Massage & Bodywork
Fascia Fascia Fascia!
While the human body stores memories in the brain - originally encoded in the hippocampus and eventually encoded in the frontal lobes for long term storage - our feelings and emotional experiences are in fact stored in the fascia. Fascia is the sheath of connective tissue that encases every organ, muscle, bone, tendon, ligament, nerve, and joint. This sheath provides great support; however, it stores our trauma, emotional discomforts, and unprocessed fears and sadness.
The body and areas of tension are a map of our experiences and when muscles are stressed, they block nutrients and oxygen, leading to inflammation that contribute to a build up of toxins in fascia. Like any vessel or mechanics, the fascia can become full or overworked without proper care and attention. This is where Sonja aims to serve you and lovingly contribute to your pursuit to feel free and comfortable in the body.
Sonja's understanding and love of anatomy & physiology, paired with her ability to map stored emotions in the body, help each of her clients heal chronic and acute physical discomforts. Sonja respects the varying depths each of her clients are willing to explore. Whether you seek release from a sports injury, a cranky neck from a poor night's sleep, or the sweet relief from years of stored emotional and physical trauma, Sonja will hold space for and guide you through and towards relief.
Practical, playful, knowledgable, and loving, Sonja a true healer and educator.
What happens in a session?
Each session begins with a dialogue; a time to discuss and share any physical ailments, accidents, and/or emotional stressors that may be contributing to your current levels of discomfort.
Incorporating myofascial release, trigger point release, reflexology, and other modalities to ease and release tension stored in layers of connective tissue, Sonjas’ greatest intentions for each massage are to free energy and “stories” held in muscle tissue, increase range of motion, and promote feelings of relaxation, calmness, and deep comfort.
Each massage is tailored to meet your body in the present moment.
The modalities listed below can be incorporated into any Massage & Bodywork session:
- Swedish & Relaxation
- Myofascial Release
- Deep Tissue Massage
- Active Release
- Reflexology
- Trigger Point Therapy
- Cranial Sacral Therapy
- Cupping & Gua Sha
- Maya Abdominal Massage (see below)
- Prenatal & Perinatal (see below)
- Lomi Lomi
- Aromatherapy
- Tuning Forks
Special Appointments
Prenatal Massage
Massage during pregnancy has a wide range of benefits and can be received during the entire term of a low-risk pregnancy. A prenatal massage can improve quality of sleep, relieve low back and overall joint pain, sore feet, and lessens emotional stress.
In the first trimester, massage helps to alleviate morning sickness, fatigue, and headaches. In the second trimester, it reduces backaches, leg cramps, and fatigue. Finally in the third trimester, it can help reduce swelling and edema, and relieve the stress placed upon the circulatory system. Overall, prenatal massages aim to relieve stress, ease muscle tension, and promote emotional relaxation.
Depending upon your need for comfort, the massage can be done in a side-lying position, bolstered with pillows and blankets. Your optimum comfort and wellness are a priority.
This is a wonderful gift for a mother-to-be and can be wonderfully paired with a Prenatal Intuitive session.
60min / 75min / 90min
Maya Abdominal Massage
A Maya Abdominal Massage addresses the position and health of pelvic and abdominal organs and aims to improves organ function by releasing physical and emotional congestion from the abdomen. This technique is performed externally by gently guiding and supporting organs back into their optimal position, allowing for improved functioning for optimal health and wellness.
Abdominal massage is performed in a slow, deep, penetrating manner to the abdomen and lower back. By softening deep muscle tissue, it also helps to release muscular armoring in the trunk and tension in the diaphragm. Abdominal Massage therapy is known for addressing misalignment or congestion in the reproductive organs, as well as many common digestive disorders. Techniques aim to alleviate organ constriction to improve the vital flows of energy, blood, lymph and nerves in the abdomen and organs vital to digestion, assimilation, elimination, secretions and reproduction.
Massages can address and release emotional and energetic tension - improving the body’s ability to self repair and balance.
60min / 90min
Lymphatic Drainage Massage
Lymphatic Drainage is a specialized massage modality that is used to relieve swelling and inflammation and aims to improve your immune system, boost energy levels, and reduce fatigue and inflammation. The body's lymphatic system, and the fluid lymph, serve as a filter for all of the waste, toxins, and mutant cells that leave the bloodstream. The pressure of this massage is relaxing and gentle. Movement in one direction encourages lymph to be processed through the lymph nodes and lymphatic system, where it will drain the excess fluid from your body through urination.
Lymphatic drainage techniques decrease swelling and improve menstrual flow. This relaxes the muscles of the abdomen, minimizing pain and discomfort. It is ideal to come in before or after your cycle to be proactive in treating these symptoms.
Each Lymphatic Drainage Massage ends with a thorough and relaxing anti-aging cupping facial massage.
After a relaxing lymphatic drainage massage, your limbs may feel light and you see a reduction in the appearance of cellulite. With proper hydration, you will feel more energized.
60min / 75min / 90min
FAQs
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Myofascial Release excels at unsticking gummed up muscles that feel more like stiff rubber bands or rock rather than tissue. It is a slow deep techniques that allows the practitioner to sink into and move through the tissue directly. The goal of myofascial release is to break up the fine collagen filaments. The body creates these stiffened areas in order to "shore up" or restrict an area in response to poor posture, injury or day-to-day behavioral patterns.
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DescriptionReflexology is based on the theory that the feet have reflux zones that correspond to the organs and body systems. These zones or points can be massaged to relieve stress, promote healing, and restore balance to meridians that may be blocked.
By stimulating the reflexology zones, a practitioner can send additional energy through the nerves to specific areas of the body, and thus promote healing. Reflexology can be an important and effective tool. The concept behind reflexology is simple: Points on the feet reflect different areas of the body. The left foot reflects the left side of the body; the right foot reflects the right side of the body.
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Energy is stored in and around the body - on a cellular level, stored in the fascia, in organ tissue - and in our consciousness through emotional and psychological awareness.
As an Energyworker, Sonja can intuitively identify the areas of discomfort - whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual. By bringing attention to the areas of discomfort, Sonja can help facilitate a space where you can recognize and process what may feel stuck in the body.
While a massage session is a fantastic way to bring areas of stagnations and imbalances to light, Sonja recommends scheduling an Energy session. These sessions are intended to meet your emotional and energy needs, as well as help relieve physical discomfort formed from periods of emotional tension. -
The art and science of using aromatic plant extracts for physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being was first documented in 3500 BC. Aromas affect the central nervous system, are capable of changing brain chemistry, and they influence the amygdala - as part of the limbic system.
The amygdala is responsible for identifying the emotional significance in events as they happen in the external world and creating an appropriate behavioral response. responses, and the olfactory system. The other parts of the limbic system are responsible for motivation, long-term memory, adrenaline, and the olfactory system. Essential oils are comprised of aromatic molecules that typically work in synergy with one another. Because essential oils evaporate quickly, their molecules are easily inhaled. When inhaled, the scent molecules in essential oils travel from the olfactory nerves directly to the brain and especially impact the amygdala.While there are 8 different aroma families (citrus, floral, herbaceous, camphoraceous, minty, spicy, musky, and woody), the oils can also be divided in to their psychological effects: Antidepressant essential oils, neurosedatives, neurostimulants, dopamine balancers, amygdala soothers, serotonin stimulants, and euphorics.
Depending on the properties of the oils, they may be able to reduce pain, relax the mind, ease tension, alleviate depression, balance hormones, replenish energy, decrease anxiety, and increase feelings of well-being. They are also safe and effective for killing bacteria, fungus and viruses.
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Sonja incorporates individual oils as well as her own custom essential oils blends. The oils can be used alongside massage & bodywork to help ease both physical and emotional discomforts.
Physical Benefits: These oils can be used to help relieve back & neck pain, foot pain, stomachaches, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, TMJ, headache, sinus congestion, ankle and knee discomfort, overworked or tight calves, biceps, and forearms.
Emotional and Psychological Benefits: Essential oils can be used to help enhance focus, ease stress, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorders and depression, promote sleep, ease grief & anger, promote feelings of expansion, memory retrieval, connection, and consciousness.
Ultimately, when carefully used as a complement to a massage and bodywork session, it is possible for essential oils to greatly assist in supporting emotional wellness.
Rates
120/60min - 140/75min 170/90min - 235/120min
