As wonderful as the holidays are, they can bring stress that translates to tight shoulders, sore backs, and more. We reached out to Capitol HIll’s newest massage practice, Restorative Massage, for tips on getting through the holidays without all the pain.
Susan Van Note, owner of Restorative Massage on the Hill, is a recent transplant from Denver, Colorado. She has opened her new practice in East Side Yoga‘s new spa room.
A Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), Susan has completed over 900 hours of certification practice with the Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado, in addition to her certifications in Prenatal and Thai massage. She is also a Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist (BCST), completing over 700 hours of certification practice from the Colorado School of Energy Studies.
So how can you get through the holidays without extra stress pains?
What are the top tips you give people for relieving muscle tension at home?
The “homework” I most often give to my clients is to roll up a wool blanket and lay on top of it vertically — from head to tailbone. Place a pillow underneath your knees to support your lower back and place bed pillows underneath each arm for support. Think of this as “draping” yourself over the blanket roll. The intention is NOT to stretch but to completely relax all the muscles along your entire back, allowing them to release and let go. Do this for 5-10 minutes each day.
What are your favorite calming scents that people can bring in with candles, lotion, or bath soaps?
To me there is nothing better and more relaxing than a hot bath with bath salts and a few drops of essential oils. Some oils I enjoy are lavender for calming, frankincense for relaxation, peppermint for clear breathing and feeling rejuvenated. Make certain you test the oils for allergic reaction on a small patch of skin before putting into bath water.
What types of massages do you offer and what is the difference in techniques for the different types?
I call my business Restorative Massage because the intention of my work is help clients restore, relax and rest, while at the same time, helping them feel relief from any physical discomfort. The work is deep, but not painful, and includes a combination of modalities tailored to each individual. Typically I use craniosacral therapy to help balance the nervous system, as well as Thai compression and stretching, range of motion, deep tissue, myofascial therapy, and Swedish. I also offer Thai massage on a mat, where I mostly stretch and compress your muscles — this is a favorite amongst yogis and athletes because they see such a difference in their flexibility and feel significantly looser and more mobile after only a 60 or 90 minute session!
To learn more about Restorative Massage on the Hill, or to book services, visit www.massageonthehill.com. Susan can also be reached directly at restoreindc@gmail.com. Multi-session packages and gift cards are available. (hint, hint: a gift card for a massage makes a great Christmas gift!)
I tried massage on RollShape. I really love it.