Therapies

Massage

Massage is an ancient healing method that is still being discovered by people everyday.

Regular massage can assist with
· Relaxation
· Stress management
· Regaining vitality
· Enhancement of physical & emotional well-being
· Improvement of circulation
· Creating body awareness

Massage aids in relief of
· Muscular aches & strains
· Nervous tension
· Insomnia
· Headaches/migraines
· Back, neck & shoulder tension
· Jet lag
· Discomfort during pregnancy
· Menstrual problems
· Depression
· Digestive problems
· Arthritis
· Allergies

There is a massage therapy to suit everybody, as everybody has their own needs.

Swedish Massage is a popular relaxation massage that manipulates the soft body tissue, releasing tension from aching muscles leaving you feeling balanced and energized.

Therapeutic Massage uses a variety of approaches to treat the deeper tissues of the body, at a level that the client can tolerate whilst remaining relaxed.

Aromatherapy Massage is a gentle massage using essential oils of plant origin. Essential oils can facilitate healing on both an emotional and psychological level.

Reflexology

Foot reflexology is an art and a manual healing technique involving applied pressure to the reflex areas in our feet corresponding to all parts of our body - organs, nerves, muscles, bones, endocrine glands and tissues. It is applied by the therapist using their thumbs and sometimes index finger. No mechanical tools or gadgets are used.

Benefits of Receiving Reflexology
· Relaxes the body & mind
· Relieves stress & tension
· Improves the nervous system functions
· Helps to balance and normalize all body functions
· Removes congestion and blockages by improving elimination of toxins held within the body
· Alleviates pain, improves life energy

How does it work?
It works via the nerve endings in our feet, which are connected to the entire body, via energy zones and the circulation of the blood and lymph system. Healing signs during a treatment that may be experienced include, sweating, shivering, tenderness, emotional response, light-headedness or nausea. (these are normal responses during a healing process)

Contraindications
If you are currently experiencing any of the following, please notify your therapist: acute infections and inflammations, e.g. thrombosis; severe varicose veins on the feet and ankle; medication e.g. anti-depressants; conditions such as AIDS, diabetes or local conditions of the feet such as tinea or sprains.

General Treatment Pattern
For (more) acute problems, apply more frequently 2 - 3 sessions per week (10 - 20 minutes)
For (more) chronic problems, apply less frequently once per week with longer duration, (45 - 60 minutes)

Client Considerations for After Treatment
Sleep changes - deep/disturbed sleep, intense dreams
Energy changes - increased physical vitality, tiredness
Increased elimination - via lungs, bowels, skin and kidneys

References: Claire Sarandon 2002, SSNT Integrated Massage Certificate 2002. Buckle. S., Diercks. A., Sarandis. C., Stroh. J., (2001) SSNT Notes & Workbook, Foot Reflexology

Bowen Therapy

Bowen Therapy is a non-invasive, non-painful sequence of manual stimulations of acupoints or trigger points with specialised, cross-fibre movements of the fascia and muscle fibres. The location and selection points, along with the sequence of stimulation and the direction of the movement, depends upon the individual problem being treated.

Thomas Ambrose Bowen, born in Geelong, Victoria, Australia developed this technique whilst involved in the military service during World War II, when allegedly he was held as prisoner in Asia and became involved in remedial bodywork. He opened his own clinic in 1959 and treated 14,000 clients per year, as he shared his knowledge and expertise. He died in 1982.

Benefits of Receiving Bowen Therapy
· Restoration of muscle tone
· Reduces muscle tension
· Aids in recovery of body & internal disorders
· Promotes relaxation
· Relief of myofascia tension
· No oils or rubbing involved
· Little preparation is required by client

How does is work?
It is a lateral cross fibre movement, that will initiate muscle stretch reflexes. The stimulation of the fascia and connective tissue at the location will generate a piezoelectric effect and thus produces an electrical change at the point at cellular level. The procedure can be carried out on any ligament or tendon.

No Contraindications
There are no contraindications to consider when using this modality. On elderly people, less is more. On pregnant women the sacrum and coccyx areas will be avoided.

General Treatment Pattern
Two treatments, one week apart, a third treatment between 5 - 7 days later.

Client Considerations For After The Treatment
· You may experience dizziness immediately after the treatment, lie on your left-hand side with knees up to your chest.
· Drink plenty of water to release the toxins from your body
· You may wish to snooze after the treatment.
· No spas, saunas, hot baths or exercise should be undertaken for 24 hours after treatment
· Do not mix treatments e.g. Do not have a massage or other form of therapy.
· No heavy lifting
· No sitting for long periods or crossing your legs after the treatment.

Reference: Graham Pennington 1996, Advanced Bowen Seminars

Reiki

[Usui System of Natural Healing]

The technique’s origin has been traced to ancient Tibet at least ten thousand years ago. It was rediscovered in Japan by Dr. Mikao Usui in the mid 19th Century and was named Reiki.

Reiki is universal energy. This ancient system of healing is a safe, powerful but gentle way of using light, energy vibrations to restore and balance yourself and others.

The Benefits of Reiki
· Reduces stress & tension
· Promotes well-being
· Induces deep relaxation
· Replenishes vital energy
· Strengthens immune systems
· Enhances concentration & calms the mind
· Compliments conventional medicines
· Assists in releasing addictive habits

Reiki Courses
Reiki opens the door to both your spiritual and personal potential. Traditionally Reiki is passed onto a student through an attunement process. There are four attunements including:

Level 1 attunement - Self-healing, spiritual and personal development
The Reiki I course is an Intensive One-Day experience that sets the foundation for all work in Reiki. The course contents include the history and development of Reiki, the 5 spiritual principles, the cause and effect of disharmony, self and group treatments, basic hand positions and the attunement. The attunement connects you to the Reiki Healing Energy or Universal Life Force.

Level II attunement - Absent healing and becoming a Practitioner
This Intensive One-Day course teaches the 3 Tibetan Symbols which can be used to amplify Reiki Energy. Instruction on distance healing will also be given.

Master Level 1 - Practitioner Development
This Intensive One-Day course teaches psychic surgery and specific injury healing. Instruction is given in energy cultivation practices, in chakra balancing and developing intuition in healing.

Master Level 2 attunement - Becoming a Teacher of Reiki
This is a very powerful, beautiful and peaceful attunement, raising your vibrational energy and Reiki skills to an advanced level. You will be taught the Master Symbol and how to use it. Your master symbol will enable you to give your recipients a very deep level of spiritual healing and will also empower you to teach, attune and certify others. The art of passing attunements is taught and practiced at this level.

Cranio-Sacral Biodynamics

Cranio-sacral therapy is a subtle and profound way of engaging therapeutically, re-establishing the balance between disharmonious states of being and our natural state of being. CST is not used as a diagnostic tool (or at least from my school of training).

Session Procedure - An initial discussion (or a case history if it is a first session) to clarify your expectations and intentions for the session will be had, time is allocated at the end of a session for questions or feedback. Sessions can take between 40 minutes to one hour.

CST sessions take place with the client lying fully clothed usually on a treatment table. The practitioner makes light contact on the body. Contact is made carefully so that you will feel at ease with what is happening and that you are always in control of the process. The head and the sacrum are the two main contact points allowing direct contact with the craniosacral system.

The first thing you will probably notice is a sense of deep relaxation, which will generally last throughout the session, with subsequent sessions this release of tension often extends into everyday life. Cranio-sacral therapy is so gentle that it is suitable for babies, children, and the elderly, as well as adults. People in fragile states or those experiencing acutely painful states find it most supportive due to the empathetic tone of the work.

Cranio-sacral therapy developed from the work of an American osteopath, Dr William Sutherland in the early 1900s. Cranio-sacral therapy has developed from clinical experience, which shows that health is something active and not just an absence of disease. It is the expression of life, responsible for the organisation of the millions of things that are constantly happening in the body.

Whilst there are currently gaps in literature and in the research on CST, in my practice I observe CST working. Clients report benefits and do get better from non specific effects (placebo effect) and my clinical experience informs me that cranio-sacral therapy supports health and well-being not only effecting structural change but also having much wider implications, emotionally and spiritually. This increased sense of well-being can move through any aspect of an individual’s life manifesting or giving rise to new possibilities in how you experience yourself, greater awareness of your inner processes, to improving your interpersonal relationships.

The CST journey will be unique and personal to each individual and therefore I would welcome you to your own experience.

Craniosacral Therapy for Babies

I also work with pregnant mums, babies and young children. One of the joys of working with babies and young children is that they tend to engage so well with this way of working. My training and clinical experience has contributed to the development of deep listening skills and an understanding of the subtle non-verbal communication processes and gestures used by babies and infants that is significant in this work.

A crucial phase of any babies’ journey into being is the bonding process between mother and child which on occasion may be inhibited post birth. Providing an empathetic space for mother and child to ‘just be’ gives rise to the possibility of deepening this special relationship.

Clinical experience informs me that many infants' problems like colic, sucking problems, breathing difficulties, restlessness and irritability can result from craniosacral imbalances caused during the birth process and therefore sessions may help to regain a natural state of health.

On-Site Massage

On-site massage is a fast, effective and versatile form of therapeutic treatment. It concentrates on the back, shoulders, neck, arms and hands.

The client sits in an ergonomically designed chair for maximum comfort. No oils are used and the client remains fully clothed throughout the massage. Each session normally lasts 15 minutes and takes place in a meetings room or other quiet area in your workplace.

Benefits of on-site massage?

Benefits to the individual
· Relaxes muscles, releases tension and eases aches and pains
· Can help reduce the likelihood of RSI (repetitive strain injuries)
· Can enhance concentration
· Alleviates symptoms of stress such as headaches, eyestrain and insomnia
· Promotes overall health and has a balancing effect on the body
· Leaves you feeling relaxed, revitalised and energised

Benefits to the organisation
By providing health benefits to your employees, you are in turn specifically benefiting your organisation by:
· Reducing likelihood of absence from work due to stress-related conditions
· Demonstrating a progressive approach to the wellbeing of employees and showing staff you care!
· Increasing staff morale and motivation, helping to improve productivity

Stress - some interesting facts
Our lifestyles have become ever more stressful and the World Health Organisation now describes stress as a 'world wide epidemic'. Stress-related illness costs industry millions of pounds every year. According to the Government's Health and Safety Executive, stress-related sickness absence resulted in 13.5 million lost working days in 2001, at a cost to the UK economy of up to £3.7 billion.

Harnessed properly, pressure can be a hugely productive force, but when demands and pressures become excessive they lead to stress. When stress is experienced over a long period of time, it can lead to mental and physical ill health. Some symptoms of stress include:

· Indecisiveness
· Irritability
· Reduced performance
· Poor timekeeping
· Headaches and back pain
· Feeling overwhelmed
· Increased alcohol or tobacco consumption

Indian Head Massage

Indian Head Massage or Champissage is commonly practices throughout India and Pakistan. The techniques have been passed through the generations. This hand on technique focuses mainly on the head, followed by working the upper back, shoulders and neck. To complete the session lymphatic drainage will be encouraged and pressure points on the face re-balanced. Originally Indian Head Massage was used to promote shiny, healthy hair, it was then discovered that using the technique resulted in a feeling of relaxation and equilibrium.

How Does it Work?

Indian Head Massage is a technique manipulating soft tissues in the shoulders and scalp. The therapist uses a range of different massage pressures and rhythms to stimulate the head and neck area. A typical massage lasts around 30-40 minutes. The technique releases muscle tension and stimulates circulation. This fully oxygenates the cells. It also stretches and mobilises the tissues of the neck and shoulders and stimulates lymphatic drainage.

It stimulates and improves scalp circulation, which helps to promote texture combined with strength and growth of hair, it also relaxes the scalp and tones up subcutaneous muscles.

Benefits
The technique soothes, comforts and harmonises the body's natural balance, so helping to promote physical and psychological wellbeing leaving you with a feeling of peace and tranquillity.

· Aids the circulatory, muscular and nervous systems
· Stimulates arterial circulation, and increases venous and lymphatic flow
· Reduces stress and can induce a feeling of euphoria
· Frees knots of muscular tension and relaxes connective tissue
· Stimulates the skin and underlying nerve endings
· Aids in the elimination of accumulated toxins and waste products

Contraindications
There are contraindications to the Indian Head Massage technique. If in doubt please call for advise.