I offer sports massage, deep tissue, neuromuscular technique, Swedish, prenatal, trigger point, myofascial release, and other techniques designed to help soft tissue injuries recover and restore joint range of motion. I do not stick to one style for any session, instead I use techniques from a few different modalities at times to best help my clients based on their situation. My work often focuses on athletic/active or recovering individuals, so my massages may not always be 100% focused on relaxation. This kind of massage can sometimes be intense in order to bring about a lasting positive change for clients. 

Note that chronic soft tissue dysfunctions may take more time to improve, can feel very "intense" to receive work on, and can leave someone feeling sore the next day. Not every body is the same, and some people feel great right away without any post-session soreness the next day. For clients that are new to massage or haven't had one in a while, adequate hydration and stretching go a long way for recovery. Most people feel their symptoms and root problems significantly improve within 48 hours after the session.

I take the time to understand the nature of the problems my clients are experiencing and work to address their root cause. By listening and engaging in what my clients tell me during our intake before each session, I create a custom action plan that allows my clients to feel confident in the work they will receive, and walk away feeling a noticeable improvement in their conditions. The techniques I employ in my massages don't restrict either the client or myself to just one massage modality, I use every tool at my disposal to ensure effective treatment for everyone on the massage table. I will also review how my clients feel after the session, noting any changes, and what we can do moving forward to continue health improvement.

I do not ask or prompt my clients to leave a tip before or after their sessions. I would rather clients save their money for future sessions as my priority is your wellbeing. The price stated is all-inclusive. However, if you are still so inclined to tip, I will graciously accept.

No. The American Massage Therapy Associated states: "The detoxification myth proposes that through the pressure and manipulation of soft tissue during massage, toxins are squeezed from the muscles and released into the bloodstream. There simply is no scientific evidence to support this idea." 

When discussing muscle "knots", we are most likely describing tense or hyper-irritable fascia of the muscle fibers. This tight fascia can be a result of physical trauma, such as an injury or surgery. It can also be a result of inactivity, repetitive motions and overuse, or habitual poor posture such as from long periods of standing, sitting, or any other part of the body being positioned in a specific way for an extended period of time. The key to preventing trigger points and general muscle tightness as we often experience can be achieved through stretching, yoga, strength training, manual manipulation therapy, proper rest and hydration, managing stress, warming up properly before exercise and cooling down gradually after exercise, and adequate nutrition from the foods we choose to eat. There are many ways to both treat and prevent muscular tension, but it's important to choose what works best for you. Having a team to work with you in your situation can go a long way in improving your overall health. Not everything listed here is exhaustive nor suitable for everyone's personal circumstances. Please also note that research is still developing on myofascial trigger point therapy and much of muscular tension in general, so information can be conflicting or inconclusive as our bodies are quite complex systems to understand.

I am available for mobile massage roughly within a 15 mile radius of Albuquerque. This should include nearby areas such as Corrales, Rio Rancho, and South Valley. For anything beyond a 15-20 mile drive, like Santa Fe, there is an added flat travel fee of $30 unless 3 hours or more of massage is booked in total for that day. 

Here are a few common areas I can help alleviate:

• Tennis elbow/lateral epicondylitis

• Lower back pain/lumbago

• Hip pain

• Knee pain

• Shin splints

• Plantar fasciitis

• Rib pain that can cause difficulty breathing

• Scar tissue mobility and reorganization, especially after recent surgery

• Lower and upper crossed syndrome associated with anterior pelvic tilts, tech/"nerd" neck, tight upper back muscles, etc.

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

• Stiff neck

• Migraines + headaches

• Frozen shoulder/adhesive capsulitis

• Sciatica

• Arthritis

• Fibromyalgia

• General difficulty with range of motion

This is another situation where it depends on the person and what problems they may be facing. For a general guideline, every 4-6 weeks works well if you are getting massages regularly and keeping up with stretching, strengthening, and stress reduction activities. Some conditions may require frequent massages. An example may be regular 30 minute sessions twice a week for several weeks for a recent ankle surgery or tennis elbow to help improve joint function. As your condition improves and your body starts to feel better, you can taper down the frequency or length of the sessions after seeing notable, consistent improvement. Some conditions like lower back pain or upper back and neck pain can take longer because it is often brought on from months or years of constant strain. Chronic postural tension can cause soft tissue areas of the body to be weaker and/or tighter, requiring stretching, massage, and strength training to help alleviate. This may take 4-5 consistently scheduled sessions or more of 60 minutes to really feel a large difference in day-to-day life.

Heat is a very effective tool in increasing the viscoelasticity of fascia and reducing trigger-point firing. It is no unknown fact that heat helps soothe us psychologically as well as physiologically.  By introducing heat to the sore or tense parts of the body, you are able to increase muscle relaxation and tissue blood flow, providing necessary oxygen and nutrients to the affected areas in a process called vasodilation. Cold on the other hand can provide the opposite effect. It is best used after a very recent soft tissue injury that may result in swelling and pain. By applying a cold compress to a newly damaged area of the body, you shunt away blood flow to the area and reduce inflammation temporarily. The problem lies in that using it for prolonged periods of time can actually slow down the healing process. This is due to vasoconstriction, where blood vessels constrict to a degree in the area. It is best to keep cold therapy applications to under 10 minutes at a time. Alternating between hot and cold applications can be an effective tool in aiding your recovery by creating a vascular exercise of sorts.
-Sourced by the AMTA Massage Therapy Journal

I often hear from clients that they want their therapists to cause them some amount of pain or they don't feel like they're getting any long-lasting work done. If there isn't some level of discomfort they don't feel like the tension is really going away, and no one likes to feel like they aren't getting their money's worth from a massage. Initially, hyperirritable spots may exist where there's a lot of tension in a muscle group. Many people feel pain when these palpable nodules, or "knots" as they are known, are pressed on. When this firm pressure is held on the area, along with strokes designed to help improve circulation, the intent is to make the muscle lose its hypertonicity to regain normal function of the area. Typically this pain response releases endorphins, think when you have a good workout and it's a struggle. This is the most similar experience to a tight area being worked on with a moderate to firm pressure being applied. That being said, always communicate with your therapist if you feel like the pressure is too much. I don't want anyone to feel like they're "wussing out" if they need to tell me to back off on pressure. Similarly, there are a variety of reasons why someone could need a bit of extra pressure. Do not hesitate to ask for it, you can always ask for less if it's too much. Discomfort is natural to some degree, but most forms of discomfort are counterproductive in a therapeutic setting. If you catch yourself tensing up, holding your breath, or trying to squirm away, you need to let your therapist know to lighten up the pressure. Over time, you may be able to tolerate more pressure as your pain tolerance increases and your baseline level of tension goes down, but this is not something that can be rushed.