There’s a misconception that deep pressure=deep tissue or that pain=gain. But deep tissue just means I’m working the deeper tissues of the body. These are often more sensitive to pressure so true deep tissue work can be more subtle than people expect!

I do work with deep pressure, especially during Barefoot or Thai sessions. But I consider my work to be more myofascial focused than deep tissue focused. That means the intensity of my work comes from fascial release (a grippy, stretchy sensation) rather than from direct, downward pressure.

Just because I don’t believe in “no pain, no gain” doesn’t mean my clients don’t see gains! I am always focused on results and will celebrate both big and small wins with you. Some recent client wins include better sleep, less intense or less frequent back pain, improved mobility, and better performance with athletic activity.

Relaxation is the foundation of massage. It can sometimes be dismissed because it’s not “intense” or “deep” enough. But I would like to challenge that. Your nervous system guards the deeper structures in your body. It’s necessary to soothe that subconscious resistance if I want to work deeper tissues. With that in mind, I incorporate relaxation into all of my sessions. I move slowly, allowing the nervous system time to relax before sinking into the deeper layers.

So much of our pain comes from a stressed out, overly alert nervous system. Sometimes deep rest is all the work we need.

It’s cliché but true: it’s all connected! We can often get laser focused on our “problem” area and forget it’s part of a greater structure. Upper back pain could actually mean tight pecs. Low back pain might be stemming from your adductors! This is why I like to work the full body whenever possible. Where you feel the pain is often the effect, not the cause.