Swedish - A Swedish massage is what most people think of when they think of a massage. It's a true massage.  It involves the Massage Therapist actually rubbing (massaging) the clients body.  Many modalities of massage don't involve massaging the body and some modalities of massage don't even involve touching the body. 
      There are four strokes inSwedish massage: effleurage, petrissage, friction and tapotement. Effleurage is the long flowing strokes, petrissage is the kneading strokes, friction is used to generate heat and bring blood to the surface, and tapotement is the hitting type strokes. The aim of a Swedish massage is to relax the tissues of the body, relieve stress and improve circulation. Most all Massage Therapists incorporate deep tissue work where needed, with their Swedish massage.

Reflexology ( foot massage ) - A reflexology massage involves the therapist massaging various areas of the feet to promote health in various areas of the body. In general, the big toe represents the top part of the body (the head), the bottom of the heal represents the lower part of the body and the middle part of the foot represents the middle parts of the body.

Thai - Thai massage is an interactive manipulation of the body using passive stretching and gentle pressure along energy lines. This ancient form of massage dates back to the time of Buddha and looks like a cross between shiastu, acupressure, and yoga. Practitioners apply pressure along meridian lines with their thumbs, hands, and feet to stimulate the movement of energy in the body, and in addition, move and stretch their clients in Yoga-like poses to free muscular and joint tension. Designed to be both relaxing and stimulating, Thai massage improves flexibility, reduces tension, stimulates internal organs, and balances the body's energy system.

Oriental - An oriental massage isn't a specific modality, but rather a philosophy of massage.  Therapists who do an oriental massage work at balancing the meridians of the body and use eastern philosophy in their body work.

Deep tissue - Deep Tissue Massage is designed to reach the deep portions of thick muscles, specifically the individual muscle fibers. Using deep muscle compression and friction along the grain of the muscle, its purpose is to unstick the fibers of the muscles and release both toxins and deeply held patterns of tension. A deep tissue massage simply means the therapist is massaging deeply into the tissues of the body,  please note it can be painful for some bruising is not  uncommon.

Sports - This special form of massage is typically used before, during, and after athletic events to prepare the athlete for peak performance, to drain away fatigue, to relieve swelling, to reduce muscle tension, to promote flexibility and to prevent injuries. Depending on the needs of the athlete, a variety of techniques are used including classic Swedish strokes, cross-fiber friction, pressure-point work, and joint mobilization..  The techniques used in sports massage are the techniques that work well on someone who has just performed an athletic event.  Also, it can be techniques used to prepare a person for activity before an event.  One example of a sports massage technique is a boxer getting his arm shaken by his trainer in between rounds.  A sports massage uses many of the same techniques as Swedish massage, except that the person is dressed and no oil or lotion is used.  Many people request a sports massage, because they think it will help them become athletic.  This is false. Most modalities of massage help with fitness as much or more than sports massage, especially Swedish. A sports Massage can also benefit the weekend warrior as well as the athelete and is  designed to treat sport specific injuries, ie Tennis Elbow, CL strains ,  Golfers elbow etc ...

Aromatherapy - An aromatherapy massage involves incorporating scents from plants (essential oils) into the massage.  Different scents are supposed to trigger different areas of the brain to allow healing of various conditions.  Most of these conditions are psychological.  Certain scents relieve anxiety, some relieve depression, others have a calming effect.  So basically, they all are supposed to elevate mood (just different kinds of mood).  Some people have claimed that certain essential oils will help with certain medical conditions.  For example, rosemary oil is supposed to help with rheumatoid arthritis.  . Since stress either causes or aggravates nearly all medical conditions, I think it's great to use essential oils.  

Neuromuscular - A neuromuscular massage involves the therapist using postural assessment, muscle testing, exercise and stretching to balance the nervous system.  This system is widely accepted by western medical doctors.

Acupressure - Acupressure uses pressure in points of energy flow.  Pressure at these points is supposed to balance energy in the body (Chi).  The points are very close to acupuncture points and in reality probably are the same points.

Pregnancy - A pregnancy massage is performed with consideration for the special needs of a pregnant woman.  Some therapists believe that if you press certain points during pregnancy, it will cause premature labor.  This is totally false.  It doesn't make sense that balancing the meridians would cause premature labor or be detrimental in any way to the mother or unborn child.  A fellow Massage Therapist pressed all these points on his wife during pregnancy, labor and delivery and they had a healthy baby.  If anything, pressing these points would improve the flow of energy through this meridian to improve the health of the mother and child.

Myofascial release - This modality involves the therapist turning or pressing the fascia (connective tissue that covers muscle) in a direction that causes the therapist to feel either increases or decreases resistance.  Ironically, either direction may work. If the direction that increases resistance doesn't work, the therapists will try the other direction and vice versa.

Trigger point - A Trigger point is an area of muscle tissue that is hypercontracted (a knot).  The therapist pushes on this point to relax the entire muscle. Trigger point therapy is never done without massage, or shouldn't be.

Hot stone - The stones are placed on the clients body at critical energetic points.  Some practitioners also use the stones to massage the client with, others simply place the stones and massage with their hands.

Muscle energy - In this modality, the client uses a percent of his/her strength to resist the actions of the therapist. He or She then relaxes the muscle to allow the therapist to stretch the muscle.  This is usually done three consecutive times, followed by the client contracting the antagonist (opposite muscle).

Sensual - A sensual massage is a massage that is "pleasing" to the senses.  Since people who offer sexual services can't legally advertise sexual massage, they often use the word sensual.  Please note "sensual" massage is NOT  offered or condoned at Holistic Sunshine. Any one  requesting sexual services will be REFUSED service , if in appointment,  you will be expected to pay double for the INSULT  and your session will be TERMINATED immediatly