or silicone cups on energy points as well as painful body parts, to create suction, and then gently moving the cups across oiled skin to cause the skin and superficial muscle layers to be lightly drawn into the cup. Cupping is much like the inverse of massage – rather than applying pressure to muscles, it uses gentle negative pressure to pull tissues upward and releases them from underlying tissues which may have been creating restrictions and painful congestion issues. For most patients, this is a particularly relaxing and relieving sensation.

Cupping Therapy is known to help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage.  The British Cupping Society says that cupping therapy is used to treat blood disorders such as anemia and hemophilia; rheumatic diseases such as arthritis and fibromyalgia; fertility and gynecological disorders; skin problems such as eczema and acne; high blood pressure; migraines; anxiety and depression; bronchial congestion caused by allergies and asthma; and varicose veins. 

Bruising can be expected, but skin should return to looking normal within a few days.

Reiki is a hands-on energy healing art originating in Japan. Reiki is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If an individual’s “life force energy” is low, they are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, they are more capable of being happy and healthy.

Reiki practitioners are trained to access and serve as a channel for the life force (chi or qi) energy in order to restore and balance the natural life force energy within each client. Healing occurs through the return of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual balance. Reiki has many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, support, security and well-being.

Pregnancy Massage involves a variety of massage techniques that are both effective and safe prenatally, during labor as well as during the postpartum periods of women’s pregnancies.  Prenatal specific techniques can relieve headaches, help alleviate morning sickness, reduce fatigue, enhance sleep, calm an active baby, alleviate backaches, increase immunity, support fluctuating hormones, relieve leg cramps, reduce swelling/edema, relieve pain from varicosities and prepare pelvic muscles for the birth process.

The soothing essence of massage not only honors the miraculous journey of pregnancy, but also allows pregnant moms to unwind and feel ease, healthy, and comforted during a period of added physical and emotional stress. Skilled touch facilitates labor, shortens labor times and eases pain and anxiety. In the postpartum period, specialized techniques rebalance structure, physiology and emotions of the new mother and may help her to bond with and care for her infant.

Personal Well-Being and Bodywork Consultations support clients on their journey toward greater health and actualization. A variety of lifestyle tools are considered including nutrition, supplements, herbs, flower remedies, breath work, body work, self-massage techniques, detox options, self-care practices, exercise, stretching, meditation, comfort rituals, etc. that work in collaboration with the Innate Intelligence of Nature in order to nurture and balance the whole person – body, mind, spirit and emotions.

Holistic Health Education Classes have been designed by Melissa to empower individuals with information, resources and easy-to-use self-healing practices to nurture and nourish the body, mind, spirit and emotions.  Classes include:

The Power of Touch

Self-Massage

Energy Work Basics

Craniosacral Basics

Body Mechanics and Intuitive Stretching

The Science of Stress, the Art of Calm

Bringing Calm and Balance into the Classroom

Resilient Living

Breathwork, Alignment and Intention

Know Thyself, Know the Universe

Ear Candling is an ancient, natural, relaxing technique used to clean out excess ear wax and fungus, improve hearing, improve physical balance, cleanse the sinus cavities and lymphatic system, remove toxins, eliminate ear pains, enhance mental abilities, balance energies, and release emotions.

Pet Massage, Bodywork and Energy Work provides significant relief, stimulates healing and promotes stress reduction and relaxation for both pets and performance animals.  It can also relieve pain from arthritis, lameness, hip dysplasia, and other ailments, alleviate stress caused by separation anxiety, vet and groomer visits, prior abuse, and loss of another pet, loosen tight muscles and increase flexibility and range of motion, prepare the body for surgery and reduce recovery time after surgery or injury, increase circulation and lymphatic drainage to improve overall health, release endorphins that work as the body’s natural painkiller and provide a feeling of well-being, increase bone density and build muscle mass as well as reduce edema.  Pet massage is a wonderful gift for our furry or feathered friends during transition and end of life.