What is Massage Therapy?

The practice of using touch as a healing method derives from customs and techniques rooted in ancient history. Civilizations around the world found that natural healing and massage could heal injuries, relieve pain, and prevent and cure illnesses. What’s more, it helped reduce stress and produce deep relaxation.

When you get a stomach-ache, you rub your belly.  When you twist an ankle, your natural instinct is to rub it. When infants cry, parents rock and rub to calm. Over the years, techniques have been developed that activate natural healing processes, stimulating blood flow, promoting hormone production and helping your body heal itself.

The term ‘massage therapy’ is used to describe a wide variety of techniques that vary in the manner in which touch, pressure and the intensity of the treatment is applied. It involves holding, moving, and applying pressure to the muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia.

 

Our Treatments.

Our signature massages relieve you of all the stress brought on from the pace of urban life. The treatment aims to stimulate blood circulation and release the negative energy and toxins from the body. Below you can check out more information on the treatments that we provide and how they might help you.

Therapeutic Massage Therapy

  • One of the immediate benefits of massage is a feeling of deep relaxation and calm. This occurs because massage prompts the release of endorphins – the brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that produce feelings of wellbeing. 

    Levels of stress hormones, such as adrenalin, cortisol and norepinephrine, are also reduced. Studies indicate that high levels of stress hormones impair the immune system.

    Some of the physical benefits of massage include:

    • Reduced muscle tension

    • Improved circulation

    • Stimulation of the lymphatic (immune) system

    • Reduction of stress hormones

    • Relaxation

    • Increased joint mobility and flexibility

    • Improved skin tone

    • Improved recovery of soft tissue injuries

    • Heightened mental alertness

    • Reduced anxiety and depression

    Massage therapy for treatment of some disorders

    Massage therapy is generally considered part of integrative medicine. It's increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations. Research indicates that massage therapy is effective in managing: 

    • Anxiety

    • Digestive disorders

    • Fibromyalgia

    • Headaches

    • Insomnia

    • Myofascial pain syndrome

    • Nerve pain

    • Soft tissue strains or injuries

    • Sports injuries

    • Temporomandibular joint pain

    • Subacute/chronic neck and back pain

    • Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)

    • High blood pressure

    It can also be effectively used to support people with:

    • A chronic disease

    • A life-threatening illness such as cancer

    • Palliative care

Sports Massage

  • Sports massage is designed to assist in correcting problems and imbalances in soft tissue that are caused from repetitive and strenuous physical activity and trauma. This involves the mobilising and manipulation of the bodies soft tissue and myofascial structures. It was originally developed for athletes to prevent and relieve injuries that can manifest after repeated strenuous physical activity or injury. However both athletes and non-athletes can gain physiological and psychological benefits from receiving sports massage therapy.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

  • Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is an advanced therapy in which a range of specialised and gentle rhythmic pumping techniques are used to move the skin to aid lymphatic drainage. This specialised approach focuses on the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system. This treatment is highly beneficial for management and care of Lymphoedema, Lipoedema, other chronic swelling issues and bloating or water retention. It is also highly effective for the treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME/Fibromyalgia and has been a pivotal point of recovery for Post or Long Covid. This treatment helps boost the immune system, eliminating toxins, bacteria, germs and excess fluid from the body. MLD is also very beneficial for post-surgical recovery (liposuction, lymph node removal and fibrosis).

    Understanding the Lymphatic System

    The lymphatic system contains vessels and nodes with lymph, a mixture of proteins, water, waste products, and immune system elements. Located throughout the body, lymph nodes filter all this debris.

    The largest nodes are in the neck, groin, and armpits. They all work together to ensure ‘clean’ lymph is transported back to the veins that carry blood towards the heart.

    What are the benefits?

    MLD is both preventative and remedial and can enhance your well being. Furthermore, MLD:

    • Is deeply relaxing

    • Promotes the healing of fractures, torn ligaments, sprains and lessens pain

    • Can improve many chronic conditions: sinusitis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, acne and other skin conditions

    • May strengthen the immune system as part of ‘detox’ treatment

    • Relieves fluid congestion: swollen ankles, tired puffy eyes and swollen legs due to pregnancy

    • Is an effective component of the treatment and control of lymphoedema (which may occur after cancer treatment) and assists in conditions arising from venous insufficiency

    • Promotes healing of wounds and burns and improves the appearance of old scars

    • Minimises or reduces stretch marks

    • Can be used to speed healing after cosmetic surgery

Pregnancy Massage

  • A prenatal or pregnancy massage is the name given to a massage that is carried out during pregnancy. Carrying a baby is hard work, particularly in the later stages when their rapid growth and increasing weight places your body under a great deal of pressure. Aches and pains are entirely normal, especially since you are almost certainly adjusting your posture to compensate for your changing center of gravity. As a result, your spine shifts and tendons and ligaments that might not normally work too hard to support you are suddenly under strain. Prenatal massage isn’t something that is new, its roots can be traced back more than 3000 years. However, more recently it has enjoyed a resurgence as a very popular way to support maternal health in the pregnancy period.

    What does a pregnancy massage consist of?

    A pregnancy massage is a specially adapted gentle and soothing massage tailored specifically for the mother-to-be based on your areas of concerns regarding any tension, pain or swelling. The main way in which prenatal massage is different from regular massage is in the techniques that are used during the treatment consisting of long, sweeping strokes with only minimal pressure applied to the body. Since expectant mothers shouldn’t lie on their abdomen at any stage of pregnancy, the treatment takes place with you lying on your back or side, depending what is most comfortable for you. Cushions and bolsters may also be used to enhance the support your body may require during the treatment.

    Benefits of pregnancy massage

    The benefits of having a pregnancy massage for expectant mothers and their babies are wide ranging. It feels good, is excellent in promoting relaxation and bonding, soothes nerves, and relieves strained back and tired muscles.

    • Pregnancy aches and pains relief

    • Mind and body relaxation

    • Reduction in anxiety

    • Improving mood + lifting depression

    • Improved sleep

    • Bonding with baby

    • Reduce ankle and feet swelling

    • Reducing labour pain during childbirth

Cupping Therapy

  • Cupping therapy is one of the oldest and most effective method of releasing the toxins from body tissue and organs. It is almost like a deep tissue massage with suction and decompression. It is favoured by millions of people throughout the world because it is safe, comfortable and effective treatment for many disorders and muscular dysfunctions.

    How does it work?

    A therapeutic cupping treatment involves warming and placing cups, usually made of glass, on the skin. By warming the air within the cup, a vacuum is created, and when it is applied to the skin, the tissue is drawn up into the cup. This increases the blood flow, loosens the fascia or connective tissue, and helps stimulate healing. It is similar to the way deep tissue massage can be used to break down scar tissue and reduce pain. Cupping can be incorporated with massage to provide additional benefits.

    Benefits of cupping therapy

    Cupping therapy can affect the body up to four inches into the tissues, causing tissues to release toxins, activate the lymphatic system, clear colon blockages, improve circulation, activate the skin and improve the appearance of varicose veins, scars and stretch marks.

    Cupping therapy can help to treat:

    • Fevers

    • Anxiety

    • Allergies

    • Migraines

    • Neck pain

    • Muscle pain

    • Fibromyalgia

    • Hypertension

    • Poor circulation

    • Lower back pain

    • Knee osteoarthritis

    • Persistent coughing

    • Blood flow stimulation

    • Carpal tunnel syndrome

    • Removal of toxins from the body

    • Gastrointestinal disorders including IBD