Work related stress

Thank goodness for the internet! I have spent time looking into work related stress and how to   prevent as much as possible and I am, pleased, to say that there has been a lot of other work and useful information has been collated and can be found at;

www.hse.gov.uk/stress

www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/directory/s/stress-workplace

I have previously worked in stressful professions and 
now can utilise my experiences in coping user pressure 
to help my clients. The balance between responsibility and 

perceived abilities needs to be monitored and training and 
support are vital for companies. 

Massage in the office or factory can be seen as a reward
for hard work, but I prefer companies to view them as a
way of showing that you support and understand
their needs and are prepared to support them.















Step off and take a breath.

Half term

Busy slotting in work and childcare? Not easy is it.

massage with an injury - yes or no??

In line with current thinking on exercise and injury I am often  being asked about the effectiveness of massage on an injured area. There are a number of things that would mean a massage would need to be adapted and a very few reasons for not having one at all, and it is always worth asking a therapist before booking if any condition may alter your treatment.

It is now viewed that moderate exercise is beneficial to recovery and gentle massage too can assist in healing. A therapist registered with an organisation such as the Federation of Holistic Therapists will have undergone training in Anatomy and Physiology to a good standard for the treatment offered. Don't expect someone trained soley in Indian head massage to be able to give you advice on exercises for Iliotibial Band Syndrome, but someone trained in deep tissue can support a recovery program.

Massage following an operation can ease your body back into the world of movement and many find Manual Lymphatic Drainage really helpful in keeping swelling down whilst they are unable to get up and about. (swollen ankles etc. occur when the Lymph doesn't flow back up to the nodes for a number of reasons including lack of movement because unlike the blood there is no pump to move it round the body and it is pushed around by muscles contracting)

If you have an injury or recent operation you most likely can get a massage and you are highly likely to find it beneficial. Those suffering with long term pain have found massage and aromatherapy a way to cope with the chronic pain and function easier on a daily basis.

Going into offices and not having a full 15 minute consultation before an on site massage my therapists use careful questioning and close observation to gauge what the needs of their client are in regards to recent or long standing injuries and will give the most appropriate support.

Massage is a complementary therapy. I work alongside doctors and other medical staff with them taking the role of lead professional. Massage is not an alternative, if my kids fall and break a limb I would take them to the hospital to get it set and not rub the area with essential oils.

In answer to the question, "yes" most of the time, but we will know when you should avoid a massage.

new massage couch as good as my on site chair

The end of last week I took possession of my new Affinity athlete massage couch to use with my 'at home' clients.




This is considerably heavier than my last portable couch, but is so very much superior. The more sports people I massaged the more I was becoming aware that my couch was too narrow at the shoulders, too wide at the hips, to hard and most importantly far too unstable for me and clients to continue to enjoy massaging (enjoy for me more than some of my runners!!)

I bought an average couch for mobile work and it did OK for a year, but as a professional therapist the equipment you use has to be the best you can afford and be the right tools for the job.

When I started going into offices to massage I looked long and hard to find a chair that would be perfect and meet all my needs. The main thing is that people can feel comfortable once seated and the chair remains firm during shiatsu and massage.




A great piece of kit and going strong after 2 years. The best thing is the speed at which I can alter the height for clients and spend more time massaging.