Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — In a town where people tend to measure their own sense of self worth by their latest athletic accomplishments, it's no surprise there is a high demand for trained professionals who know how to coax muscles, ligaments and spinal columns back into harmony.

A gauge of how hard Steamboat residents push their bodies is the fact that there are three dozen massage businesses listed in the phone book.

Among the newest is The Massage Network, owned by Marcie Taff and Seana Zieman.

Taff is a 10-year resident and a "Reiki Master," who specializes in spa and body treatments. Zieman is a certified medical massage therapist. The two women are associated with a team of massage therapists who can provide clients treatments ranging from shiatsu/acupressure to citrus body polish and day spa packages.

"We provide a spa-like environment for those looking to relax and rejuvenate," Taff said. "We bring balance and harmony to our clients lives."

The Massage Network is based just above Ski Time Square on the second floor of the Ski Country Building, reached by taking the third right on Burgess Creek Road. It offers three treatment rooms, allowing the owners to book groups for day-spa packages.

But the services offered by the Massage Network don't end when clients walk out the door, Zieman said.

"Most of all we are striving to help educate our clients to make healthy life changes for their future well-being," Zieman said.

The Massage Network can be reached at 870-9860, or by cell phone at 846-4748.

The Rolfing Center

Thomas Walker first became intrigued with Rolfing after it relieved years of suffering he endured because of his own lower-back problems. Now, he and Gale Loveitt bring 23 years of combined experience in Rolfing to Steamboat patients.

"Rolfing is the philosophy, science and art of structurally, functionally and energetically organizing the body in gravity through soft tissue manipulation and movement education," Walker and Loveitt report in their brochure.

"We help people to rebalance and realign their body and improve posture," Walker said. "By doing this, we ease chronic pain, and help people recover from injury or surgery, enhance athletic performance, increase flexibility and range of motion."

Rolfing is compatible with chiropractic care, but different, according to Loveitt. While chiropractic generally deals with the manipulation of bones, Rolfing focuses on muscles and connective tissue and the influences they have on the position and movement of the bones, Walker and Loveitt say.

The Rolfing Center can be reached by calling 870-2888.

Infant massage

Even the smallest residents of Steamboat can benefit from a massage, and Crystal Lawson is offering periodic classes at Bear River Therapists.

Lawson said she is internationally certified as an infant massage instructor and nationally certified in therapeutic massage and body work.

She said her class is designed to help parents learn a massage routine for babies that helps parent and child bond, communicate and play. Parents who undertake infant massage will find that their child eats and sleeps better, Lawson predicted.

Parents interested in learning infant massage are encouraged to watch the class bulletin boards at Bear River Therapists and Steamboat Springs Health and Recreation Association or, for information, contact Bear River at 879-8282.