Massage can be a very personal and vulnerable experience, whether you are new to massage, looking for a new practitioner, or treating a new condition. Massage Therapy has become a bit of a blanket term for a treatment modality that is actually quite diverse!

It can be difficult to navigate the difference between deep tissue, shiatsu, reflexology, the list goes on. It can be even more challenging to find the right massage therapist who is professional, attentive, and knowledgeable about how the body works, makes you feel comfortable and heard, and can treat your symptoms.

Safe, professional, and effective

The first step is finding an experienced massage therapist that you can trust, who can work with you to treat you in ways that make you feel your best. There are a lot of different reasons that people come to Opus for massage: complex or chronic pain issues, an injury, pregnancy, or simply for relaxation.

Regardless of your reason for coming, our experienced and highly trained team will make sure you leave feeling great. We can attest to this since we all get regular massages with Crystel and Jen! 

How does it work?

A lot of times, people want to know how Massage Therapy works, or can massage help sciatica, low back pain, nerve pain, etc. Is massage therapy safe during pregnancy? We can happily share the basics of how massage therapy works, and have some quick definitions of common types of massage therapy below.

Massage therapy uses a variety of techniques to manipulate your joints and soft tissue to improve the body’s supply of oxygen and nutrients to your muscles, which help release waste from the muscle tissue, while increasing circulation to the lymph system.

The body typically enters into a relaxed, sometimes meditative state which also helps to reduce stress hormones and accelerate your body's own natural ability to heal itself. This process is why massage therapy can be so effective in treating pain due to pinched or constrained muscles or nerves (like sciatica and nerve pain).

It is also a wonderful addition to your prenatal care with a massage therapist trained in pregnancy massage; massage therapy can help Mother and baby have a healthy, comfortable pregnancy, especially combined with Acupuncture.

We have two wonderful massage therapists at Opus: Jennifer and Crystel. They both have different specialties, and are trained in a variety of modalities so that they are able to treat you in the most effective way possible.

We offer three levels of massage: Standard 60 minutes, focused 30 minutes, and Intensive 90 minutes (private pay only). We also offer massage packages so you can save money if you know you want to come more than once!

Swedish: A gentle, full body massage focused on relaxing the body and releasing muscle tension

Shiatsu: A Japanese style of massage therapy, shiatsu includes assisted stretching and joint mobilization in addition to manual massage and incorporates some concepts of Chinese traditional medicine like Qi meridians.  

Myofascial release: fascia are thin layers of connective tissue that wrap around the structure of your body and can get tight and stuck the same way muscles do. Myofascial release works on releasing the tension in your fascia to provide increased blood flow and mobility

Pregnancy/Prenatal Massage: Generally recommended after the first trimester, prenatal massages are more gentle focused on relaxation, stress relief, and at relieving some of the discomforts in pregnancy. Prenatal massages are safe, and a recommended part of your prenatal plan - just make sure you are working with someone who has knowledge and expertise specifically in prenatal massage. 

Deep Tissue: A focus on deep pressure on problem areas that need work on connective tissue and fascia 

Orthopedic massage: ideal for post injury or surgery recovery, it focuses on soft tissues around joints and is a close relative to physical therapy

Reflexology: Utilization of specific points on the hands, feet, and ears that connect to different organs and areas of the body to promote relaxation, stress relief and treat pain. 

Lymphatic Drainage Massage: A specialized modality that moves fluid from your tissues into your lymph nodes and encourages natural drainage of the lymph fluid which is responsible for removing waste and toxins from your body