Positive Body Dynamics ("PBD") offers a wide variety of massage so you have the highest quality service for a rewarding and therapeutic experience. Enjoy!

Acupressure is ancient Chinese techniques based on the principles of acupuncture, and involves the use of finger pressure (without the needles) on specific points along the body. It is a way of accessing and releasing blocked or congested energy centers in the body. Chinese cultures believe the points to be junctures of meridian pathways that carry energy called chi. Western scientists have also mapped out and proven the existence of these points using electrical devices.

The purpose of Acupressure is to stimulate the body’s own recuperative powers by stimulating the various points on the body. The stimulation removes energy blockages by diffusing the toxic build up that accumulates in the muscle tissue. The accumulation of toxins causes stiffness throughout the body. Stiffness in muscles puts abnormal pressure on the nerves, and blood and lymph vessels. The pressure on blood and lymph vessels affect both skeletal systems and internal organ functioning.

Acupressure is usually given in a similar fashion to traditional massage. Points on the body are massaged using finger or thumb, and sometimes a blunt object, in a fairly rapid circular motion with a medium pressure. Massages last between 5 and 15 minutes. Some of the most common techniques are: Rubbing, Kneading, Percussion, and Vibration. Fingers, hands, elbows, knees, and feet are often used to massage other parts of the body.

Pain, headaches, migraines, insomnia, depression, toothache, dizziness, menstrual pain, digestive disorders including diarrhea and constipation, nausea, morning sickness, motion sickness, stress, and tiredness.

Connective tissue refers to tissues that surround, protect, and support all of the other structures in the body.

By releasing restrictions within the myofascial network, connective tissue massage can provide relief from symptoms of disorders affecting the neuromusculoskeletal system. Connective tissue massage can reduce stress, relieve chronic tension, and improve flexibility and posture.

1. Improve range and freedom of motion
2. Relieve fascial strain and tension around joints
3. Reduce structural compensations that could otherwise develop following trauma
4. Minimize the body’s vulnerability to future injury
5. Increase energy and enhance a sense of well being

A gentle form of manipulation, craniosacral therapy is a hands-on healing technique typically practiced by physical therapists, massage therapists, and chiropractors. Craniosacral therapists manipulate the craniosacral system, which includes the soft tissues and bones of the head (cranium), the spine down to its tail end (the sacral area), and the pelvis. They also work with the membranes that surround these bones and the cerebrospinal fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord. Although the therapist uses a touch so light that many patients don’t even notice it, most people report feeling profoundly relaxed after a treatment.

Craniosacral therapists believe that the movement of the spinal fluid within and around the central nervous system creates a vital body rhythm, no less important to health and well-being than the heartbeat or the breath.

Cerebrospinal fluid bathes the brain and central nervous system in a rich mixture of proteins, electrolytes, amino acids, and other essential nutrients. When the craniosacral system is properly aligned, proponents say, the central nervous system can efficiently deliver these substances to the rest of the body.

1. Boost general well being
2. Reduce stress
3. Improve the quality of sleep
4. Increase energy
5. Enhance the functioning of all the body’s organs.

Deep Tissue Massage is a massage technique that focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue. It aims to release the chronic patterns of tension in the body through slow strokes and deep finger pressure on the contracted areas, either following or going across the fibers of the muscles, tendons, and fascia.

It feels good and it is beneficial to your health. When muscles are stressed, they block oxygen and nutrients, leading to inflammation that builds up toxins in the muscle tissue. A deep-tissue massage helps loosen muscle tissues, release toxins from muscles, and get blood and oxygen circulating properly. Because many toxins are released, it’s important to drink plenty of water after a deep-tissue session to help eliminate these toxins from the body.

The purpose is to "unstick" the fibers of a muscle while releasing deeply-held patterns of tension, removing toxins, while relaxing and soothing the muscle. It is both corrective and therapeutic.

Pregnancy is a time of major structural, physiological, psychological, spiritual, and social changes. Some of these changes produce discomforts and concerns, which can be addressed with appropriate massage therapy and body use guidance. Pregnancy massage therapy is beneficial throughout the nine months of a low-risk pregnancy. If you are not having a low risk pregnancy, discuss your condition with your physician or midwife. After further discussion, you may be able to receive therapy with additional written release.

Massage therapy during pregnancy is not intended to replace appropriate prenatal care. When used as a form of adjunctive health care, some of its possible benefits are:

• Reduce stress and promotes relaxation.
• Provides emotional support and physical nurturing, particularly for those who are alone in the process, either literally or by the emotional absence of the partner.
• Reduces and alleviates neck, back, and joint pain caused by posture, muscle weakness, tension, extra weight, or imbalance.
• Relieves muscle spasms, cramps, and fibrosis.
• Alleviates stress on weight-bearing joints and musculo-fascial structures (sacro-iliac joint, mid-back and lumbar spine, hips).
• Combats tension, fatigue, and headaches, soothe nerves to help with sleep problems, and possibly reduce blood pressure through relaxation and stress reduction.
• Increases blood and lymph circulation and supports the physiological process of gestation, by supporting the work of the heart, increasing cellular respiration, reducing edema, and contributing to sympathetic nervous system sedation. Reduces the possibility of problems with swelling, varicose veins, and leg cramps.
• Assists with the management of digestive complaints such as constipation, gas, nausea, and indigestion.
• Encourages deeper, easier breathing.

Reflexology is a gentle form of therapeutic treatment applied to the feet and sometimes to the hands. It evolved around 1913 from the work of Dr. William H. Fitzgerald, an ear, nose, and throat surgeon in the United States. Reflexology is considered to be a holistic healing technique that aims to treat the individual as a whole, in order to induce a state of balance and harmony in body, mind and spirit.

A treatment usually lasts between 30 minutes and 1 hour.

Reflexology has many benefits. It feels great. It is pleasant and soothing, and it relaxes the body. Each person responds to reflexology in a unique way and on occasions may experience a variety of short term reactions, for example, extreme relaxation, tiredness, lethargy or tearfulness. Reflexology is not a "cure-all". However, it does help relieve pain associated with migraine, sinus problems, breathing disorders, digestive problems, circulatory problems, back problems, tension, and stress.

Sports Massage is a special form of massage and is typically used before, during, and after athletic events. The purpose of the massage is to prepare the athlete for peak performance, to drain away fatigue, to relieve swelling, to reduce muscle tension, to promote flexibility, and to prevent injuries.

The main purpose of sports massage therapy is to help alleviate the stress and tension which builds up in the body’s soft tissues during physical activity. Where minor injuries and lesions occur, due to overexertion and/or overuse, massage can break them down quickly and effectively. The massage will help prepare the athlete for peak performance, to drain away fatigue, to relieve swelling, to reduce muscle tension, to promote flexibility and to prevent injuries. Sports massage can help prevent those annoying injuries that so often get in the way of performance and achievement, whether a person is an athlete or a once a week jogger.

Depending on the needs of the athlete, a variety of techniques are used. The technique often involves a blend of traditional Swedish massage and Shiatsu specifically designed to treat professional athletes.

The term "Swedish Massage" refers to a variety of techniques specifically designed to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against deeper muscles and bones, and rubbing in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart.

The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles.

Swedish massage techniques include: long strokes, kneading, friction, tapping, percussion, vibration, effleurage, and shaking motions.
The usual sequence of techniques is:

1. Effleurage: Gliding strokes with the palms, thumbs and/or fingertips
2. Petrissage: Kneading movements with the hands, thumbs and/or fingers
3. Friction: Circular pressures with the palms of hands, thumbs and/or fingers
4. Vibration: Oscillatory movements that shake or vibrate the body
5. Percussion: Brisk hacking or tapping
6. Passive and active movements: Bending and stretching

Swedish massage feels good, is relaxing and invigorating. It affects the nerves, muscles, glands, and circulation, while promoting health and well being.

Trigger Point Therapy was pioneered and developed in this country by Dr Janet Travell, President John F Kennedy’s personal physician during his years of persistent back pain. Today it is commonly referred to as Neuromuscular Therapy.

If the trigger points are not treated, they can be the culprits in lingering pain even after an injury has healed, and the reason why the headache, neckache, and backache keep returning year after year. Some of the causes of trigger point activity in your muscles are stress, excessive chilling, injury, overuse, strain, as well as chemical, drugs, alcohol, and environmental pollutants.

The various neuromuscular techniques to release trigger points and restore movement are being studied today by many health care professionals. Some of the neuromuscular therapy techniques, also referred to as neuromuscular re-education, are:

• Frictioning across the muscle fibers and ends of muscles
• Shaking, stroking, and stretching of muscles and fascia
• Joint movements, isometric exercises and stretching
• Direct pinpoint pressure on the trigger point
• Release of associated skin, tendon, and ligament trigger points
• Myofascial Release
• Fascial Smoothing

Everyone is a unique individual – as much as two bodies are alike – like fingerprints, they each are different. For some people one technique will work very well. For others, a combination of techniques or a completely different technique or process is needed. Most skilled health care professionals are educated to know when to refer a client for another form of therapy.

At Positive Body Dynamics our Professional Team of Massage Therapists incorporate many modalities to meet your individualized and specific needs, therefore our pricing reflects time increments rather than modalities.  We look forward to serving you.