The modalities below are listed simply to give an idea of what types of techniques you may experience in a treatment, and each is linked to a site which gives a usably-accurate definition, in case you are curious and wish to learn more. However, rather than stressing at all about which technique to choose or request, it is generally best to just talk with Alex about what issues you wish to address and together, work to find a combination of styles that will give you the optimum therapeutic effect in a comfortable, ethical, and efficient manner. Certainly, if you're interested in specifically experiencing one modality, such as polarity or craniosacral, feel free to mention that when booking your appointment. Otherwise, just let the body tell its story!

• Myofascial/Connective Tissue Therapy (aka “Deep Tissue Massage”) - for those who already receive massages, this is probably the most familiar-feeling modality on the list, but the Tuned Being approach to deep tissue is to follow the tendons, muscles, and bones according to how they weave into the complex network of fascia (collectively known as connective tissue) that permeates our bodies and ubiquitously integrates with literally every type of cell in the human organism. I use this method of navigating with the fascia because, while postural and positional compensations made by the body often bring pain, the fascia almost always knows the way back to the original neutral place: it just needs room to move. It is not necessary to bulldoze the terrain: the fascia has the map. With connective tissue therapy, even deep tissue work can feel good.

• Triggerpoint Therapy - this modality involves applying steady strong pressure with the goal of releasing “knots” in the muscles, which are typically stuck pockets of hyaluronic acid (a liquid connective tissue that occurs in many areas of the body). Persistent knots that limit mobility can form adhesions, both in the adjacent tendon-like sleeves of fascia in the surrounding individual muscle fibers, and also potentially with nearby bones or even organs, and those adhesions can sometimes cause referred pain elsewhere.

• Pre/Post Sports Event Massage - similar in some ways to Olympic (or “Swedish”) Massage, the purpose of sports massage is to tonify or “tune up” the muscles, allowing the athlete to access peak performance more smoothly, or to wind down from the heightened physical and mental stress of a competitive event (which may hit before or after the event takes place). It pairs extremely well with tuina and neural resets, all of which can be done fully-clothed. Different sports require different techniques: Alex has worked with triathletes, martial artists, gymnasts and dancers, and actors/stunt performers. The same philosophies apply for employee appreciation and office wellness events: an excellent way take care of your team!

• Chi Nei Tsang - like all the modalities on this list, chi nei tsang works via the diverse interconnections of the fascial system, this time centering on the internal organs, and working outward through the same physical channels used by traditional acupuncture. Using abdominal massage techniques which are so gentle and comfortable that many clients fall asleep while receiving the work, viscera in the abdomen is given the authority to realign itself to a more-optimum default position, which over time creates a cascade of lasting positive effects throughout the body. Chi nei tsang is excellent therapy many lymphatic, blood, and endocrine issues, metabolism and dietary inflammation, detox support, insomnia, and dozens of other conditions and indications, and unlike most modalities, the basic techniques can be effectively self-applied, making it a true gem overall.

• Injury/Surgery Recovery - very similar to sports massage, only much gentler and often much more precisely-focused, recovery massage focuses on restoring optimum range of motion and tone to tissues which have been subject to injury or surgery.

• Reflexology - with this set of techniques, we see once again that the fascia is the most valuable player on the team: highly-detailed and often uncanny in its effects, reflexology accesses remote areas of the body via soles of the feet, the palms of the hands, surface of the ears, and points on the scalp and face. As things can be treated without being directly manipulated, reflexology is an excellent supportive therapy for injury/surgery recovery, cancer treatment regimens, and many broadly- or poorly-defined conditions like headaches, constipation, fibromyalgia, trauma, and all types of inflammation.

• Ayurvedic Polarity Therapy - a truly special and profound modality which must be experienced, polarity therapy works through harmonic resonance of subtle electromagnetic fields looping through both the client and the therapist. With far-reaching implications and modern research spanning fields from athletic and military psychology to veterinary science, well-applied polarity therapy can do absolutely astounding work, even for real challenges like addiction, depression, and anxiety.

• Craniosacral Therapy - once more, the connective tissue system is star of the show, this time through the skull and the thick layers of fascia surrounding the brain, central nervous system, polyvagal system, and extending into the peripheral nervous system. The balance of cerebrospinal fluid and various hormones and neurotransmitters can be optimized by appropriate levels of alternating mobilization and immobilization: movements are directed by the client’s own unique cranial respiratory rhythm to help ensure results that are specific and safe, simultaneously. Maybe the best supportive therapy for traumatic brain injuries, whiplash, migraines, sciatica, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinsons, and PTSD, craniosacral therapy is the big guns: other than food and water, nothing in the Tuned Being toolbox works at a deeper level.

• Neural Reset Therapy - based on the innate physiological principle of reciprocal inhibition, in which the body uses specialized connective tissue cells called Golgi tendon organs to unconsciously relax muscles whose flexion would otherwise limit the voluntary movement of other muscles, neural reset therapy can target specific muscles and muscle groups. Quick and gentle, it blends seamlessly with every modality on this list, and can also stand on its own.

• Manual Lymph Drainage - a teachable and self-applicable technique proven to promote relief from lymphatic congestion, which can be caused by a myriad of different sources, the most common arguably being allergic or dietary inflammation, obstructions caused by scar tissue or illness, and immunosuppressant or heavy metal -based drugs, just to name a few. Manual lymph drainage shares many similarities in principle with connective tissue therapy, but it uses very light pressure, relying more on lateral movements of the connective tissue layers right under the skin. Both techniques do promote lymphatic drainage, but gentleness is better suited in specific cases, and the process can be pivotal for clients working with severe edema, gout, shingles, chemotherapy neuropathy, varicose veins, burns, and other conditions which can cause extreme skin sensitivity.

• Nutrition and Herbal Consultations - personalized specific general recommendations come as a part of holistic bodywork, but based on a great deal of research and though on the subject, I truly believe that what we eat accounts for somewhere between 60-80% of whatever constitutes our total health “score,” if such a thing can be thusly illustrated: you are quite literally making and running your physical body (at least) with the molecules absorbed from your food and water. So, if (now or eventually) you wish to really go deep into these topics, possibly even create a food diary (you can start that immediately) or take a dosha quiz so we can analyze potential links and gaps in your personal nutrition process as they relate to extant or potential health issues, interface about supplements, omissions, substitutions, and gain knowledge of pertinent herbal and essential oil blends you might find useful, then please get in touch and we can go over some options: personal nutrition is highly subjective, which is especially important to consider in family situations: people have specific and often strongly-contrasting nutritional needs.

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Cancellations not made at least 24 hours before a scheduled treatment may be subject to a $25 fee.

Non-emergency last-minute cancellations may incur the full cost of the service scheduled.

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