You'll never want to leave....

I got into the healing arts in 1996 while lying on a massage table during a particularly hard triathlon training week. I was a graphic designer and illustration and had had enough of clients, deadlines, production problems, and the constant search for new work. As the massage therapist dug her healing elbows into my very tight butt, I thought….”hmmmm, I could do this….” Within weeks I was enrolled in massage school and beginning a new career.

Having obtained my acupuncture license (LAC #570) two years later, I began to build my practice of healing using therapeutic massage and acupuncture. Most recently, I have begun utilizing Reiki, which is an energy based modality, and have achieved the level of Reiki Master.

At The Pain Relief Center I blend many different modalities to create a very personal style. I utilize Western techniques like Swedish, sports and deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy, and myofascial release  but with a decidedly Eastern slant. My acupuncture training has opened my perspectives on the way energy incorporates itself into how our bodies feel and that has had an immense influence on my approach to bodywork.  A background in sports has also exposed me to a wide range of movement specific stretches and exercises that I regularly encourage my clients to utilize.

My initial interest was working with athletes, and while they are still a large part of my practice, most people come to me because they are in pain or they are having specific issues which can include:

Ø  Headaches and Neck problems

Ø  Upper Back and Shoulder pain

Ø  Limited Range-of-Motion

Ø  Lower Back and Hip pain

Ø  Quad and Hamstring issues

Ø  Knee Pain

Ø  Ankle and Foot problems

Ø  Carpel Tunnel pain

Ø  Swelling and Inflammation

Ø  Joint Pain and Stiffness

A standard session lasts one hour, but can go longer if you’d like. Some clients like 90 minute sessions because that gives me time to work on specific issues with a little time left over to hit the rest of the body. There is no additional charge for acupuncture or reiki, I regard them as additional tools in my toolbox and use whatever is necessary to help restore function and manage pain.

It’s important for you to know that I don’t claim to have 100% success rate or that every person I work on is going to be “healed.”  I work very hard to help each client feel better than they did before I saw them and, as you’ll hear in the testimonial videos, I have a really good track record. You should also know that not everyone gets instantly better. Often times an injury or specific body issue is the result of years of overuse, repeated trauma, multiple injuries, or time that has elapsed from the original onset. In the case of a car accident, the injury can occur is fractions of a second on impact but take weeks or months to rectify. The people who are most comfortable in their bodies are the ones who get the most consistent bodywork.

But I don’t want you to think that the only type of massage I provide is the challenging variety. I can also send you to la-la land with the most relaxing Swedish massage you can imagine. And if you’ve never had a Hot Stone massage, you’re missing out on one of the most relaxing massage experiences ever. A set of smooth stones are heated in 130 degree water then placed on and under the body, first lying on your tummy then lying on your back. Other stones are then used with a soothing cream to infuse your tight, tired muscles with a combination of heat and movement that leaves you feeling like you’ve just had  a little bit of heaven right here on earth.

Reiki is another way of healing and rejuvenating without utilizing techniques that are more physical in nature. The word reiki means universal energy and it is a practice that uses the energy that exists all around us to promote healing by reducing stress and increasing relaxation. Using Reiki involves an element of higher consciousness; it works because the energy itself understands each person completely and therefore knows how to heal them. Since reiki affects the ki (chi), which is the life energy present in all living things, and not the soft tissue tissue, it is extremely effective on people who have issues such as fibromyalgia which often prohibit any type of strenuous massage.

The combination of physical work and energy work is a powerful healing protocol. Regardless of whether you have a specific issue, need to make bodywork a part of your training schedule, or just want to use it as a way to keep you going during your daily life, The Pain Relief Center has exactly what you need. Please feel free to call for an appointment today. (808) 386-6763