Holistic Massage

Holistic Massage, or Swedish Massage, has benefits for all body systems and is a natural and effective way to treat both physical conditions and psychological problems. If we knock or hurt ourselves, the first thing we do is to rub our skin to reduce the pain, and this is a simple form of massage.

Massage has developed over thousands of years. There is evidence that it was used widely in ancient China. Later it was used to treat soldiers with shell shock and nerve damage during the First and Second World Wars. Swedish massage, the basis of modern massage, was developed by Per Henrik Ling, a Swedish doctor, during the 1900’s.

Massage can be used for relaxation, stimulation or rehabilitation of the body. It can be soothing and comforting or invigorating and refreshing, depending on the techniques used and the requirements of the client. Depending on the area to be treated, you may be asked to remove outer clothing, but care is taken to ensure your modesty at all times using towel draping as appropriate. Common areas for massage are the back, legs (front and back), arms, abdomen, and head neck and face.

One of the main benefits of massage is the reduction of stress. Since 75% of disease is thought to be caused by stress, massage can improve health. All the systems of the body are stimulated and activated by massage. Circulation, digestion, removal of toxins and waste, and neural communication are improved, muscles are invigorated and relaxed thus easing spasm and stiffness, the removal of dead skin cells is speeded up and cell regeneration is promoted.

A massage treatment begins with a short consultation so that the therapist can answer any concerns, determine the client’s problems and sort out the best way to carry out the treatment. It is always necessary to disclose any health issues to the therapist. Very occasionally it may be unwise to carry out the massage, or it may be necessary to request written permission from the client’s doctor before a massage can be given. If you have any concerns, please do check with Christine and/or your GP before requesting a treatment. All treatments with Christine are treated as highly confidential and no information will be passed to others without your permission.