She is also extremely intuitive in listening to the subtle messages of the body. Always professional, present, and warm, Karen demonstrates the easeful confidence that comes from years of mastery. Swedish Massage Therapy. One of the primary goals of Swedish massage is to relax the entire body. It is exceptionally beneficial for increasing the level of oxygen in the blood, decreasing muscle toxins, elevating the nervous system, improving circulation and flexibility while easing tension.
A study conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and published in The New York Times, found that volunteers who received a minute Swedish massage experienced significant decreases in levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as arginine vasopressin-a hormone that can lead to increases in cortisol.
Volunteers also had increases in the number of lymphocytes, white blood cells that are part of the immune system, and a boost in the immune cells that may help fight colds and the flu.
Deep Tissue Massage Therapy. Deep tissue massage is beneficial in releasing chronic muscle tension. The focus is on the deepest layers of muscle tissue, tendons and fascia the protective layer surrounding muscles, bones and joints. In this fast paced world we tend to find our muscles tense due to high levels of stress. Deep Tissue massage allows the muscles to let go of the stress that accumulates in the muscle fiber, thereby minimizing chronic pain and even decreasing the "stress' response.
A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that people's blood pressure fell after a single 45 to 60 minute deep tissue massage. Additionally, a meta-analysis in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that massage modalities like deep tissue reduce stress hormone levels and heart rate, while boosting mood and relaxation by triggering the release of oxytocin and serotonin.
