Restorative Bodyworks

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Restorative Bodyworks

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Licensed Massage Therapist
Certified Personal Trainer
Human Movement Specialist (corrective exercise)
Swedish - Deep Tissue - Myofascial Release - Cupping - Stretching - Thai Massage - Movement Assessments and Optimization - Fitness Programming

02/08/2026

So this is a little glimpse into what one of my new offerings, a corrective bodywork session might look like. This isn’t a massage. This is bodyWORK. It will typically follow the same steps, though the work itself will depend on the individual.
1) Movement Assessment (Overhead Squat)
2) Myofascial Release of overactive synergists
3) Active stretching of adaptively shortened muscles
4) Activation of underactive muscles
5) Strengthening techniques
6) Re-assessment
This whole session took about an hour. I set aside 90 minutes for the appointment because depending on the dysfunction identified, it could take longer than an hour.
The myofascial release work is sped up 20x and it still looks slow. That’s how big change is made.
In addition to offering this in office, I’d like to start offering it remotely as well. For the time, anyone that wants to send me your overhead squat videos, I will send you back my assessment and strategies so I can practice identifying the dysfunction on video instead of in person.

02/07/2026

The trigger points in the forearm extensors, especially right up there where the forearm meets the elbow, are some of the most intense feeling points anywhere in the body. And almost every body I work on has active trigger points here. I can’t say “why” for everyone but I know when I spend too much time scrolling on my phone, it lights these points up! It’s really an awkward position to hold your hand in for extended periods of time. But you won’t always feel the pain at the elbow because trigger points refer pain elsewhere. It can feel like tendinitis in the wrist and through the middle and ring fingers. The referred pain can be so intense that you’ll swear you injured your hand. A little hot stone to loosen things up, followed by some steady, firm pressure, and your hands will feel like new. Great work for and 😂

02/06/2026

I know there’s some great on here. Weigh in. Whatcha think, is it better to get your massage first and then an adjustment? Or the other way around?

02/05/2026

This is how I’d tier my assessment strategies for making treatment plans. Movement is top tier! Within the category of movement assessments there are different values to something like an overhead squat assessment where the patient is instructed on proper form and asked to perform the movement to the best of their ability vs. observing them walk down the hallway towards the office when they don’t know I’m assessing them. How one moves on autopilot is telling of their movement habits. However, displaying dysfunction while consciously trying to move within certain parameters shows how those habitual patterns have affected ability to move.

02/03/2026

With this chilly weather I’ve been thinking about revisiting the Hot Stone Massage. So I ordered a set but it’s been years since I’ve done spa treatments like this. Gratefully, my lovely wife is always willing to let me practice on her to brush up my skills. I think it went well so I added this as an option to the booking menu. We can get deeper release with much less effort or discomfort with the addition of some heat! 🔥

02/01/2026

mas·seuse
/maˈso͞os,maˈsəz/
noun
noun: masseuse; plural noun: masseuses
a woman who provides massage professionally.
We use words to communicate ideas. There’s nothing inherently offensive or insulting about the word masseuse. And I’ve never heard anyone use the term with the intent to belittle or mock our profession. It’s often being used complimentary. Take it in context.

There’s been a big industry push to try to add more legitimacy to the massage profession, which we do by providing solid bodywork based in principles of anatomy and physiology, not by making up things to get offended by.

01/29/2026

Sitting looking out the window and daydreaming of outdoor massages under the pines. It looks so peaceful out there. As I walked down to pick up my son at school though, I realized it will be quite awhile before it’s warm enough to do bodywork outside again. I think I’ll make a cup of hot tea and go back to staring out the window.

01/27/2026

I tend to not spend a lot of time on the forearms. Unless a focus there is requested, I generally just give them the once over because we’re often on limited time and there are other priorities. However, that doesn’t mean that forearm work is less important, especially in the age of smart phones. So much of our communication with other people now is done primarily with our thumbs while the rest of our fingers are awkwardly holding up a device that is heavier than it seems. Add into this how stressful much of our conversation can be lately and it’s no wonder when we begin suffering from things like tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. If your forearms are feeling it, feel free to ask for a little extra attention there….and maybe consider putting the phone away for a bit. 😊

01/26/2026

Not telling you what to do with your own body but surgery is a big deal. It def doesn’t hurt to explore the other options first.

01/23/2026

I’ve been asked if we can only do cupping on the back, and no we can’t use cupping just about anywhere that other massage techniques are used. I particularly like cupping the quads. All that fascia that connects the hips to the knees, the IT band and quadriceps really benefits from the decompression and stretching.

01/20/2026

My heart lives at the beach but my home is in the mountains. Flying back to AZ today after a week in Cocoa Beach and boy do I miss home! Even though it was a chilly week here in Florida we managed to have lots of fun. Got a little beach time in, rode some real life Mario karts, enjoyed some great food and we even caught a SpaceX launch at Cape Canaveral. Thanks for the good memories Florida! See ya next time!

01/19/2026

Hey Flagstaff, didja miss me?! 😁
Well, I missed you!
Vacation time is just about over 😔 and I’ll be heading back home soon. It was fun, but I’m ready to get back to the comfort of routine. I’ll have appointments available this coming weekend! Can’t wait to see you!! ❤️

Address

Flagstaff, AZ

Website

https://www.matthewtcmt.com/, https://www.acaciafruitwellness.com/schedule

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