Massage is one of the oldest healing arts. It is undoubtedly the oldest form of medicine known to man and is mentioned in many ancient texts. Swedish Massage was developed by Per Henrik Ling in the 19th century and was known to be practiced at St Thomas' Hospital in London.
Manipulation of the soft tissues improves muscle tone, flexibility and posture. It aids recovery by stimulating the circulatory system which encourages new tissue growth. Nerve pathways are stimulated to alleviate pain and toxins are eliminated from the body. Regular treatments can help to promote regular sleep patterns.
Massage also works on a psychological level by releasing endorphins into the bloodstream and can produce a unique feeling of well-being and comfort. It is an excellent therapy for the treatment of stress-related symptoms, digestive disorders and anxiety.
Either a massage cream or a base oil blended with harmless essential oils are used. Care is taken to ensure the correct products are used for clients with nut, wheat or lanolin allergies. The client lies on a massage couch under towels and post-treatment is given a drink of water to help flush out toxins. The treatment is usually briefly discussed at this stage.
Each massage treatment is tailored to the individual client, depending on whether the treatment is for medical, therapeutic or relaxation purposes. Some clients have massage treatments to enable them to be more receptive to healing, as it helps them learn how to relax.
Although basic Swedish massage strokes and routines are the norm, Kathy relies very much on her intuition when giving a treatment, so each treatment is completely holistic and unique. Apart from being an excellent therapy, massage is also a wonderful indulgence where the body and mind can become totally rexlaxed.