Welcoming Andrei Iwanow to Balance

Accredited Level 1 Sports Trainer
Tactile Therapist (A.T.M.S) (A.S.T.A)

I have just moved to New Zealand from Melbourne, Australia and look forward to helping you with your massage requirements.
I have worked with many elite athletes in a variety of sports, such as:

• Marathon runners in International, National & Local Events
• Olympic Sailors in International/World Sailing Regatta’s
• Tennis/Swimming/Basketball players in World Masters Games
• Mature Athletes in Veteran’s Games
• V.F.L. & A.F.L. Football Players, including Trainer/Massage Therapist for Melbourne/Sandringham Football Club.

My areas of expertise range from:

• Relaxation/Sports/Remedial Massage
• Therapeutic Massage for Deep Soft tissue
• Trigger Point Therapy
• Relaxation techniques to assist in the healing of specific injuries giving your muscles a feeling of freedom.
• Vacuum Cupping Techniques to assist the release of fascia.

 Sports & Remedial Therapy involves the use of sports massage & stretching techniques to focus on optimizing performance and competitiveness. Pre & post event and during training massage to improve performance, strength, length, power, flexibility, and to reduce injury.

Remedial Massage involves the use of massage techniques to reinstate muscles to full free functions to soft tissue components to gain full range of muscle motion, pain free.

Here's what our clients said about Andrei...

"I wasn't sure I would feel comfortable with a male massager, but I was made to feel comfortable" Donna

"Friendly, knows what he's doing, good massage" Jenny

"Andrei tested my injured calf more thoroughly than my physio" Steve

Andrei is available on Mondays from 10am till 8pm and Saturdays from 9.30am till 2pm.

Look for this logo on our website to book your appointment online.

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Keep In Touch Section
Keeping you in touch with what's happening at Balance.

Miwa Machida is now offering Reflexology sessions. She is available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Half Hour $55
Three Quarter Hour $75
One Hour $90

From 1st May Viv Butler will only be available on Saturdays from 9am till 2pm.

Colds, Flus, and Massage

Just a reminder to all our clients at this time of year that if you have a cold or flu it is not advisable to have a massage.
Massage releases toxins out of the muscle tissue and into the lymphatic system to be flushed out, the body is already dealing with enough toxins from bugs if you have a cold or flu therefore you can feel a lot worse before you feel better.
And of course you may very well be contagious.
If you do show up for your appointment quite sick, we do reserve the right to reschedule your appointment to a more appropriate time.
If your unsure whether you should have a massage or not please call us for advise.
If you need to cancel please do so at least 24 hours before your appointment.

Thank you for your understanding.

Massage Terminology & Techniques

To assist you in understanding more about your massage I thought I'd give you a run down on some of the Terms and Techniques we use here at Balance.

Longitudinal Stroking

A basic yet effective stroke using oil/massage wax. The stroke is usually broad using the flat hand or forearm and in the direction of venous blood flow (towards the heart). The aim of this stroke is to mechanically aid fluid flow from tissue and increase the reabsorption of inflammatory exudate. It is also used to warm up the muscle tissue preparing it for deeper work.

Transverse Friction

This is a more specific technique using oscillating pressure applied directly down into a lesion and in the direction of the muscle fibre.
This is a useful technique in post-acute muscle and connective tissue injuries. In the early phase of healing it may prevent the formation of inter-fibre adhesions and cross-linkages in connective tissue.
It also may help reduce thickened scar tissue.

Cross Fibre Friction

Similar to Transverse Friction but instead of going with the muscle fibre, the treatment goes across the fibre in a short oscillating pressure. This is very effective in breaking down adhesions between muscle fibrils. Adhesions can disrupt the efficiency of the muscle performance.

Sustained Myofascial Tension

This is a technique using tensile force with the thumb, braced digits or forearm in the direction of greatest fascial restriction or in the direction of elongation necessary for normal function. For example; working the hamstrings by bending at the knee and using forearm pressure into hamstring while levering the lower limb away from the point of tension.
The aim is to rupture (microscopic level) abnormal cross-linkages between collagen fibres that limit the ability of connective tissue to elongate.
The cross-linkages form as a result of the inflammation response to acute or overuse injury.

Transverse Mobilization

Suitable for soft tissue structures that can be grasped between thumb and finger; eg: Archiles tendon, upper fibres of the Trapezius. The tissue is then moved in opposite directions.

Digital Ischemic Pressure (Compression)

This is the application of direct pressure perpendicular to the skin towards the centre of a muscle with enough pressure to evoke a temporary ischemic (lack of blood flow) reaction.
The aim of this technique is to stimulate the tension monitoring receptors within muscle to induce relaxation, to provide an analgesic response in soft tissue by releasing pain-mediating substances and to deactivate trigger points.

This is just a few of the many techniques we use here at Balance, but probably the most common for remedial and sports massage. I hope this provides you with a more scientific view of how massage can help reduce your muscle tension and pain.

Reference: Soft Tissue Therapy 2nd Ed; Brukner and Kahn