Massage and Bodywork
Thrive Wellness Center is proud to offer a unique spectrum of massage therapy and bodywork modalities. Our licensed therapists have exceptional skill sets and can address your acute and/or chronic issues with gentle and effective treatments.
Bodywork is defined as various forms of touch therapies that may use manipulation, movement, and/or repatterning to affect structural changes to the body.
There are more than 250 variations of massage, bodywork, and somatic therapies and many practitioners utilize multiple techniques. The application of these techniques may include, but is not limited to, stroking, kneading, tapping, compression, vibration, rocking, friction, and pressure to the muscular structure or soft tissues of the human body. This may also include non-forceful passive or active movement and/or application of techniques intended to affect the energetic systems of the body. The use of oils, lotions, and powders may also be included to reduce friction on the skin.
Our highly skilled team of therapist specialize in hot stone massage, Thai massage, Reflexology, Cranial Sacral, Deep Tissue, Shiatsu and more.
Massage Therapy
Massage is one of the oldest healing arts: Chinese records dating back 3,000 years document its use; the ancient Hindus, Persians and Egyptians applied forms of massage for many ailments; and Hippocrates wrote papers recommending the use of rubbing and friction for joint and circulatory problems. Today, the benefits of massage are varied and far-reaching. As an accepted part of many physical rehabilitation programs, massage therapy has also proven beneficial for many chronic conditions, including low back pain, arthritis, bursitis, fatigue, high blood pressure, diabetes, immunity suppression, infertility, smoking cessation, depression, and more. And, as many millions will attest, massage also helps relieve the stress and tension of everyday living that can lead to disease and illness.
Our team of experienced massage therapists will blend various techniques, like Deep Tissue, Shiatsu, Thai Massage, Neuropraktic, Swedish and more for a custom tailored session that best addresses the client’s needs.
Tui Na
Tui Na is an Asian form of body work or massage that is more specifically therapeutic than other types of western massage. As a technique it can be used alone or integrated into an acupuncture treatment. Tui Na involves acupressure and massage techniques along the acupuncture meridians or pathways. This form of therapy gradually was developed by the working people of China through a long process of working, living and struggling with disease.
As a treatment, Tui Na has the ability to regulate nerve function, strengthen the body’s resistance to disease, flush out the tissues, and circulate blood stimulating the tendons, ligaments and muscles which ultimately make the joints more flexible. This style of bodywork incorporates the theory and practices of Oriental Medicine.
Feldenkrais – Functional Integration
Functional Integration is a hands-on form of tactile, kinesthetic communication. The Feldenkrais practitioner communicates to the client how he/she organizes his/her body and hints, through gentle touching and movement, how to move in more expanded functional motor patterns.
The Functional Integration lesson should relate to a desire, intention, or need of the client. The learning process is carried out without the use of any invasive or forceful procedure. Through rapport and respect for the client’s abilities, qualities, and integrity, the practitioner/teacher creates an environment in which the client can learn comfortably.
In Functional Integration, the practitioner/teacher develops a lesson for the individual client, custom-tailored to the unique configuration of that particular person, at that particular moment. The practitioner conveys the experience of comfort, pleasure, and ease of movement while the client learns how to reorganize his/her body and behavior in new and more effective manners.
In Functional Integration, the practitioner/teacher’s intention is instructive and communicative.
Functional Integration is usually performed with the client lying on a table designed specifically for the work. It can also be done with the student in sitting or standing positions. At times, various props are used in an effort to support the person’s body con-figuration or to facilitate certain movements.
After the initial consultation, a typical session lasts one hour. You will remain fully clothed, so be sure to wear comfortable clothing.
Thrive Wellness center is pleased to offer this unique form of body work by Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner Sandra Gilad, LMT.
Body Rolling
Body Rolling is a revolutionary approach to health and fitness using balls designed exclusively for this practice. It consists of a series of routines using 6 to 10-inch balls. This allows you to work specific muscles in detail, to create suppleness in tight areas and optimize range of motion.
This process reeducates muscles and stimulates bone, creating positive, permanent changes in the body.
Body Rolling works the way a hands-on practitioner works -only using a ball. The ball replaces hands as it moves on muscles to stretch them, dislodge tension and discomfort, increase blood flow, and promote healing.
Lying over the ball, you literally roll your body out almost like dough, stretching and elongating your muscles. The routines follow specific sequences that match the body’s own logic and order. Starting where each muscle begins, at its origin, you roll toward where it attaches to the point called its insertion.
The Body Rolling practice has earned respect from chiropractors, physical therapists, Yoga instructors, Pilates and Gyrotonic instructors, massage therapists, bodyworkers, fitness instructors and dance teachers.
Angela Pepe. LMT offers massage therapy in conjunction with body rolling. She also offers individual as well as small group body rolling lessons in our beautiful Fort Lauderdale yoga studio.
