MYOPRACTIC MUSCLE THERAPY

Robert Petteway developed the Myopractic system after 30 years in the healing arts. His experience in structural integration, biomechanics, acupuncture, Oriental medicine, and a wide variety of muscle therapies contribute to the system. He worked with physicians, surgeons, and chiropractors for more than 20 years to develop this therapeutic model.

Myopractic muscle therapy combines three basic techniques: compression stretching, which achieves deep relaxation and relieves tension, spasms, and holding patterns; clearing methods, which use the myopractic covered thumb and framing techniques to clean obstructions from soft tissue (e.g., trigger points, scar tissue, muscle bundles, and old bruise); and separating techniques to release myofascial adhesions, separate fascial planes, and rebalance muscles.

Myopractic muscle therapy integrates its own unique style of energetic work, Swedish, sports, trigger point, myofascial, and even structural integration techniques into one easy-to-learn system.

Myopractic teaches user-friendly, pain-free therapy for both client and practitioner. This is accomplished using the therapist’s body weight and leverage, rather than relying on size and strength. Myopractic posture balancing evaluation identifies the source of chronic pain misalignments in the body’s structure and realigns them.

Myopractic treatments focus especially on misalignments in the lower body, particularly in the feet, ankles, and the hips. Addressing lower-body misalignments often relieves tension injuries in the upper body. Myopractic espouses a therapist can clear their clients only to the degree they themselves are clear. Therefore the seminars focus on clearing the therapist, as well as learning new techniques.

(See also: MYOPRACTIC MUSCLE THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

PHOENIX RISING YOGA THERAPY

This therapy involves a fusion of hatha yoga, bodywork, and psychotherapy. It is holistic art based on the ancient science of yoga, combining elements of contemporary body/mind psychology with assisted yoga postures. It is totally a client-centered process, and it establishes inner balance by awakening the healing life force within.

(See also: PHOENIX RISING YOGA THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

ASHIATSU ORIENTAL BAR THERAPY

Developed by Ruthie Hardee in 1995, Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy combines elements of traditional Thai massage, Barefoot shiatsu and Keralite foot massage (Chavutti Thirummal).

Incorporating overhead wooden bar supports, the therapist uses body weight and gliding foot compression on strategic points along the muscles. When performed near the spine, this form of effleurage creates a “push, pull, pumping” effect on the intervertebral disc space and relieves irritations on the spinal nerve caused by inflammation and swelling.

Note: The application of this technique is not to be done on a floor mat or through clothing. This technique was designed for smaller, petite therapists who wish to specialize in deep work.

(See also: ASHIATSU ORIENTAL BAR THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

RO-HUN TRANSFORMATION THERAPY

This is a form of energy healing in which the therapist manipulates the client’s energy bodies near each chakra. The objective of RoHun is to understand how certain adverse patterns became fixed in the emotional and mental energy bodies and to release the negative effects of these patterns on daily life. Although primarily an energy manipulation method, some noninvasive physical touch is involved.

(See also: RO-HUN TRANSFORMATION THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINT THERAPY

Based on the discoveries of Drs. Janet Travell and David Simons in which they found the causal relationship between chronic pain and its source, myofascial trigger point therapy is used to relieve muscular pain and dysfunction through applied pressure to trigger points of referred pain and through stretching exercises.

These points are defined as localized areas in which the muscle and connective tissue are highly sensitive to pain when compressed. Pressure on these points can send referred pain to other specific parts of the body.

(See also: MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINT THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

PFRIMMER DEEP MUSCLE THERAPY

This technique utilizes deep cross-fiber strokes applied with the thumbs and fingers. Developed by Theresa Pfrimmer of Canada, this is a deep muscle therapeutic technique. As with many pioneers, the technique was discovered in an effort to help herself recover from paralysis.

The work enables free flow of lymph and blood, as well as improving joint movement and removal of waste products/toxins from the muscle tissue. Conditions that benefit from Pfrimmer DMT include arthritis, multiple sclerosis, headache, and fibrositis, among others.

(See also: PFRIMMER DEEP MUSCLE THERAPY, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

INTEGRATED/ECLECTIC MASSAGE

Indicates a combination of various massage, bodywork, and somatic therapy techniques utilized by a practitioner in the course of a session.

(See also: INTEGRATED/ECLECTIC MASSAGE, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

ON-SITE MASSAGE

Also called seated and chair massage, on-site massage includes techniques that provide fully-clothed seated massage, bodywork and somatic therapies to clients, generally in a corporate or business setting. Practitioners utilize shiatsu, amma and/or Swedish techniques.

(See also: ON-SITE MASSAGE, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

CHAIR MASSAGE

Also called on-site and seated massage, chair massage includes techniques that provide fully-clothed seated massage, bodywork and somatic therapies to clients, generally in a corporate or business setting. Practitioners utilize shiatsu, amma and/or Swedish techniques.

(See also: CHAIR MASSAGE, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Massage , Craniosacral massage , Reflexology, Rolfing, Zone therapy:

Group of systematic and scientific manipulations of body tissues best performed with the hands for the purpose of affecting the nervous and muscular systems and the general circulation.

(See also: Massage, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Chinese Qigong massage (An Mo, Chinese massage, Qigong massage): Component of Traditional Chinese Medicine that emphasizes the proper level, quality of circulation, and preventive uses of Qi. The categories of Chinese Qigong massage are amma, Tuina, dian xue, and Qigong therapy.

(See also: Chinese Qigong massage, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

knife massage (knife therapy): A technique that involves tapping acupoints with the blade of a cleaver.

(See also: Knife massage, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

MEDICAL MASSAGE

Performing medical massage requires a firm background in pathology and utilizes specific treatments appropriate to working with disease, pain, and recovery from injury. The therapist may work from a physician’s prescription or as an adjunct healer within a hospital or physical therapy setting.

(See also: MEDICAL MASSAGE, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

FOUR-HAND MASSAGE

This therapy requires two practitioners to simultaneously massage the client’s left and right sides, making sure to mimic the others motions and to exert equal pressure for a balanced experience.

(See also: FOUR-HAND MASSAGE, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Body Mind Massage: Component of BodyMind Therapy. BodyMind Massage includes shiatsu. Its principle is that touch is sacred and has healing power, and its goal is synergy.

(See also: Body Mind Massage, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

massage aromatherapy: Application during a massage therapy session of a vegetable oil to which an essential oil has been added.

(See also: Massage aromatherapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Esalen massage: A form of bodywork that borrows from craniosacral balancing (see CranioSacral Therapy), Rolfing, Swedish massage, Trager, and other methods.

(See also: Esalen massage, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Indian Head Massage

A massage of the upper-back, arms, neck, head and face which is carried out on a fully-clothed client, usually sitting in an upright chair (as opposed to lying on a therapy/treatment couch).

(See also: Indian Head Massage, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Thai Massage: Millennia-old, sacred form of bodywork that resembles shiatsu and is related to Nadi Sutra Kriya. It draws from acupressure, passive yoga therapy, and reflexology. Thai Massage makes recipients feel more balanced physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

(See also: Thai Massage, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

CONNECTIVE TISSUE MASSAGE

Also known as bindegewebsmassage, these techniques are designed to specifically affect the connective tissue of the body. Connective tissue massage was developed in Germany by Elizabeth Dicke. After diagnosis of a serious medical problem, she experimented with different types of massage on herself. She found when she applied light pressure through the skin and connective tissue in one area of the body, there was a related effect at a distant site.

From Alternative Healing, by Hugh Burroughs and Mark Kastner: “The technique consists of the massage therapist subtly hooking her fingers into the skin and superficial connective tissue while performing a dragging or pulling stroke that somewhat stretches the skin. Connective tissue massage leaves a visible mark that looks somewhat like an abrasion or burn, but which goes away without leaving a scar.”

In Germany, it is considered a physical therapy technique; in many parts of Europe, it is considered a medical technique. In the United States, connective tissue massage is taught in many massage schools.

(See also: CONNECTIVE TISSUE MASSAGE, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

auricular massage: Component of Chinese auricular therapy that involves digitally pinching, pressing, or rotating all or part of the ear.

(See also: Auricular massage, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Thai Massage: Millennia-old, sacred form of bodywork that resembles shiatsu and is related to Nadi Sutra Kriya. It draws from acupressure, passive yoga therapy, and reflexology. Thai Massage makes recipients feel more balanced physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

(See also: Thai Massage, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)