Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork provide real and quantifiable health benefits that allow us to live happier and healthier lives. It promotes health and wellbeing by enhancing the body’s innate healing processes with no harmful side-effects.
The intention and modality of each session can be changed to most effectively meet your unique needs and intention. Some of the physical and mental/emotional results and symptoms we focus on in our Massage Therapy program at the Akasha Center are:
Our Team Who Specialize in Massage Therapy
Kevin Kunkel, MA, CMT
Certified Massage Therapist
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Kevin is a Somatic Therapist integrating the healing of the body and mind. He is a Certified Massage Therapist and LIcensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He has an MA in Clinical Somatic Psychology, additional certifications in Structural Integration and Hakomi Techniques for Bodyworkers, and has also taught breath work, yoga, and meditation for the past 15 years.
Armed with skillful hands, a precise knowledge of anatomy, and a mindful and sensitive presence, Kevin has an innate ability to sense what the nervous system needs to rejuvenate. As a Massage and Structural Integration Therapist, Kevin employs many massage modalities, including: medical massage, Swedish, deep tissue, structural integration/myofascial release, lymphatic drainage, Shiatsu, Thai yoga, Reiki, and a range of sensory re-patterning techniques.
Physically
- Relief of chronic or acute tightness in the tissues of the: neck, head, shoulders, low back, diaphragm, abdomen, hips, legs.
- Whole body detox through circulating fluids, toxins, stress hormones, etc. in all the soft-tissue of the body, or specifically through manual lymphatic drainage.
- Pain reduction and management for migraines, post-surgery, fibromyalgia, chronic illnesses.
- Guide and quicken the healing of injuries and restore movement and function of the area.
- Reduce or eliminate symptoms and restore function due to: carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, whiplash, sciatica, low back and psoas problems, tendonitis and bursitis, plantar fasciitis, frozen shoulder.
- Decrease scar tissue and the effect of adhesions on surrounding tissues.
- Reduce first and second degree postural deviations (structural holding patterns in the soft tissue.
Mentally/Emotionally
Therapeutic massage has been shown to improve one’s current and habitual mood and state of mind by significantly decreasing levels of stress hormones and stimulating the release and distribution of endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. These neuro-chemicals can be called your “happy juice”, and the more you have coursing through your system, the more you enjoy your day-to-day existence. It’s not uncommon for people to leave the massage table in a sate of acceptance and optimism – prepared to face life’s challenges.
People often find their time on the table a perfect opportunity to work through difficult issues in a relaxing, safe environment. If you choose to look further into these issues, our therapist is specifically trained in mindfulness techniques and psychosomatic strategies to help guide you in staying present to the thoughts, emotions, or images that arise, while linking it back to, and grounding it in, the present sensations, breath, and movement of the body.
It’s long been known that what we do not confront and process mentally and emotionally stores in our bodies on a cellular level, and manifests as physical pain, restriction, and disease. Bodywork loosens the hold that these stuck patterns and traumatic experiences have on our lives and gifts us the possibility to move forward in a freer, more empowered state.
