Symmetry and Balance Wellness Hub
425 W COTTAGE GROVE ROAD UNIT C
A place to rediscover what it means to be you.
Symmetry and Balance Wellness Hub is home to a dedicated team of practitioners here to help support you on yours selfcare journey. Here we set aside time to support you in your journey of self care, self discovery and self expression. In a world where no one escapes the pain of feeling like they need to change, suppress or hide aspects of themselves to be accepted its no wonder that as adults we now have to undo this work to find our core self. When you look in the mirror after leaving our doors you see reflected back at you a vision of who you want to be.
Our dedicated team of professionals is made up of
Symmetry and Balance LLC- Kjersten Starr Licensed Massage Therapist Registered Yoga Teacher 200, Reiki Master Teacher
UtterGrl Body and Soul LLC- Denise Utter Licensed massage therapist
Reiki and energy work
Reiki is an energy healing technique in which a Reiki master (who has undergone formal training in this healing art) uses gentle hand movements with the intention to guide the flow of healthy energy (what's known in Reiki as life force energy) through the client's body to reduce stress and promote healing.
Deep tissue Massage therapy
Kjersten offers customized massage therapy sessions that cater to the individual needs of each client on that particular day. No two days or people are alike and likewise no two sessions will be 100% identical. Each session includes the optional use of hot stones, hot towels, aromatherapy, gua sha and cupping. She specializes in trigger point therapy, deep tissue and therapeutic massage but is trained in a variety of other sub specialties such as lymphatic massage, lomi lomi Hawaiian massage and massage for mental health.
In massage therapy, a massage therapist rubs and kneads the soft tissues of your body. The soft tissues include muscle, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and skin. The massage therapist varies the amount of pressure and movement.
Massage is part of integrative medicine. Medical centers often offer it with standard treatment. It can be used for a wide range of medical conditions.
Studies of massage benefits have found massage can:
Help reduce stress.
Lessen pain and muscle tightness.
Increase relaxation.
Improve the work of the immune system.
Cupping and Gua Sha massage
Cupping is an extraordinary technique that has been passed down for thousands of years and continues to be widely used among professionals and lay people across many cultures today.
The healing process can be shortened by weeks, even months, by using this method that manually removes the blockage in ways that acupuncture needles, massage and other forms of treatment cannot.
Cupping is a suction technique designed to pull toxin build up and muscle waste from the body’s deeper tissue to the surface of the skin.
The cells of the body use oxygen and give off carbon dioxide; when the tissue is blocked, the cell waste or carbon dioxide gets blocked. This is called acid or toxin build up.
Physical pain implies a blockage in the flow of Blood and other vital substances through a particular area. When toxins or cell waste stagnate in the muscles or joints, it can be very difficult for the body to get rid of this waste, causing further blockage and discomfort.
By utilizing cupping techniques we are able, by vacuum or suction, to pull the blockage out of the deeper tissue and move it to the skin’s surface. Once on the surface, it is much easier for the body to eliminate toxins through the superficial blood supply or capillary system.
In only ten minutes of cupping, not only can we pull toxin build up out of specific areas, but we can also pull the fresh new blood into those areas, which will vitalize and restore proper blood flow.
Gua sha is a treatment very similar to cupping and works on the same basis.
A flat smooth tool is used to gently scrape the tissues and muscles to break down Muscle adhesions and help fresh blood flow.
Gua Sha does not break the skin and is usually not painful to receive. The marks that form on the skin are called therapeutic petechiae , they are part of the healing mechanism of the treatment.
Take a look at this article the summarises the Science of Gua Sha ! - https://www.pacificcollege.edu/news/press-releases/2015/05/05/science-gua-sha
Myofacial release massage.
Myofasical massage works in conjuction with your nervous system's fight flight and freeze (sympathetic) system to ensure that you are able to remain completely in line with your own healing energies. The therapist will use pressure only to the limit of the fascias responses and observe the breathing patterns of the client to know the pressure limits. This massage is not deep tissue but rather works in harmony with the nervous system.
Injury rehabilitation and scar tissue massage
Massage helps by decreasing pain. Massage has a pain relieving effect by desensitising an area of pain and restoring normal sensation. Massage can change the way the brain senses pain. Repetitive movement across an area of pain can interrupt signals from the brain and distract the feeling of pain.
Massage can also help my restoring range of movement. After injury adhesions or scar tissue is formed within muscles or connective tissues. Stiffness is a common symptom around an area when recovering from injury. Stiffness to soft tissues can be the result of lack of movement during injury and tension build up to muscles surrounding affected areas. Adhesions restrict movement and can cause pain to specific areas. Massage breaks down adhesions allowing an increase of flexibility.
Massage is an effective treatment used post injury to speed up the recovery. Massage increases blood flow, oxygen and nutrients to promote healing to tissues and helps relieve stiffness. Massage helps improve recovery after injury by increasing circulation to an affected area and stimulating the lymphatic system in the body. The lymphatic system work to drain out waste products and toxins out the body. The increase of blood to an area helps increase more oxygen and nutrients to assist in its healing process.
How does post injury massage help?
Massage therapy plays important role to the healing and rehabilitation of soft tissues (muscles, tendons and ligaments) after injury. Massage helps by after injury by speeding up the healing of damaged tissues, decreases tension and breaks down scar tissue.
Massage helps recovery after injury by stimulating the healing process.
Massage encourages circulatory movement and helps more oxygen and nutrients transport into tissues. This allows injured areas to become more flexible and heal at an accelerated rate. The body's initial reaction to an injury is an inflammatory response. The inflammatory response works to defend an affected area against harmful substances, removes dying tissues and promotes tissue repair. Massage can help flush out swelling aiding quicker healing. Massage stimulates the blood circulation increasing white blood cells to an affected area. White blood cells can fight an injured area and assist the healing process to quicken the recovery time.
Massage is an effective treatment used post injury to reduce muscular tension. When injury occurs muscle tighten around an area in protection. Tight muscles produce an increase of muscle tone and increased tension. Massage helps by increasing temperature and promoting muscles to relax.
Massage also helps post injury by breaking down scar tissue. Scar tissue restricts range of movement which can occur post injury due to the healing process of soft tissues. Soft tissue can become tight and inflexible causing lack of movement and pain. Massage applies direct pressure to an area which increases temperature and improves blood flow. When muscles increase in temperature it allows them to relax and reduce tension. Massage also stretches and loosens tight tissues allowing movement to be restored and pain to be reduced.
Prenatal massage
Prenatal massage is a specific type of massage tailored to help relieve the strains and pains caused by pregnancy. Usually, the massage focuses on the areas of the body that are most affected by pregnancy. This includes the lower back, the mid-back, the calves, the feet, and even the stomach. However, while prenatal massage can help you to feel a little more like your old self, it does come with a few risks – especially if you don't visit a trained professional. A prenatal massage, also known as a pregnancy massage, is a massage designed to relieve the pain and discomfort that can occur in various areas of the body during pregnancy. Women are able to receive regular massages during their first trimester. In the second and third trimester, pregnant women should receive special prenatal massages. The therapist should use a special table designed to accommodate the woman's changing body shape. Sometimes, prenatal massages are conducted with the woman lying on her side.Prenatal massage has several potential benefits in addition to pain relief. Studies and anecdotal evidence show that other benefits include reduced stress, better sleep, and even a better bond with your child.
Pain and discomfort reliefAccording to the Office on Women's Health (OASH), pregnancy causes pain primarily in the back, abdomen, groin area, and thighs. It can also occur in the legs. One 2014 study found that massage could significantly improve pain in the legs and back.
"It can help to relax the muscles involved in sciatic pain, relieving the discomfort caused by the pinched nerve – as little as 20 minutes of massage per week results in significantly reduced leg and back pain," says Gilchrist. "Also, massage of the face, neck and shoulders can help to alleviate sinus pressure and headaches caused by tension."
Reduced swellingSwelling of the legs and feet is another common symptom of pregnancy. A 2020 study found that massage can reduce the fluid build-up that causes this type of swelling. A 2010 study also found that a daily 20 minute foot massage could improve ankle and foot swelling during pregnancyImprove symptoms of anxiety, depression and postpartum depression"Women who enjoyed regular massage sessions during their pregnancy not only reported reduced depression and anxiety in the prenatal period, but also had reduced rates of postpartum depression," Gilchrist says.
Several studies back this up. A 2004 study found that receiving two 20 minute sessions a week beginning in their second trimester reduced depression. A 2020 study found that massage may be more effective than other forms of therapy for pregnant women with depression.
Improved sleep"Massage releases endorphins, which are naturally-occurring hormones that provide feelings of wellbeing and pain-relief,” Gilchrist says. “Endorphins soothe your nervous system, helping you to feel more relaxed and improving your sleep.”
Sleep disruption is a common complaint in the second trimester of pregnancy. A 2019 study found that massage could improve sleep patterns and sleep quality.
Things to avoid with prenatal massage Avoid deep abdominal massage, especially in the first trimester.
Don't lie on your back after 16 weeks, Instead, the massage should be performed on your side or lying at a 45 degree incline.
Prenatal massage may not be appropriate for everyone. Check with your doctor about whether it's safe for you.
Massage isn't always the best solution for sudden swelling, which may be a sign of preeclampsia.
Avoid deep tissue massage in the legs and upper arms.This is because pregnancy increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which, sometimes, may not be easily recognized.
Avoid the use of certain essential oils, which are not safe to use during pregnancy. Here are some oils that are safe: lavender, geranium, bergamot, frankincense, grapefruit, peppermint and neroli.
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