Dr. Beth’s massage therapy career has spanned over 20 years and her repertoire of medical massage therapy techniques includes both western and eastern styles of massage. She has extensive training and experience in myofascial release therapy, and completed one hundred hours of training under John Barnes, RPT in the 1990’s. In myofascial release, the soft tissues of the body are mobilized by gently stretching and spreading the muscles and tendons to literally create a space for your body to heal and repair.
Other western styles of massage therapy that Dr. Beth practices are Neuromuscular Therapy, Positional Release, and Cranio-Osseous Integration. Her pressure is moderate to deep tissue, and she has many years of experience in treating complex conditions such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis and myofascial pain syndrome from a western perspective. She has served as a massage instructor on the staff of International Academy and as a guest instructor at Daytona College in Daytona Beach, Florida. There she taught both western and eastern methods of massage. Her eastern massage credentials include Reiki master, Advanced tuina master, Thai massage practitioner, shiatsu practitioner, and qi gong instructor.
Dr. Beth’s fascination with Asian massage began when she experienced relief from a sinus headache with the use of acupressure. Acupressure can feel very subtle. It is gentle at first, as the practitioner waits for the body’s invitation into the acupuncture point with the fingers. Once that initial barrier of resistance softens, there is a warm flow of energy (acupuncturists call this energy qi.) Pretty soon, the tension, stress, and resistance melt away, and the body begins to dissolve blockages to the free-flow of circulation. The experience is tactile, sensory, and ultimately relaxing. It is within this relaxation response (aka parasympathetic nervous response) that the body can rest and rejuvenate. We need time in repose and relaxation in order for our bodies to assimilate nutrients and heal our injuries.
When you are feeling tense, the fight or flight mechanism (aka sympathetic or “stress response”) is engaged. This prevents you from deep, nourishing breaths. Stress also prevents our digestive systems from working right. Dr. Beth has had great successes in treating patients with acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome and ulcers, by implementing a combination of acupuncture, massage therapy and dietary changes. Did you know that the effects of an adrenaline spike (caused by heavy traffic, loud noises, deadlines, etc) will remain in the body for hours? Medical massage therapies can help eliminate these natural neurotoxins so that you feel normal again.
Dr. Beth has studied many different medical approaches to massage in America and in China. She understands the human body, with its physical muscles, tendons, bones, nerves and organs and their mechanical connectedness. She has passed numerous tests in that regard. Dr. Beth also understands that, ultimately, we are all spiritual beings sharing the journey of human experience. Any real healing will be done by you, inside of you. It is her mission to integrate acupuncture and massage therapy to help you relax enough to heal from within.