Therapeutic Massage
Transformative touch therapy.
our services
Therapeutic Massage
Revitalize your body and soothe your soul with transformative therapeutic massage at A Healer’s Hand + The Nest (AHH) in Madison, Wisconsin.
Therapeutic massage is an essential part of maintaining overall health and wellness. Widely recognized for its proven benefits, this healing practice can help relieve musculoskeletal pain, manage chronic conditions, reduce stress, and promote emotional balance.
Our massage therapy services focus on soft tissue manipulation to stimulate natural lymphatic drainage, improve circulation, support fluid balance, and boost immunity. In addition, our licensed providers are trained in a variety of Eastern and Western techniques, from acupressure and myofascial release to Swedish massage and reflexology.
At AHH, we take a highly personalized approach to therapeutic care. We work closely with you to create a custom treatment plan based on your unique individual needs. As a result, every session is designed is to help you restore balance — body, mind, and spirit.
Chinese Massage (Tui Na)
Swedish Massage
Fire Cupping
Deep Tissue
Acupressure
Reflexology
Hot Stone
Reiki
the benefits of massage therapy
Reduces stress + anxiety
Helps lower cortisol levels for redued overall stress and a heightened sense of relaxation.
Stimulates lymphatic drainage + flow
Manipulates the soft tissue, helping move lymph fluid for optimal immune function and detoxification.
Improves muscle tone + flexibility
Improves muscle tone and flexibility by breaking down adhesions and increasing blood flow.
Improves pregnancy outcomes
Reduces pregnancy-related pain and discomfort and helps naturally prepare the body for childbirth.
Relieves general aches + pains
Releases muscle tension and increases blood flow to promote healing and reduce inflammation.
Promotes overall health + well-being
Beneficial for a wide range of health conditions, from blood pressure to digestive issues.
Our Services
Therapeutic Massage
Part of an integrative health approach, therapeutic massage is a supportive therapy that can help prevent and heal illness, injury, and imbalance. A growing body of research highlights its many physiological and psychological benefits — including reduced pain, improved circulation, lower stress levels, and enhanced emotional well-being. When received regularly, massage therapy can play an important role in maintaining overall health and wellness.
types of massage therapy we offer
Acupressure
Acupressure is one of the oldest healing practices in the world, developed in Asia over 5,000 years ago. This ancient therapy uses gentle pressure from the fingertips to stimulate the body’s natural ability to heal.
Similar to acupuncture, acupressure works by activating specific energy points along the body. It is highly effective for relieving pain, restoring balance, and supporting overall wellness. Benefits of acupressure include stress reduction, improved circulation, deep relaxation, and a stronger immune response.
This holistic technique can be used to address both acute and chronic conditions. It may help relieve arthritis, headaches, muscular tension, spinal discomfort, and sinus issues. Acupressure also works well as a preventive therapy, offering natural relief for fatigue and everyday stress.
By promoting energetic balance, acupressure supports healing across mind, body, and spirit.
Chinese Massage (Tui Na)
Tui Na is a therapeutic massage technique rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. It involves applying pressure to specific points along the body’s energy channels — similar to acupuncture, but using the hands instead of needles.
By stimulating circulation and clearing energetic blockages, Tui Na helps restore balance and promote healing. This hands-on therapy can be especially effective for:
- Pain and inflammation
- Stress and anxiety
- Fatigue and insomnia
- Digestive problems
- Female health issues
- Fibromyalgia
Deep Tissue
Deep tissue massage is designed to realign deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. Unlike classic massage, which focuses on relaxation, this technique targets chronic tension, restricted movement, and long-standing muscular issues.
It’s especially helpful for addressing:
- Chronic pain
- Limited mobility
- Injuries and muscle strains
- Poor posture
- Osteoarthritis
- Recurring muscle tension
Chronic tension or injury often leads to the development of adhesions — bands of rigid, painful tissue in muscles, tendons, or ligaments. These adhesions can restrict circulation, trigger inflammation, and limit movement. Deep tissue massage helps break down adhesions by applying slow, firm pressure to reach the underlying tissue and restore function.
Some mild soreness or stiffness after treatment is common and typically subsides within a day.
Fire Cupping
Fire cupping is a traditional therapy that uses heat and suction to gently lift the skin, increase circulation, and release deep-seated tension. It can help relieve muscle tightness, reduce inflammation, and support detoxification — leaving you feeling relaxed and refreshed.
Hot Stone
Hot stone massage is a therapeutic technique that uses smooth, heated stones to gently release muscle tension and reduce musculoskeletal pain. The stones — ranging in temperature from 32° to 140°F — are strategically placed on key areas of the body to encourage circulation, ease stiffness, and promote relaxation.
This modality is typically performed in a similar style to traditional therapeutic massage, but with the added benefit of heat to deepen the effects of manual work. Many clients report feeling both deeply relaxed and re-energized following a session.
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release therapy is a gentle, hands-on technique that targets tension and restrictions within the body’s connective tissue (fascia). By applying sustained pressure and specific stretches, this method helps release tightness, improve mobility, and reduce pain.
The goal is to restore balance in the body and support overall well-being — physically, functionally, and energetically.
Reflexology
Reflexology is an ancient healing practice that involves applying pressure to specific points on the feet, hands, or ears. These points are believed to correspond with different organs and systems in the body.
By stimulating these reflex zones, reflexology can help:
- Reduce stress: Relieve tension and promote deep relaxation
- Restore balance: Support the body’s natural healing processes
- Identify areas of imbalance: Reveal physical or energetic tension within the body
While reflexology is not a cure-all, it serves as a supportive therapy for stress reduction, energetic balance, and overall well-being.
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is a relaxing bodywork technique that focuses on relieving muscle tension and promoting overall well-being. Rooted in the principles of traditional Chinese Tui Na, it combines smooth, rhythmic strokes with light to moderate pressure to encourage full-body relaxation.
Swedish massage can help:
- Improve circulation: Enhance blood flow to deliver oxygen and nutrients while flushing out waste products
- Accelerate recovery: Reduce muscle soreness and inflammation after injury or physical activity
- Increase flexibility: Stretch ligaments and tendons to support greater range of motion
- Promote well-being: Stimulate the skin and nervous system to reduce stress and support emotional balance
This gentle, restorative approach makes Swedish massage ideal for anyone seeking both physical relief and deep relaxation.