Somatic Massage Therapy Services

Welcome to Somatic Massage Therapy Services

John Stamoulos is one of Australia’s leading professional Remedial, Swedish and Sports Massage Therapist. He has many years of experience working in Australia and overseas. Since 1989, John has toured Australia and overseas on demand.

John currently works at SPORTSMED SA, Australia’s largest multi-disciplinary sports medicine clinic.
Other appointments are made at his clinic: Somatic Massage Therapy Services

Past patients include:

• Members of Australian '96 Olympic Swimming, Rowing, and Cycling teams


• '98 Commonwealth Games athletes


• Professional Aerobics instructors


• Elite Triathletes


• Queensland Cricket Team


• Riverdance 'The Tour'


• Australian Dance Theatre


• Western Australian Ballet Company


• Australian Paralympic Swimming team.


• Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 Olympic & Paralympic program athletes


• Australian Olyroos and Socceroos


• Massage therapist to Fox Studios 'Fit For Films'

Specialities:

• Post Surgical Intervention


• Pre and Post Event Massage for Elite Athletes


• Specialising in Remedial and Sports Massage for Performing Dancers & Athletes


• Work & Sports Related Injuries


• Working in conjunction with physio-therapists and sports doctors.

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What to Expect

Many people experience much anxiety before their first massage therapy visit. It is natural to have a fear of the unknown. What to expect at your first visit.. Try not to eat a large meal before your massage, because your body will be directing its energy to digestion and you may become chilled or uncomfortable.

Wear or bring comfortable clothing for after the massage. There may be a little residual cream from the massage that you don’t want to have to worry about getting on your dress clothes.

When you call to make your appointment, please let us know if it is a Workcover or Third Party Claim. Upon arrival at our clinic, you will be asked to complete a Patient Information Form. This information will help us to customize your session.

In the treatment room, lighting is dim in order to allow you to relax. Specially selected stress-relieving music plays, but always feel free to bring your own music or ask to have to the music changed if it does not suit you.

Your therapist will leave the room to prepare for your massage, and you will be instructed to remove your clothing and get on the massage table under a towel. Your modesty will be protected at all times. As your therapist works, they will uncover body parts to be massaged, never working any private areas or genitals.

In a full body massage, scalp, face, neck and shoulders will be massaged. The therapist may massage just under the collarbone at the Pectoralis muscle. Arms and hands will be massaged. Massage of abdominal muscles is a wonderful aid to digestion. The front of the legs, feet, back of the legs, posterior hip (gluteal) and back will also be massaged.

For those not receiving full body massage, targeted areas of tension or soreness will be massaged, working the individual muscles specifically.

Massage pressure is specifically tailored to your body. We never massage so deeply that you feel the need to hold your breath or tense your body. We will ask you for feedback about the pressure several times during the massage. Please be honest!

After the massage, the therapist will leave the treatment room while you get dressed. We will then discuss your experience, what you may expect during the next day or so and if a plan of specifically scheduled massages is indicated.

You will be reminded to drink LOTS of water during the next 24 hours, because massage moves some of the muscle metabolic by-products into circulation faster than usual, and the water will help to flush your system.

If you have questions, comments or feedback at any time during your visit, you are encouraged to discuss them with your therapist. With communication and feedback, your massage therapy visit will be a positive, pleasant experience.

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Types of Massage

Relaxation Massage:

A smooth, flowing style that promotes general relaxation, improves circulation and range of movement, and relieves muscular tension. This modality is a general overall well being massage. Using creams or oils, Relaxation massage generally employs long gliding strokes as well as kneading and compression of the soft tissues of the body. The benefits of Relaxation therapeutic massage are numerous. It is very effective in stress reduction and the relief of tension. The use of the various Relaxation strokes push more blood into circulation, therefore aiding and improving the efficiency of the circulatory system. It also helps move lymph through the body thus boosting the immune system. It helps ligaments and tendons to soften and become more elastic, increasing joint mobility and flexibility. Relaxation massage directly affects the muscle tissue, relaxing and reducing tension and soreness in the muscles.

We generally recommend Relaxation massage to those who wish to take a break from the tensions and stresses of everyday life and want to do something healthy and wonderful for themselves. It is an excellent way to maintain an increased level of well-being.

Remedial Massage:

Is a paramedical treatment that helps to restore function to injured "soft tissues" (muscles, tendons and ligaments). Therapy may involve the use of various types of Massage, as well as a range of other physical treatments to assist your recovery. In addition, you may be asked to perform some stretches at home to assist the process of recovery.

Sports Massage:

Combines different Massage techniques to enhance sports performance and recuperation. An effective component of any training program. This modality is a blending of several different techniques used to address the various needs of the individual athlete. By targeting the various muscle groups that the athlete uses in his/her sport with stretching, deep tissue work and various Range of Motion Techniques, flexibility and circulation are increased and soreness and pain are decreased. By keeping the muscles lengthened and out of spasm (which shortens the muscle fibers), the muscles maintain maximum firing power to do their work. Sports massage is wonderful as a pre-event conditioning adjunct as well as a post event soreness/pain reduction modality. In our clinics we see a wide variety of athletes/performers including marathon runners, swimmers, soccer players, weight trainers, tennis players, golfers, hockey players, dancers, lacrosse players, skiers, and cyclists. Sports massage can be of benefit to the amateur weekend athlete as well as the professional.

Aromatherapy Massage:

Combining the therapeutic properties of essential oils with specific Massage techniques to promote health and well-being.

Post Surgical Intervention Massage:

Post-surgical Intervention massage therapy is more than simply kneading the body. Massage may provide the necessary physical benefits to reduce keloid formation and to enhance healing after surgery, but may also have positive emotional affects. Surgery may affect the psyche of the patient and massage administered by a professional, knowledgeable and caring therapist can be holistic therapy in helping with any psychological trauma associated with surgery. As a massage therapist I understand that massage is a touching relationship and my role is to respect and assist in the healing process with post-surgical patients.

Trigger Point Therapy:

Trigger point massage utilizes ischemic compression of individual areas of hypersensitivity in muscles, ligaments, tendons, and fascia. These trigger points are defined by their referral of pain to distant locations in muscles, connective tissues, and organs. Janet Travell, MD, pioneered trigger point therapy in the United States.

Myofascial Stretch/Release:

This modality of massage addresses the restrictions of the muscle fascia of the body. The fascia is a connective tissue network that is found throughout the body. It surrounds all the muscle groups, the individual muscles, the muscle fibers and each muscle cell. Since the fascia is a network, even very superficial work is beneficial on the deepest of levels. The fascia can become restricted, hindering movement and relaxation of the muscles. This technique identifies and releases restrictions in the fascia. It can be used in combination with other massage modalities or it can be a session in and of itself. Myofascial Stretching is a very slow, non-invasive technique that also produces a profound level of relaxation.

Pregnancy Massage:

This massage is specially designed for this time of wonder, excitement and sometimes discomfort or stress in a woman’s life. Pregnancy massage is the massage of pregnant women (prenatal) and women after giving birth (postpartum). It address the special needs of pregnant women such as discomforts in the low back, feet, and legs. This form of massage usually consists mainly of Swedish Massage techniques that are modified slightly to take into account the common aches and pains of pregnancy. Positioning of the client is also modified as the pregnancy progresses and the abdomen enlarges. Pregnancy Massage is a wonderful way for the Mother-to-be to feel nurtured and to help her to stay comfortable and stress free!

Seated Massage:

Chair massage refers to massage given with the recipient seated in an ordinary or special massage chair. Techniques that provide fully-clothed seated massage, bodywork and somatic therapies to clients, generally in a corporate or business setting. Practitioners utilize Shiatsu, Deep tissue and/or Swedish techniques.

Chinese Cupping:

Chinese Cupping Therapy is an ancient folk medicine that forms part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The method behind cupping is to create a vacuum inside a vessel placed on the skin, thereby generating a suction within the cup. The effect of the suction is to create local congestion of blood and to release connective tissue adhesions. This stimulates blood and body fluid movement, muscular stimulation and internal organ function.