Connective Tissue Massage

Connective Tissue Massage focuses on different layers of tissue (muscle, tendons and fascia). It works to relax and lengthen muscles and release repetitive strain patterns. By applying gentle and deep massage techniques to the specific muscle groups the treatment will help ease intense pain, will strengthen and tone, and result in you feeling supple and rejuvenated.

Along with the general effects of Swedish massage and sports massage, connective tissue massage also has the following added benefits:

• • Helps to heal and strengthen deeper muscle fibres and connective tissue, such as ligaments and tendons
   
• • Helps to alleviate chronic muscle spasms often brought on by lifestyle influences such as working at a desk, driving or performing manual work

  • Can help with repetitive strain injuries brought on by work or sport

  • Improves posture and well-being

Virtually everyone can receive connective tissue work and experience its many benefits. CTM helps relieve chronic tension, promotes deep relaxation and enhances self-awareness. It also facilitates significant improvement in posture. The CTM work incorporates many of Rolf's ideas about structural alignment. Her theory of fascia being the organ of posture certainly holds true in the CTM experience. People report feeling longer, lighter and more open throughout their bodies. This new alignment requires less effort to maintain because the body is beginning to approach a more balanced vertical relationship with gravity. Within this improved body balance, dramatic changes in flexibility are common, as well as ease of movement for even the most chronically tense clients.

A CTM session can be organized to focus on a particular client complaint (e.g., neck tension, carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatic pain). It can be helpful in preventing, as well as rehabilitating, many types of injuries. Fibromyalgia, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other disorders affecting the neuromusculoskeletal system also can be addressed with connective tissue work. In fact, many fibromyalgia patients report receiving a substantial reduction of symptoms as a result of CTM work.