GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT MASSAGE

If you know what style of massage you prefer, please let us know when you book your session and we’ll match a therapist to your specific needs. Otherwise, merely tell us how you feel when you come in, and our therapists will create a custom session for you. Not all therapists use every technique. To make the most of your massage and get the most benefits, try the following tips from the American Massage Therapy Association:

• Arrive on time.
• Don't eat just prior to arrival.
• Remove only as much clothing as is comfortable for you.
• Communicate openly with your massage therapist about any concerns, allergies, or areas of discomfort.
• Relax your muscles and your mind.
• Schedule regular massage therapy sessions. Massage offers the greatest benefits over time.
• All techniques include complimentary spring water.

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AROMATHERAPY

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils for curative and rejuvenating effects. Dating back centuries, this simple therapy has been used to reduce stress and tension, refresh and invigorate the body, soothe emotions, and clear the mind. The essential oil is absorbed through the skin and into the body to affect physiological change. When inhaled the aroma directly affects the limbic area of the brain that is related to emotions and memories. We use these aromatherapy choices: Almond St. John's Wort, Birch Arnica, Lemon Lemongrass, Moor Lavender, Rosemary, and Rose. “In our sense of smell resides the mystic who transports us to another time and place or can draw forth a future’s marvelous dream.”
 

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ACTIVE ISOLATION STRETCHING

Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) is a method of stretching that is commonly used by athletes and personal trainers. It uses precise, thorough movements to focus treatment on specific muscles. First, the targeted muscle is placed in an appropriate position. Next, 8 to 10 stretch and hold cycles are implemented. Within each cycle, stretches are held for 2-seconds and then released. This serves to enhance communication between the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system, thereby promoting increased coordination, elasticity and precision of movement. Significant reductions in pain and soreness have also been reported. AIS practitioners work to promote flexibility and range of motion because they believe that a flexible body is more efficient, is more easily trained to strength and endurance, stays balanced more easily, is less prone to injury, recovers from workouts more quickly, and, as a result, just plain feels better! At Cranbury Therapeutic Massage, AIS is primarily practiced by Nancy Sheehan. Nancy has studied this technique extensively, with its founder, Aaron L. Mattes. In some cases, idiosyncratic aspects of posture and movement can provide clues to effective treatment. Nancy has been trained to recognize these clues, so that the treatment you receive is optimized to your unique requirements. Nancy’s AIS sessions are not only designed to help you, but to also help you learn to help yourself.
 

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CANCER MASSAGE

Many hospitals, such as Sloan-Kettering, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and Stanford University Hospital, provide touch therapies for cancer patients. Research confirming the benefits of these therapies is appearing in numerous reputable journals such as Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; Annals of Internal Medicine and Cancer Nursing. Studies have found that cancer patients variously experienced less pain, anxiety, nausea or fatigue, increased their immune response, and felt more relaxed after receiving massage or other touch therapies.

Touch therapies can support recovery in a number of ways. Massage can increase circulation and speed healing tissues affected by surgery or radiation. Certain advanced techniques, applied with caution, can reduce swelling and restore pliability to scarred areas. In addition, due to its ability to decrease muscle tightness and increase range of motion, massage can help you feel more like stretching, exercising and enjoying recreational activities as you recover. Finally, as massage reduces pain and stress, your body is better able to rally its healing capabilities on all levels.

No matter what stage of treatment, skilled and caring touch can affirm that life still holds warm, positive experiences. A one-on-one massage session can nurture you while you are undergoing treatment or adjusting to physical changes, such as mastectomy or hair loss. If you have encountered changes in your activity levels or social network, or are coping with fear, anxiety or depression, massage can provide a time for self care and acceptance of tender emotions. In cases where cancer is no longer treatable, attentive touch may provide the most consoling kind of support a person can receive.

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CHAIR MASSAGE

Relieve Workplace Stress. Give your employees more than a pat on the back - give them a back rub. Benefits include improved productivity and morale, decreased sick days, and a chair massage serves as a great way to reward employees. Since 1995, many businesses and event planners have trusted Cranbury Therapeutic Massage to provide chair massage services. Our Certified Massage Therapists travel to your business site and perform relaxing seated massage for your employees, customers, clients and contacts. Chair massage has been proven in studies to improve concentration and increase productivity. Our therapists come to your location with a special state-of-the art massage chair and each massage takes about 15 minutes, no longer than a coffee break and far more effective. Call 609-655-1801 for a free demonstration and watch us perform under pressure.
 

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CLASSICAL SWEDISH

Swedish massage is the single most commonly practiced type of massage in Western countries. An important distinguishing characteristic of a Swedish massage is that the amount of pressure applied to different parts of the body is proportional to the size of the muscle group involved. Thus, larger muscle groups, such as the back, receive more pressure, while smaller muscle groups, such as the hands and face, receive less pressure. This variation is designed to promote both relaxation and healing. Swedish massage is the perfect escape from daily stress. This treatment includes flowing movements, long soothing strokes, kneading, and light pressure. You will relax, revitalize, and renew your body. It will improve muscle tone, stimulate circulation, and relieve tension.
 

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DEEP TISSUE

Deep tissue massage is also commonly practiced in western countries. It is designed to relieve specific symptoms such as tight shoulders or a sore back. Treatment involves focusing on the root cause of the pain, including both targeted muscle groups and connective tissue. The therapist will first identify your particular pain source and then work intensely to release toxins and restore positive circulation. This treatment is wonderful for both pain relief and overall relaxation.
 

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FACELIFT MASSAGE

Facelift Massage Treatment is the most luxurious, safe and effective method of treating facial tension & the problem of sagging, aging skin without surgery. Massage can be an effective method of giving the skin a healthy glow. The treatment consists of a thorough cleaning with a pure, wholesome facial cleanser and warm towels to soften the skin. This process cleans cellular debris and prepares the skin for massage. A full thirty minutes is devoted to massaging your face with luxurious oils, crèmes, and our signature invigorating Honeylift Massage lotion. Warmed towels soothe the tension lines from your face. Using whipping, tapping and contouring strokes as well as manual lymph drainage, blood and oxygen are stimulated to nourish, rejuvenate and tone the muscles and skin of the face. Your hands and feet are then massaged while you relax. The face is moisturized with crèmes containing the finest natural bio-extracts to feed and nourish the skin. At the completion of your treatment, your scalp is massaged and your back is cleansed with a hot towel. Your will also receive a massage to the neck, back, hands and feet.
 

The Importance of Facial and Scalp Massage: The face gives us so much information about a person's health and well-being. For starters, its an excellent reflection of one's tension and stress level. Massaging the face and scalp has many benefits. It relieves tension caused from habitual frowning, squinting of the eyes, and general eve fatigue and strain caused from overuse of the computer and night driving. Climatic changes such as humidity, dryness, wind, heat and cold have a major effect on sinuses and temperature of facial muscles. The jaw needs attention due to stress from clenching or grinding of the teeth. You can actually witness the tension leaving a client's face while applying the various applicable massage and pressure techniques. Many massage techniques applied to the face and scalp are effective for increasing concentration and sleepiness, treating sinusitis and allergies, and calming a client's nerves. Massage also helps alleviate headaches, insomnia and promotes healthy hair. Applying pressure on the eyes relieves eyestrain and drowsiness. Many pressure points on the face and scalp are effective for nasal congestion, runny nose and fever. In fact, many of the meridians (or energy flows of the body) have major pressure points on the face and scalp. Visit Cranbury Therapeutic Massage to receive a facial and scalp massage and notice how very important it is to your stress relief!
 

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GERIATRIC

Gentle relief for fragile conditions. As the senior population grows and people live longer, the search is on for ways to cope with the multitude of issues associated with aging. Massage may be one of the answers. The elderly suffer disproportionately from arthritis, muscular stiffness, tendonitis, and bursitis. Massage therapy addresses these issues by decreasing muscular stiffness and joint inflammation and helping to increase natural joint lubrication and range of motion. Massage also causes the release of endorphins, which can act as a natural painkiller. A number of recent studies have suggested that massage therapy can also help to improve communication and reduce anxiety in Alzheimer's patients. Please call for information about on-site treatment at home or at residential care facilities in our area.
 

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HOT STONE MASSAGE

Hot Stone Massage is a relatively new form of treatment that uses warm, heated stones to increase tissue receptivity. The treatment involves placing stones with optimal heat retention properties (typically granite or lava) on strategic points along the spine. Your therapist may also use the stones to work certain areas. In each case, the stones help to warm and open the tissue, thereby making it more receptive to treatment.
 

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MASSAGE PARTY

Gather your girlfriends together for a fun, relaxing party in the comfort of your own home. We offer massage, facials, and yoga instruction. Call us about our available services.
 

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MATERNITY MASSAGE

Ease aching muscles and good for baby too. Maternity Massage is a wonderful way to relax, increase energy, neutralize sleeping problems and relieve discomfort during pregnancy. A maternity massage is something special for you at a time when so much of your attention is focused on the baby to come. A maternity massage helps you to become more aware of your body, and of the tensions that can build up during the day. Massage can also help with many of the aches and pain that can develop as your body changes during pregnancy.

Massage can:
• Relieve pain in the muscles and joints that must support added and redistributed weight.
• Increase flexibility, making it easier for your body to adjust to a changing shape.
• Reduce excess fluid retention by gently pushing fluid into circulation where it can be eliminated.
• Slow the progress of varicose veins as enhanced circulation lowers pressure on bulging veins.

Beside the immediate relief you get from a massage, you may also learn ways to make yourself more comfortable at home. You will be comfortably supported with pillows during your treatment. In later pregnancy, you can experience a complete massage in a side-lying position. Massage is healthful and enjoyable during a normal pregnancy. However, because massage is not appropriate for some conditions, your massage therapist will want to know about your general health and your pregnancy.
 

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MYOFASCIAL THERAPY

Myofascial Release is a bodywork modality that seeks to rebalance the body by releasing tension in the fascia, the layer of connective tissue that holds muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and organs together. Myofascial tension is typically caused by continuous sustained use of particular muscle groups, for example, the forearm musculature exercised during use of a computer keyboard and mouse. At Cranbury Therapeutic Massage, myofascial pain is treated via long stretching strokes designed to lengthen, relax and reset the tone of the affected muscles. Corrective exercising of the affected muscle groups is also an essential part of the treatment. After a series of treatments, the targeted muscles and fascia become softer and more pliable. Relief derives from the improved tonal matching of muscle length to points of attachment, as well as from reduced muscle irritability and increased muscle latency. Your Therapist can also help you understand the types of ergonomic bad habits that may have contributed to your myofascial tension and that, consequently, should be avoided in the future.
 

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NEUROMUSCULAR THERAPY / TRIGGER POINT

Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) is a very specialized form of manual therapy. A therapist trained in NMT is educated in the physiology of the nervous system and its effect on the muscular and skeletal systems. The Neuromuscular Therapist also is educated in kinesiology and biomechanics and how to work in a clinical or medical environment. By definition, Neuromuscular Therapy is the utilization of static pressure on specific myofascial points to relieve pain. The technique involves manipulating the soft tissue of the body (muscles, tendons and connective tissue) to balance the central nervous system. In a healthy individual, nerves transmit impulses (which are responsible for every movement, function and thought) to the body very slowly. Injury, trauma, postural distortion or stress can cause nerves to speed up their transmission, thereby inhibiting equilibrium and making the body vulnerable to pain and dysfunction. NMT uses static pressure to stabilize neurological activity so your nervous system can return to normal function and overall health.

Neuromuscular Therapy addresses the following five causes of pain:
1) Ischemia: Lack of blood supply to soft tissues which causes hypersensitivity to touch
2) Trigger Points: Highly irritated points in muscles which refer pain to other parts of the body.
3) Nerve Compression or Entrapment: Pressure on a nerve by soft tissue, cartilage or bone.
4) Postural Distortion: Imbalance of muscular system resulting from the movement of the body off the longitudinal and horizontal planes
5) Biomechanical Dysfunction: Imbalance of the musculoskeletal system resulting in faulty movement patterns (i.e., poor lifting habits, bad mechanics in golf swing, or tennis stroke or computer keyboarding)
 

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REFLEXOLOGY

Reflexology is becoming an increasingly popular drugless therapy. Unique and quite different from other forms of bodywork, it is based on an ancient Chinese theory which holds that all of our important body organs are linked to specific “reflex points” on the feet (and hands), and that pressure applied to these points stimulates the brain to send critically needed “healing” messages, for example, a message to increase the absorption of nutrients. Alternative explanations for the healing power of Reflexology treatments have been offered. One commonly held view is that toxins in the body build up and, because of gravity, accumulate in the feet and hands. When pressure is subsequently applied to these areas, the deposits are dissolved and the patient experiences increased energy flows. Thus, the treatment serves to balance energy throughout the body, stimulating areas that are under-activated and calming areas that are over-activated. Reflexology also helps to improve circulation by increasing the blood’s capacity to carry vital nutrients where needed and to remove toxins and waste products more efficiently. Pain reductions have also been reported. This latter result is believed to be related to the ability of Reflexology treatments to induce a state of deep relaxation, thereby relieving tension and encouraging the body to create endorphins. In sum, Reflexology is a safe and gentle treatment for any person of any age in any condition, including children, the elderly and people confined to wheelchairs.
 

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SHIATSU / TRADITIONAL THAI

Shiatsu: This form of bodywork, which literally translates as finger pressure, evolved in Japan and has its base in Chinese medical theory. The main principle is that pain and sickness result from energy blocks along the 14 meridians in the body. Pressure at various points and stretching along those meridians maintains balanced flows, unblocks any trapped energy, increases flexibility and results in enhanced relief and relaxation. For Shiatsu massage, please wear loose comfy clothing. Many of our geriatric clients prefer this technique due to its combination of light stretching and holding positions.

Yogic Bodywork from Thailand: Thai massage is a sacred bodywork form practiced in Thailand for 2,500 years and only recently introduced to the West. It is Thailand's oldest form of medicine. It probably originated in India, picking up a few characteristics in China along the way. Like Chinese acupuncture, acupressure and Japanese shiatsu, it is based on the belief that the body responds to pressure points along central energy lines. The network of energy, however, is more closely related to the Hindu energetic system of nadis than to the Chinese system of meridians. Thai massage incorporates principles of Indian yoga: For example, molding the body into classic yoga-style postures is a key component. Traditionally, Thai Massage was viewed as a spiritual practice, closely linked o the Buddha's teachings. Until recently, it was practiced exclusively at temples. Today Traditional Thai Massage is practiced by a few trained professionals who have brought it to the West. Nancy has traveled throughout Thailand, studying and practicing this ancient healing art. She studied at the famous What Po Temple in Bangkok and at the Old Medicine Hospital and Institute of Thai Massage in Chaing Mai, Thailand. More recently Nancy has been teaching Thai Massage workshops and offering private lessons around New Jersey. Nancy is eager to share her knowledge with students ready to embrace this healing art. Traditonal Thai Massage is practiced fully clothed.
 

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SITE SPECIFIC

A site specific massage is focused on a specific joint or muscle problem, for example, a shoulder, an area of the back, a TMJ or an ankle. Because the massage is focused on a particular area, the treatment is completed in a shorter amount of time (usually just 25 minutes.). As with each of the other techniques, a site specific massage can yield dramatic results in just a few sessions.
 

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TABLE MASSAGE

Relax with a therapeutic massage in your own home. Let the pain and stress-reducing effects of massage sink in without the interruption of travel. Choose from any of our techniques listed under the "Rates and Services" tab on the left. Call for additional information.
 

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YOGA

Iyengar yoga is a form of hatha yoga developed by BKS Iyengar. It is firmly based on the traditional eight limbs of yoga as expounded by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. It emphasizes the development of strength, stamina, flexibility and balance, through intense practice and anatomical precision as well as concentration (Dharana) and meditation (Dhyana). Many people refer to Iyengar Yoga as meditation in action. Nancy Sheehan, a senior therapist at Cranbury Therapeutic Massage, teaches Iyengar Yoga to both individuals and groups. Nancy’s classes are designed for practitioners of all ages and abilities. Nancy was certified as an Integral Yoga Teacher in 1982. She learned the Iyengar Method directly from the Iyengars during extended stays in India in 1994 and 2000. Over the years, Nancy has frequently returned to India and Southeast Asia to update her techniques. Currently she is a student of these senior teachers: Patricia Walden, Rammand Patel & Manusco Manos.

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