Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques®
When the same area keeps tightening up, movement feels restricted, or massage provides only temporary relief, a more focused approach may be helpful.
Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques®—often called MAT—is an assessment-driven system of massage and bodywork developed by Erik Dalton. Rather than following a predetermined massage routine, your session is shaped around what you are experiencing, how you move, and how your body responds to the work.
Michael is a Master Myoskeletal Therapist® who has completed 210 hours of advanced MAT training. He uses this approach to provide thoughtful, individualized care for people seeking relief from persistent muscular tension and greater comfort in everyday movement.
What to Wear
Please arrive in flexible athletic clothing, such as shorts, leggings, a T-shirt, or a tank top. MAT sessions may include comfortable positioning and gentle movement, so clothing that allows you to move freely is important.
More Than Working Where It Hurts
The place where you feel discomfort is not always the only area that deserves attention. Tension, sensitivity, and restricted movement can be influenced by how different areas of the body are working together.
Your session begins with a conversation about what you are noticing, how it affects your daily life, and what you would like to improve. When helpful, Michael may use simple movement observations and comfortable positioning to better understand where to focus the hands-on work.
This does not involve medical diagnosis or trying to force the body into a particular alignment. It is a practical way to make the session more specific to you.
What a MAT Session May Include
MAT includes substantial hands-on soft-tissue work. Depending on your needs and comfort, the session may incorporate:
Focused massage and myofascial techniques
Sustained or gradually applied pressure
Contract-relax techniques
Comfortable positioning
Gentle active or passive movement
Ongoing feedback to guide pressure and technique
The work can be precise without being unnecessarily painful. Pressure is adjusted according to your comfort and response rather than based on the belief that deeper is always better.
Common Reasons Clients Choose MAT
Clients commonly schedule MAT for concerns such as:
Recurring neck and shoulder tension
Low-back and hip discomfort
Sciatica-related or radiating leg discomfort
Shoulder stiffness or uncomfortable movement
Headaches associated with neck and upper-back tension
Postural or repetitive-use strain
Persistent muscular tightness
Movement that feels limited or uncomfortable
Plantar foot, calf, and lower-leg tension
Discomfort associated with exercise, physical work, or an active lifestyle
Massage and bodywork cannot diagnose or treat the underlying cause of every symptom. New, severe, or unexplained symptoms should be evaluated by an appropriate healthcare professional.
What Makes MAT Different From Therapeutic Massage?
Choose MAT when a recurring tension or movement concern is the main reason for your appointment and you want a more focused, interactive session.
Choose Therapeutic Massage when you want personalized massage that can address specific areas while still providing broader full-body care and relaxation.
You do not have to choose perfectly. Michael can discuss what you are experiencing and adjust the emphasis of your session when appropriate.
What to Wear
Please arrive in flexible athletic clothing, such as shorts, leggings, a T-shirt, or a tank top. MAT may include comfortable positioning and gentle movement, so wear clothing that allows you to move freely.
Hands On Movement
Unlike traditional massage which focuses primarily on muscle relaxation, MAT assesses and addresses the underlying structural imbalances causing chronic tension.
More Than A Massage
We utilize specific techniques to calm the nervous system, signaling to the brain that it is safe to release long- held holding patterns and protective spasms.
You Participate
Sessions are interactive, focused, and quiet. We begin with a comprehensive structural assessment to identify the root cause of dysfunction.
Session Options
Best for focused attention on one primary concern.
55 minutes
$150
Recommended when several areas are involved or when you would like more time for a thorough session.
85 minutes
$195