restorative & therapeutic massage

Amelia Mitchell, LMT is a state licensed and nationally certified massage therapist with a private practice in Annapolis, Maryland.

Massage is the foundation of Amelia's bodywork practice. It is the basic language of healing touch, and it provides the structure and framework for many different healing modalities.

It is Amelia's intent to develop a relationship with her clients so that she will be better able to provide them with the therapeutic and restorative benefits that they seek. This includes taking time to talk before each session, time for feedback on previous sessions, time for talking about that day's needs.

Amelia will combine all of her therapeutic techniques within a session as needed to best support the client's needs. This is why she refers to her work as Restorative Massage. She often supports massage work with Lymph Drainage and CranioSacral Therapy techniques as well as her own intuitive ways of getting to the depth of work that is often necessary for healing. Sessions are priced by the time, not the technique, so whatever modality is necessary will be employed for the client's benefit.

"Few massage therapists have the intuitive capability to deliver a massage that is truly restorative. Amelia has this ability and is the best at her profession." - MR, Virginia

swedish massage

A massage with Amelia will almost always include the long, fluid movements of Swedish massage. This massage technique:

Deeply relaxes; reduces tension and stress
Increases circulation and fluid flow without increasing the heart's load
Removes lactic and uric acid and other metabolic wastes from muscle tissue
Helps keep tendons and ligaments pliable and flexible
Stimulates cell repair and suppleness, which is great for the skin
Lowers blood pressure and heart rate
Calms the nervous system; induces parasympathetic response

These days, there is a devaluing of Swedish massage, an expectation that it won't be a good massage unless it includes Deep Tissue or other advanced techniques. That is often not the case, and seems to simply be a sales technique for Spas to sell higher priced packages or special services. A qualified massage therapist can do incredible things with a simple Swedish massage and clients ought to expect that.

Additional details about scheduling your session, office location, session rates and office hours can be found here on the home page.

"Amelia Mitchell, LMT, has been my professional massage therapist for over a year. I feel she has not only taken away my pain, making me able to sleep better, I feel she has given me my life back." - RM, Annapolis

deep tissue massage

When specific areas of pain, restriction, injury or tension are encountered, Deep Tissue Massage is employed. Amelia often incorporates the specific techniques of Trigger Point work and Myofascial work into these situations. This massage technique provides:

Improved healing of damaged or stressed muscle tissue
Slower work addressing more specific areas
Recovery from injuries or chronic pain
Restoration of mobility and flexibility
Release of congested or stuck muscle fibers, restoring mobility and flexibility
Restored fluid flow to muscle fibers, increasing oxygen and nutrient availability
Relief from the discomfort of osteoarthritis
Release of fascia and connective tissue

Additional details about scheduling your session, office location, session rates and office hours can be found here on the home page.

"Amelia is incredibly skilled, but she is also talented, capable of bringing deep connection to those she works with and using her talents to heal from the inside out." - AM, Annapolis

successes

Amelia's gentle, multidisciplinary approach to massage has been a great success for many clients. It has been especially helpful in:

Restoring Frozen Shoulders to pain-free movement
Relaxing neck and upper back tension to relieve pain and headaches
Relieving arm and hand pain associated with brachial plexus and frozen shoulder issues, as well as carpal tunnel syndrome and thoracic outlet syndrome
Keeping Joint Replacement clients out of pain and moving freely
Releasing lower back pain
Addressing leg, knee and foot issues

"My doctor told me my problem was chronic and offered me medication for an indefinite period of time - but it was Amelia Mitchell that actually helped me to heal from frozen shoulder. She is a gifted massage therapist." RBH, Annapolis

amelia's style of deep tissue

Note from Amelia about her style of Deep Tissue Massage

From my experience, many people need far more relaxation and stress reduction than focused deep tissue work and to this goal, I work with the whole body from a holistic viewpoint. Allowing the entire system to drop into a state of deep relaxation benefits the whole body, including areas of injury or pain. From a place of quiet relaxation, I then work into the depths of tight, painful, knotted muscles gently and slowly.

My intention is to develop trust between the client, the client's body and myself. Working with the different levels of tissue, supporting lymph flow, flushing out stagnation and listening to the tissue are all parts of my Deep Tissue work. This may feel different than an elbow in your shoulder or a thumb or tool pressed painfully into the depths of muscle tissue, and I have found TLC to be incredibly effective. If the body is in pain, it is often guarding or protecting. By moving in gently and slowly, I can often get past this guarding without activating the muscle tissue in a fight, with more guarding.

There are times when a trigger point, or myofascial adhesions, need attention, and these can be painful. There is a sweet spot to such pain; it is the "hurts so good" level. If we go past the "hurts so good" level and the client is grimacing, clenching or yelping, we have gone too far. I will work to soothe and calm the muscle, and then gently work with it again. After a massage, water, rest and gentle movement will often enhance the effects. I will not do work that would require a client to need painkillers or to recover for 24 hours before feeling better.

"I look forward to my sessions with Amelia and I recommend her highly to anyone seeking an effective and gentle healing touch." KW, Columbia

a study

According to the August 2005 issue of Consumer Reports magazine, 34,000 people ranked deep tissue massage as more effective in relieving osteoarthritis pain than physical therapy, exercise, prescription medications, chiropractic, acupuncture, diet, glucosamine and over-the-counter drugs.

"After my first session with Amelia, I was hooked." - CH, Annapolis, client since early 2007

Amelia regularly publishes an informative newsletter that often includes useful tips or a monthly special.

Click to Visit the Newsletter Archive

Tight Bra Syndrome
This 2008 newsletter article has gotten a lot of attention. Click here to go to a .pdf file, so you can read it yourself.

contact

You can reach Amelia at 410-570-8927, or via email connect at ameliamitchell.com.

Amelia Mitchell, LMT
owner, Ease, Joy &, Alchemy, LLC

our offices are located at the
Chesapeake Holistic Health Center
528C College Parkway
Annapolis, MD 21409

As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
Nelson Mandela