Why would you want or need a relaxing or therapeutic massage?

Perhaps you are feeling stressed which is reflected in tight neck or shoulder muscles or back pain?

Perhaps you have been advised to receive massage as part of a general health programme or to encourage healing.

Perhaps you need some time which is for yourself?

Perhaps you have areas of your body which need manipulation to ease aches and pains?

What is Holistic Massage

Massage is one of the oldest forms of healing and there is evidence that it was used in early civilisations in China, India, Japan, Korea, Egypt, Rome, Greece, and Mesopotamia.

In the 19th century, a Dutch massage practitioner called Johan Mezger introduced what he calls the “Swedish massage system” which was based on some techniques from an earlier massage practitioner called Dr Pehr Henrik Ling.

Holistic massage takes its techniques from the Swedish massage system.

Dr. Ling’s system was based on the fundamental elements of Tui na, a practice which included manipulation of the body and which had been practised in China for several thousand years. These original Chinese techniques are which are still the fundamental components of Swedish or Holistic massage are still known by the French names they were given in the 19th Century

Effleurage – long, gliding fairly soft strokes which start of the massage process.

Petrissage – which involves lifting, manipulating and kneading the muscles.

Frictions– which are firm, often circular rubbing movements which work on muscles at a deeper level.

Tapotement – these are brisk tapping or percussive movements designed to improved blood flow to the skin.

Vibration – which is the process of shaking or vibrating muscles.

Benefits of massage

For most people the mere fact of being massaged and looked after is a wonderful and relaxing experience. The effects of massage can go deeper than that though.

For Holistic massage, the main benefits are indeed to reduce stress and tension, promote a feeling of well being and calm the mind. However there are a number of reasons for this which result from the physical effects of stroking and manipulating muscles and joints in the body.

Massage helps to promote a feeling of relaxation because it has been shown to directly affect the hormones and neurotransmitters that have been linked to all forms of depression.

It helps recipients to enjoy a greater feeling of well-being because it increases secretion of serotonin and dopamine which are the natural feel good chemicals that our bodies produce.

A massage treatment also decreases the amount of cortisol and adrenaline which are the stress hormones of our bodies and so aids relaxation.

It stimulates blood flow especially to the organs and muscles. This can reduce the effects of muscle strains and help muscles recover after exertion. It also encourages organs to function more efficiently.

Another important outcome is that it stimulates the operation of the lymphatic system which helps to remove toxins from the body more effectively.

Massage also activates the functions of the skin by promoting blood flow to the various outer layers of the body.

There is a very short presentation on the benefits of massage here: 

Booking a session

If you would like to book a session or discuss whether massage would be beneficial please call me on 07900 340257.

I offer Full Body massage as well as Back, Neck and Shoulder, or Leg and Foot massage.

A typical Full Body massage session normally takes between 60 and 90 minutes.

My qualifications

I studied at Newbury College and attained an ITEC Level III Diploma (Merit pass) in Holistic Massage.