ISIS Perfect Body Styles of Massage

Contact

call 617.734.4708
mainreception@isisboston.com

Personalize Your Massage...

At ISIS we provide a number of additional options that can make your massage unforgettable.

Enjoy your massage on our heated, flexible Aqua Massage Table...

Soak in our Japanese Ofuro Tub...

Bask in the warmth of our Infrared Sauna...

Enjoy the power and energy of our ozone oxygenated jacuzzi...

Increase the release of toxins with a mud bath..

Have the ultimate in relaxation with the warmth of our Aromatic Steam Tent...

Try something new with our Ancient Hot Stone Massage Therapy...

Home Care After Massage...

It is recommended that at least 2 quarts of juice or water be consumed, in order to flush out the acids and toxins that have been released during the session. You can even continue the effects of your time spent at ISIS by taking a mineral salt bath in very hot water for a period of 30 minutes in the evening before bed. The bath may be prepared by mixing 8-10 pounds of Epsom salts completely into your bath water (We're not kidding!!). To enhance and prolong the relaxation of your muscles, six capsules per day for three days of Magnesium Lactate will flush out acids and toxins from the muscles into the blood stream for removal.

If you have had an especially intensive muscle session, you may experience some soreness following your treatment. We recommend applying ice to the area for 10-15 minute segments.

If you are still experiencing soreness or muscle tension days after your session, it can mean that there is a blockage in the energy circuit for that muscle. This can be alleviated with Acupuncture and the associated oriental healing methods such as moxibustion, Gua Sha and Tui Na.

ISIS Signature Massage Styles...

ISIS European Spa Massage

This is our gold standard in therapeutic massage modeled on the Classical Swedish system used at European spas since the 1800's. This massage style combines relaxation, muscle flexibility and fluid drainage. It has been used to reduce stress and strain while increasing circulation by as much as 400%. So not only do your muscles feel amazingly light and relaxed, your skin glows from the increased circulation. This is the perfect blend of therapy and bliss sought after for generations in every elite vacation spot in the world. Now it is available to you to prepare you for a special day, unwind after a stressful event or simply forget about your daily duties for an hour.

For increased effectiveness, begin with a detox bath and sauna.

ISIS Intensive Deep Tissue

This approach to the body is designed for the maximum workout to the muscle tissue and its attachments, eliminating metabolic waste deposits, reducing inflammation and increasing circulation. Unlike Sports Work which focuses on the muscles used in specific activities, this rhythmic style addresses the entire body with strong pressure and long stroking. This is the best comprehensive bodywide treatment available, especially if the only muscles you are using are your shoulders and back, typical in many occupations. Even the neck can become stiff, sore and inflexible from bending over a computer screen all day. Unwind your body with the best workout you can get outside of the gym.

ISIS Thai Conditioning Bodywork

Nuad Phaen Boran as is it called in Thailand, correctly translates only as Ancient Massage or Traditional Massage. This is a unique form of bodywork that blends Hatha Yoga, acupressure and reflexology with origins dating back about 2500 years to the time of the Buddha. The roots of Thai massage are traced back to the founder of the practice (known as "Father Doctor") Shivaga Komarpaj, a doctor, friend and contemporary to the Buddha and to the ancient medical texts that were carved in stone and kept in temples.

It is not just the hands that are used to free tension from the recipient's body, but the therapist's feet, forearms, knees, and elbows. The therapist spends time up on the table, using their body weight to stretch out the client's body and open meridians and blocked areas more effectively. This style of working the body and the combining of energetic and physical aspects is unique to Thai Massage, and so are its effects. Its vigorous, yet flowing method is ideal for the relief of pain and unresolved muscle tension. Blood and lymph circulation are improved, the nervous system is balanced, and blissful deep relaxation is the result. It is a unique healing experience for the body, mind and spirit…

ISIS Specialized Bodywork Techniques

Myofascial Release Therapy

* Migraine Headaches
* TMJ & Scar Tissue Treatment
* Chronic Pain
* Sciatica & Nerve Pain

This technique improves the structural posture of your body by facilitating a chain reaction in the body so the body will self-correct any postural distortion or muscular tension. When a muscle is fully relaxed, the tension level inside the muscle should measure relatively low. The muscle can then be stretched by the action of opposing muscles. When the muscle is actively contracting, it should shorten and the tension level inside the muscle will rise. In chronic muscle problems, the resting tension level is too high. This is generally a problem of the fascia or connective tissue that surrounds the muscle and passes through the muscle forming the attaching tendons. If the envelope is too tight, the muscle uses greater force (and therefore higher inner tension) to contract against the envelope, but will actually produce only a small amount of movement, most often with pain.

Many of the problems in our bodies occur because of these restrictions of fascia. Fascia binds various structures together within the human body. It also must remain fluidic in order to allow for flexibility and movement. However, when the human body experiences injury or pain, fascia tends to reorganize itself along minute lines of tension in order to restore balance and lessen the pain. This occurs with the assumption that the injury or pain must be accepted, so with these changes, there is less movement, making the fascia denser. It can also trap circulatory, nerve and lymphatic pathways, the effects of which can be devastating to the structure and physiology of the client. This is the beginning of imbalance and chronic pain.

Myofascial Therapy combines heat applications with stretching of the deeper fascial tissue in order to restructure the angles in body posture. We use the connective tissue of the body to reach every corner of the body from head to toe. This is a type of work that "releases" muscles from patterns and restrictions that may have taken years to form, often as a response to an accident or physical trauma. In Myofascial Release, we work with the body three-dimensionally using pressure, joint movement, visceral manipulation and deep stretches to elongate the connective tissue.

Combining aspects utilized in physical therapy with this revolutionary approach to body structure, Myofascial Therapy can enhance flexibility, breathing and motion of even professional athletes, dancers and gymnasts.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

* Swollen Ankles
* Water Weight Gain
* Lymphedema
* Severe Muscle & Body Fatigue

We all need lymphatic drainage to maintain health, particularly if we are sedentary. However, many people may not need the intensity of our Swiss Decongestive Lymphatic Drainage. So we provide the historical technique developed by Dr. Emmanuel Vodder of France many years ago known as Manual Lymphatic Drainage done by hand. Lymph is the miraculous mixture of fluids which cleanse the tissue of toxic debris, remove excess fluid accumulation and move our immune system from our organs to our cells. This system relies on muscular movement and the gentle compressions against our skin typical of this type of treatment in order to reach every cell of our bodies. Lymphatic Drainage is rhythmic, gentle and non-invasive providing incredible instantaneous changes in skin tone, body tension and breathing.

We recommend this treatment as an adjunct to any detoxifying therapy or internal body cleanse. It is especially recommended for edema, bronchial conditions, chronic immune problems and chronic pain issues. This technique must be repeated at frequent intervals for deep and lasting effects. We also recommend continuing the effects of Manual Lymphatic Drainage with daily skin brushing at home. Skin brushing is a technique of decongesting the superficial lymphatics with gentle brushing of the skin towards the lymphatic ducts to help drain blocked material and reduce lymphatic swelling.

Prenatal Massage While Expecting

* Swollen Ankles
* Body Aches & Pains
* Tired Feet
* Sore Shoulders

These comprehensive massage techniques have been written up in numerous journals and magazines for the safe and effective treatment of the structure of pregnant women. Let our therapists relieve the strain and pain of the lower back, the abdomen, the legs, the feet and the neck. This very soothing type of massage therapy if done during pregnancy, has maintained collagen shape and reduced the development of stretch marks. In this way hundreds of women have regained their body shape and strength more quickly after delivery and relieved debilitating structural problems associated with the pregnancy cycle. Massage also seems to decrease the potential for post-natal depression by increasing the flow of brain neurotransmitter chemicals that stabilize mood and maintain energy. Massage is the baby shower gift that will be more appreciated than even the most innovative stroller!

Massage for Sports and Sporting Injuries

* Treat & Prevent Injury
* Speed Muscle Recovery
* Optimize Performance

Athletes require a perfectly balanced alignment of joints and muscles for the equal distribution of stress from competition. If the body is stressed or out of balance, then specific joints will bear the brunt of shock absorption, thus eroding the natural strength and endurance of the joint capsule. This type of massage therapy prepares the body for events and reduces the buildup of metabolic wastes from muscular exertion, so the athlete can compete at an optimum level and recover faster. This approach is especially important for recovery from injury, for each day out of training, is a day further from the goal of victory. Sports Massage has been used for many years by professional teams, event coordinators and even horse trainers to improve muscle tone, definition and athletic performance.

Our therapists combine heat application, joint icing, Myofascial stretching and Neuromuscular compression to elongate muscle tissue, remove toxic debris and enhance athletic ability. By treating the muscle tissue well, an athlete can extend endurance and limit injury.

And don't forget our natural supplements and herbs which can increase tissue oxygenation, muscle recovery, hydration and muscle definition and strength.

Massage During the Stress of Cancer...

Massage Therapy can always be safely administered to cancer patients, regardless of the severity of their condition. It will not, as many people have falsely believed, spread cancer cells from a primary tumor to a distant uninfected area. In fact, while we cannot say that massage is a cure for cancer, research has shown that a variety of massage techniques have positively affected symptoms related to cancer or side effects from treatment, such as nausea, fatigue, insomnia, edema and pain. Studies have also shown it to improve mood, induce relaxation and decrease anxiety and the sense of isolation common with cancer patients. Even focusing on the most problematic areas of tension, such as the shoulders, neck, back and feet can provide more soothing pain-free relaxation than any number of narcotis or drug therapy.

We specialize in providing comprehensive treatment programs for cancer patients to balance the traditional medical treatments that they are receiving. Massage therapy is an important part of these programs by providing the following wonderful effects:

to reduce pain - massage can relax nerves and reduce the pain signals that the brain receives, relaxing the body and providing a reflex body-wide relaxation response.
to reduce lymphedema - when proteins are not removed from the connective tissue by the lymph system, they tend to become organized and fibrotic, making removal much more difficult. Also, proteins exert a colloid osmotic pressure, attracting water through cell membranes into the connective tissue and causing edema. The longer they sit there, the more difficult they become to remove. For this reason, a full approach to lymphatic drainage is called Combined Decongestie Therapy. Due to the removal of lymph nodes as a standard part of treatment, many patients with lumpectomies, mastectomies or prostatectomies will most likely have this for a time, or permanently. Edema can also be caused by the hormonal changes related to chemotherapy.
for lack of circulation - massage therapy can increase venous circulation by as much as 400% immediately upon cessation of the massage session and it will continue for some time after.
to reduce fibrosis and adhesions - these can restrict range of motion and fascial mobility. It is essential to increase movement once healing has taken place to ensure flexibility and continued adequate blood flow.
to reduce the fear of body pain and discomfort - it is important that the patient understands that pain and discomfort are normal processes of healing and adjusting. Many patients have intense fears about each twinge, each ache. By applying massage we can reduce that fear.
for personal contact - most often it is the friends and family who are unaware that the way in which they physically interact with their loved one has changed. They are no longer comfortable touching them or hugging them and believe that the person's body is off limits. Therefore they usually believe as well that the patient will not want to be massaged. In fact, the patient needs touch now more than ever. They need to reconnect body and mind.

The Ancient Art of Hot Stone Massage

* Stress Reduction
* Increased Circulation
* Muscle Stretching

Hot Stone Massage renews the interest in using the earth as therapy. Smooth basalt stones are heated in hot water and applied to the body in energetic patterns during the session. The heat from the stones unwinds tense muscle tissue and relaxes the mind. Stones are also used as tools for deeper, more penetrating massage of thicker muscular areas.

This is all combined by our therapists with ISIS Deep Tissue Swedish Massage, an eclectic blend of Eastern and Western techniques specially molded to the Hot Stone application. There is nothing more soothing than this ancient combination of muscular therapy and the penetrating heat of the earth.

The Specialized Treatment of Scar Tissue

People often develop restrictions, muscle problems and structural pain shortly after surgery and trauma from the formation of excessive amounts of scar tissue. Even normal scar tissue can develop into adhesions which, if ignored can bring on later symptoms such as infertility, chronic visceral pain and even organic obstructions. There is evidence to suggest that 67% to 93% of patients will develop adhesions following abdominal surgery and 55% to 100% of patients will develop adhesions following gynecologic surgery.

It is normal for the body to form some scar tissue following any trauma or surgery as a result of the inflammatory response. But, should the area not be able to work up to normalized movement or there be an alteration in posture as a result of the trauma, then scar tissue becomes an integral part of the new structure, causing restricted movement and various tensions on tendons, ligaments and even organs themselves. Our own compensation for trauma, such as shifting our weight to an undamaged leg when walking, or sitting differently, can perpetuate incorrect postures and put pressure on our organs in ways that our bodies have never experienced. These organs can react in ways that we would never realize are caused by scar tissue.

One example would be Cesarean births. Shortly after the birth, there may appear lower back pain which never seems to go away. The body doesn't seem to feel the same as it did before. Even movements may be severely restricted months or even years after the birth process. It can even affect the menstrual cycle causing pain that was never the case before. One patient at ISIS found that after three sessions of manual scar tissue treatment, she was pain free for the first time in three years. Within two months, her period symptoms had abated completely. All of this was due to the extensive amount of scar tissue that had developed as a result of her C-Section which had extended through her abdominal cavity to adhere to the spine pulling her spine forward towards the front of her body.

When adhesions form around the stomach, intestines or digestive tract, dysfunction such as constipation or abdominal pain may result. When it occurs around the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, infertility may result. Even chronic inflammatory conditions can cause adhesions to form which disrupt normal function throughout the body. We have even seen scar tissue in the shoulder from a rotator cuff injury be a contributing factor to gall bladder issues. Even the removal of an unwanted tattoo can create problems for nearby structures.

This type of bodywork is a combination of manual therapies designed to increase mobility and decrease pain. Gentle stretching which gives the area a feeling of an "indian sunburn" can loosen stubborn scar tissue for a permanent shift in the posture of an area. It can free up muscles, tendons, ligaments, organs and nerves so that normalized function can be restored. Generally, three treatments will provide a noticeable improvement, allowing for follow-up treatments to be further apart and the changes become longer-lasting with each session. It should also be said that the longer the scar tissue has been present and the more scar tissue that exists, the more treatments are necessary for change to take place. This is unlike other styles of massage therapy, as this focuses on very particular areas, instead of a more body-wide approach. We also do not recommend this therapy within six weeks of surgery nor for conditions that might worsen with treatment such as keloids, endometriosis, active infections or hemophilia.

Visceral Manipulation

* Period Pain
* Hiatal Hernia
* Constipation
* Gall Bladder Issues

Visceral Manipulation was developed by French Osteopath, Jean-Pierre Barral. When we are healthy the relationship between the organs (viscera) and other structures of the body such as muscles and bones, remains stable despite the body's endless varieties of motion. But when an organ moves from its original location due to injury, surgery or poor muscle tone, it will work against all the body's organs and structures. This disharmony creates fixed, abnormal points of tension that the body is forced to move around. That chronic irritation, in turn, paves the way for disease and dysfunction, not to mention pain, chronic fatigue and stress.

Visceral Manipulation is a gentle hands-on therapy that works through the body's visceral system (the heart, liver, intestines and other internal organs) to locate and alleviate these abnormal points of tension throughout the body. It employs specifically placed manual forces that work to encourage the normal mobility, tone and motion of the viscera and their connective tissues. Our trained practitioners use the rhythmic motions of the visceral system to evaluate how abnormal forces interplay, overlap and affect the normal body forces at work. These gentle manipulations can potentially improve the functioning of individual organs, the systems the organs function within, and the structural integrity of the entire body.