Part of looking your best is feeling your best. And therapeutic massage can affect how you feel — by helping you improve and sustain your overall health and well-being. Massage therapy involves manipulation of your body's soft tissues to prevent and alleviate pain, discomfort, muscle spasms and/or stress. It can also improve functioning of your body's circulatory, lymphatic, muscular, skeletal and nervous systems, and may improve the rate at which your body recovers from injury or illness. 

During your massage at Ridgeview Seasons Medical Spa, one of our certified massage therapists will apply manual techniques, and may apply adjunctive therapies as well, depending on the type of massage you choose. Let us help you discover what's right for you:

Hot Stone Massage

Hot stone massage is a specialized massage technique.  Hot stones provide the benefit of thermal therapy with energy and balancing properties.  Thermal therapy affects circulation and provides deeper tissue and muscle work with less pressure.  Hot stone massage is a nuturing and deeply relaxing massage.

Benefits of Hot Stone Massage:

• Relaxes muscles by using heat
• Provides a deeper massage
• Increases circulation
• Nurtures, calms and reduces stress
  

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is not technically a massage, but rather a modality used in conjunction with therapeutic massage. This technique works directly on the body’s fascia, the connective tissue which underlies the surface of the skin, soft tissue, bones and organs. Myofascial release can help relieve muscle tension and restore healthy posture and body function and can help eliminate scar tissue caused by soft tissue trauma. 

Benefits of Myofascial Release:

• Decreases pain and tension
• Increases of joint range of motion and flexibility
• Releases muscle tissue
  

Neuromuscular Therapy

Neuromuscular therapy uses massage therapy techniques and stretching to treat common pain symptoms and improve function of muscles and biomechanics (movement). This type of massage therapy can break the cycle of pain and spasms because it re-educates the nervous system to facilitate recovery from acute or chronic pain.

Benefits of Neuromuscular Therapy:

• Increases range of motion
• Improves circulation
• Enhances posture
  

Prenatal and Postpartum Massage

Prenatal massage treats the changing physiology of an expectant mother. This relaxing massage can help alleviate aches and pains, ease stress and relieve most discomforts of pregnancy. Postpartum massage can facilitate quicker recovery of muscles and soft tissues from labor and delivery. Beginning in July, 2009, massage for expectant and new mothers is available both at Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia and at Ridgeview Seasons Medical Spa in Excelsior. To schedule an appointment at the Birthing Center in Waconia, please call (952) 442-3187. To schedule an appointment at Seasons Medical Spa in Excelsior, please call (952) 906-7877.

Benefits of Prenatal and Postpartum Massage:

• Eases discomfort of lower back and hips
• Decreases leg pain associated with pregnancy
• Helps relieve stress
• May lead to fewer labor complications
• Can reduce postnatal complications
  

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger point therapy is typically used in conjunction with other massage modalities. It is a bodywork technique that applies pressure to tender muscle tissue in order to relieve dysfunction and pain that affect other parts of the body. 

Benefits of Trigger Point Therapy:

• Decreases acute pain
• Re-establishes the flow of oxygen to the muscle
• Increases motor function