Massages
The effect of banya becomes even more significant when combined with a massage. Heat and steam intensify physiological effects of massage, and have much more power to heal than if used separately.
Massage involves acting on and manipulating the body with pressure – structured, unstructured, stationary, or moving – tension, motion, or vibration, done manually or with mechanical aids. Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, skin, or other connective tissue, as well as lymphatic vessels, or organs of the gastrointestinal system. Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearm, and feet. There are over eighty different recognized massage modalities.
Medical research has shown that the benefits of massage include pain relief, reduced anxiety and depression, and temporarily reduced blood pressure and heart rate. Theories behind what massage might do include blocking nociception (gate control theory), activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which may stimulate the release of endorphins and serotonin, preventing fibrosis or scar tissue, increasing the flow of lymph, and improving sleep.
TYPES OF MASSAGE
We offer the following modalities in 30, 60 and 90-minute increments:
| Swedish Massage | The most common and best-known form of massage |
| Shiatsu Massage | Japanese massage; energy meridians |
| Deep Tissue | Targets knots and releases chronic muscle tension |
| Sports Massage | A massage for athletes |
| Geriatric Massage | A wonderful massage for seniors |
| Reflexology | A form of bodywork that focuses on "reflex" areas on the feet and hands that correspond to specific organs, glands, and other parts of the body. |
| Thai | Involves stretching and deep massage |
| Hot Stone Massage | A healing and relaxing treatment |