Smiling Heart Healing Arts
Session Styles & Common Questions
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Jump to style:
AromaTouch(TM) Aromatherapy Massage
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Common Questions:
What style is best for me?
All types of people seek bodywork for all types of reasons on their personal path of experiencing life in their unique body. You may enjoy one style one day and a different one the next.
Different approaches address different situations. All of these modalities described below are suitable for most people and may be adapted and adjusted.
What can I expect?
Our session will have a beginning and ending time. It will include a discussion time, session time, and closure time.
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Discussion time: We'll discuss your current and past health history to understand what I'm able to safely offer you and how it can serve your purpose is in visiting.I'll then share my session plan with you so you know what to expect, and to obtain your consent of the plan. You'll receive instruction on how to get on the massage table, or assistance if needed.
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Session time: During session time, you'll receive complete privacy in undressing to your level of comfort. The massage table will be adjusted for you to be able to relax, fitted with clean linens. During the session I'll maintain therapist silence and a meditative posture. I invite you to the same. Voice any concern you have and if you feel any kind of discomfort. At any point you or I may end the session if we need.
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Closure time: You'll be informed the hands-on time is complete and be given complete privacy to get dressed. We'll reconvene to put closure to the session before the ending time.
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What are the possible benefits of massage and bodywork?
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Release of chronic tension
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Reduction of pain
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Improvement in circulation
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Increase in flexibility
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Reduction of fatigue & stress
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Promoting faster healing of injuries
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Improvement of posture
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Reduction in blood pressure
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Promoting better sleep
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Improvement in concentration
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Reduction in anxiety
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An overall sense of well-being
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Styles Overview:
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Acupressure
Overview:
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Non-invasive, clothes-on
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Deeply relaxing & meditative
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Restoring, balancing
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Benefits:
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Improving sleep
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Relaxing muscles and joints
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Soothing the pain and discomfort
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Improving circulation
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Reducing digestive issues
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Alleviating chronic pain
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Acupressure is an ancient Chinese healing modality. It is based in the understanding that health is a matter of the balance of qi ("chee") in the organ systems.
There are specific points on the surface of the body that are particularly receptive to positive influence toward balancing that run along routes or meridians that correspond to organ and energy systems.
Acupressure involves the systematic application of touch and/or focus upon these points along the that contain these receptive points. Thumbs, fingers and palms are used to systematically apply pressure to specific points on the body with various rhythms, pressures and techniques.
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Acupressure treatment is non-invasive and entirely clothes-on. The pressure is very light to moderate, or hovering above the body in some areas of the body.
Acupressure may be preceded with Hydrotherapy Foot Bath or paired with any other modality.
Hand & Foot Reflexology
​Overview:
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Includes reflexology hydrotherapy foot bath & aromatherapy
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Pressure to suit needs
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Clothes-on
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Benefits:
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Deeply relaxing, grounding, balancing
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Targets all organ systems
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Improves circulation, energy, healing
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Relieves pain and a variety of common ailments
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Reflexology treatments include a foot bath and aromatherapy, followed by a full hand & foot reflexology treatment.
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Reflexology is an ancient healing modality that builds on the principles described above in Acupressure. Specific areas and points on the feet correspond to organ systems and areas of the body.
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This allows organs systems and areas of the body to be treated by working at the hands and feet for a relaxing, revitalizing non-invasive, clothes-on treatment.
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Hydrotherapy foot baths that begin the treatment provide deep relaxation, improved circulation and allow the healing artist to examine the feet for areas of issue and to open the foot to receptivity to harmonization.
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Aromatherapy works synergistically with reflexology treatment to deepen awareness and bring harmony to the body's organ systems.
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Acupressure will also be briefly involved in a reflexology treatment.
Hydrotherapy / Foot Bath
​Overview:
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Deeply relaxing & nourishing
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Includes aromatherapy & acupressure
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Great for elders
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Stand-alone or add-on
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Benefits:
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Deeply relaxing, grounding, balancing
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Improves circulation, energy, healing
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Relieves pain and a variety of common ailments
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Hydrotherapy Foot Baths involve the soaking, scrubbing, gentle reflexology and brief acupressure to the feet.
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As a stand-alone treatment this process is extremely relaxing, nourishing, and meditative.
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Reflexology is an ancient healing modality that builds on the principles described above in acupressure. The points on the feet correspond to organ systems and areas of the body.
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This allows organs systems and areas of the body to be treated by working at the hands and feet for a relaxing, revitalizing non-invasive, clothes-on treatment.
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Foot baths provide deep relaxation, improved circulation and allow the healing artist to examine the feet for areas of issue.
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Aromatherapy works synergistically with the treatment to deepen awareness and bring harmony to the body's organ systems.
Guided Visualization
Overview
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Deeply relaxing & grounding
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Excellent form of mindfulness practice & exercise
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Aids in pain relief, mobility, strength and balance
Benefits:
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Deeply relaxing, grounding, balancing
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Targets all organ systems
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Improves circulation, energy, healing
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Relieves pain
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A guided visualization occurs on a massage table while acupressure is performed (see Acupressure above).
During the intake interview prior to the session, we will discuss your needs and intentions for the session to tailor the acupressure and the visualization.
A guided visualization session may lead you to your own insights with possible effects of improved posture, relaxation, calm, and relief from muscle tension.
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Watsu®
Overview
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Deeply relaxing & nurturing
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Reactions ranging from euphoria to deep emotional release to laughter to relaxation
Benefits:​
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Improves circulation, energy, healing
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Relieves pain
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Watsu® is a form of aquatic bodywork used for deep relaxation and passive aquatic therapy. It combines elements of muscle stretching, joint mobilization, massage, Shiatsu, and dance, performed in chest-deep warm water.
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I have passed level 1 Watsu ® and am a student practicing to be a Watsu ® certified Practitioner. I offer Watsu ® sessions on a donation basis.
Shiatsu
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Relaxing, balancing & grounding
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Non-invasive, clothes on modality
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Facilitates healing & relief from pain
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Aids in body awareness & self-healing
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Shiatsu is a deeply relaxing and powerful ancient Japanese healing modality that applies rhythmic, systematic, light to firm pressure along the same meridians as described in Acupressure.
Swedish Massage
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Increases circulation & removal of cellular waste
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Relaxing & balancing
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Clothes-off modality
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Facilitates healing & relief from pain
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Aids in body awareness & self-healing
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Swedish massage is a deeply relaxing modality that applies flowing strokes with light to deep pressure depending on the area. Swedish massage is the foundation of a massage that most people think of when they think of "massage" as it is the most popular style of massage in spas.
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Swedish massage can be applied with any other technique where appropriate for health.
Hot Stone Massage
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Increases circulation & removal of cellular waste
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Relaxing & balancing
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Clothes-off modality
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Facilitates healing & relief from pain
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Aids in body awareness & self-healing
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1.5 hours minimum
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I learned hot stone massage from a cultural lineage that conducts this treatment as a ceremonial practice with the intent for healing.
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This ceremonial practice as a treatment applies flowing strokes with hot stones with light to deep pressure, tapping of the stones, and prayers.
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Hot stone massage also can contain aromatherapy as well as other modalities.
AromaTouch™ Aromatherapy Massage
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Specific sequence of application of 8 specific DoTerra® essential oils designed to address lymphatic & nervous systems to improve immunity & inflammation
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Increases circulation & removal of cellular waste
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Relaxing & balancing
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Clothes-off modality
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Facilitates healing & relief from pain
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Aids in body awareness & self-healing
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The DoTerra AromaTouch technique is a clinical approach to applying essential oils along energy meridians and visceral contact points of the back and feet to help stimulate and balance sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems of the body.
This massage is a hybrid between lymphatic drainage & Swedish massage, customizable to your needs.
Chair Massage
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Entire body, all limbs, are supported by a specially-designed massage chair
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Maximum 15 minutes
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Increases circulation & removal of cellular waste
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Relaxing & balancing
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Clothes-on modality
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Facilitates healing & relief from pain
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Aids in body awareness & self-healing
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Chair massage is appropriate for most people. A variety of modalities/styles can be applied in the chair.
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Due to the relaxing nature of massage, the body's blood pressure drops during this time. Because of the seated position combined with this natural physiological response to massage, a chair massage cannot be longer than 15 minutes and be healthy.
Integrated Massage
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Integrates 1-3 modalities in one session
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Tailored to your needs
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Increases circulation & removal of cellular waste
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Relaxing & balancing
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Facilitates healing & relief from pain
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Aids in body awareness & self-healing
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An integrated massage applies a variety of modalities to meet the specific needs at that time of the client. ​