Massage ~ 1 hour - £40

Swedish massage was developed in the 1700's by a Swedish doctor named Per Henrik Ling. Swedish massage can be useful in helping to treat many problems. It can shorten recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the tissues of lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes. It increases circulation without increasing heart load. It stretches the ligaments and tendons keeping them supple and pliable. Swedish massage also stimulates the skin and nervous system and soothes the nerves themselves at the same time. It can also be used to reduce stress, both emotional and physical, and is suggested in a regular program for stress management. It also has many specific medical uses.

What to expect:

As with all holistic treatments we will first talk about why you have decided on massage and what you hope to gain from it. There is then a medical questionnaire to fill out to ensure there are no reasons why a massage may not be suitable for you. For a full body massage you will lie on the couch underneath several large towels which allow me to work on an area of your body while the rest of you remains covered. It is normal for you to be just wearing pants or boxershorts but if you find this uncomfortable you are more than welcome to wear lose fitting clothes. The massage is done using oil, lotion or talc depending on your preferences. Separate areas of the body can be worked on if there is a specific problem that you would like addressing. At the end of the massage it is recommended that you rest for a while and take it easy for the next few hours. There are a range of techniques applied to the skin, including effleurage (stretching and relaxing superficial muscles), petrissage (kneading and squeezing deeper muscles and tissues), friction and compression (rubbing and 'holding' the tissues to break down scar tissue and relax muscles), tapotement (rhythmical movements and tapping performed with the edge of the hand or heel of the palm to increase blood circulation) and vibration (rhythmical movements for releasing tension and boosting circulation).

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