Imagine with me:
You've had a busy week at your desk typing and stressing everyday, you feel like your shoulders are more rock than tissue so you schedule a massage.
You walk into a dimly lit room, soothing blue and rich purples surround you as the smell of orange and lavender fill your body. The soothing sounds of guitar fill your mind.
You get undressed and climb into a table more comfortable than clouds ever could be. You pull the warm soft sheet over you floating almost to dreamland before the massage even begins. Aching muscles begin to let go as you sink into relaxation.
Your therapist walks in and takes her thumbs straight into your boulder of shoulder.
This serene place suddenly becomes a torture chamber.
All the luxuries you felt getting onto the table are replaced with this epic battle of strength between your therapist and the stress in your shoulders.
But it's okay, pain is temporary.... this therapist will whip your muscles into shape come hail or high water. An hour later you leave feeling that the relaxing room is now mocking you and your now bruised shoulders. But that's what everyone said you needed... a DEEP tissue massage, right?
Now imagine that instead of thumbs your neck received a broad stroke starting at the base of your head traveling down your shoulders. The session continues with pressure you wouldn't associate with deep tissue until you drift off to what I like to call massage twilight, where you can feel touch but your mind is relaxed so far as to where it's difficult to answer questions. After the session you get up feeling a little like a wet noodle all thoughts of pain gone replaced with relaxation and stability.
Which session would you rather have?
My goal is to take the boxing gloves out of the massage room. 
We cannot fight your muscles into submission,
we must work with your own bodies rhythm to let it relax on it's own.
Massage therapy is team work.
I can't make your body do anything it does want to do.
I use subtle touch on tight muscles to make the body aware of it's congestion.
If there is a particular tense spot it may take a few sessions to remind the body it enjoys being lose instead of a rock but we will get there with mild intensity and never pain.
