Like many western-style massage therapists who have continued their education past their initial schooling, I practice Integrative Massage, which means that I integrate techniques from a number of different modalities, or styles of bodywork, rather than performing sessions of one pure style.

Typically, people begin coming to see me to address a particular pain condition. Given my past life as a geek, I think of what I do as "muscular pain debugging", as it uses the same system analysis and troubleshooting skills I developed when I used to write computer programs. After a series of anatomically-focused sessions to address that condition, some clients transition to a regular schedule of full-body preventive wellness massages. Others see me occasionally for tune-ups, or to deal with acute flare-ups caused by travel, snow shoveling, etc.

Some of the benefits of massage are cumulative. A regular schedule of preventive wellness massage will not only address the areas of tightness that eventually bloom into noticeable pain as they arise in your body, it also decreases anxiety, enhances sleep quality and digestion, and helps you manage the stress that is unavoidable in our fast-paced society.
Downloadable brochure: The benefits of frequent massage

Intent is important in designing a session. While nearly any massage modality will have general effects on lymph circulation, muscles and fascia, there are modalities which address each system specifically. If the intent is to specifically improve the flow of lymph (whether to reduce swelling or boost immunity) I will primarily use strokes from Lymphatic Drainage. If the intent is to release taut bands of contracted muscle, I will primarily do Trigger Point work. If the intent is to release fascial restrictions (fascia surrounds each cell, each fiber, each muscle and each organ), I will primarily employ Myofascial Release. It's not uncommon to need to use all of these modalities at different times to address a pain condition. Your unique body will guide the choice of the appropriate technique to use.