Swedish Massage is a very relaxing and therapeutic style of bodywork. It combines oils or lotion with an array of strokes such as rolling, kneading, and percussion to help the body improve its circulation. The benefits of this type of bodywork are wide-ranging and include relief from aches and pains, decreased stress levels in the body, enhanced mental clarity, improved appearance, and greater flexibility.
Swedish Massage that ranges from firmly gentle to deep tissue work to reduce muscular soreness and increase the body’s circulation.
Oncology Massage is a special type of massage developed specifically for cancer patients. Cancer patients have unique needs which must be addressed to make sure that a massage is beneficial to their health. I focus my attention on creating a gentle, nurturing environment for you to relax into.
How is massage for cancer patients different from "normal" massage?
For people with cancer or a history of it, I will ask a few things like cancer's effects on the body, any surgeries, types of cancer treatments, current or past cancer history, etc. I will use your answers to design a session that is not just safe, but effective and therapuetic.
A massage therapy session is always tailored to the individual receiving the massage, but in the case of people in cancer treatment (or those with lingering effects of treatment) I provide massage that is safe and effective. By knowing about the person's current health picture and effects of any recent or past cancer treatments on the skin, energy level, or blood cell counts I can adjust the massage pressure and areas massaged. I avoid disturbing active tumor sites with joint movement or pressure in the area.
Even if cancer treatment was in the past, years ago, I will need to know the locations of any lymph nodes removed or treated with radiation therapy so that I can apply appropriate pressure in that area.
Cancer and cancer treatment have strong effects on the body, and it is important that massage therapy be adjusted to these effects. I work to provide comfort and relieve symptoms, such as pain, nausea, anxiety, or sleep difficulties.
I have heard that massage can spread cancer. Is that true?
The spread of cancer, or metastasis, is a function of many complex factors, not just how fast cancer cells are carried through circulation. If metastisis were simply due to how fast tumor cells were carried through the bloodstream, then exercise and movement would be discouraged for people with cancer. In fact, excercise is medically encouraged wherever possible. If excercise is medically restricted, it is when tissue is unstable (as in advanced cancer with bone metastisis) or right after surgery.
When skillfully applied, massage therapy will not spread cancer. Massage is encouraged for people with cancer, and is offered to patients at many well-respected cancer treatment centers inluding Memorial Sloan-Kettering, MD Anderson, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
How can massage help people with cancer?
Much of what is known about the benefits of oncology massage comes from clients with cancer. They report that massage is helpful with pain, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, stiffness, anger, and stress. My clients have told me massage improves their quality of life, increasing their sense of well being.
There have been small, promising studies on the benefits of massage and cancer, and researchers are looking more closely at massage effects in larger studies.
Deep Tissue Massage is a form of bodywork that aims to relieve tension in the deeper layers of tissue in the body. Deep Tissue Massage is a highly effective method for releasing chronic stress areas due to misalignment, repetitive motions, and past lingering injuries. Due to the nature of the deep tissue work, open communication during the session is crucial to make sure you don't get too uncomfortable. Keep in mind that soreness is pretty common after the treatment, and that plenty of water should be ingested to aid with the flushing and removal of toxins that will have been released from the deep tissue during the session.
Energy work is based on the belief that everyone has a "life force", and that the body needs to sustain its balance for optimum health. Anytime you experience emotional or physical illness, it indicates that your life force has simply become unbalanced. I work directly with your energy field to restore balance and flow to your entire system. And once your energy field has been restored to full health, your body will follow.
Lymphatic Drainage Therapy aims to gently and rhythmically move the lymph through the body, especially swollen areas of the body, relieving pressure and enhancing the functioning of the immune system. As both a preventative and remedial technique, LD can be used for a wide range of purposes including faster recovery from injury, reduction of swelling and discomfort from pregnancy, and strengthened resistance to illness.
Shiatsu is a Japanese form of massage therapy. The word Shiatsu comes from two Japanese words - "shi" (finger) and "atsu" (pressure). In addition to the direct stimulation of pressure points along the energy pathways of your body, gentle stretching techniques are applied over a wider area of the body to integrate the point work and encourage the flow of Chi, or Life Force, throughout the body. Shiatsu techniques include gentle stretching and acupressure, using finger pressure to hold acupuncture points promoting the flow of Chi through the body’s energy pathways. Shiatsu is a meditative healing art that honors the body, mind and spirit.
Chair massage is a popular way of relieving stress and releasing tension right in your home or workplace. You receive your massage in a specialized ergonomic chair which I bring to your location. In addition to the usual health benefits of massage, another benefit of chair massage is that it is done over the clothing. With seated massage, you can avoid the discomfort and awkwardness that you may feel in disrobing for a traditional massage. Also, chair massage sessions are usually shorter than traditional massage, making it convenient enough to fit into your busy schedule.
Crystal Therapy helps to balance the subtle energies of the body.
NUTRITIONAL COACHING involves working closely with your coach to self reflect, set achievable goals, and really pay attention to how your diet affects your overall health. The Standard American Diet consists of many foods that are filled with additives, preservatives, and non-food ingredients. Eliminating the non-food items of your diet that are devoid of nutrition is the first step to realizing a healthier self. The process of changing your diet can seem overwhelming at first, but with dietary coaching you will find yourself enjoying a whole foods lifestyle that provides you with optimal well-being and peace.
Massage therapy is the oldest form of medical care, portrayed in Egyptian tomb paintings and in the Chinese book "The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine" written in 2,700 BC. In modern times, massage therapy is the most commonly utilized modality of alternative medicine, and addresses the body, mind and spirit in a beneficial way. We are touch deprived as a society. This can lead to disease or emotional dysfunction. Therapeutic touch can be very healing if you are feeling physically or emotionally depleted. Massage therapy increases your circulation, lowers your blood pressure, improves your recovery from injury, decreases your stress and anxiety, and relaxes your muscles.
Therapeutic massage is a non-sexual interaction. Sometimes the person receiving massage will fall into a deep meditative state or experience an emotional release. This is a healing moment, and may be part of your individual healing process.
Elizabeth Forest uses:
- Swedish Massage that ranges from firmly gentle to deep tissue work to reduce muscular soreness and increase the body’s circulation.
- Shiatsu techniques including gentle stretching and acupressure, using finger pressure to hold acupuncture points promoting the flow of “Chi”, or Life Force, through the body’s energy pathways.
- Breathing cues and energy work to help you relax and unwind.
- Crystal Therapy to help balance the subtle energies of the body.
The benefits of massage therapy have been extensively documented. They include:
- pain relief
- reduced anxiety/depression
- temporarily reduces blood pressure
- temporarily reduces heart rate
- increases lymph flow/boosting immune system
- stimulates parasympathetic system
Massage therapy can be used to alleviate symtoms due to:
- acute injury
- migraines
- post operative pain
- alleviating side effects of cancer treatment
- recovery issues (both physical and emotional)
Modalities I incorporate in a massage session:
- Swedish Massage
- Aromatherapy
- Reflexology
- Shiatsu
- Energy Balancing
- Cranial Sacral Therapy
- Breathwork
- Stretching/Joint Mobilization
- Crystal Therapy
- Myofascial Release
- Lymphatic Drainage Massage
In a massage session you can expect to be listened to and treated with respect. The information you share with me is confidential. Client comfort is important, so the room is warm, dimly lit, and quiet. The time spent receiving massage can be deeply nuturing and healing, and many times my clients report drifting off into a deep meditative state. Sometimes memories or emotions surface that have been repressed, leading to emotional or physical release. This is natural, as healing occurs in the deep cellular (and soul-ular) levels of the body.
During the massage session you can expect to be safe. Your body will always be properly draped with a sheet, and modesty is always respected. It is important to communicate any physical or emotional discomfort to me, so we can adjust your session so that you receive the maximum benefit from the massage.
After the massage session I will ask you about any observations you may have had about yourself while on the table. This information helps me determine what was beneficial, so that a plan can be made to maximize your healing potential. I keep a record of what was done, and any observations I and while giving the massage treatment, so that over time we can identify patterns and capitilize on what was successful.
My office is peacefully situated in a small building nestled back in the woods, and is barrier free and wheel chair accessible. It is conviently located by both 131 and I-94.
I welcome you to make an appointment to begin your journey into wellness.
Hippocrates, the father of medicine said, “If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.”
Many of the diseases that we suffer from can be traced to high levels of stress, poor diet, and lack of exercise. An integrative wellness plan addresses the many aspects of those habits and routines that may affect our overall health in a way that does not serve us any longer. With help from Elizabeth Forest, a trained professional who is knowledgable in these fields, you can begin practicing healthy choices that will increase your health today.
MASSAGE THERAPY is an ancient therapeutic art that addresses the entire person (body/mind/spirit) in a beneficial way. Massage therapy will increase your circulation, lower your blood pressure, improve your recovery from injury, decrease your stress and anxiety, and relax your muscles. As a society, we are touch deprived and this can lead to disease or emotional dysfunction. Therapeutic massage is a non-sexual interaction where the person receiving is not expected to give anything back, which is very healing if you are feeling physically or emotionally depleted. Sometimes the person receiving massage will fall into a deep meditative state or experience an emotional release. This is a healing moment, and is what is supposed to happen. Elizabeth uses swedish and shiatsu techniques, gentle stretching, breathing cues, and energy work to help you relax and unwind.
NUTRITIONAL COACHING involves working closely with your coach to self reflect, set achievable goals, and really pay attention to how your diet affects your overall health. Hippocrates also said “Let food be your medicine and medicine your food”. The standard American diet consists of many foods that are filled with additives, preservatives, and non-food ingredients. Eliminating the components of your diet that is not truly food and devoid of nutrition is the first step to realizing a healthier self. The process of changing your diet can seem overwhelming at first, but with dietary coaching from Elizabeth you will find yourself eating and enjoying a whole foods lifestyle that provides you with optimal well- being and peace.