Massages Offered

Swedish Massage

A Swedish massage uses long, gliding strokes and kneading to help loosen up muscle tissues and increase circulation. This massage starts slow with gentle pressure, and as the muscles warm up and relax, the pressure is gradually increased to work the deeper muscles. Swedish massage is very relaxing and can help reduce swelling, muscle aches, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, back pain, headaches, stress, anxiety, depression, and injury recovery time. Swedish massage can also help improve flexibility, circulation, and immunities by stimulating lymph flow.

Swedish massage goes very well with almost every other type of massage. It really helps to warm up the muscles and prepare them for a deeper massage or for stretching. Swedish massage is the default massage technique for most therapists in the United States.

Deep Tissue Massage

A deep tissue massage is intended to target deeper layers of muscles and break up knots and adhesions. There are a wide variety of deep tissue techniques that can help work out adhesions and even help break up scar tissue. By gently applying extra pressure on certain trigger points, the therapist will be able to encourage muscles to return to optimal condition. Deep tissue massage can contribute to long-term relief of muscle pains, back pains, headaches, reduced flexibility, and cramping.

A good therapist will talk to you to assess your pain and comfort levels to ensure that maximum relief is being provided with a minimum amount of discomfort. Because deep tissue massage breaks up toxin buildups in your muscles, it is very important to come to the massage well hydrated and drink plenty of water for the following few days. Deep tissue massage should never cause bruising, but there will likely be some slight tenderness for the next day or two. This type of massage is not supposed to be painful. Deep tissue massage will always be supplemented with Swedish massage to make sure that your body is not overworked, and clients often claim immediate relief of symptoms.

Trigger Point Massage

Trigger point massage is a special type of deep tissue massage. It targets specific problem areas and helps to unwind even the toughest knots. Trigger point massage is used to reset muscle fibers and regain range of motion due to chronic muscle tension.

This type of massage takes a team effort. The therapist will locate and gradually put pressure on the "sweet spots" in your muscles and ask you questions to help assess your body's reaction. Because your body needs to get used to trigger point work, this technique is often used on only one or two muscles per session until the body is more used to it. You will always need to drink lots of extra water, but many clients claim an impressive improvement in their body after this massage.

Sports Massage

A Sports massage is a more invigorating massage. It uses quicker strokes supplemented with stimulating percussion and compressions. Sports massage can help reduce stiffness, chance of injury, lactic acid buildup, and injury recovery time.

Sports massage is intended to help you recover from a workout or mild injury quickly. This is a contrast to the relaxing and tranquil Swedish massage. Sports massage was originally used to help an athlete's body achieve and maintain peak performance and even continue competing after soreness or a mild injury, but it can be adapted to a longer massage session to give non-athletes similar benefits.

Hot Stone Massage

Hot stone massage is a fantastic, warming massage. It uses a comfortably warm stone to provide deep relaxation and helps warm up muscles faster than usual. This allows the therapist to work more deeply and effectively.

A hot stone massage is both luxurious and beneficial. The hot stone is used to massage your body, and the extra heat encourages flexibility in tense muscle fibers and whole-body relaxation. We use a self-heating stone which requires very little cleanup, so this type of massage is available whenever you want it.

Prenatal (Pregnancy) Massage

Prenatal massages can be very beneficial to your physiological, psychological, and emotional health throughout your entire pregnancy.

Learn more about Prenatal Massage

Couple's Massage

Couple's massage is a massage for two clients at the same time. Each client gets their own therapist, and each massage is tailored to the client's specific needs.

Angel's Hand is happy to partner with Crystal Anderson from Healing Tree Massage Therapy to offer Couple's Massages. This is a popular one for couples because you treat yourself and your special someone. If you like, you will also be able to choose who will get a massage from the male and female therapists.

Abdominal Massage

The stomach area contains many important muscles that, if massaged properly, can help relieve pain, including hip pain, cramping, spasms, and abdominal discomfort. Rather than relying constantly on pain medicine that only treats the symptoms, a single abdominal massage may be able to locate and alleviate the source of the problem.

An abdominal massage is not invasive, and it can even be performed without removing any clothing if comfort is a concern. Often, an abdominal massage will give instant relief from pains and cramping caused by deep abdominal muscles. Draping is used to ensure modesty for female clients.

Vibration Massage

Vibration Massage (or vibration therapy) is both a very relaxing and a very beneficial technique that passes gentle, mechanical vibrations through the therapist's hands onto the body surface. The vibrations help to stimulate circulation, penetrate to deeper layers of muscles and attachment areas, and break up adhesions and knots.

Vibrations can be incorporated into any massage. It is very soothing and relaxing with lighter techniques, and it is very effective at supplementing deep tissue and trigger point work. The vibrations are especially beneficial for joints, sites of injuries, or sensitive areas where other massages techniques may be uncomfortable. Each client will have different preferences and tolerances, so when using vibrations, your therapist will be in constant communication with you to assess your comfort levels to ensure an appropriate amount of treatment is used.

Active Isolated Stretching (AIS)

Active Isolated Stretching is a gentle stretching technique. It helps the body repair itself and prepare for regular movement while also increasing range of movement in joints.

AIS is used by physical therapists and personal trainers, and it can be used in any massage. The technique involves holding each stretch for only two seconds and working with the body's natural physiology to isolate the muscle being stretched.

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is an ideal stretching technique to improve active and passive range of motion. It involes isometric contractions (flexing without movement) followed by progressively deeper stretches.

PNF is able to quickly improve muscle joint performance and aid in rehabilitation. The rapid improvements to range of motion also make it easier to comply with exercise and rehabilitation programs.