Massage and Bodywork

Therapeutic massage

Massage can do many things well. It can address the neck and shoulders that tighten after long hours at a desk, tired legs after training, a stubborn area that never quite seems to let go — or simply provide an hour in which the body can deeply relax.

Our approach is therapeutic and individualized. We begin by asking what hurts, what your days ask of your body, what has been treated before, and what you would like to be different by the end of the session. The work that follows is shaped around those answers.

Massage with Tammy

Tammy is both a New York State licensed massage therapist and licensed acupuncturist, with many years of experience and an unusually broad range of hands-on skills.

Rather than asking you to choose among a long list of massage styles when you book, we keep it simple: choose how much massage time you would like, and Tammy will tailor the treatment to you.

Her work draws from therapeutic and deep tissue massage, tui na, orthopedic and sports massage, prenatal massage, foot reflexology, and other manual techniques. Manual Lymph Drainage is also available when appropriate.

Some people come with a very specific problem: a stiff neck, low back pain, a troublesome shoulder, repetitive strain, or muscles that aren’t recovering well from exercise. Others simply want an excellent massage and the deep relaxation that comes with it. Both are good reasons to come.

If you know that you prefer deep tissue, want particular attention paid to your feet, are pregnant, or have another specific request, tell us when you book or at the beginning of your session. Otherwise, you don’t need to decide which technique you need ahead of time. Tammy will draw from the approaches that make the most sense for you.

How Tammy works

A session can be full-body or focused almost entirely on one or two areas. Pressure can range from gentle to quite deep and is adjusted both to your preference and to how your body responds.

Deep work does not have to mean painful work. When more pressure is useful, Tammy works gradually and specifically rather than simply pushing harder. If you find yourself bracing or holding your breath, the pressure is probably no longer helping.

For more focused musculoskeletal work, treatment may address the muscles and soft tissues surrounding a painful or restricted area and incorporate stretching, mobilization, or other orthopedic techniques. This can be particularly useful for neck and back pain, shoulder problems, repetitive strain, sports and exercise-related tension, and restricted movement.

Massage cream is used rather than oil, allowing Tammy to move easily between flowing massage and more specific hands-on techniques.

Tui na

Tui na (推拿) is the traditional manual therapy of Chinese medicine and an important part of Tammy’s background. It includes techniques such as rolling, kneading, pressing, stretching, and mobilization, and works with many of the same points and channel pathways used in acupuncture.

Because Tammy is trained in both massage therapy and acupuncture, she can incorporate tui na naturally into a massage rather than treating it as an entirely separate style of bodywork. It is particularly useful when working with muscular tension, pain, restricted movement, and musculoskeletal problems.

Its close relationship to acupuncture also makes tui na a natural part of treatments that combine acupuncture and massage.

Combining massage and acupuncture

Sometimes acupuncture is enough. Sometimes hands-on treatment is enough. And sometimes the two work particularly well together.

Acupuncture allows us to work very specifically with pain and patterns of muscular tension and restriction, while massage and manual therapy allow more time to work directly with the surrounding muscles, soft tissues, and movement of the area. For musculoskeletal problems especially, combining the two can be very useful.

Tammy offers acupuncture with 30, 60, or 90 minutes of massage, so the amount of hands-on work can be matched to what you need.

Manual therapy with Adele

Adele also uses focused manual therapy as part of acupuncture treatment when it is clinically useful, particularly for musculoskeletal problems such as neck and back pain, shoulder restriction, repetitive strain, and other orthopedic complaints.

This is not offered as a separately bookable massage service. When additional hands-on treatment would be helpful, Adele may recommend adding 15 or 30 minutes to the acupuncture appointment. Because that requires additional time in the schedule, these appointments are arranged directly rather than offered as a standard online add-on.

What to expect

At the beginning of your session, Tammy will ask what brings you in, about relevant injuries or medical history, what kind of pressure you prefer, and what you want from the treatment.

You can ask for full-body massage or spend the entire appointment on a few areas. If your neck, shoulders, and upper back need the whole hour, that is a perfectly good use of the time.

You undress to your own level of comfort and remain professionally draped with a sheet throughout the treatment. Tammy is highly skilled in draping, uncovering only the area she is working on while keeping the rest of the body comfortably covered.

Please let her know at any point if you would like more or less pressure, if something is uncomfortable, or if you would prefer an area not be treated. You are equally welcome to talk, fall quiet, or drift off to sleep.

When massage needs to be modified

Please tell us about recent surgery or injury and any significant medical condition that could affect treatment. Certain medications, including blood thinners, may require a change in pressure or technique.

Massage should generally be postponed during a fever, contagious illness, or active infection. We do not massage directly over an open wound, an acute injury that requires medical assessment, or a known or suspected blood clot.

Please also tell us if you are pregnant, have osteoporosis, have been treated for cancer, or have had lymph nodes removed. These circumstances do not necessarily prevent massage, but they may change how treatment is approached.

Booking

Massage with Tammy can be booked on its own or combined with acupuncture.

You do not need to choose a particular type of massage. Simply choose how much massage time you would like. If you have a particular request or concern, you can include it when booking or discuss it with Tammy when you arrive.

CranioSacral Therapy and Ortho-Bionomy with Connie are offered separately and have their own page.

Common questions

Which kind of massage should I book?

You don’t need to choose. Book the amount of massage time you would like with Tammy, and she will tailor the session to you. If you have a particular preference or request, just let her know.

Can I come in just for a relaxing massage?

Absolutely. You don’t need to have an injury or specific complaint. Sometimes what you need is simply a really good massage.

What if I want the whole session spent on one area?

That’s completely fine. An hour devoted to the neck, shoulders, and upper back can be much more useful than trying to fit in a full-body massage when one area needs the attention.

Can I combine massage and acupuncture?

Yes. Tammy offers acupuncture combined with 30, 60, or 90 minutes of massage. This can be particularly useful for musculoskeletal pain, injury, repetitive strain, and restricted movement.

Can I book massage with Adele?

Adele incorporates focused manual therapy into acupuncture treatment when she feels it will be useful, but does not offer general massage as a separately bookable service. If additional hands-on treatment is appropriate, she may recommend extending the acupuncture appointment.

Is massage safe during pregnancy?

Massage can be adapted during pregnancy. Tell us how far along you are and about any pregnancy-related concerns when booking so that treatment and positioning can be appropriately modified.

Will my insurance cover massage?

Coverage for massage varies considerably by insurance plan. We are out-of-network and can check your benefits on request.