Massage and Bodywork

Suzanne Eller, lmbt 7619 Offering massage therapy to clients in the Hickory, Newton-Conover, and the Catawba County Unifour areas of North Carolina, Suzanne Eller, LMBT #7619, is an independent massage & bodywork therapist.

Suzanne's office is at Body Balance II, 318 2nd Ave. NW, Hickory, NC. She offers a variety of services including Swedish, Deep Tissue, NMT, Reiki, Craniosacral Therapy, Hot Stones, Geriatric Massage, Touch For Health, & Lymph Drainage.

See Suzanne's full menu and qualifications below and on the Body Balance II Therapeutic Massage link.

Suzanne will individualize your session and work with you in a professional manner to help you achieve your health and well-being goals.

Please call her at 828-310-0161 to schedule an appointment.

Suzanne's Specials:
$5 off your first one-hour massage
$5 off all one-hour massages for seniors (60+) and educators .

Click Here to Buy an Instant Gift Certificate

Click Here to Book an Online Appointment

The Therapeutic Value of Massage

ancient massage Massage is one of the oldest forms of healing arts, used as far back as 3,000 years ago. The earliest records are found in China and Egypt, but nearly every other ancient culture in the world recognized the value of touch and of manipulation of the soft tissues to relieve stress and pain, to prevent injury, and to prevent and cure illness.

Today, massage therapy is a highly respected form of holistic healing and is practiced all over the world. There are numerous massage modalities, and some of these have their roots in the past as sacred healing techniques.

Modern massage techniques manipulate the soft tissues and muscular structures of the body to reduce stress, fatigue and pain by improving circulation and lymph flow. Bodywork therapies also address issues involving range of movement and manipulate the energy field to help the body heal itself. Please see the lists of physiological benefits and psychological benefits of massage in the sidebar.

It is beyond the range of practice for massage therapists to diagnose, prescribe, or perform adjustments. Massage therapists must be licensed in North Carolina.

Experts estimate that up to 90% of disease is stress-related. This makes massage and bodywork an important ally in keeping us healthy and in slowing the aging process. In response to massage, beneficial physiological and chemical changes cascade through our bodies. Making a regularly scheduled massage part of your self-care can slow-down the aging process and keep disease at bay.

Suzanne Eller's Qualifications

Suzanne Eller, LMBT #7619, graduated from The Whole You School of Massage and Bodywork and practices massage as in independent contractor at Body Balance II Therapeutic Massage in downtown Hickory NC. She is certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) and licensed by the state of North Carolina. She is on staff at the Upledger Institute as a teaching assistant for Craniosacral Therapy.

Suzanne is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association, the Touch for Health Kinesiology Association, the International Association of Healthcare Practitioners, and the International Association of Reiki Practitioners.

Suzanne offers the following modalities at Body Balance II:

Swedish Massage: Considered to be traditional massage and one of the most widely practiced and best-known massage techniques, Swedish Massage provides the client with a general sense of relaxation and well-being. It is particularly useful for improving circulation of the blood and lymph. This in turn increases cell nutrition and thus speeds healing from injury or strain while lowering blood pressure and relieving stress. The client generally disrobes to the level at which he/she is comfortable and is covered by a sheet except for the area of the body receiving therapy. 1/2 hour=$35; 1 hour=$60
Deep Tissue Massage Therapy: Deep tissue therapy is used in conjunction with other techniques when needed. The therapist must understand the layers of the body's tissue and uses slow, deep stokes to relax, lengthen, and release holding patterns in the myofascial system. There is less emphasis on relaxation and more emphasis on altering the structure, improving posture, and alleviating pain.

Contrary to popular understanding, deep tissue massage should not cause pain. The therapist should approach the tissue slowly so that the deep fascia and muscle tissue "melt" and allow for deeper and deeper penetration. Deep fascia and muscle tissue is both stretched and compressed to bring about a release. Used in conjunction with muscle reeducation, deep tissue therapy is sometimes called medical massage and is effective in treating old or chronic injuries as well as newer injuries that are past the acute stage. The client generally disrobes to the level at which he/she is comfortable and is covered by a sheet except for the area of the the body receiving therapy. 1/2 hour=$35; 1 hour=$60
Neuromuscular Therapy: Neuromuscular Therapy or NMT is a technique that uses soft tissue manipulation to balance the central nervous system with the musculoskeletal system. It is considered to be one of the primary Deep Tissue Massage modalities and is sometimes called Myotherapy, depending on variations of the technique according to developers, or Trigger-point Therapy because of its focus on tiny contractions in the muscles that cause pain and limitations on movement. By addressing the underlying causes of pain and dysfunction, NMT relieves trigger points that cause taut bands and referred pain as well as postural alignment or flexibility problems. Working to release chronic patterns of tension, the therapist will work more slowly and more deeply than when giving Swedish massage. The client generally disrobes to the level at which he/she is comfortable and is covered by a sheet except for the area of the body receiving therapy. 1/2 hour=$35; 1 hour=$60
Craniosacral Therapy : Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle but powerful hands-on treatment that facilitates the body's own self-healing mechanisms. Pioneered by Dr. William Sutherland and further developed by Dr. John Upledger, Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is supported by extensive and ongoing scientific research, as well as over fifty years of success in clinical and therapeutic settings.

The therapist places her hands on the client's body using a very light touch of only five grams. While following the subtle body rhythms and in particular the rhythm of the cranio-sacral fluid, the therapist is able to detect imbalances and restrictions in the cranio-sacral system and the various body systems it enervates, including soft tissues, joints, glands, organs, and systems Once the nature of the restrictions is determined, the therapist gently assists the body in unwinding or letting them go, allowing balance to be restored. The client can remain clothed for the session, or CST can be combined with other forms of massage. For a more detailed explanation of Craniosacral Therapy, please click here. 1/2 hour=$35; 1 hour=$60
SomatoEmotional Release SomatoEmotional Release is an adjunct to Craniosacral Therapy. Even when Craniosacral Therapy releases tissue restrictions in body, sometimes trauma remains as an energetic signature long after the physical healing has occurred. It is as if the body's somatic memory holds onto the trauma. SomatoEmotional release uses the concepts of Craniosacral Therapy and the strong body/mind connection to release emotional trauma located in somatic memory and the resolve physical symptoms that result from trauma.

Dr. John E. Upledger discovered that the body frequently holds onto the emotional imprint of physical, mental, or emotional trauma or shock. These energetic imprints, which may result from intense feelings that occurred at the time of injury, leave residues in the body called "energy cysts." The body/mind's response to such a traumas is to energetically enclose it and then to compensate around the injury. Thus, it's a bit like water finding a new path around a dam— we adapt to our energy cysts so that we can continue functioning in the world. However, this adaptation means that the body requires extra energy to continue performing everyday functions. Consequently, the body's adaptive pattern becomes less and less effective, and new symptoms appear. Finally, the body can no longer suppress or ignore the energy cyst.

SomatoEmotional Release allows the body to communicate its needs to the therapist through the rhythm of the craniosacral fluid and through the therapist's use of specific imaging and dialoguing techniques. The energy cyst can then be released gently, often without the client needing to analyze the trauma. In fact, the body often spontaneously returns to the position it was in when the injury was first sustained and releases the imprint in that position. Directed energy from the therapist to the client is also used along with fascial releases and other therapeutic techniques. Then the therapist can feel the tissues of the body relax as the energy cyst is dissolved.

SomatoEmotional Release helps free energetic patterns of trauma and injury from the body/mind, thus eliminating symptoms and increasing optimal healthy physical, emotional, and mental functioning. 1/2 hour=$35; 1 hour=$60
Hot Stones Massage: Hot stones massage is an extraordinarily relaxing modality that integrates thermotherapy (heat therapy) with basic relaxation massage. It has all benefits listed earlier of massage in general, but the heat of the stones produces additional vasodilation and increased circulation of fluids over the area being worked. Venous dilation can dissolve adhesions, masses, and congestion in tissues and organs. Cold stones are used on the face. The client feels the heat to the bone and yet pressure is firm but light. Safety is of the utmost concern, and the temperature of the stones is checked constantly. The client generally disrobes to the level at which he/she is comfortable and is covered by a sheet except for the area of the body receiving therapy. 1 hour=$70
Geriatric Massage: Geriatric massage, or elder massage, addresses the psychological and physiological aspects of aging and its associated diseases. All the benefits of massage are present. For the ambulatory senior, these benefits can have added value. For example, improvement in circulation can prevent the complications of diabetes such as leg ulcers or gangrene, and passive stretches and strokes that increase range of motion can have a profound impact on the quality of life of an arthritis sufferer. A chief way massage helps seniors is to combat depression and physical pain by releasing endorphins (natural pain killers and mood elevators) into the system.

Geriatric massage is more than modified Swedish massage. The therapist will individualize the massage in many ways, including the position of the client on the table, bolstering and support pillows used, the lubricant used, and the length of the massage. The older person's skin may be thinner, or the client may suffer from osteoporosis, so pressure will need to be lighter and slower.

The therapist will do a complete health history before your massage. Please have a list of your medications and diagnoses with you when you arrive at the office. Blood thinners can cause bruising and bleeding internally, so your doctor needs to approve massage if you take these. Likewise, if you have serious health issues such as cancer or Parkinson's disease, you will need a doctor's approval to get the massage. Other contraindications for massage include broken bones or body areas that are inflamed, swollen or bruised; open or unhealed sores; varicose veins (area of veins cannot be massaged); severe acute pain; certain heart conditions; a history of blood clots (may become dislodged and travel to the lungs as a result of massage). Again, speak to your doctor before the massage, or the therapist may refuse to treat you. Senior discount: 1/2 hour=$30, 1 hour=$50
Contrast Hydrotherapy: Heat relaxes the tissues and brings fresh, oxygenated blood to the area and carries out toxic wastes. Cold relieves swelling and reduces the pain of injury. Contrast Hydrotherapy uses both by alternating heat and cold, which can be more comfortable than cold by itself. Contrast Application is a powerful treatment that increases local blood flow (and thus cell nutrition and healing) by up to 100% and creates and effect known as the Vascular Flush that helps the body flush the toxins that may be making the client feel stiff and sore. It enables the therapist to go deeper into the muscles without causing the client discomfort and thus getting to the root causes of the client's pain. The client must follow the treatment with a walk of at least 15 minutes, a warm bath including one cup of apple cider vinegar to further pull out toxins, and intake of at least 1/2 oz. of water for each pound of body weight to further flush the system. The treatment begins with heat and ends with cold in a repeating sequence of 6-8 times. Client can be partially clothed if only one part of the body is being addressed in the work. A sheet drape is used to cover the client except for the area of the body receiving therapy. 1 hour=$70; 90 minutes=$100
Gentle Myofascial Release: The fascia is the thin sheet of connective tissue that covers every structure in the body. Furthermore, this single sheet of tissue is uninterrupted as it travels 3-dimensionally from head to toe, front to back, and interior to exterior. It provides a matrix for intercellular communication and acts as the body's first line of defense against disease and injury. This single sheet of 3-D fascia envelopes, supports, and protects every structure in the body, including every single one of the six trillion body cells; every muscle fiber, muscle and muscle group; every bone, blood vessel, nerve and organ. Fascia literally holds the whole body together and gives the body its shape. If one part of the body's fascia is contracted or injured, it can affect tissue all over the body, just as stretching a thread on a sweater can pull the whole sweater out of proper alignment.

Just as Deep Tissue Massage works on the deep fascia, Gentle Myofascial Release works on the superficial fascia. By applying very light, gentle pressure, the therapist can keep the fascial sheath from contracting in response to a perceived injury and can coax it into relaxing, which in turn allows tendons, ligaments, and muscles to relax. It is a particularly good therapy for clients who scar tissue that restricts movement and for those who have fibromyalgia or similar pain and cannot tolerate deeper manipulative pressure. Depending on the extent of the massage, the client may remain clothed except for the body area receiving therapy. 1/2 hour=$35; 1 hour=$60
Muscle Energy Technique/Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation/Joint Mobilization: Joint Mobilization is used to restore and increase range of motion to joints and their surrounding tissues that have been injured or that have become weakened by disuse, disease, and aging. For example, an ankle that has been severely sprained may employ "splinting" of the muscle to prevent further injury. If the muscle remains rigid long after the sprained ankle has healed, it can cause pain and limited movement when there is no real cause for it (other than the nerve endings have a memory of the injury). These joint mobilization techniques can reteach the nerves that normal movement of the ankle joint will no longer cause tears to the ligaments. The muscles can relax and normal range of motion can be regained.

Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) are techniques of joint mobilization that utilize isometrics (when the muscle contracts but does not move) and isotonics (the muscle contracts and either gets shorter or it fatigues and relaxes) along with therapist-assisted stretching and movement. Both MET and PNF improve range of motion in the skeletal joints to a greater extent than conventional static stretching can accomplish. Both reset the neurological transmitters so that chronically tight, contracted muscles release their reactive reflex response to injury and retain their relaxed state for longer and longer periods. Both build the strength of the affected muscles. They are particularly good for repetitive stress injuries.

MET and PNF are effective methods for mobilizing restricted joints, relaxing hypertonic and spastic muscles, and facilitating neuromuscular reorganization. Clients whose symptoms are aggravated by certain postures, bodily positions, or repetitive movements may experience changes in mobility and reduction in pain almost immediately, and these can last if the postures, positions, or movements can be eliminated from the lifestyle. If not, they can provide relief and prevent further injury.

Clients may remain clothed if MET/PNF are the only modalities being employed. 1/2 hour=$35; 1 hour=$60
Postural Analysis/Structural Rebalancing: One of the remarkable qualities of connective tissue is its tremendous capacity for change; its plasticity. Fascia is very responsive to stress demands in the body, quickly adding more tissue when stress in an area increases. Fortunately, the reverse is also true; connective tissue will loosen up and melt when stress in an area decreases. It is this process which is at the basis of how Structural Rebalancing achieves its results

Using a plumb line, the therapist evaluates the client's posture, including shoulder height, hip height, pelvic tilt, spinal curvature, arm and leg length, and joint rotation or torque. Based on these deviations, the therapist then determines which muscles are tight and which are weak and are thus causing the postural problem and muscular pain. Using Gentle Myofascial Release Techniques and muscle reeducation techniques such as MET/PNF, the structural imbalance can usually be corrected and pain can be alleviated. Similarly, the newly rebalanced body feels more graceful and light as it rediscovers its center of gravity and the core becomes stronger. The client wears a swim suit or underwear for the evaluation and is covered by a sheet on the massage table. A 90 minute session must be scheduled. 90 minutes=$100
Touch for Health^® Kinesiology: Touch for Health^® Kinesiology is a safe and practical touch-healing process of balancing the body's natural energies to ease discomfort of common aches, pains and stresses of daily living. It is a combination of ancient Chinese principles and recent Western developments in wellness and preventive health care. It uses muscle testing to let the body speak for itself and tell the client and practitioner what needs to be corrected. Then by using techniques such as tapping, meridian balancing, and color therapy, the imbalances are corrected and retested. Touch for Health concentrates on preventive health care and on the elimination of stress and the effects of trauma on the body/mind. The client is clothed during a session.

Suzanne is a member of the Touch for Health Kinesiology Association. Click here to read more about Touch for Health. 1/2 hour=$35; 1 hour=$60
Reiki: Pronounced ray-key, Reiki is a Japanese word meaning Universal Life Force, or Life Energy. It is the energy that is all around us and within us and through us.

Reiki is a system of natural healing that was developed in Japan in the early part of the twentieth century by Dr. Makao Usui. Dr. Usui spent many years meditating and studying ancient teachings. Once he had discovered the techniques of Reiki, he spent the rest of his life practicing and teaching Reiki. Today, Usui Reiki is taught by Reiki masters to students and so continues to be passed down in a direct line from Dr. Usui. There is no belief system attached to Reiki, so anyone can receive or learn to give Reiki treatments. The only prerequisite is the desire to be healed.

Receiving a Reiki treatment is a simple process. The client lies on the massage table and relaxes. There is no need to remove any clothing as Reiki will pass through anything, even plaster casts. The therapist gently places her hands on the client or just above the client's body in a series of positions. The whole person is treated, and because Reiki is energy, it goes to where it is needed. The client may feel warmth or tingling and experiences a feeling of great relaxation.

Click here to read more about Reiki and about Reiki classes. 1/2 hour=$35; 1 hour=$60
Polarity Therapy: Polarity therapy was developed in the 1950s by Dr. Randolph Stone out of his experience as an osteopath/chiropractor/naturopath and his study of systems of healing in India and China. Alan Siegel further developed the therapy. Siegel's student, Dr. Richard Overly taught Sandra Tompkins. Overly and Tompkins are also teachers of Gentle Bioenergetics. Tompkins is Suzanne's teacher.

Polarity Therapy teaches that there is a life energy flowing through and around the body that forms a matrix for the body. In other words, there is an energy pattern that underlies the physical body. Many cultures in the world have a term for this life energy such as qui, chi, prana, ki, ruach, and orgone. If the energy gets blocked, it can cause dysfunction which may appear in the body as pain, soreness, or tightness. Trauma may occur to the body distorting the energy pattern. Usually the energy will rebalance itself, but when this does not happen, Polarity Therapy can assist the rebalancing. Polarity Balances are not a substitute for medical evaluation or care.

The body work of Polarity Therapy consists of specific manipulations aimed at releasing tension and holding patterns in the physical body and then balancing the life energy. The client's body is not stroked or kneaded. In fact, sometimes the therapist works with the hands off the body or through a molded contact with body which is sometimes combined with gentle rocking that helps to release physical tension patterns and encourages the energy to move. A deeper, more penetrating touch which can break up chronic, deep congestion in the tissues and enliven the area. As well as discovering where the body needs releasing at a physical level, the therapist tunes in to the underlying energy patterns and flows and encouraging their movement. 1/2 hour=$35; 1 hour=$60
Reflexology: Reflexology is a gentle complimentary therapy based on the principle that there are reflex areas in the feet and hands that correspond to all of the glands, organs and parts of the body. It is really a whole body treatment that is given through massage and manipulation of the feet. The client is clothed unless he or she wants other bodywork done, and reflexology is often worked into Swedish or other whole body massage.

Crystalline deposits of waste products, usually calcium and uric acid, can accumulate around nerve endings on the foot. Working on a point helps crush the crystals and stimulate circulation so that the lymph system can more easily eliminate the toxins. By working on the whole foot, the whole body is reintegrated, energy can flow, and a healthy equilibrium is restored.1/2 hour=$35; 1 hour=$60
Raindrop Therapy: The Raindrop Technique layers nine therapeutic grade essential oils along the spine and over the back, combining aroma therapy, massage techniques and heat from hot towels to provide an amazing massage experience. The technique was popularized by Dr. Gary Young, who learned a version of it from Lakota medicine man, Wallace Black Elk. In Lakotan Native American healing practices, healers sweep a feather upwards along the spine in imitation of the Northern Lights, which are revered for their healing energy. Young combined that idea with Stanley Burroughs Vita-Flex protocol to create the Raindrop technique where the therapist's fingertips simulate the actions of the Lakotan feather. The vibrational and healing properties of the oils stimulate every organ, muscle and bone of the body at a cellular level. Raindrop Therapy helps the body to detoxify and boosts the immune system. It activates structural and electrical whole body alignment. Click here to read more about Raindrop Therapy. 1 hour=$70
Corporate Chair Massage: Employers who offer chair massage to employees soon reap the benefits of this excellent incentive and reward. Studies show that relaxed workers perform their jobs better especially since over 50% of lost work days are reported to be stress-related. Stress at the workplace also increases accidents and attrition. A fifteen-twenty minute chair massage relieves employee stress. Employers report increased alertness, speed and accuracy after an onsite chair massage.

Event planners and trade show hosts are finding that onsite chair massage draws in potential clients and keeps them there to hear the company's message. Offering chair massage is at an event provides a valuable and desirable service, is convenient and economical, and is flexible enough to suit the requirements of the space and the host. Typically 1 hour=$60 plus travel expenses. Call for quote.
Theta Healing: Theta Healing is not a massage and bodywork modality although is is an incredible healing technique. For more information on Theta Healing, please click this link. Phone or in-person: 1 hour=$60