Massage Types Offered at WHF

Swedish Massage

Long gliding strokes, kneading and friction on the more superficial muscle layers improve blood flow to the soft tissues, increase circulation and alleviate muscle tension. Whilst deep tissue tends to get more “to the heart of the matter” by relieving chronic pain, Swedish massage is more about overall relaxation.

Hot Stone Massage

Enhance your massage experience with heated stones to warm muscles and relieve tension.

Available as a full 1-hour or 90 minute treatment where entire massage is performed with stones

Prenatal Massage

A nurturing massage where the mother to be is specially bolstered and positioned to ensure her comfort. Reduces typical pregnancy swelling and stress on feet, ankles, lower back and neck. At WHF pregnancy massage is only performed after the first trimester.

Shiatsu Massage

Involves manual pressure applied to specific points on the body to relieve tension and pain. This massage uses thumbs, fingers, elbows, and knees to concentrate pressure at certain energy pathways in the body called meridians. Also known as acupressure works to reduce muscle tension and fatigue and is thought to improve blood circulation in the body.

Lymphatic Drainage

Light touch moves excess lymph and fluid out of the tissues and back into lymphatic vessels. Excellent for conditions such as edema and boosting the immune system.

Graston Technique

Added into a message therapy session. A form of manual therapy known as soft tissue instrument assisted mobilization. Graston Technique uses unique handheld instruments with a specialized form of massage that is designed to help the practitioner identify areas of restriction and break up scar tissue. The tools used are concave and convex-shaped, which have round edges and are not sharp.

Cupping

The therapist uses glass cups to apply suction to the surface of the body to draw out pathogens and invigorate the body’s qi (energy flow). Provided in combination with massage or as a 30 minute cupping only treatment.

Thai Techniques

Thai massage, also known as passive yoga, is comprised of an array of compression, traction and passive stretching, and includes moving the joints. The practitioner may perform these techniques using their feet, knees, hands and elbows. In addition to assisting with flexibility, Thai techniques also assist in the release of stuck energy, promoting an interesting state of uplifting relaxation.  As an add-on, Thai techniques can be incorporated into any regular table massage.

Sports Massage

Enhance your athletic performance with a deep tissue massage combined with sports stretches to increase your body’s range of motion, endurance, speed of response and flexibility for your upcoming game, or to relax and recuperate after the exertion of sports and reduce your recovery time. For gym clients we generally recommend getting a massage after working out. Because our therapists work closely with our trainers, this enables our team to devise a regime for you that will ensure you reach your goals.

Deep Tissue Massage

This massage is both therapeutic and relaxing. It focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and the network of connective tissue surrounding the muscles and bones. This makes deep tissue massage the ideal choice for those suffering from chronic pain such as repetitive strain injuries, sciatica and any other kind of muscle tension or spasm.

Slower than other massage techniques to warm the tissue before going deeper, deep tissue massage can be performed with a variety of pressures (to your comfort level) to break down adhesions and knots, the painful rigid tissue caused by tension.

Thermo Therapy

Utilizes moist heat packs to provide heat to the areas of your body that are being treated. Adding the heat packs along with your massage helps to increase blood flow which relaxes the muscles, reduces pain, and promotes healing. This allows the massage therapist to work deeper and specific to the affected area. Adding heat packs to your massage can be used in combination with deep tissue massage and for relaxation. Other massage types can be used upon request. Available for 60-minute and 90-minute massage sessions.

Appointments must be made a day ahead of time for this specific treatment.

Craniosacral Therapy

A gentle bodywork therapy that releases compressions in the skull and sacrum that help relieve pain and dysfunction in the whole body. CST increases blood flow, cerebrospinal fluid, and lymph and down-regulates the nervous system to improve the overall function of the physical body and mental health. It targets the nervous system into deep relaxation (parasympathetic response), where the body’s self-correcting mechanisms take over. The client remains fully clothed during the session

Couples Massage

Relax and enjoy some quality time with your significant other or a friend whilst two of our therapists pamper you side by side with a massage of your choice.

*Please book at least a week in advance

Additional Bodywork Services

Aromatherapy

Add essential oils to any of our massages to enhance your psychological and physical wellbeing.

Reflexology

Reflexology involves applying thumb pressure to reflex points on the feet that correspond to parts of the body, resulting in relaxation, balancing and healing. It can also be performed on the hands and ears.

Myofascial Release

This is a stretching technique where the therapist slowly stretches the fascia, a fine network of connective tissue surrounding the body’s muscles and organs, guided by the patient’s response. Injured muscle fibers and trauma result in shortened and tightened fascia, causing pain and tension. Myofascial release causes the fascia to relax and unwind for soothing pain relief.

PNF Stretching

Proprioceptive neuromuscular stretching is a sports massage technique used to increase range of motion, thus improving motor performance and rehabilitation.

Trigger Point Therapy

This technique can be incorporated into any massage to relieve the sore knots that refer pain to other parts of the body. Finger pressure around and on these knots, starting slowly until the knot “invites you in”, is used to relax them.