The secret of releasing stress...Hot Stones Massage

Every time I open a magazine on Massage and Spa treatments I cannot avoid noticing at least one, or more similar ads that feature a female lounging on her tummy, while displaying a number of black, round, smooth stones lined up along her spine. I have to admit Hot and Cold Stone Massages are very popular, it seems crazy because these photos/images create a false, even dangerously misleading first impression and it’s the 1st question my clients ask– ‘Why Hot Stones? How they can be affective just laying on your body?. Well firstly you cannot put the hot stones directly on a clients bare body – it would burn immediately and I am sure therapists would have people jumping off the tables and out of the door! However with this mis-interpretation of Hot Stones Massage it has not stopped this therapy becoming a known favourite that clients keep re-booking.

When a Hot Stone massage is properly executed it can have an element of deep spiritual connectedness, which is one of the reasons for the treatment’s popularity.  There is a deep yearning in everyone to be connected and connect to their own lives, to their own nature – and thereby connecting to all of life around them. Plus the heat from the stones has a healing effect – the heat is gentle, continually penetrating into your muscle fibres and literally melting away layers of tension and stress…as we know stress is the root cause of illness, and when this stress is alleviated, the body quickly returns to its natural state of wellbeing, promoting a sense of inner peace in yourself.

I use Basalt stones in my treatment and these are know to have strong magnetic properties absorbed within the stone, which may assist in opening, clearing and balancing the energy channels in the body.  The ‘hot heat’ of the basalt stones encourages the exchange of blood and lymph and provides a soothing heat for deep tissue work, which due to the warmth will be received as less invasive and painful treatment.

As always I have digressed to what I was first writing about, which was that most of the images of the treatment is mis-leading but as usual I can’t stop boasting about the benefits of a Hot Stone Massage but don’t just take my word for it…why not book a treatment? Inner peace does sound nice…

Regular massages – what are the benefits?

I admit I have to remind myself at times of all the benefits you can receive from regular massages and by regular it doesn’t have to be every week, I feel every month works too.

I truly believe in massage – of course I am going to say that, I work as a Massage Therapist, but when you have moment, carry on reading as I hope it will amaze you the amount of benefits you can receive from a massage – it still amazes me ☺

Skin – massage improves skin colour, tone, texture and elasticity.

Muscles – massage removes lactic acid, improves mobility and flexibility. Increases your self-awareness of your posture.  Releasing muscle fatigue, soreness and stiffness.

Circulatory – massage encourages better circulation, oxygen and nutrients are delivered around the body quicker – making the body function efficiently.

Lymphatic – massage is important in removal of waste and boosting immunity. It improves circulation of lymph. Plus helps reduce cellulite.

Nervous – massage improves nerve transmission through stimulation of nerve pathways – so either stimulating or relaxing the nerves, helping to release tension and stress.

Digestion – massage can aid in speeding up digestion, plus by improving muscle tone this help strengthen the abdomen – preventing constipation.

Massage can offer a great deal of physical benefits that also leads to a healthy mind and soul – from having regular massages now and before I become a therapist, a treatment can offer an emotional release as well as enhancing your sense of well-being, which we all need at times.

Regular massages don’t have to be expensive or seen as a luxury – I have made sure my prices are reasonable, allowing my clients to get the best treatment for them without breaking the bank!
Check out my treatments… http://www.myholistictherapist.com/treatments/

Book a 60 minute treatment (£35) in July 2012 and get your 2nd half price (£17.50)

Massage boosting immunity…

I have been sorting through my files etc and started reading through my embody magazines and noticed an article in the winter 2011 issue and thought it would be worth putting on my blog for you to read, especially with the constant weather changes, people are getting ill.

“The benefits of massage are immediately obvious to anyone who’s had one. A massage session calms you down, eases your anxieties, and can even aid sleep. Now a study, which was founded by the government’s National Centre for Complementary and Alternative medicine, finds that those massage sessions may help you ward off diseases too.

In the study, published in the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the authors recruited 53 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 45 and divided them into 2 groups: one that received a traditional Swedish massage and another that received a session of light touch meant to stimulate a massage but without any actual massage-therapy techniques. The Swedish massage’s were all performed by certified massage therapists to ensure uniformity. Each participant had an IV inserted into one arm for the duration of the massage and for a few hours afterward, and blood was drawn at various intervals to measure levels of various hormones and immune system markers.
The authors were working under the theory that massages increase the body’s levels of oxytocin, or “the love hormone”, which itself helps regulate levels of hormones related to stress. Yet, they found that wasn’t the case. People receiving the “light-touch” treatment actually experienced higher levels of oxytocin than the massage recipients. But unlike the light tough group, the massage recipient’s saw significant decrease in stress hormones and increases in the body’s production of various cells that boost immune response.

What it means: a single massage could help boost your immune system and help you cope better with stress, even if you’re not sick or stressed!

Reading the above article, reminded me how powerful massage can be. Book a 60-minute treatment with me this month and get a 15% discount ☺

Treatment reactions...

Very excited as the postman delivered my Aftercare Advice & Treatment Reactions postcards today. I thought it would be a good idea to give each client a small postcard that they can keep in their bag to remind them that the treatment they have received doesn't just stop when they step of the couch & they can help enhance the benefits with a few simple actions.
One of those actions is to drink water, at least 1 pint after their treatment. This helps remove any unwanted toxins in their body.
Also many people including myself experience a reaction, better known as a symptom to the treatment they have just received. These reactions could be non specific aches & pains including headaches - this is due to the release of toxins. Another common reaction is slight nausea or light headedness, due to the stimulation of the lymphatic system & elimination of waste products.
Just remember these are POSITIVE reactions, your body's way of getting rid of waste naturally.

Better put the postcards in my bag for tomorrow - got a busy day in the treatment room :)

Massage - no need to be anxious or unsure...

Friday 3rd Feb was the opening day of Haslemere Therapy Rooms at Paradigm Hair Design. It’s a place where people can come, book a treatment and give themselves time to relax, unwind and rejuvenate. It might sound a bit of a luxury and expensive but I promise you making time for yourself is important to your mind and body and a difference will be noticed. As for expensive we have made sure our prices are affordable (another blog in the writing) I’ve been meaning to blog since January last year. I have written a few in the past for a massage school but when it came down to putting pen to paper for myself I just couldn’t find the oomph…However that’s all changed.

A client of Paradigm was having her cut after a busy morning of moving, lifting and re-arranging an assortment of things at home. This had left her with sore and achy shoulders. Thankfully we were offering 15-minute taster sessions for the Therapy Rooms. The main aim was to advertise we were here, to give people a chance to come in, have a chat about the treatments and to experience a bit of relaxation for free. Hoping they would spread the word around town. I offered the client a taster session and she said that would be lovely. However I could see she was a little unsure. So I asked what she was unsure about and her answer was everything. She had never had a massage before and had no idea what to expect. With this I asked the client to follow me and I showed her our treatment room. Her first worry was that the table wouldn’t carry her weight, it’s a question we get asked a lot. She got on the table first sitting, and then lay on her tummy (the table didn’t even move!). Her next concern was the face hole in the table; it looked un-comfortable, a bit claustrophobic. She slowly put her face in the hole, moved around slightly and then declared it was comfy. I went through what I would do in the 15-minute session and before I had finished she was taking her top off. Throughout her massage I chatted, she asked questions and within a few minutes I could feel her relax and the questions stopped. Whilst coming to the end of her treatment she said ‘Oh my shoulders don’t seem to be so sore anymore, can you do that move again’. I did a few more times. ‘Yep it’s less painful, my shoulders feel really warm and less sore. I feel great.’ It goes to show that just 15-minutes of massage can make a difference.

 Massage can seem daunting – the fact you get undressed and someone who you don’t know gets to massage oil over your body. I would be anxious and was at my first treatment. However offering 15 minute taster session are ideal at getting in business but also a wonderful chance to show people how relaxing, safe and beneficial it can be for them. I enjoyed being able to change her opinion of massage – give me a client like that any day!

Social media is not a FAD!

Last night saw members of the SW London CThA Group come together to listen to Annalisa Zisman and myself share the benefits of social media & how it can help build your practice along with top marketing tips to ensure your clients come back time after time.

Questions were asked - How do you know that you've met your clients goals? Do you have book the next appointment there and then? Do you have a monthly newsletter going out? What do you do to different yourself from the rest? - these questions got the group thinking.

Next it was the power of social media! Did you know that If Facebook was a country it would be the 3rd largest! I shared information about the benefits of using social media & what an amazing tool it is when you're looking to communicate to the people in masses. How Twitter & Facebook allows you to create a buzz of activity about you, your practice & a chance for new clients to get an insight to what you offer. The chance it has to gain loyal clients & new referrals - a never-ending opportunity!

It was an amazing evening full of questions, therapists sharing ideas & supporting each other. When I checked Inspire's twitter account this morning we had 2 new followers from the members group - very inspirational!

A Day in the life of a Therapist

A day in the life of Kelly Dawson, qualified Massage Therapist…

7.00am Alarm goes off and I'm awake. Start the day with a herbal tea - I'm drinking a cleansing blend at the moment.

7.30am Log onto Twitter - I tend to find links to good articles on complementary therapies, tips on healthy eating, exercises, essential oils & it's a chance to connect with other therapists. I do the same on Facebook too.

7.50am I have 8 yoga positions I do every morning this helps strengthen & stretch my back, open my chest, strengthen my core muscles & to breathe deeply.

8.30am Breakfast (usually porridge), shower and dress

9.15am I leave the house and head to the Vitality Centre as training in Thai Foot Massage today with Inspire Massage Workshops. I picked this course as it produces a deep and unique feeling of balance, relaxation and well-being which sounds divine & I have no doubt that clients will love it. It’s my first CPD course with Inspire & I am really looking forward to it.

10.15am Arrive at the centre, met my tutor Chris Parker. I just had a quick peek at the training manuals - I'm impressed it’s clear, descriptive & includes pictures. I'm glad, as I was worried that I wouldn't remember everything.

10.30am Course starts, excited and a little nervous

11.30am A 10min tea break. Feeling very 'Inspired' by my tutor, he's so passionate & it’s great to hear he learnt & spent time in Thailand, a very interesting morning and feeling confident.

1pm Lunchtime. The course is fab & I can't wait to try the moves this afternoon plus it’s turning into a fantastic opportunity to meet other therapists. It’s nice to share ideas & talk through issues I have come across as a new therapist. I have also been watching the therapists in my class and I’ve realised that I need to improve my posture.

2pm Practical part of the course

5.30pm Wow! The day has gone so quickly & the course is finished. Had a brilliant day with certificate in hand I can't stop thinking how much my potential clients will love this treatment as much as I do. Plus I spoke to my tutor about my posture & he said that he is more than happy to help with that when I have free time over the next few weeks, it's going to be so beneficial & I can feel my confidence is building. He has been so helpful.

7.00pm Pop into see my parents & whisk my mum onto my massage couch & show her what I learnt today. She's now booked herself in for a Thai Foot Massage every week! I am hoping this will be the same with my new clients. I find giving the massage very therapeutic.

8.30pm Back home, tired and happy. Thankfully dinner is on the table :)

10.00pm What a busy day! I recently started to meditate – I take myself into our lounge, its quiet and just sit for 15 minutes before I go to bed. This gives me a chance to reflect on the day, what I have achieved & appreciate that changing my career to become a Massage Therapist was one of my better decisions.