Juliet is a licensed massage therapist and has over a thousand hours of specialized training including study of the structure and mechanics of the physical body as well as the subtle body energetic system. These endeavors combined with her intense years of study of Ayurvedic principles and essential oil healing have helped her to create a unique approach to Traditional Thai Massage. Juliet has spent years dedicated to the study of soft-tissue therapy (Table & Thai Massage), yoga, and Ayurveda. She offers only those therapies in which she has been thoroughly trained.
Juliet is a facilitator of awakening and healing. Her aim is to use the depth of her understanding and intuition to work with clients in awakening and owning their own innate healing capacity. Each person has his or her own life path, unique from any other. Each person’s path of healing will, likewise, be unique.
Each Thai Massage session with Juliet includes an analysis of any imbalances or concerns the clients has. The appropriate techniques are then applied during the massage session to bring balance to the body and create a deep sense of relaxation and release. Essential oil therapy is included in each session at no additional cost. The essential oils are chosen according to the predominant seasonal influence, the person’s dosha (constitutional body type) and any conditions that require balancing.
What are the benefits of Thai Massage provided by Juliet?
- Stress relief
- Enhanced breathing capacity
- Natural relief from chronic and acute pain
- Reduced symptoms of many auto-immune disorders (Chronic Fatigue, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Fibromyalgia)
- Enhanced circulation and lymph flow
- Headache relief
- Emotional balance
- Relief from depression and anxiety
- Increased immunity
- Greater range of motion in joints
- Enhanced mental and physical performance
- Deeper connection to the body
- Better digestive function
Traditional Thai Massage
1 Hour 30 minutes, $85
2 Hour, $105
30 minute self-care session, $30
The ancient practice of Thai Massage (nuat phaen boran), is a combination of compression of all the major muscle groups, gentle rocking, joint mobilization, trigger point therapy, passive stretching and gentle pressure along energy lines or sen sip. Joints are loosened and opened through mobilization and peripheral stimulation, muscles are stretched, internal organs are toned, vitality is increased and a deep state of relaxation can be achieved.
A unique aspect of Traditional Thai Massage is the emphasis and inclusion of balancing the energetic pathways of the body. This is accomplished by stimulation of acupressure points located in specific areas of the body. Traditional Thai Medicine, like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine embraces the concept of subtle, non-physical energy that flows through particular pathways in the body. When these pathways are open and uninhibited, nourishing life energy flows freely and disease and pain have no opportunity to find a home in the body.
In addition to unblocking and regulating the flow of energy in the body, Thai Massage is also said to have other therapeutic results in virtually all of the systems of the body, including the Circulatory System, Digestive System, Muscular System, Nervous System, Respiratory System, Lymphatic System, Integument (skin) System, and the Skeletal System. Thai Massage benefits the systems by:
· Increasing circulation of lymph
· Improving oxygen supply to cells
· Decreasing blood pressure
· Relieving tension, soreness, stiffness, and pain
· Cleansing the body of metabolic wastes
· Helping to normalize glandular functions
· Improving body alignment
· Strengthening the muscles and connective tissues
· Improving the tone and elasticity of the skin
· Relieving tired aching feet
A unique aspect of the Thai Massage offered by Juliet in the integration of Trigger Point Therapy. She combines modern understanding of pain patterns with the ancient wisdom of the Thai tradition. This highly effective form of massage is called Clinical Thai Massage and is offered only at the Thai Bodywork School where Juliet studies.
Traditional Thai Massage developed over millennia within the environment of Buddhist temples. It flourished as a way for people to share the benefits of meditation and compassion in a physical form. Although Thai Massage developed in a Buddhist culture it is enjoyed today by people of all faiths and belief systems. In any holistic practice the health of the spirit cannot be ignored any more than the body. In that sense Thai Massage is a deeply spiritual practice although it is not a religious practice. It is a respected form of healing offered today in hospitals and temples throughout Thailand and more recently in the United States.
How is Traditional Thai Massage different from Table Massage?
Table Massage and Thai Massage have similar benefits but these benefits are achieved in a different way. Table Massage techniques are applied on a massage table, usually to bare skin. Thai Massage is performed fully clothed on a thick cotton mat on the floor. The massage techniques of Thai are applied through the clothing. These techniques consist of compression applied by the therapist to all the major muscle groups of the body using mainly the therapist’s hands and feet. In addition to compression Thai Massage also employs gentle stretching; all stretches are done within the comfort limits of each person. You do not need to be flexible to enjoy and receive benefit from this therapy.
Thai Massage also presents an advantage due to the varied positioning of the client's body throughout the session. Different positioning means that the client's muscles and joints can be accessed from a variety of angles allowing for more specific and effective treatment possibilities for painful, sore muscles and stiff joints.
In a Thai Massage session, painful or restricted areas are addressed but the therapy will always include the whole body. In the philosophy of Thai Medicine, the body is seen as a whole. Painful areas of the body are healed by balancing the whole body as well as the energetic system. For instance, a client experiencing shoulder pain will receive a complete and thorough treatment addressing the whole body rather than focusing the whole session on your shoulder, arm and back as it might in Table Massage. Thai Massage in its inclusive and holistic approach is an effective, relaxing and supportive therapy for the healing and recovery of joints, muscles and organs of the body. Thai Massage, using the methodology that Juliet employs, has an impressive track record with clients who are looking for relief from pain.
Massage Terms and Definitions
Fascia:
Fascia is a specialized system of connective tissue in the body that has an appearance similar to a spider’s web or a sweater. It is very densely woven, covering and inter-penetrating every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein as well as all of our internal organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord. The most interesting aspect of the fascial system is that it is not just a system of separate coverings. It is actually one structure that exists from head to foot without interruption. With this in mind it can be understood that each part of the entire body is connected to every other part by the fascia, like the yarn in a sweater.
Fascia plays an important role in the support of our bodies, since it surrounds and attaches to all structures. These structures, such as bone and muscle, would not be able to provide the stability without the constant pull of the fascial system. In fact, our bones can be thought of as tent poles, which cannot support the structure without the constant support of the guide wires (or fascia) to keep an adequate amount of tension to allow the tent (or body) to remain upright with proper equilibrium.
In the normal healthy state, the fascia is relaxed and wavy in configuration. It has the ability to stretch and move without restriction. When we experience physical trauma, scarring, or inflammation, however, the fascia loses its pliability. It becomes tight, restricted and a source of tension to the rest of the body. Traumas, such as a fall, whiplash, repetitive stress injuries, birth trauma, surgery or just habitual poor posture over time have a cumulative effect. The changes they cause in the fascial system influence the comfort and the functioning of our body. Fascial restrictions can exert excessive pressure producing pain or restriction of motion. They affect our flexibility and stability, and are a determining factor in our ability to withstand stress and strain.
Myofascial Release:
Myofascial Release is a very effective hands-on technique that provides sustained pressure into fascial restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. There are two main approaches: direct and indirect.
The direct Myofascial Release method works directly on the restricted fascia. The practitioners use hands, knuckles or elbows to slowly sink into the restricted fascia applying firm pressure. The practitioner holds the pressure and directs it away from the point of initial contact allowing the fascia to release and stretch slowly as the pressure is maintained. This is sometimes referred to as deep tissue work and is a key component of Thai Massage.
Direct Myofascial Release seeks changes in the myofascial structures by stretching and elongating the fascia, or mobilizing adhesive tissues. There can be a misconception that the direct method is violent and painful. Applied properly it is not essentially aggressive and painful, as the practitioner moves slowly and mindfully through the layers of the fascia until the deep tissues are reached. Thai Massage includes direct mobilization of fascia.
The indirect method involves a gentle stretch with less pressure. When a stretch is held hold the fascia is able to "unwind" itself. The gentle traction applied to the restricted fascia will result in heat and increased blood flow to the area. The intention is to allow the body's inherent ability for self-correction to return, thus allowing for elimination from pain and optimum performance of the body. All of the passive stretching in Thai Massage allows for passive myofascial release.
Although the mechanisms of Myofascial Release are not fully understood, it is a proven and effective therapy. It is precise and requires an adept understanding of anatomy and structure and yet is experienced as very relaxing for the receiver. This unique therapy is an integral part of Juliet’s Thai Massage therapy.
Trigger Point Therapy:
Trigger point therapy is a bodywork technique that involves the application of pressure to tender muscle tissue in order to relieve pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body. Trigger Point Therapy is integral in Clinical Thai Massage for the relief of chronic pain patterns. Trigger point therapy is also called myofascial trigger point therapy. It was developed by Dr. Janet Travell in the United States in the 1940s.
Trigger points are areas of tenderness in a muscle. They are very common and are often referred to as “knots” by the people that experience them. There are two basic types of trigger points: active and latent. Active trigger points cause muscular pain and will refer pain and tenderness to other areas of the body, including organs, when pressure is applied. Latent trigger points only exhibit pain when compressed; they do not refer pain to other areas of the body. Latent trigger points are believed to be one of the causes of stiff joints and restricted range of motion. They are thought to contribute to pain, disability and loss of time in the workplace and are associated to myofascial pain syndrome. Trigger points have several causes. Some common causes of trigger points are: birth trauma, an injury sustained in a fall or accident, poor posture, or overexertion. Trigger points differ from acupressure points. Trigger points are physical phenomena. Acupressure points are concentrations of energy or blockages of the body's energy pathways.
The purpose of trigger point therapy is to eliminate pain and to re-educate the muscles into pain-free habits. After several treatments, the swelling and stiffness of neuromuscular pain is reduced, range of motion is increased, and tension is relieved. Circulation, flexibility and coordination are improved.
Joint Mobilization:
These techniques are distinct from joint manipulations which are fast and intense techniques that are not within the scope of massage therapy practice. Joint mobilization techniques are slow and soothing.
This technique is one of the main techniques used in Thai Massage. Joint mobilization releases restrictions in and softens fascia. This technique is also used to restore range of motion that has been lost due to injury or disease. For example, in order for an individual to kick his or her leg out, there must be sufficient range of motion, or freedom for the tibia to move on the femur. Thus, mobilizations are used when range of motion or mobility is lacking. Furthermore, the gentle oscillations used in joint mobilization are used to decrease pain. Mobilizations are usually completed at slow speed, sometimes with oscillations, and often with a "hold" or stretch.
Photography by Ann Arbor Miller
