Allentown resident’s medium is massage

BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer

ALLENTOWN — For more than 14 years, Stephanie Lipnicki has promoted natural methods of maintaining a person’s well-being.

Lipnicki, of Allentown, is a nationally certified massage therapist, licensed aesthetician and skin care specialist who has most recently dedicated herself to studying acupuncture and herbology, or the use of naturally occurring herbs for therapy or medicinal purposes. She has always had a fascination with how the body heals and since an early age started to develop that curiosity into knowledge and practice.

“I went to massage school at night while I was still in high school,” Lipnicki said. “I actually graduated from massage school and then, the following day, I graduated from high school.”

Today, Lipnicki owns and operates the Natural Alternatives Center for Well Being, 5 South Main St. There, she and her staff provide care for the body, mind and spirit.

The center provides a variety of treatments including LaStone therapy, Swedish and therapeutic massage, acu-reflexology, and body wraps, scrubs and facials using the Yon-Ka Paris product line.

Lipnicki said she has specialized in La Stone therapy since receiving certification for it in April 2004.

During a LaStone treatment, Lipnicki provides a 60- to 90-minute massage using special stones that have been heated or cooled at various temperatures. The stones are either laid on the body or held in the hands of the massage therapist while the massage is being performed, Lipnicki said.

“The heat from some of the stones relaxes the muscles more, allowing a therapist to go deeper into a massage,” Lipnicki said.

The LaStone technique, developed by a massage therapist named Mary Nelson approximately eight years ago, incorporates a methodology of heated and cooled rocks that Native Americans used in ceremonies and rituals hundreds of years ago, according to Lipnicki.

Lipnicki said LaStones helped her reinvigorate her own massage therapy techniques.

“After 14 years of giving hundreds of massages a year, I don’t have the strength in my hands that I used to,” Lipnicki said. “The weight of the LaStones makes one massage stroke feel like 10 times a regular massage stroke with fingers.”

LaStone therapy improves circulation, helps with joint pain, aids in healing injuries, relieves soreness and provides all the other benefits of a regular massage, according to Lipnicki.

“Today, we know that massage provides many benefits,” Lipnicki said. “It is even used during the Olympics to help athletes reduce their recovery time between events to improve their overall performance.”

Massage can benefit people of all ages, Lipnicki said. She has experienced firsthand the benefits of massage on children, as she has 2-year-old twin boys.

“I have massaged my kids since the day they were born,” said Lipnicki, who is now six months pregnant with her third child. “Massage is very calming for children, and it provides a good routine that helps parents bond with their children.”

Massage can also benefit children who have attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to Lipnicki.

Lipnicki reviewed her basic client procedures in an effort to relate what clients can expect when visiting the wellness center.

First, a client will provide a brief health history to the massage therapist. Then, the therapist will review what a client’s major areas of concern are, Lipnicki said.

“We do this because there are a few conditions that massage therapy contraindicates,” Lipnicki said.

“For instance,” she said, “a massage therapist does not want to apply deep pressure to the feet or legs of someone who is or may be diabetic because this could create bruising.”

Some people with certain existing medical conditions may also need to consult with their physician before getting a massage, Lipnicki said.

After going over what the client hopes to get out of the massage, Lipnicki said she will either focus on massaging a specific part of the body or giving a client a full-body massage.

“Some people who get tension headaches or migraines might first come in and have their arms and shoulder muscles worked on before getting a full body massage,” Lipnicki said.

The length of the session depends on the individual, Lipnicki said.

“With the La Stones, most of my clients prefer 90 minutes because people get so into it,” Lipnicki said. “The La Stones provide so much relief that most people who get that type of massage prefer the longer session.”

When asked what she loves about her career, Lipnicki replied, “I love to see people when they are leaving the center because I love to see how much better they feel after a treatment. We want our clients to, most of all, experience a calm feeling. We want them to feel relaxed and while they are here, we want them to feel that our time is solely devoted to them and their well-being.”

Lipnicki hopes to one day incorporate acupuncture into her wellness center.

“Acupuncture is amazing — not only for treating a problem, but for maintaining your well-being,” Lipnicki said. “Acupuncture allows a person to get in balance before a problem arises.”

The Natural Alternatives Center for Well Being currently takes clients by appointment only. For more information, visit www.naturalalt.com or call (609) 208-0880.