Massage

Massage has been used for thousands of years to soothe and heal. It can be a voyage of self-discovery as you become more in tune with your body, allowing tense muscles to relax adn experiencing the pleasure of living in a body that can move and breathe more easily.

Massage therapists rely on the sensitivity of their hands and experience to discover areas of tension and use various techniques to help separate muscle fibres that have stuck together or free the energy that often get stuck in muscles that are tense and 'knotted'.

A typical therapeutic massage session will involve an assessement of your physical and emotional symptoms and needs, followed by a massage which is designed to meet those needs. (This may differ from a massage your receive from a beauty therapist who generally give the same massage to all clients regardless of their differing needs). You may receive a full body massage or the therapist may concentrate on one or two areas, which could benefit from more in depth work. You will be asked to remove as much clothing as you feel comfortable with and asked to lie on a massge table and be covered with a towel or sheet. If your condition prevents you from lying comfortably tell your therapist and they will be able to massage you in a different position. Oil will be used to prevent pulling or irritating the skin. Always give feedback to your massage therapist as to whether the massage is feeling good to you or if you want them to change the pressure for example.

Aromatherapy

The ancient healing art of aromatherapy treats ailments and promotes and maintains health with the concentrated oils extracted from plants. These extracts, called essences or essential oils, are found in the petals, leaves, stems, seeds, roots, bark and wood of plants, flowers and trees. They may be used in massage, inhalations, oil burners, aromatic baths and compresses. Essential oils can be absorbed through the skin in to the blood stream and through inhalation as both the nasal passages and the lungs have the ability to absorb the properties of the oils. They can have both a physical and emotional effect. Essential oils should be used with care as they are highly concentrated and need, in most cases, dilution before use.

Shiatsu

Shiatsu is a form of physical therapy from Japan. It is based on the belief that a vital force or energy known as Qi flows in channels or 'meridians' throughout the body. Each meridian is connected to an organ or emotional function which can be contacted at certain acupressure points. When the Qi flows smoothly along the meridians health is maintained, but if there are areas of congestion or weakening where the Qi is not flowing as smoothly a state of imbalance and ill health can exist. By applying pressure on the relevant acupressure points the energy can be strengthened and encouraged to flow freely, bringing balance and promoting good health.

A typical shiatsu session will involve the therapist listening to your medical history, asking questions and perhaps touching areas of your body to test their condition. Sessions usually last for an hour and are completed with you fully clothed lying on a mat on the floor. it is important that you wear loose clothing as the therapist may move your limbs and body. Though shiatsu means 'finger pressure', the therapist may apply pressure to the acupressure points with their thumbs, palms, elbows, forearms or feet. The pressure may, at times, be painful, which probably indicates a blockage of energy, but this will soon subside. Like many other therapies, a series of treatments may be more useful in the long term than a one off session.

Reflexology

Reflexology is based on the principle that the feet mirror the body. There are areas, or reflex points, on the feet and hands, which correspond to every structure, organ and gland in the body. In addition to these reflexes we have 10 energy zones running the length of the body (5 on each side) and ending in the feet. When the energy is flowing freely we remain healthy, but if the energy becomes blocked or stagnant, ill health can occur. Through applying pressure and special techniques on the reflexes, energy blocks can be cleared and harmony restored.

A typical reflexology treatment will last for 50 minutes, you may be sitting or lying and the practitioner will work on one foot at a time. They will work on the reflexes situated on the sole, the side and the top of the foot using finger and thumb techniques to discover areas of congestion and to free this. Some reflexes may be tender, but generally this is a very relaxing treatment. It may take several treatments to restore balance to the body and can be an excellent treatment to have on a regular basis for the prevention of illness and to maintain wellbeing.