I've been a Licensed Massage Therapist for over 20yrs now. I love my job and helping people feel better! I prefer to warm up the muscles before I do any deep work so if you like quick deep massages you probably won't like my style ;) I have 2 locations - J & Company Spa in Altoona, Ia & Salon Essence in Monroe, Ia.

There's not much I haven't tried in modalities, but I have found a few I enjoy the most.

*Pregnancy massage- prenatal and post natal we actually had a pregnant student in my class at massage school so we got first hand pregnancy massage practice. this was her 3 pregnancy and with all the others she was put on bed rest because of toxemia or preeclampsia, but with massage everyday at school she didn't have to go on bedrest at all.

*Hot Stones are one of the first extras I learned after graduating massage school and it is still one of my favorites! Muscles just seem to melt under that smooth heat. I even use them in the summer time.

*Traditional Chinese Cupping was another one of my 1st classes after graduating from massage school and this has also been very helpful in softening the muscles with little effort on my part and little to no pain to the client.

*Chair Massage. I go to different businesses and offer employees 10-20 min chair massages! Great for work production and happier atmosphere.

*Traditional Thai Massage on the floor and on the table. I use this on my family at home so they don't have to undress & I don't have use oils on them. This is one of my favorite modalities to receive, but not to give. It is very physical and you have to get really close to the client.

*Coaching the body with Chuck Duff - this is a combination of Thai and trigger point therapy.

Use active and assisted movement

Compression, EPS, MET

Treat the shortening side (the muscle that is staying short or reacting while in short)

Manual feedback over muscles

Regional motion at first, progressing to larger integrative motion

*Vacuum therapy - Medicupping this is my newest modality still learning it.

Each body reacts uniquely to this accumulation of debris and stagnation, and we see examples of degeneration occurring at younger ages more than ever before. Ordinarily healthy people become fatigued and sluggish due to the cumulative effects of their lifestyle and eventually move into the “dis-eased” state. This may help to explain the high level of autoimmune disorders that exist.

Think about the elements of living today such as intake of medications, acidic diets, and a high-stress / no-rest pace, all producing a constant state of inflammation. This literally “cooks” the water right out of the body tissues. How many people actually absorb the water that they drink? Water is eliminated from the lymph as well, leaving it thick and unable to flow. This internal heat also fuses the soft tissue, closing the space between layers where the lymph should move freely.

Vacuum Therapy Machine

A vacuum therapy machine is a relatively recent invention that provides automatic suction. This allows the practitioner to deliver a more adjustable level of suction and can help reduce hand fatigue from repeated pumping of the manual cups.

*Lymphatic Drainage

*Detox (helps with addictions)

*Reduce Cellulite & Body Contouring

*Firm Skin - get elasticity back

*Can be used on the Facial muscles

Abbi Uitermarkt, LMT

VacuTherapy