Finding and Addressing the causes of discomfort – Massage in downtown Duluth, MN at Halcyon House
While striving to be a calm and relaxing space for your massage in downtown Duluth, MN, at Halcyon House, we want to get to the root of your discomfort and work with you to overcome past injuries, body mechanics issues, compensation, etc. Let us be a partner in your journey towards a more balanced and improved well-being.
We are often asked, “What was the name of that technique that worked so well?” Sometimes there is a specific technique that is associated with a well-known modality. Other times, it is the experience of working on so many different people, body types, body shapes, and common and not-so-common issues that informs how we work on you each time. You can call it intuition or knowledge gained over years of experience.
If you’re curious about the styles of massage offered and what to expect, read on!
Before your First Massage Session
Intake Forms
When you schedule your first massage, you are emailed a link to fill out intake forms. Please take the time to fill them out to the best of your ability. From health history to medications and doses, these all give us a starting point to get to know what you are going through now, what you have gone through in the past that could be impacting your health and well-being currently, an understanding of what to be aware of regarding drug interactions, and more. If you have any questions about the intake forms or need a hand completing them, we’re happy to help!
Your Primary Focus
Let us know your highest priority for your upcoming session – a specific pain area, chronic condition, etc. As we prepare for your massage session, we will focus our attention around your Primary Focus while keeping your health history in mind.
Your First Massage Session
Great! You’ve checked our map and have found your way to your massage at Halcyon House in downtown Duluth. When you arrive, take a moment to let the calming atmosphere at Halcyon House begin to shift your focus inwards. Check in at the front desk and pour yourself a cup of tea. Explore the art of our current featured artist or pick up a book and settle into a comfy chair. Your massage therapist will find you. The first part of your massage session allows us to get to know each other a little better, ask, and answer questions.
Review your Intake Form
As we check your responses in the intake form, we often notice areas that we would like to hear more about – maybe how your recovery from an old injury went, how your responded to certain medications, etc.
Assessment
A few quick assessments help us get an idea of the state of your body’s systems at the moment. We may check in with your mobility in the areas of concern.
Plan of Action
We will discuss the techniques we plan to employ for this session to address your goals and get you set up and comfortable.
Treatment
Depending on your primary focus and clues from your assessment, we will begin your treatment. Below are a sampling of techniques that may be used. This massage session acts as a starting-off point. Often times, relief and results can be felt immediately. However we ask that you monitor your response to the massage over the next few days and note soreness, changes in mobility, headaches, or mood.
Sometimes the changes made during the massage can last for a while before your body goes back into old compensation patterns. It’s very normal for this to happen and your massage therapist will give you a recommendation for when might be a good idea to come in for another session. Our goal is to extend the gap between sessions longer as your body is able to hold the changes better.
Massage Techniques
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release is a hands-on massage and physical therapy treatment that targets the fascia—the tough connective tissue that covers, surrounds, and supports the muscles. Therapists apply gentle, sustained pressure to tight or restricted areas to relieve pain, break up knots, and restore flexibility and movement.
How it works:
Focusing on the fascia – while myofascial release can be combined with other styles of massage, this method stretches and loosens connective tissue in and around your muscles and organs. Pressure, whether light or firm, is sustained to allow the connective tissue to feel safe in relaxing. Myofascial techniques use very little oil and sometimes none at all.
Myofascial Release is often used for:
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic back or neck pain
- Regaining mobility and range of motion
Thai Massage
Thai massage combines acupressure, Indian Ayurvedic principles, and assisted yoga postures. Done on a padded mat on the floor or a low massage table without oils, the client stays fully clothed while the practitioner uses hands, feet, and elbows to stretch and compress the body.
How it works:
These assisted, passive, yoga stretches move your joints through a greater range of motion than every-day movement. This can reduce symptoms such as back pain, joint stiffness, and headaches. The increased movement has the potential to be an energy boost as the movement moves fluid through tissues. The assisted stretching can help calm the nervous system.
Foot Only Reflexology/Myofascial Release
This is a fully clothed session working on the feet to affect the whole body. Some work into the fascia and muscles of the lower leg may be addressed. Wear comfortable clothes that allow access to the knee.
Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle, non-invasive manual therapy that focuses on the craniosacral system. This includes the membranes and cerebral spinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The primary aim of this style of therapy is to enhance the body’s natural ability to heal by facilitating the movement of this fluid and optimizing the function of the nervous system. Craniosacral therapy practitioners are typically physical therapists, massage therapists, or chiropractors that have taken special training in this technique.
Find out more about the massage therapists you will meet at Halcyon House, in the heart of downtown Duluth, MN.
