Massage & Reflexology
Thai massage & bodywork
A remedial and therapeutic form of massage received on the futon (or couch if necessary). It encourages flexibility, relaxation and balance. As well as having a musculo-skeletal approach, Thai bodywork can educate the receiver about their body, creating a new awareness of what is possible, what is useful and what is less useful. You can start the massage feeling scattered and physically compromised and complete the massage feeling grounded, taller and centred.
Techniques include sequences of soft tissue pressing and combinations of passive stretching and joint mobilisation and use of acupressure. Considered deep tissue techniques are also incorporated for specific attention to muscle groups
Thai massage is helpful for:
- Stress & general fatigue
- Emotional well-being
- Muscle tightness, aching and inflexibility
- Poor posture
- Ankle strains/sprains and lower leg stiffness
- Lower back pain
- Sciatica
- Hip and leg pain
- Abdominal pain and stomach problems
- Shoulder stiffness
- Neck stiffness and related headaches
Ayurvedic massage
Ayurveda recognises the cycles of our world and environment and the cycles within us. It is a life science that works to prevent illness and provide therapeutic healing. Its history extends back some 5000 years in India. Ayurveda brings awareness to the constant changes present in our lives and supports us to adapt to and embrace them. Ayurveda includes the use of massage, yoga and diet to maintain balance and to connect mind, body and spirit.
Ayurvedic massage has a similar energetic approach to Thai bodywork. Before looking at the client on the physical level, Ayurvedic massage considers the client’s individual constitution to choose techniques to encourage them to return to their healthiest balanced state. The massage includes the use of herb-infused oils and techniques to stimulate, pacify or balance the receiver’s unique combination of energetic forces or doshas. It also includes attention to the body’s system of marma points or marmani to deepen the effect and experience of the massage. These acupressure points are vulnerable or sensitive zones connected to the physiological and energetic systems of the body.
This oil-based massage and the techniques employed will be familiar if you are used to receiving skin to skin massage.
Ayurvedic massage is helpful for
- releasing muscular and emotional tension
- creating a sense of wellbeing and space
- moisturising and nourishing the body inside and out
- calming the nervous system
- improving circulation
- relieving aches and pains
Reflexology
Reflexology or foot therapy is found in many traditional cultures. The oldest written record is a hieroglyph in a physician’s tomb within one of the Egyptian pyramids.
One of the most popular complementary therapies to receive today, reflexology is founded on the principle that the body is reflected on the feet and hands. The reflexologist connects to a system of pressure points and reflexes in the foot or hand, using thumbs, fingertips and knuckles, to stimulate a response in the body. Generally the feet are worked on as they can be more sensitive than the hands.
number of sessions
Sometimes clients attend one session but I encourage a course of treatments to allow a relationship to grow between us and to give time for reflexology to encourage balance and well-being. From experience, the client will feel relaxed after the first session but will begin to realise the benefits of the therapy by the fourth treatment
Reflexology is beneficial for most stress related conditions. The stress may be felt mentally, emotionally and/or physically, for example:
- Insomnia
- Disrupted hormone cycles
- Muscular aches and tension
- Digestive disorders
- Anxiety
- Physical and emotional demands of pregnancy
- Fatigue syndromes
- Weakened immune system
- Reflexology
