Service Descriptions

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ADDITIONAL BODYWORK THERAPIES

The following descriptions include many of our most popular services that may be included/integrated in our HighVibe Holistic Care Sessions (additional services may appear our booking platform).

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Soleful Bodywork™

(Another Favorite. We Teach It, Too!)

Ashiatsu ("ashi" means foot and "atsu" means pressure) is an ancient form of bodywork brought to us by Buddhist monks. It is an adaptation of an ancient form of barefoot massage using deep compression effleurage (gliding strokes) over the body.

 

In an Ashiatsu session, the treatment is administered with your therapist's expertly trained feet and gravitational force combined with centrifugal and centripetal movements to bring about a structural change, address chronic soft tissue damage, improve mobility, and relieve the stress, strain, pain, and discomforts associated with modern lifestyle choices.  

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Correct application also provides deep relaxation and stimulates the lymphatic system of the body. The practitioner uses lotion/oil and gliding motions to achieve a modified 

myofascial release that results in structural alignment.

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Ayurvedic Massage

Abhyanga involves massaging the body from scalp to feet using warm oil. The type of oil used is determined by your dosha (constitution):  Vata (dry skin)--sesame, almond or avocado oil. Pitta (sensitive/overheated skin)--ghee,  sunflower, or coconut oil.  Kapha (oily skin)--safflower, jojoba, flaxseed oil. Oil is often infused with plan medicine. Benefits: reduce stress, lower blood pressure, improve skin health, reduce muscle tension, promote lymphatic drainage.

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‘Shirodhara’ comes from two Sanskrit words, where ‘Shiro’ means ‘head’ and ‘dhara’ implies to ‘pouring or sprinkling something’, together it infers to dripping or pouring of warm herbal ayurvedic oils on the forehead from a specific height, for a specific time period in a continuous stream, allowing the oil to run through the scalp and down into the hair while the therapist administers a decadent scalp massage. Shirodhara works on multiple layers of the being--exfoliating dead skin cells, transporting lymphatic fluids, mitigating stress, expunging muscular tension, balancing doshic elements, obliterating toxins, enhancing the function of the central nervous system, treating anxiety, depression, and mental fatigue.

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CHI NEI TSANG (CNT)

Benefits: reduction or elimination of chronic pain, headaches, menstrual cramps, sciatica, fibroids, prostate problems, stress management, general detoxification, strengthening, and refinement  of the bodies.

 

Literally translated, Chi Nei Tsang means “working the energy of the internal organs” or “internal organs chi transformation.” This is accomplished by integrating the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the recipient's being.

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CNT uses massage, acupressure, and guided breathing to expel negative energies and toxins from your internal organs, tissues, and bones. It also recycles these energies to enhance your physical, emotional, and spiritual health. CNT may include meditation techniques involving an internal awareness of colors and sounds to help detoxify your body.

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Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of the physiological body system called the cranial system.  Comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. This system effects everything in our bodies from the physical to mental and emotional health.

 

CST involves using gentle, fluid movements of the bones and tissues of the head, thorax, and hips to enhance the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. Imbalances are corrected in the central nervous system between the cranium and the sacrum, resetting the body’s natural healing potential, and encouraging the release of tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health and performance. It was pioneered and developed by Osteopathic Physician John E. Upledger after years of clinical testing and research at Michigan State University where he served as professor of biomechanics.

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Using a soft touch that is generally no greater than 5 grams – about the weight of a nickel – practitioners release restrictions in the soft tissues that surround the central nervous system. CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and it’s effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.

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Cupping Therapy

Cupping is an ancient practice that involves forming of vacuum that draws the skin into a therapy wherein the practitioner utilizes various safe, therapeutic-grade cupping instruments to lift tissue with applied suction (aka negative pressure), offering the potential for relief from pain, inflammation, digestive challenges, as well as improved circulation and stress relief.  Cupping therapy can be administered with cups that are applied in a stationary or gliding manner.

 

Additionally, Lymphatic Drainage Cupping involves a systematic gliding cup sequence focused on  draining and stimulating the lymphatic system for detoxification and improved immune support.

 

Note: Cupping therapy may leave cupping marks that tend to dissipate within a week. These marks are not bruises. 

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Deep Tissue & Swedish Massage

While deep tissue massage uses a similar pattern as a Swedish massage, the work is slower, and stimulates the deepest layers of muscle tissue, tendons and fascia; stimulates blood flow, releases tension; and ultimately, helps the body heal and protect itself against future injuries. Deep tissue therapy can be slightly more uncomfortable than a Swedish massage, it should not be painful. It’s important to let your practitioner know how you're doing.

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Additionally, you and your therapist should work together to soften the outer layer of muscles to access the deeper ones. You should still be able to breathe deeply into the pressure—it’s important to not hold your breath or contract your muscles to tolerate the deep work. A deep tissue massage also allows you to learn about pressure versus pain and your capacity to “handle” both, which translates into your capacity to “handle” life in general.

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Seeded Ear Acupressure

Seeded Ear Acupressure utilizes ear acu-points to spark deep relaxation, calmness, relief from stress and emotional trauma, improved sleep, and beyond. In a treatment session, which lasts approximately 30 minutes, the practitioner places 1-5 seeds on the appropriate points while the receiver lies on a massage table/Thai Yoga Bodywork mat, or sits in a chair. Thereafter, the recipient rests and allows the treatment to take effect. 

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Point 1: Sympathetic

Related to disruption in both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. It has a strong analgesic and relaxant effect on internal organs as it dilates blood vessels.

 

Point 2: Shen Men

Regulates excitation and inhibition of the cerebral cortex and can produce sedation.

 

Point 3: Kidney

Strengthening point that can relieve mental weariness, fatigue, and headaches.

 

Point 4: Liver

Addresses symptoms associated with poor liver functioning and inflammation.

 

Point 5: Lung

Associated with analgesia, sweating, and various respiratory conditions.

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At HighVibe Living, the Seeded Ear Acupressure can be administered as a 30-minute session, or as an add-on within a longer treatment.

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Gua Sha

Gua Sha treatments involve using ceramic soup spoons and other Gua Sha tools to lightly scrape the surface of the skin to release trapped energy in the fascia and muscles.

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“Sha” is the trapped energy (you could think of it as tension or resistance) that gets released. Whenever there is sha present in the body, the spoon pulls it out through the skin, leaving a  red mark that lasts for 24-48 hours. The red mark comes from blood rushing to the surface and is called pitachae.

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The following conditions will often be relieved with Gua Sha:

• The common cold or flu, especially on the first day of symptoms

• Repetitive stress injuries

• Recent injuries that have healed (all broken skin has healed)

• Certain types of long-term chronic pain

• Certain kinds of tension headaches

• Some types of psycho-somatic pain (pain that seems influenced by emotional states)

• Certain kinds of rashes, such as poison ivy and even shingles (gua sha is done around the area of the rash, not on the rash itself)

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Lymphatic Drainage Therapy

Lymphatic drainage is a way of reducing swelling caused by fluid build up after cancer treatment. The aim of lymphatic drainage therapy is to move fluid from the swollen area into a place where the lymphatic system is working normally. To do this, we first use specialized skin movements to clear the area that we want the fluid to drain into. This treatment can be applied manually (manual lymphatic draining--MLD) or using therapeutic cups, and is known for assisting with lymphedema and routine maintenance.

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Myofascial Release

"Myo" is muscle and ‘fascial’ refers to the fascia or connective tissue that surrounds and attaches to all structures in the body. Fascia is one continuous structure that runs around the whole body like a spider web, where movement or lack of movement in one area affects the movement or lack of movement of the whole system. Trauma (physical, mental and/or emotional), surgery, inflammation, posture and repetitive stress or activity create restriction and decrease in pliability of the fascia which impacts the comfort and function of our bodies. Myofascial Release is the hands-on technique, performed without oils or creams, to optimize overall form and function.

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Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT)

NMT is a more specific massage technique that focuses on the treatment of trigger points. Trigger points are painful points located within tight bands of muscle that may refer pain to other parts of the body. Pressure, which can vary from light to heavy, is applied to these specific locations to create a specific release. Through the softening of these trigger points, there can be a reduction in pain and an increase in range of motion. It is critical that there is open and honest communication between the patient and the practitioner, as ‘deep’ pressure should be therapeutic and not further damaging to the tissue.

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Reflexology

Reflexology is used to relieve a range of stress- related disorders, such as headaches, indigestion, insomnia, backache and chronic or serious illnesses such as osteoarthritis, heart disease and cancer.   In Chinese medicine, different body parts correspond with different pressure points on the body. Reflexologists use maps of these points in the feet, hands, and ears to determine where they should apply pressure.

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Ritual Bodywork

A Ritual is simply action with intention. All ritual bodywork sessions have been crafted to integrate energetic and spiritual goals with the physical needs by way of blending massage therapy with ceremony and ritual. Session sequence often includes gentle massage/acupressure that stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system so the body and mind are calm; mind/heart alignment work, meditation, and elemental alchemy.

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Tibetan Acupressure Ritual (TAR)

TAR is inspired by Tibetan Acupressure-Compassionate Touch (TACT) framed within a sacred foot bath, foot massage, and energy tuning meditation ritual. TACT involves a dynamic three-dimensional healing system that incites the body's natural self-healing abilities. As your practitioner stimulates reflex points in your body (from the soles of your feet to the crown of your head) with a special twisting motion of their hands and fingers, while simultaneously engaging in a state of mindful meditation and compassionate breathing that radiates loving kindness, you sit comfortably, eyes closed, and allow yourself to be fully present in the moment. Collectively, the components of this body of work serves to relax tight muscles, improve posture and alignment, promote circulation, and restore harmony to the mind, body, . . .utilizing vital energy (life force).

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