Marta Magaw

After 23 years of experience and training, I find the best approach to be persuasion and precision rather than force.

Massage pressure shouldn't go above "hurt so good" (except with scar tissue), at least not on purpose. The brain doesn't make good choices about the muscles when under threat (pain).  A lot of massage work and its level of effectiveness is about the brain: what the brain has decided about the length and tension in a particular muscle/soft tissue area.  I like to use enough pressure for the brain to know that I'm there ("hurt so good"), but not be sorry that I'm there, to know that the tissue has something going on and pay attention to my attempts to change it.  If I'm hurting you, that's all the brain can pay attention to.  Yes, please ask for more pressure if I'm not at "hurt so good," but don't ask for "as much as you can stand." Pain is not an effective long-term strategy.  Massage, combined with other inputs for the brain and soft tissue --- cupping, stretching, rocking, heat, etc. -- can be very effective without causing pain. Combine persuasion and precison with a thorough intake, a mutually-designed plan, and some post-massage self-care ideas and my clients get a really effective session that also feels wonderful.