Relaxation (Swedish) massage is gentle and relaxing. A combination of techniques including long strokes, gliding strokes (with light pressure), and some kneading strokes (with medium pressure) are used to warm the muscles, remove toxins and release stored muscular tension.

Naturally the main aim of a relaxation massage is to relax, so unlike remedial massage there is less emphasis on working out serious knots in the muscle tissue. The slower pace and lighter strokes that Taviene uses during a relaxation massage calm the entire nervous system and it's not unusual for people to fall asleep on her massage table.

Relaxation massage is the perfect way to experience a deep sense of relaxation. It has substantial health benefits such as soothing the entire nervous system, improving blood circulation and stimulating the body’s lymphatic system, which carries away waste products. Some other benefits of this style of massage are that it reduces emotional and physical stress and promotes a general sense of well being and harmony.

Remedial Massage aims to improve joint range of motion, reduce tension in tight muscles and reduce pain. The depth or “pressure” used is varied depending on the region, degree, type of pain and your preferred pressure. Taviene will devise a holistic treatment plan and target any specific physical and/or emotional ailments that you may have. 

Remedial massage uses several specialised techniques to locate and repair damage and to support and speed up the body’s own repair mechanism. Passive stretching and mobilisation of the joints are also utilised to assist with restoring the natural state of the muscles and tendons.

Key benefits of remedial massage include the stimulation to the blood supply allowing toxins in the muscles to be removed, the calming of the peripheral nervous system to ease pain and discomfort and the toning and relaxing of muscles to improve joint mobility. An improvement to the health of the cells, the repairing of tissues and the easing stiffness and tension can also be experienced through this therapeutic style of massage.

If you are experiencing pain in a particular area, deep tissue massage is an ideal treatment as it targets specific trouble spots. It is used to help the body recover from muscular dysfunction, metabolic waste build-up and pain and tension. It stimulates the healing process and provides relief from pain and tension. This treatment focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissues and is designed to reach the deep sections of thick muscles and individual muscle fibres. To do this Taviene will apply a much firmer pressure, so it is inherently painful. Therefore, deep tissue massage is not suitable if you are looking to relax!

The purpose of deep tissue massage is to unstick the fibres of the muscles and release both toxins and deeply held tension points. It it both corrective and therapeutic. Deep tissue massage usually focuses on specific areas of the body rather than a full body massage. It may cause some localised soreness during or after the session.

Trigger points, also known as myofascial trigger points, are areas of hyper irritability in the soft tissue structure. Trigger points are manifested as small contraction knots in the muscles. Active trigger points may cause muscle spasm and referred pain. A firm digital pressure will be applied by Taviene, as she locates the specific points causing the pain and restricted movement. Sometimes these may be located in places different to where the client actually feels the pain.

Sports massage is designed to enhance athletic performance and plays a major role in performance preparation, training and injury recovery. However you don’t have to be an elite athlete to benefit from sports massage. It is as equally as appropriate to use this style of massage for anyone who exercises, even if it is only mild exercise such as regular walking or gardening!

Sports massage is useful before and after significant sporting events, helping to improve the athletes performance, reduce the incidence of injury and accelerate the restorative process after the stress of exercise.

Each sports massage is tailored by Taviene to the specific needs of the client depending where they are in their training phase, that is, pre-event, during the event or post-event. Techniques employed in sports massage include stroking, kneading, frictions, vibrations, shaking, squeezing and compression of muscles, tapotement and also stretching and joint loosening techniques. 

The Myofascial Cupping technique was developed by David Sheehan in 2002. It involves the gliding of negatively pressurised cups over the body with the assistance of massage cream and can be accompanied by joint mobilisation. It is a very different technique to traditional cupping and importantly, marking the skin is NOT part of the desired treatment outcome. It also should be performed at a pressure level that is almost painless to the client.

Unlike all other massage techniques that use compression, the Myofascial Cupping Technique is unique in that it lifts and separates soft tissue, known as negative or tensional pressure. This in turn can increase nutrient-rich blood supply to the tissue, while giving a gentle passive stretch to the underlying soft tissue.

The Myofascial Cupping Technique can provide profound benefits, particularly with assisting the body in maintaining Range of Motion, eliminating Myofascial Trigger Points and reducing restrictive and sometimes painful fascial adhesions commonly found from repetitive movement originating from sports and the workplace. By reducing fascial adhesions, while encouraging optimal hydration levels of the soft tissue, the Myofascial Technique can assist in reducing the incidence of injury and maintaining functional soft tissue.