The consultation: massage as a holistic therapy
Your first treatment includes a consultation (all information given is strictly confidential) in order to gather relevant medical and lifestyle information. This information is vital to the holistic element of my work (holos = whole), which does not just treat symptoms, but also seeks to understand the underlying causes of any tension and imbalance in your body by considering the whole person and any relevant lifestyle factors. This in turn means that we can work together to try and eliminate the causes of the problem in order to achieve a long-lasting improvement in your health and well-being.
Agreeing a treatment plan for your “tailor-made” massage session
A treatment can then be devised that is totally suited to your individual needs, whether that is pain relief, improved mobility, reduced levels of tension and anxiety, or simply relaxation. We will together identify the aims and goals of the treatment, and I will choose the relevant combination of strokes and techniques in order to achieve those goals.
Follow-up treatments
If necessary, a follow-up treatment plan is also discussed. Where there is a specific problem e.g. back pain, frozen shoulder, RSI, or chronically tense shoulders, then a short course of remedial treatments is usually to be recommended. In these instances, where the body is typically caught in the downward spiral of the pain-spasm-dysfunction cycle, a one-off treatment will not bring about any real long-lasting improvement. A course of treatments, however, has a cumulative effect which will take the body and the tissues back into the positive upward spiral of being pain-free with an increased range of easy movement. This in turn encourages more movement and exercise, thereby helping the body maintain a more healthy level of functioning.
Where relaxation and stress relief is the primary goal, then the frequency of sessions is dictated by individual circumstances. Most clients find that a short course of weekly or fortnightly treatments brings tension levels down to a manageable level, after which a monthly massage provides an excellent ‘maintenance’ programme, and is always something they look forward to.
Post-treatment recommendations
I often give recommendations on exercise, stretching, diet and posture as part of my holistic approach; these are designed to help you get the maximum benefit from the massage itself. Relatively small adjustments in your lifestyle and daily habits are often enough to bring about a signifiicant improvement in your health and wellbeing.
Massage Therapy - Northfields, Hanwell, Ealing, Chiswick, Richmond, Hounslow, Brentford, Hammersmith, Kensington, Twickenham, Isleworth, Acton, West London
