Massage for Your Brain

Not all massage and bodywork has the same effects and outcomes. “Speaking to Your Nervous System” breaks down how your safety brain moves you from a state of “rest and digest” to “fight or flight” based on perceived threats. Your nervous system will respond very differently to a rigorous sports massage compared to a gentle neck massage, so the type of massage therapy you choose should align with your goals. While you may feel more relaxed after that deep tissue work, pain and other signals set off little alarms that tip the scale back towards stress. If stress relief is your goal, the tempo, pressure, and techniques used during a massage can each impact how guarded or relaxed you become during your session. A massage that brings you far into a state of “rest and digest” is not guaranteed and needs to be carefully curated for maximum effect.

Speaking the Language of Relaxation

If you haven’t already read “Speaking to Your Nervous System“, I highly recommend giving it a quick read. You have the ability to speak to your nervous system and encourage it to transition from a state of stress into one of rest. For example, when you take deep slow breaths, you send a strong signal to your brain that the threat is over. This language has influenced every aspect of our business. The goal of reducing stress shaped our policies, pricing, decor, and most importantly, our services. Our therapeutic massage uses the language of relaxation to communicate with your safety brain and lull it into a state of rest.

Communicating Relaxation

Your Service

Our massage service has been specifically designed to work with your nervous system to increase relaxation.

• Pressure and pain play a vital roll in the outcome of your service. It’s important to use enough pressure to be relaxing, but the safety brain pays close attention to pressure. Too much, even if it feels “good”, quickly puts your nervous system into yellow alert. Red alert is triggered as soon as pain is present, even if it’s mild, short, or “good pain”. Your safety system pulls the PAIN alarm whenever it senses pain, whether it’s from a deep tissue massage, stubbing your toe, and even emotional pain. The judgement of how severe or dangerous the source of pain is only occurs once the alarm is raised.
• Tempo can be used to stimulate or relax. When relaxation and stress relief are the goal, slow and deliberate massage strokes can help lull you into a state of rest.
• Massage techniques and tools can vary greatly depending on your goals. Creating a relaxing massage means using techniques and tools that don’t set off your safety alarms.
• Customization is super important to creating a relaxing experience. If you are ticklish on your feet, a foot massage would be the opposite of relaxing. We work with you to identify which areas of the body to include in your massage, what positions you feel most comfortable laying in, and any other adjustments we can make to maximize your relaxation during your service.

Environment

A relaxing atmosphere will help you unwind during your session.

• Our massage table is designed for comfort with extra padding, lush blankets and a table warmer.
• Soft lighting invites relaxation. For people that prefer darkness, we have eye covers that are available upon request.
• Being cold triggers the sympathetic nervous system, so we make it a priority to keep you comfortably warm.
• Calming music and soundscapes have been shown to have a relaxing effect on the brain. We offer many options for you to select and enjoy during your session. We also use white noise to minimize distractions.

Policies

Our policies are designed to minimize your stress and give you confidence in the quality of care you are receiving.

• Simple pricing – We have no membership, no tipping, and no pressure to upgrade. A credit card is securely stored with Square and charged after your service.
• Your health matters – You can relax knowing that we take your health seriously. Our cleaning protocol, HEPA air filter, and health intake are all designed to prioritize your health and out your mind at ease.
• Respect for Client and Boundaries Statement – It is our goal to ensure you feel empowered and comfortable during your session. If you’re ever uncomfortable, we will do our best to customize your session to improve your experience.