Sarah uses a variety of techniques to get the body to relax and release, but her main method for relieving muscular tension is by releasing fascia, and working on deep musculoskeletal points throughout the body.

Every person has points throughout their body that when worked on, can help relieve muscle tension. These points are often referred to as different things: trigger points, motor points, acupressure points. These points are in a way, an entrance to the deep areas within our body.

This type of bodywork session is very different from a classic deep tissue massage, however it is highly effective. Even a person who is very much used to getting deep tissue massages, may be very sensitive to deep work on the body's points.

Another key component is working with fascia. If you can for a minute bring your awareness to just below your skin, you can do this by gently moving the skin on top of a bodypart, without pushing down too hard. Right underneath your skin lies fascia, a web of connective tissue that helps your body move. Just like other parts of the body, fascia can become "tangled" and tight.

Now let's say the fascia in your right shoulder started to become stiff and could no longer freely move. As you can see from the above picture, pulling on one side would have an effect on the whole body (perhaps, this is why some people will say that even though you're working on their shoulder, they feel it in their low back!) Releasing and cleaning out these areas of tension can have a profound positive effect on one's overall pain levels.

Prenatal Sessions

In a prenatal session, the main focus is relieving pregnancy related aches and pains, and bringing balance to the whole body system. As we melt the fascia and release tension in imbalanced areas of the body, not only does it decrease one's pain levels, it can also have a positive effect on your baby's position in your body. When you are in balance your baby will have more space to properly position him/herself in your pelvis. Releasing fascia and tension on and around the sacropelvis means that you can have a sacrum and pelvis that freely moves, which is imperative when you give birth to your baby! In the picture above, you can see a neutral pelvis, anterior pelvic tilt, and posterior pelvic tilt. While no one particular position should be forced or held, a goal of a prenatal session is for your pelvis to be able to go into these positions comfortably, and proper bodywork encourages this! As your baby descends through your pelvis, it will be moving and changing position from a posterior pelvic tilt (opens up the entrance to the pelvis, where your baby "engages" before birth), to an anterior pelvic tilt during birth! So making sure your pelvis is comfortable with the complete range of motion is important for your "birthday"!

As you may already be aware of, acupressure is working with something called acu-points. These, along with trigger points, and other types of points throughout the body, are what are typically needled in an acupuncture session. During a bodywork session such as this, no needles are used, but the points will still be worked on in other ways.

The basis of acupuncture is that every point on the body means something, and that working on specific points can produce specific results. For example, during pregnancy, there are points and areas that one can work with to help induce labor, ripen the cervix, encourage dilation and effacement, flipping breech babies, morning sickness, and more.

Besides the meaning behind these points throughout the body and what they may correlate to, having your points worked with can be a wonderful time to practice any type of pain coping and breathing techniques that you are planning on using during the birth of your baby (while the work should never be too painful for your to stand, it is normal to feel a degree of discomfort on some points).

Is This Type Of Therapy Right For Me?

Do you like feeling amazing?

No, but really. I and many others very much enjoy this type of work. However, there is a chance that this type of session just isn't what you're looking for! If you are looking for a classic deep tissue or Swedish style of massage, Sarah may not be your gal. Please keep this in mind before booking your appointment!

This type of therapy is different, yet very healing and effective. It works perfectly along side any other therapy you may be receiving for what you are going through.