Last Week for Gift Cards!

I can hardly believe Christmas Eve is a week away!!

Just a reminder that this is the last week for Christmas gift cards, 10% off any regularly priced massage! If you are still looking for the perfect gift, look no further! Give the gift of relaxation with a massage gift card! Please call or email the office to schedule a time to come in and pick up your gift cards. We are also able to email gift cards if that is more convenient for you! 919-322-8382

Wishing all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

Announcement!

Hey Everyone, I hope you are all getting into the holiday spirit, but also taking time to relax this season! 

Many of you already know, but I wanted to officially share that my husband and I are expecting our second child! We are so excited to be adding to our family and are so looking forward to meeting our new baby girl at the end of January! 

I am hoping to work until delivery, unfortunately it’s just an estimate so we’ll see when that actually happens. As of right now I am stopping scheduling the week of January 22nd and may pick up some same day appointments that week if I’m still not delivered and feeling well. If anything happens before that time all of my scheduled clients have contact info easily accessible and myself, Amanda or Alanna will reach out to you and help you get rescheduled. I will be returning to work sometime in late spring.

We are so excited and look forward to this next chapter of our lives. Thank you for all your support and congratulations!

Now Selling Christmas Gift Cards!

 Having trouble deciding what to get someone for Christmas? What about the gift of relaxation? All Christmas Gift Cards will be 10% off! There is no limit and you can buy a gift card(s) for yourself. Christmas gift cards can not be used before Christmas. Cannot be combined with other discounts.

You may purchase a gift card over the phone and have it emailed. You may also schedule a time to come into the office and pick up a physical gift card. 

Email or call today to get your Christmas Gift Cards! 919.322.8382

Temporary change in hours

Hi Everyone!

For those of you that don’t know, our therapist Alanna will be out of the office until August. This will be impacting our schedule for the time being.

Our new hours will be Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5:30pm.

We will begin scheduling clients on Alanna’s schedule starting the last week of July. If you are a regular client of Alanna’s and would like to schedule something with Amanda or Alicia, please email(oakcitymassagetherapy@gmail.com) or call the office 919-322-8382.

Thank you and we look forward to working with you soon!

Give the gift of massage this year!

It is always so difficult to decide what gift to give a loved one. More and more folks are more interested in experiences than things. Receiving the gift of massage and relaxation is always appreciated! Any regularly priced Christmas gift card will be 10% off for the month of December. To purchase a gift card, please email or give us a call so we can schedule a time for you to pick it up or have it emailed to you. 919.322.8382 or oakcitymassagetherapy@gmail.com

Stretching for Pain Management

Clients often ask their massage therapist how to manage the pain and discomfort they are experiencing whether acute or chronic. One of the best things anyone can do to help with muscle tension and joint pain is to stretch. Really, taking the time to do a full body stretch would give you many of the same benefits as a full body massage. Of course, not everyone has that kind of time these days. Still most folks can find time to stretch a little bit each day. However, I do hear clients tell me that even though they are stretching daily, they are not noticing any long term benefits from this. So, let’s discuss how you can stretch so that it actually helps reduce muscle tension and joint pain. 

The key thing to remember here is that until you stop whatever activity or incorrect movement pattern is causing the discomfort in the first place, it will be extremely difficult to fully get rid of it. Another thing to keep in mind is how long and often you are stretching compared with how long you are involved in the offending activity. Often the culprit of back, shoulder and neck pain is coming from a repetitive movement or non-movement (like at a desk job) for many hours a day. Stretching for 30 seconds once per day can hardly compete with 8+ hours of sitting at a desk or standing up all day or any other repetitive movement. My suggestion is to stretch many times per day while holding each stretch for at least 45 seconds. Taking breaks often when you have to be in the same position all day can make a huge difference. It’s also helpful to be sure you are sitting at an ergonomic station. Not holding the phone between your shoulder and ear and not crossing your legs are also some changes that can make a big difference. 

Seeing a massage therapist can help with muscle and joint pain, but it’s only one piece of the “puzzle”. Taking time to stretch throughout the day to limit offending activities is really what will make the biggest change.  

If you are looking for relief from chronic or acute muscle or joint pain, email or call today to schedule a massage! 919.322.8382

Four Causes and Solutions to Low Back Pain

One of the most common complaints I hear about in my office is low back pain. Though a lot of my clients suffer from this, there can be a variety of causes. Today we are going to discuss a few of the causes I see most often (outside of structural differences, specific injury, and disc degeneration) and some solutions for them. **Please note that if you are not sure if you are injured it is important to see a Doctor before trying massage or a new exercise, so that the problem is not made worse**

Tight quads and hip flexors.

Sitting at a desk all day is a huge contributor to low back pain. The hip flexors and quads are flexed all day, making it difficult for them to fully relax when standing. This puts a forward tilt on the pelvis. The quads and hip flexors pulling the hips forward would cause the torso to lean forward, and the righting reflex is to arch the back so the upper body is upright. Arching the spine like that puts a lot of stress on the muscles and pressure on the lower vertebrae which leads to lower back pain.

What can we do about this?

Take breaks from sitting during the day. Some of my clients attempt to drink extra water during the day which causes them to get up and use the restroom more often. Another great thing to start adding to your daily routine is stretching the quads and hip flexors at least twice a day, more if possible. The hip flexors get extremely hypertonic after years of sitting and driving, getting orthopedic massage specifically focused on the hips may be necessary to help undo the tight muscles in this area. No need to cringe at the thought of psoas/iliacus massage. At Oak City Massage, we are trained to slowly work into these muscles, in fact our goal is that you would not experience any pain during this treatment, as that will increase the effectiveness tenfold.

2. Inefficient Glute Muscles

Another side effect of sitting all day is that your glute muscles stop working properly, they forget what to do. When this happens the next muscle in line, the low back starts to work overtime. This obviously leads to overworked muscles in the low back, which leads to pain.

What can we do about this?

It’s not that the glutes are weakened, they have just stopped working, or gone to sleep. We simply need to wake them up. Before going walking or exercising after work, do a few squats, lunges or resistance band side steps. These exercises can activate the glutes so they actually do their job when they are supposed to. Getting a medical massage can help with this as well. Your therapist can test your glutes and see if they are truly the problem, there are techniques to activate the glutes during the massage as well.

3. Leg Crossing

When the legs are crossed, the length of the muscles change. Sitting cross legged for long periods at a time causes one side to become chronically tight, while the other side is chronically overstretched. This type of unbalance can cause a lot of problems. When the low back is unbalanced, it can cause the hips to be cockeyed. This will change the gait pattern and cause a ripple effect all the way to the neck and down to the feet. It will also put unnecessary stress on the hip joints and knees.

What can we do about this?

First of all stop crossing your legs! Sitting with your legs straight out infront of you is ideal, you may also need a lift/stool under your feet if the chair you use is too tall to have your feet flat on the floor. Getting a massage can be very helpful in this situation. In orthopedic massage, your therapist will do a postural analysis as well as feel which side is shorter and which side has been overstretched. This is important because it will determine the work that will be done. If the two sides have different issues, you should not treat them the same.

4. Weak Core

The last big cause of low back pain we’ll go over today is a weak core. Almost all of my clients have heard that this can help their low back pain. The core includes your abdominals, obliques, lower back and goes as far down as the glutes and as high up as the mid back. These muscles hold the body upright and keep you stable while moving. If any of these muscles is weak, it causes the other muscles to overwork to the point of pain.

What can we do about this?

Strengthening the abdominals is generally the first thing people try to do. This is great, but it is also important to do core exercises that include all of the muscles, planks and bridges are two great examples. I would recommend Pilates to anyone that is trying to strengthen their core to help with low back pain, whether from a youtube channel, at home DVD or a class at a gym I have found these classes to be extremely safe and core strength based. However, it is always important to discuss this with your doctor if the pain in your low back is severe. If any exercise causes an increase in pain or doesn’t feel right, stop it immediately and try a modification or skip it all together. Getting a massage will not strengthen your core, though it will help alleviate some of the soreness from the new exercises you may try. Massage can also help by loosening the muscles that have been tight and overworked.

If you are experiencing low back pain, and feel it is caused by one of these issues, call us today to schedule your appointment! New Clients receive %20 off their first hour! 919.322.8382

Convenient to Cary, Morrisville, Apex, and Raleigh for Medical massage, Sports massage, Prenatal massage, and Relaxation massage.

Oak City Massage Therapy

Welcome Back!

We are excited to announce that Amanda will be joining our team again. Check out her bio below and email or call to set up your next appointment today! 919.322.8382

Amanda Beresic NCLMBT # 14256

Amanda became a licensed massage therapist in 2011 after attending Palm Beach Academy in Lake Park Florida.  Prior to this, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Slippery Rock University in 2006.   Her passion for Massage Therapy started when a physical therapist recommended massage to help with pain she was experiencing from a neck injury.  She realized that whether for pain management or relaxation, massage has so many amazing benefits. 

Amanda strongly believes in the benefits of prenatal massage.  Having two children of her own, she realizes how one of the happiest times in your life, can also be the most stressful.   Pregnancy brings on so many changes, physically and emotionally.   The mother is naturally concerned about the baby, but it’s important that she care for herself as well.   (Bonus – massage can be beneficial for the mother and the baby!)

Along with prenatal massage, Amanda also does various modalities including swedish, deep tissue and sports massage.  Her goal is to make sure your problem areas/concerns are addressed to the best of her ability.  She upholds the highest levels of respect and integrity to each individual client.  

Package Pricing

As everyone is getting back into the swing of a regular schedule with school and work, we wanted to remind you of our package pricing. Getting back into a routine typically means making time for self care as well. Massage is a great way to take care of your mind and body, and at Oak City Massage we want to make that easier for you. Take advantage of our package pricing to make each session more affordable. By paying up front for multiple sessions, you can save up to 10% on every massage! If you are planning to schedule a regular massage, consider purchasing a package to bring down the cost! Save 5% when you purchase a package of three massages, save 10% when you purchase a package of six or more. We are looking forward to seeing you soon! Email or call to schedule your next massage today! 919.322.8382

What to Expect at Your First Massage

Massage can be helpful for so many things including muscle pain, headaches, anxiety, trouble sleeping, sport training, pregnancy aches/pains, as well as many more! So why do people opt for medication and expensive treatments before trying massage? I think one of the big reasons is they are unsure of what to expect when they get a massage.  I  think knowing what to expect at a massage will give some folks a peace of mind and help them to be more open to this treatment option. So, today we are going to discuss just exactly what to expect at your first massage. 

At Oak City Massage Therapy, we do our best to be as professional as possible. Our main goal is that you feel you are getting the best treatment possible and leave feeling better than when you came in. Knowing exactly what to expect when you come in will only give you a better experience at our office.

The first thing that will happen when you come into the office is you will be greeted and given a health history form. This form gives the therapist information that may pertain to your injury whether it is the cause, making it worse or not effecting it at all.  It is helpful to look at past injuries and surgeries and deduce whether they may be playing a part in your current situation.  It is also important for your therapist to know of any known allergies as well as medications you are taking as these may affect the treatment.  Next, your therapist will discuss your form with you as well as what you are specifically hoping to accomplish during your session.  This is very important as it will shape the entire session. We will use techniques that will best suit each complaint. While we do our best to listen to our clients, we will also explain why some things we do may seem pointless, but will address the probable cause of the pain rather than only the symptom.  After going through the treatment with you, we will then step out of the room for you to undress to your comfort level. To your comfort level means if you would rather leave your clothes on, that is completely fine. If you do prefer leaving your clothes on we may suggest wearing comfortable shorts and t-shirt/tank top for your treatment. You will then get onto the massage table underneath a sheet and blanket. You will be completely covered during the entire session, we will only uncover each area as it is being worked on. During the session, your therapist will check in with you to confirm the pressure with you. It is extremely important for you to let your therapist know if something is painful, you are getting a massage to reduce pain not add to it. It is also important for you to let your therapist know if you feel like you need more pressure in an area. At the conclusion of your massage, your therapist will let you know that the session has ended and you may take your time to get up and dressed and meet them out front. At this point your therapist may offer some suggestions based on what they found during the massage, whether that is some stretching that may be helpful or setting up a return visit to continue working on an especially difficult area. 

It is important to note that one massage is not going to be a cure all.  Chronic pain, which is usually a result of everyday stress on your body takes time and a change of habit to truly feel better. Though massage will give a temporary relief, if you continue in habits which cause the pain in the first place it will certainly return. In some cases massage is not the answer and your therapist will do their best to refer you out the best practitioner for your complaints. 

We hope this helps and look forward to working with you soon!! To schedule your appointment email or call 919.322.8382

Massage and Seasonal Allergies

Hey everyone! As spring continues it’s annual bloom, I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before we see the clouds of pollen blowing out of those pesky pine trees! I know I’m not the only one that occasionally gets some irritation from the pollen this time of year and it’s terrible have sinus congestion just as the weather is starting to get better. If you are struggling with some sinus congestion from the pollen be sure to ask your therapist about doing some sinus drainage techniques at the end of your massage. Many clients feel instant relief with these techniques. We can also add in a special blend of essential oils to help open up your sinuses! While we can’t get rid of the pollen, we are happy to help with at least some temporal relief!

New clients receive a 20% discount off their first one-hour massage! Call today to schedule your appointment! 919.322.8382

Spring is almost here!!

As we start to see more and more sunny days with warmer temperatures, it’s important to take care of ourselves and not over do anything.  Warming up before a workout or activity you have not done in a while is SO important along with stretching afterwards. It’s easy to get carried away when the weather finally makes a turn for the better! Another way to help reduce the risk of injury when starting new activities is, of course, massage therapy! Massage can help loosen tight overworked muscles and help them stay healthy. Massage is also great as it gives us an idea of what is going on in our body. Often our clients are surprised that a specific muscle was tight and they hadn’t noticed. It’s important to be aware of what is going on in our bodies so we know when things are getting overworked or stressed. Regular stretching and massage are great tools to keep our bodies in check as we start new routines with the warmer weather.

We are still accepting new clients and would love to have you at our office. New clients receive a 20% discount off their first one-hour appointment! Call today to schedule your next appointment 919.322.8382 !!

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year, everyone! 2020 has been quite the year. I am so glad that we’ve been able to continue working with many of our clients at Oak City Massage including several new clients. We are really missing everyone that has not made it back in yet and hope it will be safe to see you all by the end of this new year! Even though it was hard in some ways, I’ve really enjoyed all of the extra time with my daughter, who turned 2 in August. She has been growing and changing so much this year and I’m so grateful I got to witness more of that than I would have otherwise. I’m very excited to continue watching my daughter grow and learn as we get back to a, God willing, more normal year this year. Looking forward to what this new year will bring us. You are all amazing thank you for all of your support!

Give the gift of relaxation!

We are less than two weeks away from Christmas! Don't forget to get your Christmas gift certificates! All regularly priced massages will be 10% off! Schedule a time to pick them up in person or call to get them emailed to you. 919.322.8382 call today!

Christmas Gift Certificates

Happy Holidays Everyone!

I hope you’ve all had the best Thanksgiving possible while also keeping it safe! Starting December 1st, we will be selling Christmas Gift Certificates!! Any regularly priced massage, of any length, will be 10% off through December 24th! You can call to purchase the gift certificates and have them emailed to you, or you can schedule a time to stop in to pay in person and pick up a physical gift card. Please remember to bring your mask when coming into the office.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and looking forward to 2021!!

Massage Special- Bamboo Massage

We are finally getting a break from the cold weather, thank goodness! For the rest of January all Bamboo massages will be $10 off at Oak City Massage Therapy.  Here are a few things that make bamboo massage stand out and why it is a good option for all clients.

In bamboo massage, we use warm bamboo ratan tools. These tools are very firm and come in varying sizes. The bamboo is used similarly to hot stones, the therapist holds the bamboo and uses it to massage the muscles instead of their hands. The therapist can use the leverage from the bamboo tools to offer a much deeper pressure than with hot stones, or their hands/elbows. Bamboo massage originated in south Asia. Though it is unclear who originally started using bamboo for massage, many therapists across the world have adopted this technique.

Bamboo massage is beneficial for many reasons, we are going to discuss just a few of them.  The heat from the tools starts to relax your entire body, it will also help to loosen each muscle individually. Once the heat has loosened the body and muscles, the therapist can take full advantage of the leverage from the bamboo. The therapist can use deep pressure now that the muscles are in a more relaxed state, this allows the deep pressure to be comfortable and much more effective. With increased mental relaxation from the heat, and physically with the deep tissue massage, the client can get so much more out of their massage. Most people coming in to get a deep tissue massage are preparing for pain and discomfort, with a no pain no gain attitude. In this treatment,  you get all the benefits of a deep tissue massage without the pain.  

Bamboo massage sounds nice, but why is it the best option for you? It is a deep tissue massage with the added relaxation similar to a Swedish massage. If you are looking for a deep massage that won’t cause more pain then you were already in, this is the treatment for you. Similarly, if you are more interested in the relaxation you get from massage, bamboo massage gives an extra element that only increases the benefits.  

Call today to schedule your Bamboo massage! 919.322.8382 !!

Christmas Gift Cards

Hey everyone! Having trouble deciding on what to gifts to get for family and friends? Why not give the gift of pain relief, stress relief, increased mobility, relaxation, faster recovery, injury rehab, and the list goes on! We offer deep tissue massage, medical massage, sports massage, relaxation massage, pregnancy massage, kinesio taping, massage cupping and bamboo massage! 

Christmas gift cards will be on sale starting tomorrow December 1.  All one hour gift cards will be $64. Gift cards for a one hour pregnancy massage will be $55 and gift cards for one hour bamboo massage will be $85. 

Gift cards can be picked up in person (please call to schedule your pick-up) Sent by email, or sent in the physical mail. 

Please email or call with any questions! 919.322.8382 

Merry Christmas!! 

** there is no limit on how many gift cards you can buy, however you may not purchase gift cards for yourself**