our approach
At Sterling Touch, we recognize our bodies’ inherent abilities to repair and recover from a vast array of ailments and we believe that, by providing tender care and specialized support, we are able to boost this process.
To do this, we prioritize calming the nervous system, guiding you into a parasympathetic state of rest-and-digest. This deeply restorative state gives your body a break from the energetic demands of the commonly overactive fight-or-flight response. It is in this relaxed state that your body’s reparative processes are able to more fully take place.
Your safety and comfort are key to this process. Our emphasis on clear and open communication keeps you in control at every step. By taking an active role in this process, you’re able to help us find a pressure and pace that feel right for you. Together, we can co-create the most effective and soothing massage experience.
Our approach is further guided by the principle, “no pain, more gain.” Essentially, our bodies’ unconscious response to pain is to stiffen. Not only does this create a sort of shell, or armor of protection that makes it difficult to reach deeper layers of muscle, this response also reduces circulation throughout the tightened areas. To avoid triggering this protective response, we center pleasure, not pain, as the pathway to deep relaxation.
With breath as a guide, the more relaxed you become, the more receptive your body is to this work, and the easier it becomes to reach the deepest layers of your being. When done well, massage and bodywork can open possibilities for releasing, repairing and restoring a profound sense of wholeness and a special gratitude for all the wonders that make you, you.
