Advanced Massage & Skincare Specialists, LLC

Advanced Massage & Skincare Specialists, LLC Creating a custom massage & skin therapy experience based on your unique needs!

Tight shoulders.Headaches.That kind of fatigue sleep doesn’t fix.If you’re nodding already… this one’s for you.Most peop...
12/18/2025

Tight shoulders.
Headaches.
That kind of fatigue sleep doesn’t fix.

If you’re nodding already… this one’s for you.

Most people assume those symptoms mean they need better posture, more water, or a new pillow. (Helpful, sure.)
But the real issue usually runs deeper.

When your shoulders stay tight and headaches keep showing up, it’s often a sign your nervous system is stuck in “on” mode.
Your body is bracing — even when you’re resting.

That constant low-level stress keeps muscles contracted, blood flow restricted, and your vagus nerve (the nerve that tells your body it’s safe) under-stimulated.
And when that happens?
✨ Tension builds
✨ Headaches linger
✨ Fatigue becomes your baseline

This is exactly where specific therapeutic massage + vagus nerve support make the difference.

Not just “relaxation,” but targeted work that:
👉 releases the muscles that have been guarding
👉 improves circulation to the head and neck
👉 stimulates the vagus nerve so your body can shift into rest + repair
👉 teaches your nervous system how to turn the volume down again

Because your body doesn’t need to be pushed harder.
It needs to feel safe enough to let go.

If tight shoulders and headaches have become “normal” for you… consider this your sign that it doesn’t have to be.

Your body’s been asking for support — and we’re here to help it finally exhale. 💆‍♀️✨

12/14/2025

There is beauty in…
🌿 Oxygen flooding the skin, reminding you it is alive.
🌿 The journey, not just the destination.
🌿 Seeing your skin function the way it was designed to.
🌿 The discipline of showing up for yourself again and again.

DMK Enzyme Therapy is more than a treatment its skin revision at its core, working with your body to restore balance, function, and true skin health.

There is beauty in…🌿 Oxygen flooding the skin, reminding you it is alive.🌿 The journey, not just the destination.🌿 Seein...
12/14/2025

There is beauty in…
🌿 Oxygen flooding the skin, reminding you it is alive.
🌿 The journey, not just the destination.
🌿 Seeing your skin function the way it was designed to.
🌿 The discipline of showing up for yourself again and again.

DMK Enzyme Therapy is more than a treatment its skin revision at its core, working with your body to restore balance, function, and true skin health.

If you’ve ever wondered why red + infrared light therapy is everywhere right now… here’s the real story.I’ve been using ...
12/09/2025

If you’ve ever wondered why red + infrared light therapy is everywhere right now… here’s the real story.

I’ve been using red and infrared light therapy for years now — long before the LED masks, wands, and Amazon panels started showing up in everyone’s feed. And here’s what most people don’t realize:

Not all light therapy is created equal.
Not even close.

Most clients come to me with the same struggles:

“I’m tired all the time.”
“My skin looks dull or inflamed.”
“My hormones feel off.”
“My recovery is slow.”
“I feel puffy, stressed, tense, or inflamed.”
“I just don’t feel like myself.”

And what they’re feeling is usually a mix of mitochondrial fatigue, nervous system overload, sluggish lymphatics, inflammation, and a body that hasn’t been in true repair mode in a while.

That’s where therapeutic-grade red + infrared light comes in.

I’ve used a full-body red + infrared light therapy bed for years now — and this is where the real change happens. This bed has 45,000 quality LEDs, which means:

• deeper pe*******on → actual mitochondrial activation
• higher power density → clinically relevant dosing
• full-body coverage → systemic benefits (not just spot treating)
• consistent wavelengths → reproducible therapeutic outcomes

It’s the difference between a flashlight and a sunrise. Both produce light — but only one changes your biology.

And here’s the science behind why the size and strength of the device matters:

Red + NIR light therapy is dose dependent. This biphasic dose response is well documented in photobiomodulation research. Smaller masks and wands simply don’t reach the power density used in clinical studies that demonstrate improvements in ATP production, inflammation reduction, collagen stimulation, or tissue repair.

Most consumer devices cover only a few square inches, so even if they provide benefit to small cosmetic areas, they can’t create the full-body biological shifts seen in research involving larger LED arrays.

Systemic benefits require systemic exposure. Studies show improvements in nitric oxide release, cortisol modulation, and whole-body mitochondrial activity only when large portions of the body are exposed to therapeutic-level light.

So it’s not that masks, panels, and wands are “bad.” They just aren’t designed to deliver the therapeutic doses people read about in the research, because those outcomes come from high-irradiance, full-body devices, not small surface-area tools.

When you lie in a full-body bed, your entire system receives layers of healing at once:

decreased inflammation
boosted ATP (cellular energy)
improved mood + serotonin
increased collagen and skin radiance
faster muscle recovery
lymphatic activation
nervous system downshifting out of stress mode

If your body has been whispering for more energy, better sleep, calmer stress, reduced inflammation, or a deeper reset, this is one of the simplest, most powerful places to start.

Book here: www.advancedmassageskincare.com

If all the self-care in the world isn’t bringing relief, here's something you should know:Restricted fascia can trap you...
12/08/2025

If all the self-care in the world isn’t bringing relief, here's something you should know:

Restricted fascia can trap you in fight, flight or freeze mode. 🥶

Fascia contains about 250 million nerve endings. Many of these connect directly to your vagus nerve - the main highway between your body and brain that controls your stress response.

When fascia becomes stiff, densified, or restricted (from chronic stress, lack of movement or injury), those nerve endings keep firing threat signals.

Your autonomic nervous system interprets fascial restriction as ongoing threat. So even when you're safe, your body stays locked in sympathetic activation - the fight or flight state.

This explains why people can feel chronically anxious, hypervigilant, or exhausted without an obvious external stressor. The stressor is internal - it's coming from restricted tissue sending continuous alarm signals to your brain.

Here's why movement matters: Mechanical stimulation of fascia activates different types of receptors (called Ruffini endings) that send calming signals to your nervous system.

Movement also prevents fascial densification and maintains the glide between fascial layers.

Walking, stretching, yoga, exercise - these aren't optional self-care activities. They're physiologically required for nervous system regulation. Your fascia needs regular movement to stop broadcasting threat signals.

The bottom line: If you're stuck in chronic stress and rest isn't helping, the state of your fascia is more than likely a missing piece.

Movement isn't just about fitness or flexibility - it's about giving your nervous system the mechanical input it needs to shift out of threat mode. 🧬

What your body does in the first 5 minutes of the session… 👇💆‍♀️Most people think the magic starts once I begin working ...
12/06/2025

What your body does in the first 5 minutes of the session… 👇💆‍♀️

Most people think the magic starts once I begin working on the muscles or applying products…but honestly?
The real magic happens before any of that — inside your nervous system.

Here’s what actually goes down in those first few minutes:

✨ Your parasympathetic nervous system (your “rest + repair” mode) starts to switch on.
✨ Your breathing slows.
✨ Your muscles stop guarding.
✨ Your brain stops scanning for danger.
✨ Your body says, “Oh… we’re safe now.”

And this shift — this parasympathetic drop-in — is the reason your body can finally let go of:
• the tension you’ve been carrying all week
• that tight jaw you didn’t know was clenched
• the headache creeping up your neck
• the skin flare-ups triggered by stress
• the wired-but-tired exhaustion that won’t quit

Here’s the part that surprises most people:
Your body cannot heal, digest, repair skin, reduce inflammation, or release deep muscle patterns until this shift happens.

If your nervous system doesn’t feel safe, your body stays in “protect mode.”
And protect mode = tension, inflammation, breakouts, fatigue, poor sleep… all the things you’re probably fighting.

This is where Advanced Massage & Skincare Specialists comes in.
My treatments aren’t just about muscles or skin —
they’re designed to create that parasympathetic shift on purpose.

Through:
👉 specific therapeutic massage
👉 nervous-system-friendly skincare
👉 vibroacoustic therapy
👉 calming techniques that signal safety
👉 an environment where your body can finally exhale

Once that switch flips?
Your healing takes off.
Your skin responds better.
Your muscles release deeper.
Your stress chemistry changes.
Your entire system softens into repair.

The first 5 minutes matter more than you think.
Your nervous system sets the tone —
and I help your body remember how to land in that healing state again.

Who else needs that 5-minute reset? 🙋‍♀️✨

The holidays are here — and so is our Cyber Week Sale! From today through Saturday, December 6th, 2025, enjoy 20% off al...
11/30/2025

The holidays are here — and so is our Cyber Week Sale! From today through Saturday, December 6th, 2025, enjoy 20% off all DMK Skin Care products. Just use code CYBER20 at checkout.

If you’ve been thinking about trying DMK — or stocking up on your favorites — this is the perfect time. Here’s why it’s worth it:

🌿 It’s more than skincare — it’s skin revision.
DMK doesn’t just treat the surface. Its enzyme-based formulas work with your skin’s natural chemistry to detoxify, oxygenate, and rebuild structural integrity — so your skin can function as it was always meant to.

💧 Real solutions for real skin issues.
Whether you struggle with dryness, dullness, uneven tone, fine lines, adult acne, sensitivity, or signs of aging — enzyme therapy helps address the root causes. DMK can support your skin barrier, balance oil production, boost circulation, and stimulate collagen and elastin for firmer, smoother, healthier skin.

✨ A radiant, resilient glow that lasts.
With consistent use and the right home-care routine, you’ll notice improved texture, hydration, resiliency, and a more even, glowing complexion — not just for a day, but for months to come. Think lasting skin changes!

Don’t wait — the sale ends Saturday, December 6th. Use code CYBER20 to save 20%.

Treat your skin the way it deserves. Healthy skin isn’t a luxury — it’s a foundation.

Purchase here: https://www.advancedmassageskincare.com/dmk-skincare-products

“The best Saturday mornings start with pajamas and zero expectations.”…And honestly? Your nervous system agrees.Most peo...
11/28/2025

“The best Saturday mornings start with pajamas and zero expectations.”
…And honestly? Your nervous system agrees.

Most people don’t realize this, but the reason those slow, no-pressure mornings feel so magical isn’t just because you’re cozy — it’s because your body finally gets a break from performing.

All week long you’re:
👉 overthinking
👉 running on deadlines
👉 absorbing everyone else’s needs
👉 pushing through tension, exhaustion, and stress

And even when you do try to relax, your brain is usually still in “go mode.”

That’s why those rare, expectation-free Saturday mornings feel like medicine — because your nervous system finally gets to shift out of survival mode.
No productivity.
No pressure.
No pretending.
Just presence.

Here’s the part most people miss:
Your body needs more than one slow morning a week.
It needs consistent cues of calm to actually heal.

This is exactly why so many people walk into Advanced Massage & Skincare Specialists feeling worn down… and walk out feeling recalibrated.

Because inside our space, your body gets what it rarely gets anywhere else:
✨ Permission to slow down
✨ A safe environment where your guard drops
✨ Therapeutic massage and skin treatments that tell your nervous system, “You’re safe now”

Relaxation isn’t lazy.
It’s regulation.
It’s how your body repairs, resets, and restores balance.

So if a slow Saturday morning feels like the first deep breath you’ve taken all week…
your body might be whispering that it needs more of that kind of healing.

💛 And we’re here to help you create it.

Somewhere along the way, we started treating rest like it’s optional… like it’s a reward after surviving another chaotic...
11/24/2025

Somewhere along the way, we started treating rest like it’s optional… like it’s a reward after surviving another chaotic week.
But here’s the honest truth most people don’t realize:

If you’re constantly tired, tense, overstimulated, breaking out, bloated, or running on fumes…
…it’s not because you’re “bad at self-care.”
It’s because your nervous system is stuck in go-go-go mode and hasn’t had a real chance to reset.

And you feel it:
👉 The tight neck you keep rolling
👉 The jaw you didn’t know was clenched
👉 The skin flare-ups that show up at the worst time
👉 The exhaustion that doesn’t go away even after sleep

This isn’t personality.
This is physiology.
Your body can’t heal when it’s overwhelmed.

That’s why at Advanced Massage & Skincare Specialists, we don’t just offer “relaxation services.”
We offer nervous-system medicine disguised as self-care:

✨ Specific therapeutic massage that brings your stress levels down so your body can repair
✨ Skincare treatments that calm inflammation and restore balance
✨ A space where your body feels safe enough to finally exhale

Because when your nervous system softens, everything else follows:
Your skin. Your muscles. Your digestion. Your sleep. Your clarity. Your mood.

Relaxation isn’t luxury.
It’s how your body heals.
And if you’ve been feeling the weight of stress more than the feeling of calm… this is your sign to come reset with us.

It’s easy to think your body is working against you when symptoms show up.The fatigue.The irritability.The brain fog.The...
11/18/2025

It’s easy to think your body is working against you when symptoms show up.
The fatigue.
The irritability.
The brain fog.
The hot flashes.
The stress spikes.

But here’s the part no one tells you:
Your biology isn’t fighting you—it’s upgrading you.

Your nervous system, hormones, gut, and immune system are constantly adjusting to keep you alive, balanced, and resilient… even when it feels messy.

Fatigue?
A sign your system is asking for deeper restoration, not more hustle.

Anxiety flares?
Your body scanning for safety because it’s wired for protection.

Perimenopause or menopause shifts?
A recalibration that redirects your energy inward, sharpening intuition, clarity, and strength.

The body never changes “just to make your life harder.”
It changes because you’re entering a new season—
and it wants you to have the biology to meet it.

When you learn to decode the whispers your body sends, you stop fearing the changes…
and start partnering with them.

✨ Your biology isn’t fighting you—it’s upgrading you.

You know that feeling when your heart races, your stomach flips, and your brain says, “Relax”… but your body says, “Not ...
11/08/2025

You know that feeling when your heart races, your stomach flips, and your brain says, “Relax”… but your body says, “Not safe”?

That’s not weakness.
That’s your nervous system doing its job — trying to protect you the only way it knows how.

Here’s what most people don’t realize:
Your body reacts before your mind does.
Because biology always beats logic.

Your nervous system is constantly scanning for safety — and it remembers every stressful moment you’ve ever pushed through, ignored, or “moved on” from.

So when your shoulders won’t drop on the massage table, when your skin flares up “out of nowhere,” or when you feel anxious even while resting… it’s not that you’re broken.
It’s that your body still thinks it needs to protect you.

At Advanced Massage & Skincare Specialists, this is where we begin:
Not by forcing your body to relax, but by teaching it how to feel safe again.

👉 Through specific therapeutic massage that quiets stress signals.
👉 Through skincare treatments that calm inflammation and activate repair.
👉 Through nervous system–based approaches that remind your body: “You’re safe now.”

Because real healing doesn’t happen through force — it happens through safety.

You don’t have to fight your body into calm.
You just have to give it permission to exhale.

✨ When your nervous system stops yelling, your body starts healing.

Address

301 North Ankeny Boulevard, Suite 100
Ankeny, IA
50021

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 7:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 7:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 7:30pm
Thursday 10am - 7:30pm
Friday 10am - 5:30pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm

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Advanced Massage & Skincare Specialists, LLC

Creating a custom massage and skin therapy experience based on your unique needs!

Catherine Christy, MA, LMT, LST Catherine is a licensed massage and skin therapist along with holding a BA in health promotion and MA in community health education. She is trained in craniosacral therapy, neural reset therapy, myofascial release, medical massage, visceral manipulation, myoskeletal alignment therapy, trigger point therapy, spinal reflex therapy, cupping, deep tissue, Swedish, and more!

Catherine is certified by the American Council on Exercise as a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and health coach. Additionally, she has specialized training in behavior change, fitness nutrition, functional fitness, osteopathic fitness, and more. She is also a certified yoga instructor.

As a skin therapist (esthetician), Catherine has specialized training in skin analysis to customize your skin care. She also has specialized training in techniques like hydrafacial, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, microcurrent, ultrasonic, galvanic, high frequency, and more!