- Massage
- Thai Massage
- Stone massage
- Raindrop Essential Oil Treatment
- Reiki
- Reflexology
- Tandem Massage
Massage involves acting on and manipulating the body with pressure – structured, unstructured, stationary, or moving – tension, motion, or vibration, done manually or with mechanical aids. Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, joints, or other connective tissue, as well as lymphatic vessels, or organs of the gastrointestinal system. Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearm, and feet. There are over eighty different recognized massage modalities. The most cited reasons for introducing massage as therapy have been client demand and perceived clinical effectiveness.
In professional settings massage involves the client being treated while lying on a massage table, sitting in a massage chair, or lying on a mat on the floor. The massage subject may be fully or partly unclothed. Parts of the body may be covered with towels or sheets.
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The massage recipient changes into loose, comfortable clothes and lies on a mat or firm mattress on the floor. It can be done solo or in a group of a dozen or so patients in the same large room. The receiver is put into many yoga like positions during the course of the massage.
The massage practitioner leans on the recipient's body using hands and usually straight forearms locked at the elbow to apply firm rhythmic pressure. The massage generally follows the Sen lines on the body — somewhat analogous to meridians or Channel (Chinese medicine) and Indian nadis. Legs and feet of the giver can be used to fixate the body or limbs of the recipient. In other positions, hands fixate the body, while the feet do the massaging action. A full Thai massage session typically lasts two hours or more, and includes rhythmic pressing and stretching of the entire body; this may include pulling fingers, toes, ears, cracking the knuckles, walking on the recipient's back, and arching the recipient's into bhujangasana or (cobra position). There is a standard procedure and rhythm to this massage.
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The stones are used in two ways during the massage. One is to impart heat onto the body by laying stones under the client with a layer of fabric between the client and stone (a sheet or towel) and/or on top of the client, again upon a towel. Stone layout typically will be along both sides of the spine, or along the chakra centers on top and baseball sized stones would be placed in the hands. While these layout stones are delivering concentrated centers of heat, the therapist is simultaneously massaging the client with oiled, heated stones held in the palm of the hand with firm strokes along the muscles of the legs, arms, and torso areas.
An authentic hot stone massage is not simply the "gliding" of heated stones lightly upon the surface of the skin, but rather the stones are used as tools to deliver effective tissue and muscle massage at a pressure level comfortable to the client. The client can request light, medium or deep pressure, which is the beauty of the hot stone massage technique. It can be customized in an instant to the request of the client. The hardness of the stones makes for a deep tissue massage and is easy on the joints of the therapist's hands.
The heat from the stones relaxes muscles and increases the blood flow to the area being worked on which is said to further accelerates the healing process. This increase in circulation and the relaxation of the muscles is also claimed to aid in mental relaxation.
Book Stone MassageThe raindrop technique involves the amazing power of essential oils, mixed with a variety of massage techniques including back massage, vita flex massage and heat application. The technique is designed to bring the body back into structural and electrical alignment. Often many types of spinal problems and misalignments are caused by toxins that lie dormant within the spine.
The use of essential oils helps to dispose of these viruses within the spine, helping its structure return to normal. During the raindrop technique, the patient changes into their undergarments and lies on their stomach on a massage table and is covered by sheets. The oils are dropped onto the patient’s body from approximately six inches above the spine. The process uses a total of seven essential oils and two blends of other therapeutic oils that are the choice of the patient.
The essential oils used are Oregano (battles viruses), Thyme (anti-viral), Birch (bone repair), Basil (muscle relaxant), Peppermint (topical analgesic), Valor (for spinal alignment and muscle problems), and Marjoram (anti-spasmodic). The raindrop technique can have many benefits since it is a detoxifying process. It helps rid of any toxins or bacteria that are deep within the body and provides a boost to the immune system.
Reiki is a spiritual practice developed in 1922 by Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usui that uses a technique commonly called palm healing as a form of complementary and alternative medicine and is sometimes classified as oriental medicine by some professional bodies. Through the use of this technique, practitioners believe that they are transferring healing energy in the form of ki through the palms.
There are two main branches of Reiki, commonly referred to as Traditional Japanese Reiki and Western Reiki. Within both Traditional and Westernised forms of Reiki, there are three forms of degrees, commonly referred to as the First, Second, and Master/Teacher degree. According to Reiki practitioners and Masters, at First Degree, a Reiki practitioner is able to heal themselves and others, at Second Degree is able to heal others distantly (commonly called distant healing) with the use of specialised symbols, and at Master/Teacher level is able to teach and attune others to Reiki.
Book ReikiReflexology (zone therapy) is an alternative medicine method by using the physical act of applying pressure to the feet and hand with specific thumb, finger and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion. It is based on a system of zones and reflex areas that reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands with a premise that such work effects a physical change to the body.
The Reflexology Association of Canada defines reflexology as:
"A natural healing art based on the principle that there are reflexes in the feet, hands and ears and their referral areas within zone related areas, which correspond to every part, gland and organ of the body. Through application of pressure on these reflexes without the use of tools, crèmes or lotions, the feet being the primary area of application, reflexology relieves tension, improves circulation and helps promote the natural function of the related areas of the body."
In a typical Tandem Massage session there are two basic types of Tandem Massage work that are blended together to create the session. The first, called "mirror massage" first originated in India 1000’s of years ago and is one in which both therapists are working in exact unison with one another, stoke by stroke. It is the type that usually springs to mind when one thinks of Tandem Massage and it brings balance to both the body and the mind of your client. The second, “asynchronous” Tandem Massage is where the two therapists work in a complementary way but are not exact mirror opposites; for example one therapist may be at the head of the table relaxing the neck while the other therapist works at the foot of the table working on reflex points on the feet. A well designed Tandem Massage routine is a seamless dance of both mirror and asynchronous work that incorporates a variety of massage modalities such as deep tissue, stretching and reflexology with long flowing Swedish massage strokes.
The result of extensive research and innovation the Dragonfly Wellness Four-Hands Tandem Massage approach combines the best of “Mirror” massage techniques with asynchronous techniques such as Swedish-Esalen, deep tissue, rocking and stretching.
Book Tandem MassageAmanda and Dawn have known and worked together since 2006. Both their professional techniques in massage therapy and personalities complement each other to create a perfect holistic harmony bringing you to a state of inner balance and happiness. With a multitude of specialized treatments from each therapist to draw from it is easy to create a customized treatment plan that is designed specifically to meet your wellness and lifestyle requirements.
Dawn Barkemeyer, Specializing in hot stone therapy, essential oil treatment, Reflexology, Thai table yoga massage, and Reiki master. Dawn graduated from Mount Royal University’s Massage Therapy program in 2003 and is a licensed RMT.
Being a working mom with two busy boys, Dawn understands the stresses of a hectic lifestyle. Her goal is to create a treatment plan that works with your lifestyle and wellness goals. Dawn has always loved to help people resulting in massage as a natural career choice.
Dawn is continuously attending training courses, seminars and furthering her education to be able to provide unmatched quality of service and customer satisfaction.
Amanda Janzen is a born and raised Calgarian. Graduating from Mount Royal University's Massage Therapy program in 2005Striving towards harmony and balance for both herself and her clients she has always dedicated herself to her continuing education. Constantly searching and integrating new knowledge and techniques allows her to grow not only personally, but as a therapist. Directly transferring into her exceptional client care, allowing the integration of techniques to be drawn from and applied to better suit her clients individual wellness needs.
"With modalities ranging from hot stone, therapeutic, to essential oil treatments, craniosacral therapy and Thai table yoga! Let’s see if we can tailor a plan to get you the wellness results you’d like to see... and feel!"