Active Release Techniques is a patented, state-of-the-art soft tissue system that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they often result from injury due to over-used muscles.

Every ART session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The ART provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements.

These treatment protocols - over 500 specific moves - are unique to ART. They allow providers to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting each individual patient. ART is not a cookie-cutter approach.

Liza Papazian, Laura Lynch, Nicole Blunston, Barbara Blunston, and Kelly Davis specialize in Active Release Techniques.

Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine takes a more energetic approach to pathologies and health care. Acupuncture has an ability to treat on a more holistic level. the basic art of acupuncture is simple; it is the application of fine needles to balance the body.

Unlike western medicine, Chinese acupuncture is not based on anatomy but through centuries of observation and case studies. Through this system, Qi (pronounced chee) which is energy, flows through 14 meridians or channels in the body. These channels link organs to the rest of the body. These channels come to the surface of the body at hundreds of different points.

When energy flow is disturbed, people get sick or distressed. By inserting needles into the points they can either suppress or stimulate the release of energy, thereby restoring harmony and correcting the imbalances that cause disease.

Laura Lynch specializes in Acupuncture.

A Cupping therapy is the method of using glass or plastic cups to create localized pressure by a vacuum. The Chinese have been doing this since ancient times by using heat inside glass or bamboo cups. Nowadays, cupping sets use suction to create the vacuum. The vacuum inside the cups causes the blood to form in the area and help the healing in that area."

"Another healing aspect of cupping therapy is through the release of toxins in your body. The suction from the cups can penetrate deep into your tissues causing the tissues to release harmful toxins. It triggers the lymphatic system, clears the blood vessels, and stretches and activates the skin."

Laura Lynch specializes in Cupping Therapy.

A labor doula or birth doula is someone who provides non-medical and non-midwifery support (physical and emotional) to a woman leading up to and during her labor and delivery.

A labor doula may attend a woman having a home birth or a woman laboring at home before transporting to a hospital or a birth center, where she will continue her support. They do not perform clinical duties such as heart rate checks or vaginal exams, or give medical advice. Labor doulas rely on techniques like massage and position changes to help women through labor. Many offer phone and email support as well as prenatal and postpartum visits the ensure the mother is informed and supported. The terms of a labor/birth doulaÕs responsibilities are decided between the doula and the family.

Doulas serve as advocates of their clientÕs wishes and may communicate with medical staff to help the client make informed decisions. The doula is also an ally for the father or partner, who may have little experience with the labor process. Many fathers and partners experience birth as an emotional journey and find it hard to be objective. A responsibility doula supports and encourages the father or partner in their support style rather than replacing them.

April Underhill specializes in Doula Services.

Gait and Postural Analysis provides vital information in regards to spinal and appendicular skeletal abnormalities.

Myofascial Release is a form of soft tissue therapy. This is accomplished by relaxing contracted muscles, increasing circulation, increasing venous and lymphatic drainage, and stimulating the stretch reflex muscles and overlaying fascia.

Fascia is the soft tissue component of the connective tissue that provides support and protection for most structures within the human body, including muscles. This soft tissue can become restricted due to overuse, trauma, infectious agents, or inactivity, often resulting in pain, muscle tension, and corresponding diminished blood flow. Although fascia and its corresponding muscle are the main targets of myofascial release, other tissue may be affected as well, including other connective tissue.

As in most tissue, irritation of fascia or muscle causes local inflammation. Chronic inflammation results in fibrosis, or thickening of the connective tissue, and this thickening causes pain and irritation, resulting in reflexive muscle tension that causes more inflammation. In this way, the cycle creates a positive feedback loop and can result in ischemia and somatic dysfunction even in the absence of the original offering agent. Myofascial techniques aim to break this cycle through a variety of methods acting on multiple stages of the cycle.

Prenatal, or pregnancy, massage uses gentle techniques to help alleviate some of the ailments associated with pregnancy, including lower back, neck and shoulder pain; fatigue; joint tenderness; and stretch marks. Prenatal massage can help improve circulation, promote stress reduction and relaxation, and much more. Practitioners should be well-trained in prenatal massage in order to deliver safe and effective care, and patients should check with their doctors prior to receiving treatment.

April Underhill specializes in Prenatal Massage.

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing.

Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques [such as massage therapy] to relieve side effects and promote recovery.

Liza Papazian, April Underhill, and Vanessa Lanteigne specialize in Reiki.

Reflexology is an alternative therapeutic treatment based on the idea that areas of the feet, hands, and ears are connected to other areas of the body. According to reflexology, pressure applied to the right reflex points can correct problems with correlating body parts, organs and ones.

Reflexology has a number of benefits. At its most basic level, it is a soothing experience that is helpful for stress-relief. If the specific reflex points are targeted correctly by a reflexologists, the benefits can be remarkable, including relief from migraines, circulatory and digestive issues, sinus problems and more. In general, any organ of the body with a correlating reflex point can be improved through regular reflexology treatments.

Vanessa Lanteigne specializes in Reflexology.

Sports massage therapies are both preventative and therapeutic, and used for athletes during warm ups, training and competition to treat and/or aid in the prevention of injuries; help improve flexibility, range of motion, and performance; and aid in mental clarity. Virtually every professional sports team employs professional sports massage therapists, and they are often privately employed by professional athletes.

Liza Papazian specializes in Sports Massage.

Generally regarded as the most common form of massage, Swedish massage involves a combination of five basic strokes and concentrates on the muscles and connective tissues of the body for improved circulation, relaxation, pain relief, and overall health maintenance and well-being. Swedish massage is also one of the less demanding techniques for massage therapists to practice as it usually does not involve deep-tissue work.

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