pic

Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy services offered in Tigard, OR

Massage Therapy

We offer Swedish Therapeutic Massage, Deep Tissue, Sports Massage, Myofascial Bodywork, and Cupping. Learn more about Medical Massage vs Relaxation Massage. Our licensed massage therapist, Jennifer Pumpelly, uses a combination of these therapies in her sessions to aid her clients in the best way possible.  Jennifer's goal is to help her clients ease their body and their nervous system, while allowing them to connect the two for a whole body–mind experience. Research shows that Massage and Bodywork benefit us in many ways:

How does massage benefit you?

  • Provides acute and chronic pain relief
  • Faster recovery time from soft tissue injuries, and scars
  • Improves posture and body awareness
  • Increases flexibility
  • Decreases anxiety and depression
  • Enhances mood by increasing endorphins (the feel good hormones)
  • Increases energy
  • Improves immune function by increasing blood and lymph circulation
  • Helps athletes of any level prepare for and recover from events, boosting performance
  • Aides in better sleep quality
  • Relieves tension and migraine headaches

Massage and Bodywork

What is Swedish Massage?

This modality uses kneading and gliding strokes to increase circulation and to provide relaxation to muscles. It helps to reduce stress and anxiety. This technique also increases oxygen in the blood to help release metabolic waste from the tissues in the muscles. While deep techniques may be needed, this modality is more restorative and caters to a more overall superficial relaxation treatment.

 

What is Deep Tissue Massage?

This modality is often used to treat chronic pain, and tension in soft tissue. After an official evaluation, the therapist assesses the condition the soft tissue. Soft tissue could have trigger points, myofascial adhesions, joint mobility and restrictions. Deep tissue includes Myofascial Release, Muscle Energy Techniques, Strain counter strain, and any other form of lengthening the muscle. Deep tissue is a slower technique which will allow the therapist to sink into the tissue, working from superficial to deep. Discomfort during the massage can be present. People usually say it feels like a “hurts so good” feeling. This modality can leave you feeling sore for a few days, but should leave your body feeling an increased range of motion and flexibility, with an overall feeling of less tension and pain.

 

What is Sports Massage?

This modality can be used to improve athletic performance, and speed up recovery. It improves conditioning, helps maintain peak performance, and can be utilized by individuals who participate in athletic or exercise programs at any level. Sports Massage can also help prevent injuries and improve soft tissue function. Various modalities including Swedish, Myofascial Release, Cupping, and stretching are used within a session.

 
What is Fascial Release Bodywork (Structural Integration- Rolfing)

Fascia is a specialized system of the body that has an appearance similar to a spider’s web. Fascia is very densely woven, covering every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein, as well as all of our internal organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord. This type of body work is based on the work of Dr. Ida P. Rolf.
Fascial release works to lengthen, stretch, and soften tissue to restore postural balance, and help with ease of movement. This modality helps with promoting positive changes in one’s tissue, lowering anxiety, improving ones awareness and presence of being in their body.
Similar to Deep Tissue Massage, some discomfort during the treatment and soreness after for a few days are possible.
This type of session starts with a postural assessment or evaluation. This helps the therapist have a visual understanding of how a client stands in gravity, and how the client moves. This allows the therapists’ to assess alignment, balance, mobility and movement patterns.

 
What is Cupping

Cupping is a modality that involves using negative pressure rather than tissue compression. A cup or cups are positioned in the area being treated; and depending on the type of cup being used they can stay in one spot or be moved. A vacuum suction is created to draw up the skin and tissue into the cup. The suction helps with releasing stagnant blood, toxins, and lymph, and resupplying it with vital nutrients. Cupping rapidly facilitates rigid soft tissue, loosens and lifts connective tissue, breaks up tissue adhesions. Cupping also engages the parasympathetic nervous system, allowing clients to go deep into relaxation. Cupping is a great treatment, whether it is used alone or in conjunction with any of the above modalities.