Manual Osteopathic Treatment (MOT) is a gentle, hands-on approach to healthcare that focuses on restoring the body’s natural balance, movement, and function. It aims to treat the root cause of pain or dysfunction—rather than just the symptoms—by addressing structural and functional imbalances within the body.

MOT is based on the principle that the body works as a unified whole, with all systems—muscular, skeletal, nervous, circulatory, and digestive—closely interconnected. When one part is restricted or out of alignment, it can affect the health and performance of other areas.

Techniques Used in MOT:

During a treatment session, your therapist may use a combination of the following techniques, tailored to your specific needs:

Osteo-articular adjustments – Gentle joint mobilizations to restore alignment and range of motion
Fascial release – Releasing tension in connective tissues to improve mobility and reduce pain
Cranial-sacral therapy – Subtle techniques that balance the nervous system by working with the skull and spine
Visceral manipulation – Gentle work on internal organs to support function and ease tension
Lymphatic drainage – Stimulating the lymphatic system to reduce swelling and support immune health

Conditions Treated:

Manual Osteopathic Treatment can be effective for a wide range of concerns, including:

Chronic and acute pain
Postural imbalances
Injuries from accidents or repetitive strain
Headaches and migraines
Digestive issues
Post-surgical recovery
Postpartum support

This holistic therapy supports your body’s natural ability to heal, making it an excellent option for both rehabilitation and preventative care.

Student Initial treatments are 90 minutes in length and FREE for *current massage therapy clients (*you have attended a massage in the past 3 months). For your comfort and ease of treatment, we recommend wearing light, comfortable clothing.

BENEFITS OF MASSAGE

While a single massage session can provide immediate relief and relaxation, the benefits multiply with consistent care. Each session builds upon the last, creating a cumulative effect that improves both short-term and long-term health.

Consider massage therapy like a fitness routine—sporadic workouts won’t deliver the same results as regular exercise. Similarly, consistent massage strengthens your body’s ability to heal itself, alleviates chronic issues, and prevents future problems from arising.

Benefits include:

Reduced muscle tension • Improved circulation • Stimulation of the lymphatic system • Reduction of stress hormones • Relaxation • Increased joint mobility and flexibility • Improved skin tone • Improved recovery of soft tissue injuries • Improved sleep • Heightened mental alertness • Reduced anxiety and depression • Reduced headaches • Improved posture • Reduced pain

Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle, hands-on approach that supports the body’s natural healing processes by releasing tension in the central nervous system. This therapy involves subtle manipulations of the skull, spine, and sacrum to improve the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, helping to reduce pain, alleviate stress, and enhance overall well-being. Craniosacral Therapy is known for its ability to address a range of conditions, including migraines, chronic pain, stress-related disorders, and post-traumatic stress.

Craniosacral Therapy is beneficial for various conditions, including migraines, chronic pain, stress and anxiety, PTSD, sleep disorders, and nervous system imbalances. It’s also commonly used for general relaxation and mental clarity. Please note this treatment also has an optional TMJ Intraoral component to relieve jaw tension and pain.

Craniosacral therapy uses small manipulations of the skull and sacrum (the triangular bone at the base of the spine) to circulate the cerebrospinal fluid. The gentle movements can greatly impact tension and stress on the body caused by compression. Many clients find the therapy extremely relaxing both during and after treatment. 

The practice of craniosacral therapy was originally developed by Dr. John Upledger in 1975. While researching the craniosacral system and cranial osteopathy, Dr. William Sutherland discovered movement in the cranial bones (the bones of the skull). Using this information, Dr. Upledger tested his theory that selective pressure and manipulation of the cranial bones and sacrum could promote the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the spinal column. From this, CST was born and is now a highly sought-after alternative therapy. This can be sure billed as massage therapy.

Cranial therapy is by nature very gentle and subsequently has virtually no serious side effects. However, because of its potent influence on intracranial fluid dynamics, the following should be considered definite contraindications:
Acute intracranial hemorrhage: may prolong the duration of hemorrhage by interrupting clot formation.
Intracranial aneurysm: may induce leak or rupture.
Herniation of the medulla oblongata: a life threatening situation.
Recent skull fracture: best avoided; may be used with discretion by those with advanced skill.
Acute systemic infectious conditions: generally avoided.

The John F. Barnes’ Myofascial Release Approach® is considered to be the ultimate mind/body therapy that is safe, gentle and consistently effective in producing results in reducing pain, headaches, fibromyalgia symptoms, and increases range of motion and function.

**This treatment can be direct billed as massage therapy if you have insurance benefits. Please wear or bring a sports bra and shorts or a bathing suit to wear during the session. Karin Lefsrud trained with John F. Barnes in Sedona, Arizona in March 2025 and completed MFR I & II and Unwinding.

Trauma, inflammatory responses, and/or surgical procedures create Myofascial restrictions that can produce tensile pressures of approximately 2,000 pounds per square inch on pain sensitive structures that do not show up in many of the standard tests (x-rays, myelograms, CAT scans, electromyography, etc.)

The medical approach is to drug patients so they temporarily are free from pain, but does nothing about the “straight-jacket” of pressure that is causing the pain. Traditional physical, occupational and massage therapy treats the symptoms caused by the pressure of the “straightjacket” of the Myofascial system, but does nothing about the “straightjacket” of pressure that causes and perpetuates the symptoms. This is why so many patients only have temporary results never seeming to get better with traditional therapy. Only Myofascial Release treats the entire Myofascial mind/body complex eliminating the pressure of the restricted Myofascial system (the straitjacket) that causes the symptoms. This approach helps treat:

Back Pain
Cervical Pain
Chronic Pain
Headaches
Scoliosis
Fibromyalgia
Spasm/Spasticity
Geriatrics
Carpal Tunnel
Neck Pain
Pediatrics
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Rehabilitation
Head Trauma
Neurological Dysfunction
Sport Injuries
Pudendal Nerve Entrapment
Jaw Pain (TMJ)
Restricted Motion

Contraindications for myotascial release, such as malignancy, aneurysm, and acute rheumatoid arthritis may be considered absolute, while others, such as hematoma, open wounds, healing tracture, etc. may be regional.

open wounds
cellulitis
febrile state
systemic or localized infection
acute circulatory condition
osteomyelitis aneurysm
obstructive edema
acute rheumatoid arthritis
sutures
hematoma
healing fracture
osteoporosis and advanced degenerative changes anticoagulant therapy
advanced diabetes
hypersensitivity of skin

Before any treatment is undertaken, a thorough diagnostic workup by a physician should be performed to rule out organic disease. Heavy pressure should not be used on a known malignant area. Additionally, a comprehensive history and evaluation always precedes treatment. As few situations are "black and white,'
" specific contraindications may not void
the use of certain techniques in another region of the body, and the absence of stated contraindications should not be taken as signal to proceed without careful thought. In general, consider the immediacy of need and the benefits of treatment versus risks, when confronting regional contraindications.