Menu of Services

Description of Therapies

Structural Energetic Therapy®

Structural Energetic Therapy® (SET) is a body restructuring therapy that incorporates medical massage techniques and is based on the individual needs of the client. The SET therapist works from the client's problem areas and releases the specific areas of pain. Often, a structural imbalance is responsible for the soft tissue problems that cause the discomfort. The SET therapist restructures the body by releasing: the toxins and fluids in the muscles; inflammation; myofascial holding patterns; adhesions and scar tissue. Once the pain (usually the initial complaint) is reduced, the therapist works to release the other structural limitations that were responsible for allowing the body to maintain the structural imbalances that produced the pain. For example, in a whiplash injury, the neck muscles are treated and brought back into a more balanced position, resulting in reduced pain. To maintain this balance and achieve the maximum reduction in pain, the structural limitations and imbalances of the pelvis and thoracic need to be addressed. This will result in a total structural balance that supports the neck, enabling the neck to maintain its new pain-free structure.

SET was developed by Don McCann, MA, LMHC, LMT over 25 years ago and is constantly in a state of evolution. SET integrates cranial/structural techniques, myofascial unwinding, neuromuscular applications, myofascial restructuring, emotional energy release, acupressure, kinesiology and muscle testing, passive and active resistance, postural analysis, scar tissue and adhesion release, deep tissue therapy and rehabilitative massage.

What to Expect During a SET Treatment

A SET session begins with an evaluation that includes a written client intake form, a consultation to further access the client's condition, and postural analysis. Treatments usually begin with cranial/structural therapy to initiate a release of the body's holding patterns, and thereby begins the rebalancing. At this point, the client's body begins to unwind. This often releases enough tension to noticeably reduce spasms and pain symptoms, preparing the soft tissue for more extensive work.

Following the cranial releases, the SET therapist can work from the superficial myofascial layers to the deeper layers in the first session. The therapist uses a combination of myofascial restructuring, deep tissue therapy, scar tissue and adhesion-specific fiber techniques, active and passive resistance, rehabilitative massage, and allows for emotional energy releases. As the client's body unwinds and releases, the tight muscle fibers that are resisting the unwinding process are specifically addressed. Sincle the SET therapist can work from the superficial to deep layers in one session, the result is increased balance and pain relief beginning with the first session.

Each additional session starts with an evaluation of the client's progress, both subjectively and objectively. This is followed with a postural analysis to determine the limiting factor affecting recovery, and muscle testing to verify postural analysis observations. The treatment process is the same as in the first session, addressing the specific patterns and restrictions presented at the time.

Using applied kinesiology to find dysfunction and body reading to identify postural imbalances, SET treatments are the most effective and time efficient massage therapy practiced. The vast majority of people (approximately 99%) are born with a basic core distortion, or spiral distortion, affecting the whole body. Through an accumulation of repetitive motions, poor postural patterns, and gravity as well as physical, mental, and psychological compensations, the body tends to move into a progressive collapse of this core distortion which can result in painful symptoms, conditions, and restrictions throughout the body.

Clients with acute problems usually have more toxins, swelling, and inflammation in their soft tissues. These are addressed more than the myofascial changes initially. As the toxins, swelling, and inflammation are reduced, the emphasis shifts to the myofascial changes necessary to balance the overall structure.

Clients with chronic problems also need a similar sequence to those with acute problems. However, they usually do not notice a substantial reduction of pain until the structural changes are integrated. Their bodies have had more time to involve the entire structure in a distortion that supports the problem.

After SET Treatments

As the structure integrates into balance and support, clients will usually start to use their bodies more completely in their normal day-to-day activities. At this point, their bodies need to be strengthened to support their new structurally aligned posture. It is important for the clients to be aware that they may not be as strong as they feel, and to allow time to build strength before using their bodies in maximum effort (either in strength or endurance). If they overdo, they usually collapse back to their old structure and end up in pain, or strain muscle fibers that are not conditioned for heavy work. Exercises to strengthen the (intrinsic) stabilizing muscles are more helpful than exercises that strengthen the (extrinsic) muscles, large muscle groups, that move the body.

Sessions are scheduled based on the client's needs. In the early stages of treatment, clients may need to see the therapist as often as twice a week to initiate the tissue and structural changes. As the client's symptoms abate and structure is balanced, the sessions are optimally scheduled once a week. As a client maintains the new structure pain-free for a week, scheduling increases to ten days. When the client maintains the structure pain-free for ten days, scheduling moves to every two weeks, and so on as needed.

Because SET incorporates an integration from many body therapies, each SET therapist goes through an extensive training. This consists of a several-month program to become a licensed massage therapist, a graduate program of extensive hands-on training and practicum, and a certifying process. Most SET practitioners have years of practice in the medical massage field.

SET compliments standard medical treatments, chiropractic, and counseling both as a primary and an adjunct therapy.

SET addresses a host of conditions including headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, carpal tunnel, nerve entrapment, hip pain, knee pain, back pain, herniated or bulging discs, hiatal hernia, sciatica, arthritis, scoliosis, TMJ, fibromyalgia, tendonitis, whiplash, and many other complaints.

Acute and chronic pain conditions are treated with the client's needs in mind. YOU REALLY CAN FEEL BETTER!

Hawaiian Lomi Lomi

The ancient art of Hawaiian Lomi Lomi has been practiced for hundreds of years. The gift of healing was passed down to the chosen Kahuna (healer), who spent their life practicing the healing arts.

Aunty Margaret Machado whose massage career began at the tender age of 10, when her Kahuna grandfather gave her the blessing to be the healer of the family. An ancient tradition passed down in families from generation to generation, Lomi Lomi healing was practiced by the Kahunas (priests highly revered by the Hawaiians for their mastery of body manipulation and healing knowledge based upon their spirituality and deep connection to nature). Frequently, the village priest or Kahuna would train the successor to the family knowledge over a period of years to be sure of his or her abilities and sincerity in becoming a healer.

Aunty's family did not want her to teach Lomi Lomi outside of the native culture, but because she was raised in a missionary home, she wanted to share it. Aunty would say, The Lord wants me to share it. It's love work, and because I love the Lord, I'm going to teach.? And that's what she has done since the 1940's. Now retired, her teachings are carried on by her daughter Norita on the Big Island and by students who have asked for permission to teach her Loving Touch.

Aunty's philosophy is simple, yet profound. Aunty says, Lomi Lomi is a loving touch, letting them feel you. When they feel loving hands on their body, they'll respond: She loves me, she'll take good care of me, and I'm going to get well. It's your talk and your approach. They know that you love them. Getting them to relax their body so there will be no stress. It's love! If your hands are gentle and loving, your patient will feel the sincerity of your heart. His soul will reach out to yours.

Aunty also incorporated ho'oponopono, which she considered her special ingredient for healing. Ho'oponopono literally means to empty your heart and mind. Focus on the healing of your patient. Ho'oponopono also means to forgive yourself and others before the sunset. Aunty said that you couldn't go to sleep with a troubled mind or troubled heart.

After identifying the congested areas that need treatment, the Lomi Lomi practitioner uses static compression to facilitate relaxation of the muscles. Static compression is the primary tool for healing. The stretch and compression of the Lomi Lomi technique is done slowly and held. The body will subconsciously react at first by tightening the muscle but, after a few seconds, will relax with the comfortable compression of the forearm. Holding the compression allows the client to become aware of the tightness in the tissue and allows them to consciously relax.

Benefits of a Lomi Lomi session include: dilation of blood vessels, improvement of circulation, relief from muscle spasms, increase in the rate of nutrients brought to the muscles by the blood without increasing lactic acid production, stimulation of the lymphatic system to release waste products, dispersing edema in injured ligaments and tendons, restoration of vitality, increased metabolism and facilitation of emotional release.

Hawaiian Lomi Lomi the Loving Touch a connection between heart, hand and soul with the source of all life; it's a praying work. This is the legacy of Aunty Margaret Machado: our love flowing from the heart through the hands, a touch from soul to soul. Lomi Lomi a holistic treatment that soothes the body, mind and soul.