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Massage Therapy

"Attention to the human body brings healing and regeneration. Through awareness of the body we remember who we really are."

– Jack Kornfield

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Massage Therapy

Massage has been used as a form of therapy for thousands of years. Today, if you need or want a massage, you can choose from over 60 massage therapy styles with a wide variety of pressures, movements, and techniques.  All involve pressing, rubbing, or manipulating muscles and other soft tissues with hands and fingers. Sometimes, even forearms, elbows, or feet are used.

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At Ahava, we specifically use the forms of massage therapy that compliment our holistic therapy approach by helping reduce the stress and anxiety of our Program Participants, treating them to sessions that promote total relaxation of the body and mind and aid in the healing process.

Massage Therapies Used In Our Program

Scroll over or touch each box to learn more about each type of Massage

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Reflexology Massage

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Reflexology is an effective, natural and relaxing holistic massage therapy that helps to reduce the effects of stress and helps restore mental health and well-being.  Reflexology uses gentle to firm pressure on different pressure points on the feet, hands, and ears to promote the body's natural healing process.

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Why do we use this in our Program:

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  • Reflexology can help to relieve conditiions including back, shoulder or neck pain, anxiety, stress related conditions, sleeplessness, digestive and respiratory conditions.

  • Reflexology is also a great option for those uncomfortable being touched over the entire body.  This discomfort to touch is common for those that suffer extreme physical and emotional trauma.

  • Reflexology uses the body's pressure points to release endorphins.  With stress disorders like PTSD and others, our Program Participants often live in a state of tense hyper-vigilance.  These endorphins help relax participants and reduce stress.

Reflexology Massage

Aromatherapy Massage

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Aromatherapy Massage combines soft gentle pressure with the use of essential oils.  Participants are given a a full-body swedish massage wile inhaling essential oils through a diffuser and absorbing them through the skin.  Though full body, Aromatherapy often focuses on the back, neck and head.

 

Why we use this in our Program:

 

  • Aromatherapy Massages are best for people who want to have an emotional healing component to their massage.  Program participants have often been through traumatic experiences or exposed to stressful situations that take a tole on not only their physical well being, but on their mind as well.

  • Aromatherapy Massage:

    • Improves mood

    • Reduces stress and anxiety

    • Reduces symptoms of depression

    • Reduces muscle tension for total relaxation 

Aromatherapy Massage

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Swedish Massage

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Swedish Massage

The most common type of massage is Swedish massage therapy.  It consists of soft, long, kneading strokes, as well as light, rhythmic, tapping strokes, on the topmost layers of muscles.  Swedish Massage both calms the nervous system, relaxes muscular tension and promotes complete and total relaxation.

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Why we use this in our program:

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  • Reduces Stress: Many of us live demanding, overworked and stressful lives.  Stress can manifest in the mind with increased worry or anxiety.  For people with stress disorders like PTSD and others, the effects of stress are exponentially magnified.  Swedish Massage helps to clear the body and mind of unwanted responses to stress

  • Endorphin Release to improve mood:  After a traumatic event depression, anxiety and hyper-vigilance are almost always present.  Research shows increased serotonin and dopamine in massage recipients, improving their mood and feeling of emotional well-being.

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Shiatsu Massage

In Japanese, shiatsu means "finger pressure."  For Shiatsu Massage, the therapis uses varied, rhythmic pressure on certain precise points of the body.  These points are called acupressure points, and they are believed to be important for the flow of the body's vital engery, called chi.  Proponents say shiatsu massage can help relieve blockages at these acupressure points.  During the massage, the therapist will use their hands, palms and thumbs to massage certain points of your body.  Pulsing or rythmic pressure is also used.  It is used to manipulate the pathways of energy in such a way that they will be able to flow more freely.  Once that happens, there will most likely be a reduction in symptoms and a clearer way forward.

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Why do we use this in our program:

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Shiatsu Massage:

  • promotes emotional and physical calm and relaxation

  • helps to relieve stress, anxiety and depression

  • reduces muscle tension

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Shiatsu Massage

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Hot Stone Massage

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Hot Stone Massage is similar to a Swedish Massage, only the therapist uses heated stones in addition to their hands.  During a hot stone massage, heated stones are placed on different areas around the whole body.  The therapist may hold a stone as they massage different parts of your body using Swedish massage techniques and gentle pressure.

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Why do we use this in our program:

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  • Hot Stone Massage eases muscle tension, and improves blood flow.

  • Hot Stone Massage significantly reduces stress and anxiety, promotes better sleep, reduces and manages stress, and helps to create a sense of comfort and warmth

  • Our Program Participants often suffer from stress, anxiety and depression as a result of the trauma they have experienced or witnessed.  Combining Hot Stones with Swedish Massage on a consistent basis is proven to offer lasting relief from the residual stress after trauma and is critical to healing

Hot Stone Massage

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Thai Hot Herbal Compress Massage

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Thai Hot Herbal Compress Massage

Thai Hot Herbal Compress Massage is a treatment designed to induce deep relaxation while helping the body detoxify.  It has been around since ancient times in Thailand and is still performed regularly by Herbalists and Thai Massage Practitioners.  The Thai Stems (herbal bundles) are steamed to help release the natural essential oils from the dired herbs and provide a deep, moist heat to relieve tension in teh muscular and skeletal systems.

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Why we use this in our program:

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  • The technique can offer a variety of health benefits such as Stress relief, relaxation, alleviating fatigue, soothing muscles and increasing of emotional and physical well-being.

  • Using this technique in our program allows our program participants to relax, detoxify and escape the hyper-vigilant state those suffering from PTSD and other stress disorders often live in.

We Need You!

We are a 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit and rely completely on Donations.  Our first goal is to purchase a larger property and build horse facilities.  For more information on how you can help, info on our current fundraising goals, on becoming a Sponsor, on Joining our Board of Directors as a Non-Voting Member or how to Donate goods and services, click on the Horse Human Heart Icon.  Together, we can make a difference by providing healing and restoring hope!

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