Treatments:

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Massage History:  Massage is an approved complementary therapy. Dating back to 3000 BC, originating in China, massage was used by many ancient civilizations to maintain health and well-being.  Massage produces many beneficial effects on the body, both physical and psychological, helping the body to re balance and function more effectively. The power of touch on the human body has an enormous healing effect, all positive to the client.

 

Swedish massage is based on the Western concepts of anatomy and physiology as opposed to energy work that is more common in Asian-style massage.   In the early 19th century the Swedish physiologist, Per Henrik Ling (1776-1839) at the University of Stockholm. developed a system called the "Swedish Massage System." 

 

 

Swedish Massage:  The purpose of a Swedish massage, is to provide a relaxing calming massage. Its main purpose is to help promote a sense of mind and body relaxation and increase your wellbeing.   Swedish massage is the bases for many other types of massage, which are described more fully on the site.   The massage is based on the Western concepts of anatomy and physiology, as opposed to energy work on "meridians" or sen lines as seen in Asian massage systems. We recommend a 90 minute massage that will give the best results, however a 60 minute massage is available for the person in a rush.  We do not recommend any massage under the hour.

A Swedish massage can be slow and gentle, or vigorous and stimulating, depending on the therapist's particular style and what he/she is trying to achieve.

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A Swedish massage will:

·         Help alleviate pain such as muscle aches and pains, headaches and migraines, depression, low immune system, emotional conditions, poor circulation, IBS          reduce stress, tension, fatigue, muscular discomfort and anxiety.

·         Aid relaxation by calming and soothing, Boost immunity

·         Enhance circulation to remove waste and toxins from the body stimulate removal of 'toxins' from the body

·         Aid sleep and relaxation

·         Energize and revitalize

·         Improve skin tone, texture and elasticity

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Effleurage:  Effleurage is a smooth, gliding stroke, the most fundamental Swedish massage technique. These hand-over-hand strokes are applied to large areas, such as the back, arms, legs, chest or small surfaces like the face, throat and hands. Massages usually begin and end with superficial light, light, slow effleurage, which acclimatises the body to being touched, building up to stronger effleurage as the muscles are warmed up, Deep effleurage uses more pressure, stretching and broadening the muscle tissue and fascia.

 

Petrissage:  The word "petrissage" comes from the French verb "petrir" meaning to "to knead".  The term petrissage applies to a range of massage movements, that includes:Kneading,  Wringing,  Lifting, and  Rolling (skin rolling and muscle rolling).  The therapist squeezes the muscle tissue between their thumb and fingertips. It's generally done rhythmically, first one hand and then the other. This can be done on big curved muscles like your thigh muscles, the upper arms, shoulders and the buttocks.  Petrissage must be applied slowly and rhythmically and can be performed using either one or both hands.  

The benefits of petrissage movements can include:

·         stimulating the skin (including vascular and lymphatic responses, cellular functions, and regeneration and texture of the skin)

·         improving muscle tone

·         improving the elimination of waste products from tissues, and

·         the breakdown of adipose tissue.

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Friction:  This is a massage technique where the therapist works at a specific knot (called an adhesion) with their thumb or fingers. It's more targeted, and the therapist goes in more deeply to try and separate the adhered tissues. The movement or targeted pressure can be circular. It can go along the band of the muscle, tendon or ligament fibres. Or it can go across the muscle, called cross-fibre friction.

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Stretching:  The massage technique of stretching occurs when the therapist moves your arms or legs into different positions and stretches. This is very commonly used in Asian massage styles like Thai massage.

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Percussion:  These movements are quick and striking -- the classic example would be "chopping" with the side of the hands (called hacking) -- This massage technique is stimulating to the body. Other percussion massage techniques are tapping with the tips of fingers (usually lightly on the face), slapping with the flat of the hand, and beating with clinched fists on big muscles like the thigh.  

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Reiki:   Reiki is a system of spiritual healing or ‘energy’ medicine which is similar to the laying on of hands. Reiki healers believe in the existence of a universal energy which they can access in order to generate healing effects in humans, animals and plants. This universal energy flows through a reiki healer’s hands when he or she places the palms upon or close to the recipient.   Reiki is popular far beyond Japan, where it was developed in the early part of the twentieth century by Mikao Usui during a period of fasting and meditation on Mount Kurama. It is used for treating all medical conditions, for improving quality of life or for preventing disease.  A treatment session would normally involve the fully clothed patient lying down on a massage table. Then the healer may or may not touch the client while transmitting healing energy. A session may last for about an hour and most patients would experience it as intensely relaxing.

 

Cuddling Therapy:  Cuddle Therapy: Originated in the USA and Canada where the need for platonic interaction between people and hugging and touching in non sexual manner  was not seen as generally acceptable behaviour, in many communities.    However the benefit and need for more intimacy in relationships mushroomed into a movement that realised all the positive benefits that touch and hugging can produce in the human body, not just in parent relationship with children, but amount teenagers, adults and retired people, who are sadly generally very under touched and hugged.  Hugging can be seen as a cross between massage therapy and some type of psychological service, but what it is not is sexual. During a session, you can hold hands, hug, or spoon with you, but it's strictly platonic: everyone stays clothed and no sexual activity is involved.   Cuddling as a logical extension of, and vital addition to, the therapies that a holistic therapist normally offers.

 

Relaxation Therapy & Meditation:  As a former member of the relaxation society, circa 1970'sbased at St Mary's Woolnoth opposite the Bank of England and led by the late Rev Geoffrey Harding MC vicar of St Marys.  Being an active member of the twice weekly lunchtime classes, I learned how to physically and mentally relax and find inner peace.  I offer an individual relaxation technique that will helps a client to relax; to attain a state of increased calmness; or otherwise reduce levels of pain, anxiety, stress or anger.  There are dozens of meditative practices. Each requires the deliberate use of attention to focus and calm ones mind. Some things a person would generally focus their attention on may be symbols, sounds, colours, breath, uplifting thoughts, spiritual realms, etc. The goal of meditative practice is to strengthen a beings' ability to control, quiet and/or use their mind.

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Listening/Counselling:  There is often a confusion between hearing and listening, hearing isn’t necessarily listening, nor is it necessarily listening well, you need to focus your mind on what the other person is saying. As G.K. Chesterton said “there’s a lot of difference between hearing and listening.” or as Ernest Hemingway said "I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.”   In many conversations many people come to conversations with an agendas, whether that is to make themselves be heard, or the converse  to make themselves not heard, and to actually escape from any contribution to the conversation altogether.  For introverts you would probably take the path of least resistance and say very little.

For many people you probably find yourself on the receiving end of countless uninitiated conversations that go on and on.  Although you may sit quietly and meekly listening to them, the fact is that you’d much prefer to slip away at the soonest given half a chance.  The problem with constantly feeling this way is that we never actually hear the people who speak to us.  We don’t put our entire attention, interest or heart into listening and truly understanding them.  :Listening is an art and can be satisfying to both parties.  Everyone needs someone to talk to, language exists to communicate, although there are many other wise in which the person talking and the listener can also communicate, we are concentrating on the art of listening and hearing.  We have two ears

and only one tongue that we may hear more and speak less.

 

Couples Massage:   This is carried out with one male and one female therapist:  This massage will take place in the same room with both couple lying side by side on the two massage tables.  Generally, the massage will be synchronism unless there are particular issues with one of the couples that needs concentration on that part of the body.

 

Four Hand Tandem Massage carried out with one male and one female therapist:  A four handed massage – or Purva Karma – has been proven to shift you into a further state of relaxation beyond that of other treatments, which in turn means your muscles are more receptive to the deeper movements.

The addition of two extra hands means your brain is unable to predict or monitor the motions and pressures of all four hands. This means you are in a better state of mind to ‘let go’ during the treatment and will allow your muscles to absorb and react to the therapy.

An advanced combination of stretching and rolling movements and deep, long strokes ease aching muscles. After a welcoming foot massage, we will work in synchronised harmony for the ultimate in tension release, deeply relaxing and rebalancing massage to achieve mental and spiritual bliss.

Note further will be added to this topic in due course 20/03/17

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Sexual Counselling Therapies with my Female Partner:  Sexual Counselling starts with an interview for the client who is experiencing difficult in their relationship.  It can be with either the client or with the client and their partner.  Usually we will talk through issues and concerns and look at how you can navigate yourself through the issues that concern you.

Note further will be added to this topic in due course 20/03/17