Palliative massage therapy adapts therapeutic massage techniques to accommodate an individual’s ability to benefit from skilled touch.

What can I expect during a session?

Methods drawn from many different modalities are applied appropriately in response to the unique needs of the client. Common techniques may include long gliding strokes to stimulate relaxation, use of gentle rhythms to lessen the stimulation of the nervous system, comforting and steady compression to create a sense of grounding and calm, very slow and smooth movements to encourage trust and ease in breathing. While elements of Swedish, deep tissue, myofascial release and trigger point work may be integrated into the session, overall – the focus is not so much on effecting change on the body. Rather, it is instead guided by the principals of accompaniment and support to encourage a deep overall sense of wellness and peace.

Is palliative massage safe for me or my loved one?

Our therapeutic approach combines specialized training in orthopedics, oncology and pathophysiology to understand your response to serious illness. Our intent is to work gently and gradually to meet the needs of your particular circumstance without overburdening or taxing your system. We modify the elements of a massage including the pressure, speed, rhythm, areas of contact, and duration to create a safe and nurturing space for relaxation to occur. While certain conditions may dictate how massage can be performed, a modified session can be safely delivered in almost all instances.

Integrated Massage Focus

While there are many different types of massage therapy, often a client will benefit from a mixture of styles within the same session. Every tool has it’s optimum application, massage is no different. Therefore, while trained in a range of techniques, often the best results are obtained through the skillful application of various methods throughout a session. To help you understand your session better, here is a brief summary of various types of massage that may be utilized during your treatment.

• Swedish Massage – Often considered “classic massage”, it is a relaxing and therapeutic experience. Swedish massage combines techniques of petrissage, effleurage, friction and fluid rhythm, varying pressure and vigor to promote full body relaxation with many other benefits.
• Deep Tissue – Using fingertips, hands, elbows, knuckles and creativity, deep tissue massage focuses the energy of the treatment towards the deeper connective tissue of the body. While this may seem like more pressure would be required, the goal of treatment is not to be heavy handed, instead the movement is slower and the pressure is concentrated over a smaller area to achieve the desired results.
• Myofascial Release – Also called MFR, myofascial release uses a very slow and continuous stretch applied to areas of connective tissue. It is generally a relaxing experience and can be very gentle.
• Manual Lymph Drainage – Also known as MLD, Manual Lymph Drainage is a type of gentle bodywork used to promote movement of lymph through the lymphatic system. It consists of  manual stretch and release techniques that engage the topmost layer of the skin. It is not considered massage.