Our Approach

City Haven Massage Therapy’s objective is to apply the naturally calming and therapeutic qualities of massage to situations where our clients may benefit from clinical, restorative and relaxation perspectives.

This isn’t to say we aren’t also about feeling good and zoning out!

Our objective as therapists is to leave our clients feeling mentally, emotionally and physically rejuvenated following treatment.

From a remedial perspective, this may include a reduction in pain and discomfort and/or an improvement in the range of motion.

When relaxation is the primary objective, the effect of massage can be experienced as reduced physical tension, a soothed nervous system and a calmed mind.

Charlotte keeps records on treatments performed and tailors each consultation to relieve a client’s specific requirements.

For all clients, a combination of different massage techniques and modalities is incorporated into each massage. Clients may also request specific therapies or emphasis on particular modalities.

City Haven Massage Therapy’s techniques include:

Trigger point therapy
Trigger Points are located within bands of tight and tense muscle and become activated after injury, overuse or lack of exercise. The application of pressure to these points can reduce pain and improve your range of movement.

Sometimes pain experienced at the back of the neck is actually caused by trigger points in the upper back. Likewise, pain that shoots down the back of the leg may stem from an active trigger point in the buttocks. Your therapist is trained to recognise these pain referral patterns and deactivate the trigger points involved. Clients are often both surprised and thrilled with the results after receiving trigger point therapy.

PNF & static stretching
Assisted stretching is a great way to prolong the positive results of your massage. Massage works to lengthen the muscle fibres, retrain the brain to remember what the correct resting length of the muscles are, and reduce your pain.

Massage followed by assisted stretching ensures that the lengthened muscle fibres remain stretched out and that the muscle stays at an optimum resting length, rather than return to the restricted range that was causing the initial discomfort.

Whereas PNF Stretches use resistance to lengthen muscles, Static Stretching is a 30 second static stretch that achieves similar results. Your therapist will select stretches that are right for your body and presenting symptoms.

Cupping
Charlotte practises vacuum cupping and flame cupping to relax tight muscles. Instead of adding pressure to a muscle by pressing down on the skin, cupping sucks the skin to create a different stretch. Although Charlotte does not specialise in Traditional Chinese Medicine, she has learned treatments with flame cupping for the neck and shoulders and lower back.

Cupping can be integrated into a regular remedial massage session. Some clients find this treatment very relaxing as it also works to stimulate Qi and blood circulation and warms the meridians. It helps to expel wind, cold and damp.

Plastic cups are used in vacuum cupping and a hand pump is applied to the cup to create suction. In flame cupping, glass cups are applied to the skin to create the suction. Cups are left on the skin for 5-10 mins and reddening of the skin will occur during this time. Cupping will often leave the skin a reddish-purple colour. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this is indicative of stagnation and or the accumulation of blood & Qi. This is a positive sign. Markings can last 3-4 days or up to 1-2 weeks. Please be aware of this if requesting this treatment.

Myofascial release
Connective tissue surrounds and binds all the structures in our body, including our muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints and it can become tight and restrict range of movement. Myofascial Release works to lengthen connective tissue. Like fascia that sits on top of the muscles, tension in the connective tissue can restrict your movement, particularly if both the muscle and surrounding connective tissue are tight.

When the connective tissue is released, the underlying muscles can be worked on more efficiently. Your therapist will integrate this technique into your massage as required. Myofascial release is an effective treatment that is often quite soothing and relaxing to receive.

Transverse friction
Transverse Friction applied to a lesion (tight spot) in a band of muscle, ligament or tendon fibres can help break up scar tissue that has formed after fibres have been injured through overuse or injury.

Friction is applied with pressure from the therapist’s fingers across the muscle fibres. Muscle fibres are striated: think of a length of long hair with all the strands parallel to each other. Now imagine a big knot in those strands of hair - that's like a lesion or tight spot in the muscle fibres. Knots are formed when fibres are torn and the body uses collagen fibres to repair the area in a haphazard way. Transverse Friction Massage helps to break up the fibres that have adhered in the wrong direction, whilst leaving the fibres that have adhered correctly alone.

After this treatment, the muscle, tendon or ligament is stronger and your movement can increase. This treatment works particularly well on chronic conditions, however, clients may require a few treatments to appreciate a significant improvement. Transverse Friction Massage works faster on new injuries.

Muscle energy technique
This technique is similar to PNF stretching, with the aim being to increase movement and unlock stiff joints. The troublesome joint is placed into its position of restriction and then the client is contracted away from the restricted side (usually in the opposite direction). The joint is then returned to its restricted position, with the overall process repeated five times. This ‘re-setting’ of the resting length of the muscle produces great results.

Mobilising massage
Mobilisation is the application of rhythmic movement to relax and loosen the soft tissues attached to the bones. Mobilisation is a good alternative to manipulation techniques performed by an Osteopath or Chiropractor, particularly if manipulation doesn’t suit you. Please note: our therapy does not incorporate manipulation 'cracking joints' in any treatments.

Reflexology
Points on the feet directly relate to other parts of your body. Reflexology stimulates these points producing a very relaxing result, particularly at the end of the session. Although not a Reflexologist, Charlotte has trained in reflexology as part of her Diploma of Remedial Massage training and is able to integrate reflexology techniques into your massage treatment.

Superficial Dry Needling

SDN is not included as part of a regular massage treatment and must be requested. The technique can only be performed at the North Balwyn clinic on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Superficial Dry Needling (SDN) is a treatment used to deactivate Myofascial Trigger Points using an acupuncture needle instead of the digital pressure used in Trigger Point Therapy. The needle is inserted into the skin (5-10mm) superficially over a known trigger point zone. This stimulates the Central Nervous System to relax the target muscle.

SDN is administered to reduce pain from tight muscles. It is a great way for your therapist to treat two parts of your body at once: you can enjoy a back massage, whilst needles are inserted in to your calf muscles to reduce tension.

Clients usually experience very little discomfort with this procedure; at most a sharp pin prick may temporarily be felt on needle insertion.

Pain relief may be experienced immediately or may take 12-14 hours to reduce. It is very important that clients who do experience a reduction in pain don’t overload their muscles straight after treatment. To optimise the effects of SDN, the treated area must be rested following treatment and activity increased slowly. Assisted therapist stretching and self-stretches will also enhance the restorative process.

Please note: SDN is not acupuncture. The only similarity is that acupuncture needles are used in the treatment. Charlotte is registered with the council of Booroondara to practise the procedure and holds a current permit.