Massage

Gabriela Aparicio, L.M.T. MA56415
I attended the National Personal Training Institute in Longwood, Florida, and became nationally certified in May of 2009. I bring to you much conviction, dedication and passion to the style of therapy I provide. I specialize in sports massage, myofascial release, deep tissue, pain management, P.N.F., relaxation, stretching and trigger point therapy. I belong to the Florida Sports Massage Team, FL State Massage Therapy Association and NBCTMB. 

I have a varied background in several sports including gymnastics, soccer and capoeira, and understand the physical and mental demands athletes endure. I have chosen to use my background in fitness to promote healing through touch, aid in injury recovery and manage pain to not only athletes, but also to those with wellness & balance in mind. I listen to what your body tells me and deliver my therapy accordingly. I am compassionate and empathetic to your needs and understand the importance of connecting with the right therapist. I am delighted to be a part of The Yoga Shala and feel that if I am not best suited for you, there are two other great therapists on board to choose from. Abundance abounds...much peace. If you would like to schedule a treatment, please call 321-663-3004, email info@gabymassage.com, or visit www.gabymassage.com. Hablo español.

Services

I offer the following modalities at my practice:

Deep Tissue
Sports
Medical
Trigger Point Therapy
Relaxation/Swedish
Chair Massage (please call for event booking)

Deep Tissue:
Deep tissue massage is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is especially helpful for chronically tense and contracted areas such as stiff necks, low back tightness, and sore shoulders. Some of the same strokes are used as classic massage therapy, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain. Deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement.

Sports Massage:
Massage has become an integral part of the new athletic regimen from sports medicine clinics, to college training rooms, to professional locker rooms to Olympic training. Growing number of trainers believe that massage can provide an extra edge to the athletes who participate in high performance sports. Massage has become a necessary ingredient for a complete workout. More and more people are realizing that a complete workout routine includes not only the exercise itself, but also caring for the wear-and-tear and minor injuries that naturally occur with strenuous movement. The physiological and psychological benefits of massage make it an ideal complement to a total conditioning program.

Anyone who routinely stretches their physical limits through movement such as running, cycling, hiking, swimming, dancing, tennis and other racquet sports, strength training and aerobics can benefit from a massage. There are others who does strenuous activities in a day that is not normally classified as exercise. Examples are mothers with small children, gardeners, and others who use their bodies strenuously in their work.

Benefits of Sports Massage

• reduce the chance of injury, through proper stretching and event preparation, and through deep tissue massage
• improve range of motion and muscle flexibility, resulting in improved power and performance
• shorten recovery time between workouts
• maximize the supply of nutrients and oxygen through increased blood flow
• enhance elimination of metabolic by-products of exercise

Trigger Point Therapy:
Combined positioning and specific finger or thumb pressure into trigger/tender points in muscle and connective tissue, to reduce the hypersensitivity, muscle spasms and referred pain patterns that characterize the point. Left untreated, such trigger/tender points often lead to restricted and painful movement of entire body regions.

Relaxation/Swedish:
Swedish massage uses five styles of long, flowing strokes to massage. The five basic strokes are effleurage (light touch), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), friction (compression), and vibration. Swedish massage has shown to be helpful in reducing pain, joint stiffness, and improving function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee over a period of eight weeks. The development of Swedish massage is credited to Per Henrik Ling though the Dutch practitioner Johan Georg Mezger adopted the French names to denote the basic strokes.

Chair Massage:
Most office-related physical symptoms can be attributed to loss of circulation. Tight muscles caused by stress and sitting behind a desk all day can impede blood and lymph flow. The result is mental fogginess, decreased energy and susceptibility to repetitive stress injuries, like carpal tunnel syndrome. Chair massage counters the circulatory problems inherent with office work—and provide a appreciated break for employees. Sitting in a massage chair opens up the back muscles, relieves strain on the neck and provides a gentle respite for eyes usually glued to a computer monitor.