Massage in Mercerville

Sara Naomi has seen the effects of holistic care firsthand. Growing frustrated going from doctor to doctor after being diagnosed with Lyme disease, Sara turned to complementary healthcare methods that addressed her spiritual and emotional well-being in addition to her physical state. The strides she made with this holistic approach inspired her to learn more about other therapeutic techniques and eventually found her own practice.

Sara melds a variety of therapies such as reflexology, aromatherapy, and acupressure to help patients attain optimal well-being with her signature service, HK: BioEnergetic Acupuressure. She first attempts to identify the root cause of issues such as pain and phobias, then she works to relieve them by applying gentle, bare-handed pressure at key points on the body’s energy pathways. As a result, clients may enjoy a decrease in stress, allowing them to relax without the metaphorical fog and literal foghorns that can often impede mental clarity.

Andrea Carangelo viewed her brother, Mark, as a miracle worker. She watched as he used his skills with massage to help people manage the pain of multiple sclerosis. Later in life, she experienced an injury so intense that she couldn’t walk—a back surgery damaged her femoral nerve—and it was her brother’s massage work that helped her regain use of her leg.

Those memories remain with her today, guiding her vision for Massage Therapy & Wellness Center. Andrea draws upon more than 10 modalities—her specialties being warm-bamboo and hot-stone massage—as well as upgrades such as aromatherapy to tailor each of her 60- to 120-minute custom massages. After leading a consultation to identify her client's concerns, she keeps communication open throughout the session, explaining every technique she uses and tapping tension-releasing commands to muscles via Morse code. She typically applies a light oil or gel to enhance bodywork, and for especially intense problem spots, she may apply Prossage ointment to radiate warmth deep into tissue layers. Her studio augments the relaxing effects of massage by surrounding clients in soft lighting and calming music.

At Wellness Works, president Julie Spahn helms a squad of practitioners trained in Eastern and Western traditions of wellness, as well as services such as massage, meditation, nutrition counseling, and acupuncture. Seasoned massage therapists knead relaxation directly into bodies with the soothing strokes of Swedish, therapeutic, deep-tissue, and sports massages. Instead of stuffing counterfeit $100 bills into patrons’ jacket pockets, reflexologists make people feel better by focusing on pressure points located in the hands and feet, and various yoga classes attempt different stances of stress shedding.

When children are sick, their parents will do anything to heal them. That’s why, when her teenage daughter developed fibromyalgia, Sorina Durante decided to go back to school to find ways to improve her daughter's health. She attended 10 different programs across England, Canada, and the United States to learn the latest in laser therapy and relaxation techniques, which not only helped her relieve her daughter's pains but also led her to open Energy Balance Laser Therapy & Massage. There, Durante shares with her clients her expertise in red-light therapy, therapeutic massage, and Dr. Kaufman's pain-neutralization technique, the latter of which relieves chronic and acute pain using a light touch. Durante also offers anti-aging facials that use lasers to firm and clear the skin, as well as stress-relieving alternative therapies such as reiki and CranioSacral.

At an early age, Kathy Bocklage realized that her sense of empathy left her destined for a career easing the pain of others. She didn't know exactly how she would go about it, though, until she learned about massage therapy from an acquaintance. With his encouragement, she enrolled in massage school. At Therapeutic Touch by Kathy, she puts her sympathetic touch and newfound massage skills to use dispelling tension and pain from backs. Among her specialties are hot-stone therapy, which encourages mental and physical relaxation, and myofascial massage, which releases stress caused by misalignment or jobs hunching over next to celebrities to make them appear taller.

Janet Long founded In Balance Center to provide her clients with an escape from daily stress and, by designing a menu of rejuvenating spa services, to maximize relaxation. She and her team of massage therapists work out kinks and tense muscles with nimble hands, heated stones, and aromatherapy. They ensure each session is tailored to the client, taking into account sore spots, sites of chronic tension, and a preference for walking on their hands. In addition to spa treatments, patrons can search for inner balance during yoga and Pilates classes for all abilities and experience.