Maintaining a scents of balance this festive season

As the days get shorter we instinctively want to tune in with natures rhythm by slowing down and resting; however the festive season, especially the build up to Christmas is often one of the most busy and stressed filled times of the year.

Fortunately, Mother nature has provided us with a lovely way to maintain a sense of balance throughout and that's with the use of aromatic essences.  Found in plants, tree resins/bark, fruits and flowers and transformed into aromatherapy essential oils through the process of distillation; aromatic essences are often referred to as the soul or spirit of the plant because they give it its unique smell and set of therapeutic properties which help to bring body and mind back into balance.

Aromatic essences can be used in the home (or during a massage) at any time of the year but the more wintry ones are the ones we often associate with the smells of Christmas.  Blending and vaporising (or adding to the bath/using as a perfume/skin moisturiser) these oils are not only beneficial for our health and wellbeing over the colder months but they're also the perfect way to invoke the spirit and joy of Christmas into our home.

Here's a selection of some of the more traditional aromatic essences enjoyed at this time of the year. The Essential oils listed are completely natural (since they come from nature) making a nice alternative to artificial plug in air fresheners and deodorants.  These essences not only smell great individually but also blend really well together too. 

Orange: A cheerful, refreshing and uplifting aroma which brings a ray of sunshine into the colder winter months and is commonly used to treat anxiety, stress and depression.  It's anti inflammatory and has detoxing and cleansing properties. Orange helps break down and eliminate cellulite, it promotes the production of collagen, soothes dry, irritated, chapped skin and is essential to looking and feeling good this party season!

Cinnamon: A spicy and warming aroma which is both comforting and strengthening. Cinnamon is extremely useful in combating anxiety and soothing the nervous system as well as stimulating the immune system against colds and flu. It's also a great tonic for the mind and body so perfect if you still have a long list of things to do and need focus and energy! Cinnamon is also known to help with digestive problems (a good thing with Christmas's overindulgence's) and lower blood sugar levels.

Clove: An aroma most closely associated with the smells of Christmas due to its historic uses in making fragrant orange-clove pomanders, mulled wine and scrumptious baked ham. Very useful at refreshing the mind, relieving mental fatigue and stress; and giving you a good nights sleep.  Clove can also act as an aphrodisiac (great for all that mistletoe snogging) and when used in a massage, clove essential oil improves blood circulation and is a powerful pain reliever.

''The classic blend of orange, cinnamon and clove oil (5:5:5) in an oil burner/diffuser creates a welcoming festive atmosphere that appeals to everyone (think mulled wine) and is sure to bring the spirit and joy of Christmas into your home.''

Nutmeg: A very warming and relaxing aroma that removes mental exhaustion and stress.  It helps combat fatigue and is beneficial for muscular aches and pains brought on by the cold when used in the bath or during a massage. It is also an important active ingredient in many cough syrups and cold rubs. More commonly used for culinary purposes, nutmeg tastes and smells gorgeous so definitely add some to those biscuits! 

Ginger: Feels like a gift at this time of year; for when it's cold, ginger warms the body and soul.  Not only does it provoke childhood memories of ginger bread but it also soothes a sore throat, eases the symptoms of a cold and boosts the immune system.  It's helpful for when lacking motivation as it brings clarity, strength and determination. When used in a massage or in the bath it brings warmth to the body, improves circulation and keeps those fingers and toes nice and warm!

Pine: If you have a real Christmas tree up this year then you will already be benefiting from the aroma of pine; so take some deep breathes because pine is excellent for respiratory problems such as seasonal coughs and colds.  It is also a great mood elevator and invigorates you if you're feeling tired and sluggish. If you don't have a real tree then you can always add a few drops to an oil burner/vapouriser, or put a few drops on some cotton-wool balls and hide in your artificial tree! 25 drops added to 50ml of water in a water spray bottle also creates the enlivening smell of a live tree.

Frankincense: A gift from one of the three wise men; Frankincense encourages a spiritual connection by centering the mind and balancing the emotions.  It radiates a beautiful atmosphere of peace and serenity and so perfect for creating a harmonious environment, preventing family arguments and keeping the children chilled!  Frankincense is also considered to be very anti ageing and so may be used as a face moisturiser when diluted in a light carrier oil.

A guideline to using these oils

Remember I've only listed a few of the more traditional oils used at this time of the year but oils such as Rosemary, Bay and Juniper berry are also nice ones too!  It's fun to be creative and experiment with blending the oils in various different combinations; however to really enjoy, benefit and use the oils safely here are a few guidelines to follow:

• To use in a oil burner/vaporiser: Like notes in a chord, an oil blend will smell better (more balanced) if you only use between 1 and 3 different oils at a time.  3-6 drops is fine depending on the size of the room.
  
• Using as a body/face moisturiser/perfume: Never use essential oils directly on your skin.  Always dilute the essential oils first in a carrier oil such as sweet almond or grape seed.  The number of drops you put in should be half the amount of carrier oil e.g  2/3 drops in 5ml, 5 drops in 10ml  10 drops in 20ml etc.  It's also wise to test a small area of skin first to check for any sensitivity/reaction.
• To use in the bath: Dilute first in some carrier oil (be careful this can make the bath slippy) or simply add up to 6 drops of your chosen oil to the water making sure you swish it around properly!  

 


Enjoy! x 

The importance of self love and how massage/bodywork can help

Artist:Chiara Bautista

Over the past few weeks I've noticed more clients complaining of feeling depleted and emotionally vulnerable; with recurrence's of stress related conditions such as psoriasis, headaches, irritable bowel and aches and pains in the upper body. With the intention of all these treatments being on creating space, nurturing and primarily relaxation I began to wonder if it was perhaps the time of year.

So I started to think about the importance of looking after ourselves, having regular treatment and practising self love as we approach the winter months; and yet whilst this is all good and necessary, it occurred to me that self  love is something we should all be practising every moment of everyday anyway.  This led me to think how actually there is this crazy notion in the western world, that to really love ourselves and put ourselves first is selfish; and that most of us don't love and take care of ourselves the way we should.

There is an old saying that you can't pour from an empty cup and yet for many of us this is exactly what we do on a daily basis; especially women (sorry men I know you work hard to!) who are more  natural care givers and in our modern world, find themselves not only looking after children (and sometimes elderly parents), but keeping the flow of the home and also having to juggle paid work too. The increasing pressures placed on people in terms of our time and energy in order to maintain our lifestyles is real and yet somehow, by taking time out for ourselves to enjoy a massage and maintain the health of our own mind and body, we feel guilty, we feel like we're being self indulgent.

This seems strangely paradoxical given how narcissistic society is becoming. We invest so much of ourselves in this world in terms of our desires for material gain, always looking to the world to make us happy.  Most of us spend too much time looking out onto the lives of others via social media rather then spending that time sitting quietly with ourselves. We think nothing of spending money on our car, a new kitchen or fill in the blank and yet to put money aside each month to invest in our own health and wellness by having a treatment seems somewhat frivolous and we tell ourselves that as much as we would enjoy and benefit from massage/bodywork we just can't afford it.

The truth is though (and I admit this has/is taking some learning) if we don't fill ourselves up with self love to the point of bursting then we can't properly love or look after our family, friends or indeed the world.  By truly loving ourselves we get to live our lives from the inside out in our own unique and beautiful way. We become in tune with our real selves. our lives become more authentic to who we really are, we feel energised and inspired to create, share our gifts and we become good for one another.

By not practising self love however we find ourselves living from the outside in, constantly chasing a forever elusive return on the investment we put in.  We tell ourselves the next holiday, the next home improvement, the next gadget, pair of shoes or relationship will complete us and yet the joy or love for these things is always fleeting. We compromise ourselves and as a result become tired, stressed, relationships become fraught and life feels more like a struggle then joyful. Stress related conditions begin to manifest and we become no good to ourselves let alone anyone else.

Cooking ourselves a healthy nutritious meal, getting enough exercise and making time to do the things we enjoy are all acts of self love (if we're genuinely doing it for ourselves and not just to post pictures on social media!) and yet as with most things that are good for us, there is always some resistance; and no more so it seems then loving ourselves.  For as well as feeling unnecessarily selfish for putting ourselves first there is also the matter of our own sense of self worth.  Low self esteem, past traumas, not feeling loved as a child and perceived past wrongs that we haven't/ can't forgive ourselves for, all keep us imprisoned in a sense of unworthiness.

It's not surprising that so many people hide from themselves in the world rather then confront these issues and yet letting go of all this, forgiving ourselves and loving ourselves despite it all, is what truly heals us and heals the world.  Of course there are many paths and personal journeys that people go on in order to arrive back at themselves and massage/bodywork work is but a tool; but in my experience of being a massage therapist and having received a lot of bodywork, I know that it can be a very powerful tool for inner transformation and self love.

How massage /bodywork can be a powerful tool for transformation and self love...

• To make the decision to have a massage/treatment, to book the appointment and then to travel and make your way there is an act of self love before the actual massage even begins because you've made the effort for yourself and on a deeper level you're letting yourself know that you're worth it.  I have a client who comes every month and pays by standing order and I love the way she's put her name and 'self care' as the reference for the payee details.

• I always begin a massage session with a minute of still work where I allow space for myself and my client to tune into our breath and bring ourselves into the present moment. Again this is powerful stuff because how many times a day do we actually do this?  From this place there is an anchoring, a safe shelter to rest from the constant pulls and demands of the world and our own chattering mind. There is a no judgement here, just a sense of coming home.  If this is new to people it may introduce the benefits of a regular meditation practise. 

• Within a massage session there is an element of surrender, of handing over control and allowing someone else to take care of us. To be constantly giving out to others we need to feel that we're being looked after too. Touch is a powerful medicine, it makes us feel loved.  Sadly many people, the elderly in particular are deprived of touch.  Massage can be incredibly healing and I've encountered many clients, especially those dealing with issues of not feeling loved, being brought to tears by the simple act of a loving touch.

• In a world that is always telling us and making us feel that we're not good enough (mainly so it can sell us something) it's little wonder that so many of us have insecurities with our bodies and the way we look. To feel that we're not good looking/ pretty enough can really impact on the way we feel within which is really sad and removes us from inner power. Indeed to be confident in our own skin is an act of revolution these days and massage/bodywork can really help with this, because it gives us the opportunity to connect to and enjoy our body for the amazing thing that it is.

• Massage aims to relieve the body of chronic soft tissue pain and lets face it pain can really bring us down. Sometimes we hang on to pain long after the initial injury; our bodies literally stuck in a holding pattern of defence against the original trauma.  Sometimes we subconsciously hang on to pain because it's serving us in some way; maybe because of the attention//love we receive from people or perhaps because we have become identified with our diagnosis/condition. Massage/bodywork can go along way in relieving the body of pain whilst giving us permission to self love and release that which may be preventing us from healing.

• There is a saying that 'our issues are in our tissues' in that the body acts like a buffer or sponge for a lot of our mental and emotional trauma.  By working on the body to release physical tension a lot of emotional stuff can come to the surface and clients often surprise themselves by feeling suddenly tearful during or after a massage.  By being mindful of what comes up without being drawn into it, we're able to process and let go of it and this is extremely healing for us because it means we're no longer carrying it around in our body as physical tension which in the long term can cause illness.  

Massage/bodywork, for all it's many benefits, simply feels really good; and to put some time and money aside each month to have a treatment is truely an enjoyable and healing gift to give to ourselves.  It's an opportunity to show ourselves love, put back that which life takes out of us, return to balance and honour that which is within; so we may become the best version of ourselves and the best that we can be for others.

Get into the groove (with a massage)

With the festival season upon us it's time to return to nature, lie out in the sun and get into that summer groove with some good music; and for the rest of the time we have massage, because that helps us get into our groove too!

I've always loved music and some of you may know that I really enjoy singing and have sung with many groups and choirs around Brighton over the years as well as writing my own songs. Sadly my guitar playing skills leave a lot to be desired (!) but I think one of the reasons why I enjoy doing massage so much (as well as relaxing people and helping to improve chronic pain conditions of course!) is because giving a massage is in some ways like playing an instrument.

There is a musicality to massage in that there are 7 basic massage techniques or strokes/moves which form the basis of all massage modalities.  Within a massage treatment these strokes or moves are creatively put together (depending on the clients needs) in different ways, to create different rhythms, speed/tempos, attack (the amount of pressure applied to the body!) in the same way as notes are arranged in a piece of music.  
Giving a massage is like dancing with your hands on someones body in that each technique flows rhythmically into the next.  It's tuning in to the clients body and mind and knowing how much pressure to apply, how fast the pace should be and when to just pause and simply hold the body without seemingly doing any thing at all.  The massage session hopefully should take you on a journey in which the rhythm and tempo of the strokes relaxes the body of muscular tension, calms the mind of stress and anxiety and sooths the soul.

To be in a groove means to be flowing with life, no resistance just content and happy with our situation, circumstance, or whatever we're doing in this present moment.  Most of the time though in our daily lives we feel stress and a resistance to what is, which knocks us out of our groove.  Feeling ill or in pain in our body also makes it harder for us to hit our stride so to speak.  This is why massage is so powerful and transformative because it brings us into our bodies and allows us to escape the constant chatter of the mind; it relieves us of stress and aims to release us from muscular pain. A good massage helps us to loose ourselves in the present moment, it puts us back in our groove!

The actual music being played during the treatment can also help with letting go and relaxing into the the massage for both the client and the therapist which is why I'm always on a quest to source good music that is suitable for a massage session. Of course every ones taste is different and what helps us relax one session, we may not be in the mood for the next, so I'm slowly getting a good collection of sounds together.
This is not to say however that music has to be played in the background, far from it.  In a world that is so noisy, it is incredible healing for us to spend time in silence and for the massage itself to help connect us to our own internal rhythm and groove.

Physiologically, our muscles are made up of fibres very much like the strings on a stringed instrument.  For a muscle to function properly these fibres need to be aligned alongside one another.  Over time or as a result of bad posture, emotional stress, injury or overuse, a local area of muscle fibres can mat together into a hard lump or 'knot'. These knots or adhesion's together with muscular tension affect the nerves governing vital organs and represent blockages in blood, lymph and energy flow.  They prevent fresh oxygenated blood from reaching local muscle tissue, toxins build up and we begin to feel those troublesome aches and pains.  A good therapeutic deep tissue massage realigns muscle fibres, breaks down knots, adhesions and trigger points and effectively puts the body back in tune!

Massage teaches us good body awareness thus helping to improve our everyday posture.  Shoulders are realigned down away from the ears, the neck is lengthened  and the chest opened.  Space is created in the upper body and like a wind instrument that has been cleaned, breathing becomes easier and deeper thus nourishing and oxygennating the whole body.  Massage helps us look after and care for our instrument!

I love giving (and recieving!) massage and have been practising and homing my massage/bodywork skills for 14 years. From working with the seven basic strokes/moves of giving a good massage, which I'll always return to because of their positive effects on body and mind; to refining my touch and learning to become more sensitive to the muscle tissue and to the grooves between the muscle fibres that lay beneath my fingers.  In this way i'm able to achieve better results when working with chronic pain conditions as well as hopefully creating a deeper level of relaxation.

When we're in a groove we're in harmony and balance with ourselves and others.  Massage puts us back in our groove by helping us to return to our centre, to the present moment, where mind, body and breath is connected and there is no resistense of any kind.  We are given the opportunity to let go of stress and anxiey and over time chronic pain is relieved.  We become 'in tune' with ourselves.

So get into that groove and book in for a massage soon!
Beth x

Beware the magic bullet

Photo credit: delmhorst.com
We are living in a time where modern technology has allowed us to have what we want at the click of a button. Whereas before we'd have to take time out of our day to visit the library or walk around the shops, now everything is instant.
In theory we should have more spare time on our hands and yet we find ourselves busier and more stressed then ever before.

Most of us are slaves to our smart phones/computers, we're constantly checking emails, texts and social media; and through the Internet we have access to so much information and news coverage that it's as if the world is pulling us all the time 'look at this', 'be this', 'be scared of this', 'buy this', 'this will make you look better/ feel better', 'this will make you happy' etc. with so much out there vying for our attention everything has to be quick quick quick and if it doesn't grab us within a few seconds then we've moved on.

This translates into our everyday lives and we see people becoming more impatient and intolerant with each other and themselves. The constant 'noise' of the world creating an underlying level of anxiety and stress in most of us as we rush about chasing or reacting too the world; rarely living or being content with the present moment. Mental health problems and stress related illnesses are generally accepted as normal and yet we haven't got time to be ill, it's an inconvenience, we just want some pill to make us better quick so we can carry on again. There's an app for that or rather there's a prescription for that.

We've lost touch with ourselves and our own power when it comes to taking charge of our own lives, health and well being.  We hand over responsibility of our health to the doctor like taking our car to the garage; we just want the doctor to fix us.  We know that by taking better self care we could in most cases prevent ourselves from becoming unwell in the first place but we carry on as we do; not eating properly, not resting enough, not sitting/moving properly, not thinking properly, not breathing properly and then when we do become unwell we seek that magic bullet that quick fix.

Certainly as a massage therapist I've met with clients who just want to lie on the table for an hour or for a few sessions and for all their chronic tension, aches, pains and muscle imbalances to just disappear.  Unfortunately though, as much as i would love to have these super massage powers; the body puts up with a lot before it starts complaining and the problem we're presenting with has often been building for some time and won't be helped quickly. There is no magic bullet to treatment, for good health or indeed a happy easy life instead there has to be an awareness towards self care that is present in everyday life.

Even for the most health conscious among us, this is no easy fete, for the lure of checking emails and social media sites seems to be so much more important then just sitting silently with our breath for 10minutes or doing some stretches.  The constant chatter of the world and a mind forever occupied with some worry or other, flushes our body with stress and tenses our muscles even when we're not aware of it.  In the short term this may lead to feelings of stress, general aches, pains, headaches, insomnia, skin complaints or digestive problems; in the long term more chronic stress, depression, injury, pain and ill health.

In a world that's always trying to sell us something and take us away from our centre of balance it takes effort to stand guardian over our own health and well being and to be selective with what we choose to let in.  To be mindful of how our thoughts create energy which is either nourishing or toxic to our health in the same way as the food we choose to eat.  To be aware of how stress affects our body and to take action on counteracting that stress before our symptoms become more chronic.

Self awareness isn't something we do once and that's it, we have to be conscious all the time, not just with our thoughts but also with how we're sitting, standing and moving in our bodies.  Correct alignment/good posture is so important for good health; it allows our muscles to be used correctly and more efficiently thus preventing fatigue, muscle strain, overuse injuries and pain.  There is less wear and tear on joints and ligaments, our breathing becomes easier and deeper and circulation and digestion is greatly improved; it even makes us feel better mentally and emotionally.

We need to constantly keep bringing ourselves back into balance. If we have a job where we're using the same muscles repetitively or our posture is that, that we're hunched over a desktop for hours then we need to counteract this by taking regular breaks and incorporating simple stretches into our day.  If we spend too much time sitting then we need to move more. If the nature of our work is that we're stuck inside all day then we need to make time to sit in nature, enjoy the sun and get fresh air.  If we have a tendency to work to hard then we need to learn how to slow down and rest sufficiently.

We give so much of ourselves outwardly and yet we feel like we're wasting our time and energy or perhaps missing out on something important if we unplug ourselves from the world for even a short time to check in and look after ourselves. We intuitively know what we need to do to restore/ maintain balance and good health; if only we were too quieten the 'noise' of the world and listen to ourselves.  There is no magic bullet or quick fix and in a world that is increasingly becoming more busy and stressful it has never been so important that we take back our power and take charge of our own lives, health and well being.

What we bring to the (massage) table

I've been feeling really grateful recently that I'm able to work as a massage therapist and that I have the space in my home in which to create a tranquil environment for people to come and have treatment.  So 'Thank you' to the powers that be, that have made this possible and 'Thank you' to all of you for booking in!

On a business level I'm taught to 'target a specific market audience' and yet I've never taken this approach when advertising my work.  I love that the people who come to me for treatment are of all different ages and demographic groups; each client bringing to the massage table, a life and everything that that entails.
For massage isn't just about working on the muscles and physical body; it's also about what's going on in the clients life at the time, their state of mind, their past, their personal story and everything that they're carrying whether that's physical, mental or emotional.

No two treatments within the same day are ever the same because we're all so different and no two sessions with the same client are ever the same either because what we bring to the massage table in terms of what's happening in our lives, how we're feeling and what's physically happening with our body is constantly changing from week to week, month to month and so session to session; and this is why having regular massage/bodywork is important for our overall well being.

What we bring to the massage table

Perhaps since your last massage you've been doing some heavy lifting or have spent too long sat at a computer; maybe you've been practicing an instrument, gardening, decorating, training for a marathon, working out more in the gym or maybe just not moving enough.  As you bring your achy and sore body to the massage table, the session will be more focused on those problematic areas of your body.

Or maybe life has been getting on top of you and you come to the massage table feeling tired and emotionally fray; you just want to press 'pause' for an hour or so to feel nurtured, rested and restored.  Perhaps you're crazily busy and your family are driving you mad; you can feel the stress and tension in your body and you just need a really good massage to 'get in there' and release it.

So whether it's physical, mental or emotional, regular massage/bodywork is a great opportunity to just dump everything that we've been carrying and leave it on the massage table! 

As well as physically releasing muscular tension, aches and pains bought about by what ever we're doing with our bodies on a day to day basis; the techniques used in massage such as stretching, kneading shaking/vibrating are all aimed at getting the body to 'let go' of emotional stress (some of which we've been carrying for years) because holding on to that **** is not good for us!

Sometimes just being in the treatment room alone can feel like a little retreat away from the world where we can feel safe.  Clients often open up about what's happening in their lives and their problems because it's healing to let it out without the fear of judgement of that it will go any further.  I've had many clients who after the massage just burst into tears and this is really powerful and healing because there's a sense of release, that they're able to move on in some way.

After a massage session we leave the table feeling lighter as if a weight had been lifted.  We feel more at peace with ourselves and with the world around us; and as one of my clients recently said 'that's a pretty good place to be!'

What I bring to the massage table as your therapist

It's a real honor to be a massage therapist because out side of my little treatment room I'm actually quite shy; but I must have treated hundreds of clients over the years and I feel so privileged that I've been able to help so many people with my work.

Whether you're just passing through, having had just 1 or 2 sessions with me or whether I've been treating you for years; it's my intention to try and tune in the best I can to whatever you're bringing to the table in that particular session; and use my experience and the skills I have learned (and continue to learn) to creatively provide the best massage I can.

For me giving a massage is an opportunity to be fully present in the moment; it's like a meditation where I completely loose myself  in what I'm doing and hope that the client looses themselves too!  Beth Jenkins and all that she personally carry's is left outside of the treatment room.
I'm not performing a cookie cut out massage whilst thinking about what I'm going to have for dinner; instead I'm tuning into how much pressure to use and to which techniques are needed in order to bring about balance and help with whatever you've brought to the table.

I offer a tranquil space in which to escape the world for an hour or so, a really good massage (!) and the opportunity for you to just drop everything you've been carrying and leave the session feeling lighter in body and mind; and more at peace in your life.

Keeping your healthy intentions on track with regular massage

Image taken from theodysseyonline.com

Happy new year everybody!  It's a fresh start and as we all enjoy a good clear out of our homes, polish off the last off the wine and remains of the chocolates; it's time to set ourselves those annual intentions to eat less, exercise more, work harder, stress less and generally become new and improved versions of ourselves in the months to come!

The trouble is when we try to make too many 'positive' life changes all at once it's easy to feel overwhelmed and give up.  Self care needs to become an enjoyable way of life for us because then we're more likely to make healthy choices in our day today lives and so more likely to achieve those new years resolutions; here's how regular massage can help with this:

De-toxing  Abstaining from alcohol and replacing chocolate with vegetable juice is often the norm for January; as we resolve to loose a few 1bs and cleanse our system from seasonal excess.  A toxic body (smoking, alcohol, bad diet, stress) can manifest as fatigue, migraines, bad skin, low immune system and allergies.  Even if we feel our lifestyle is pretty healthy, we can never completely escape the toxins found in our environment.

Periodically cleansing the body by avoiding toxins (those you can), drinking plenty of clean water, and ideally fasting for a couple of days (check with Dr. first) is a good idea.  Getting plenty of exercise (especially those of us who lead sedentary lives) is also important as it 'gets everything moving' which is key to de toxing and why massage is also recommended.

Regular massage cleanses the body by improving the circulation of lymph (the body's main system of elimination) and so releasing toxins; not only this but when relaxed, the body is able to return to it's natural state of balance thus enabling the digestive and other systems of elimination to function better. As chronically tight knotted muscles are softened, trapped toxins in the muscle tissue are released into circulation for the body to process (may cause healing reactions'). Dry skin brushing, cleansing oils such juniper berry and Epson salt baths are lovely ways to help support this.

Reducing stress We all know the importance of a healthy diet and making sure we get regular exercise and yet the most important (and often overlooked) thing we can do for our health is reduce our stress.  Yes a certain level of stress is good for us because it allows us to be productive and get things done but too much stress becomes detrimental to our well being causing sleepless nights, anxiety, depression and a range of stress related symptoms such as physical aches/pains, bad skin and irritable bowel, to name just a few.

Animals are great at physically shaking off their tension but us humans tend to carry it around which isn't good for us.  Our posture and the way we hold ourselves often mirrors what's going on in our mind and the phrase 'our issues are in our tissues' is indicative of how our body absorbs much of our emotional stress.  Meditation, exercise and doing things we enjoy are all excellent tools for reducing stress but there's nothing like massage to physical work stress out of the body.

Regular massage is a much needed tool for physically releasing tension from our bodies before it builds up and creates chronic illness (dis-ease). Softening our body armor keeps us young and many people report actually looking younger after a massage; this is because they are relaxed and stress has left their body.  It's not uncommon to feel very emotional and tearful after a treatment as if the weight of everything you've been 'carrying' has been taken off you.  Every day stresses and strains dissapear into the background and we feel more on top emotionally.

More exercise Gyms are at their busiest this time of year and with little wonder because we all know the importance of exercise for our overall health and well being; although with our often sedentary lifestyles, we know we should be doing more. Whether it's renewing our gym membership, training for a marathon, swimming or yoga; most people's new year resolutions involve being more active.

Regular massage helps keep us active and injury free by physically working to improve the health and function of the muscles. The ancient Greek Olympians and Roman gladiators commonly used massage before and after an event; and this is still the case today within the sporting world.  Pre exercise massage calms and focuses the mind, loosens ligaments, joints and muscles (still important to warm up/stretch) and increases blood flow to the muscles; thought to enhance performance.  Post exercise massage treats any injury to the muscle fiber, removes toxins that have built up from the exercise and reduces the delayed onset of muscle soreness. 

You don't need to be athletic to benefit in this way in fact it's often the least sporty of us that suffer more from injury because we throw ourselves into exercises on a whim, without the correct form and technique to keep us safe. Choosing an exercise that repetitively uses the same muscles again and again at the expense of other muscles can also be problematic in causing repetitive strain injury, muscle imbalances and strain on the joints.  Regular massage improves the health and function of  muscles, aims to correct any muscle imbalances and gives us greater body awareness.

Working harder to achieve our personal goals  with the brand new year ahead of us we intuitively pause to take stock of where we are in our lives and what we want to achieve in the coming months.  In a ever increasing target driven society we ourselves set new targets and push ourselves harder to succeed at whatever we're trying to do.

Whether it's academic, financial, creative, physical or spiritual; self improvement is always a worthwhile endeavor, however as with anything there has to be balance. It's easy to become addicted to ticking things off a 'to do' list at the expense of other things.  Working longer hours, juggling family life and constantly feeling under pressure to deliver are all too common realities for many of us, and can really take the joy out of our work.  Even if we enjoy what we're doing, we all loose steam occasional and need to take a break and this is the perfect time to have a massage. 

Regular massage rejuvenates the body and mind so we may return to the world feeling rested and re charged.  Taking 'me time' is not selfish it's an important part of self care because if we're run down, tired out and burned out then we're no good to anyone and were never going to achieve our goals (not with any joy anyway) Through total mind body relaxation massage brings you back to your center so that you can 're set' if you like and return to life, feeling fresh and with a better perspective to approach things in a different, more creative way.


With every session tailor made to how your feeling and to what needs more work and attention at the time; committing to regular massage work is a hugely positive act of self care and a most enjoyable and holistic way of achieving your healthy intentions and new year resolutions for overall good health and well being this year. 

Beth x