Freedom Touch Healing Arts
Massage Therapy
Massage has curative and restorative powers that are a balm to both body and soul. It decreases the ravages of daily stress, increases circulation and releases endorphins and enkephalins, both of which occur naturally in the brain and produce pain relieving effects similar to opiates.
As a Licensed Massage Therapist, Jean provides both Relaxation and Treatment-oriented massage, including deep tissue, hydrotherapy, stretching and muscle energy techniques such as post isometric relaxation. When needed, she also utilizes Structural Integrative Play, a non-invasive method of working deep within the client's body, reducing pain and increasing range-of-motion. This has been found to be an effective method for relieving tender and trigger points.
Lymph Drainage Therapy
Lymph Drainage Therapy is a hands-on technique designed to attain and sustain the proper functioning of the human fluid system. The lymphatic system can be hindered or stopped by many factors, including trauma (such as surgery and injuries), fatigue, stress, age, diet, inactivity and reduced water intake. This may open the way to many physical ailments and hasten the aging process.
LDT is a very pleasurable process that induces a deep state of relaxation while it balances the autonomic nervous system: and assists the lymphatic system in draining stagnant fluids, detoxifying, regenerating tissues, filtering out toxins and foreign substances and maintaining a healthy immune system. Truly, it clears one out at the cellular level!
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy complements and increases the effects of massage and LDT by adding the many benefits of therapeutic scent and nature's healing essential oils. Combined with touch, essential oils can nourish the skin,and increase blood and lymph flow while moving irritating waste products from the tissues. They can comfort, sooth aches and pains and relieve anxiety.
Reiki
Reiki is a hands-on method of bodywork that taps into the root of the universal life energy, bringing it through the heart and out the practitioner's hands to stimulate the recipient's positive energy flow. Recent studies of Reiki show significant reduction of pain and increased feelings of relaxation and sense of well-being following treatment. It is a technique that addresses both chronic and acute conditions, gently and powerfully promoting balance among all the body's systems and the regenerative processes of body and mind.
Jean is both a Master of Usuii - the original Reiki developed by Mikao Usuii, and Karuna Reiki - the energy of compassion. Compassion is a state of consciousness, which when combined with energy, has great transformational power. Karuna Reiki assists with cellular healing, helps us to develop an awareness of those parts of our personality that have been blocking us and helps us to accept, love and heal them.
Hydrotherapy
Jean incorporates hydrotherapy into her sessions to maximize healing. Methods of hydrotherapy or water therapy have been used for centuries and have very powerful physiologic effects. Hydrotherapy works naturally and can relax or stimulate, anesthetize and reduce or increase circulation.
Heat increases circulation and reduces pain, muscle spasm, cramps and tissue stiffness. As a sedative, water is a very efficient, nontoxic, calming substance. It soothes the body and promotes sleep. Jean uses hot compresses, packs and hot stones to achieve these effects.
Ice is a primary therapy for strains, sprains,and inflammation - it has a numbing, anesthetic effect.. Cold water and ice increase muscle tone, tissue stiffness and decrease circulation, inflammation and pain. Jean uses cold compresses, gel packs and ice massage when needed.
Alternating hot and cold therapy is a powerful technique that can be used when inflammation is not present. Cold and heat are applied in an alternating manner at the ratio of 1:3 - heat is applied 3 times as long as the cold. The cold application contracts the tissues, pushing out toxins, waste products and excess fluid. The hot application then brings in fresh blood, bathing the tissues in nutrients and oxygen. Alternating hot and cold several times causes a 'pumping' action and increases healing.
In addition to using hot and cold hydrotherapy during her sessions, Jean teaches her clients to use them at home when appropriate. She knows hydrotherapy is a powerful self-care strategy as well.