Therapeutic Massage

Therapeutic massage incorporates a variety of modalities that enhance the body’s natural restorative functioning. Light to firm touch is used to release muscle tension, increase blood and lymph circulation, and activate the parasympathetic nervous system.

Therapeutic massage can be used as a collaborative, supportive addition to conventional medical treatment of illness and injury, alleviating pain, stress, anxiety, and depression, while aiding in soft tissue healing, and helping to maintain flexibility and range of motion.

Laura’s massages are aimed to relax the being and facilitate the body’s own healing power through a combination of massage modalities both Eastern and Western. Sessions are tailored to individual needs, whether that be to reduce stress, relieve pain, address tension in a specific area or simply maintain health. Her massage style and repertoire draw from the modalities of Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, Myofascial Release, and Lymphatic Drainage while also being influenced by the principles, application, and philosophies of Thai and Esalen massage.

Lymphatic Enhancement Therapy

(LET) Bonner Method

Lymphatic Enhancement Technology/Therapy (L.E.T.) refers to a specific, non-invasive, instrument-based method of lymphatic drainage therapy.

L.E.T. practitioners use a Lymphstar device, which is fitted with medical-grade glass bulbs that emit low-energy, vibrational frequencies. This gentle but profound therapy encourages the natural flow of excess interstitial fluid and accumulated cellular waste through the body’s own lymphatic and elimination channels.

Lymphatic drainage complements management of lymphedema, lipedema, autoimmune disorders, healing from the effects of cancer treatments, surgeries, injuries, and much more. When combined with proper nutrition, sleep, and exercise, L.E.T. can significantly improve lymphatic flow and immune function while providing the recipient with an overall feeling of well-being.

Lymphatic Enhancement Therapy incorporates glass wands procedurally moved across the skin, accompanied by manual techniques (see LDT below) that are tailored to each client's needs. LET is not a regular massage aimed at relieving muscle tension; the setup, however, is similar to a massage session.

Lymphatic Drainage Therapy

(LDT) Chikly Method

Bruno Chikly, MD, DO, developed Lymph Drainage Therapy (LDT) based on the traditional knowledge of osteopath AT Still, E Miller, FP Millard, and Emil Vodder. LDT combines precise anatomical and physiological knowledge with techniques of direct listening that enable practitioners to very effectively stimulate the lymphatic flow.
LDT follows the natural progression of osteopathic and Vodder's work, using scientific discoveries and improvements in manual therapy techniques. In particular, LDT specifically attunes to numerous areas

LDT practitioners feel, palpate, listen to, follow, and map the specific lymphatic rhythm, depth, direction, and quality of fluid. This attention to minute detail and specificity of drainage of muscles, bones, and viscera makes it unique in its application.

Cupping

Cupping is an ancient healing therapy that is still used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to help with a variety of health conditions. The use of cupping has evolved over centuries and is now used in the wider bodywork community for relieving musculoskeletal pain.

From a TCM perspective, pain is a result of stagnant Qi in the body, and cupping is used to bring old blood to the surface so that new blood and energy can flow into the tissue.

From a Western bodywork perspective, the suction that cupping creates is utilized to create space between the tissue/fascia, increase the flow of blood and lymph, and reorganize collagen formation around scar tissue, thereby relieving tension and tightness and increasing range of motion of and around joints.

Cupping could be thought of as a reverse deep tissue massage. Cupping lifts and loosens the tissues. Blood and lymph flow are improved as the cups draw the tissue layers up and away, providing targeted tension relief