Serenity Sports & Holistic Massage Therapies

General information

Massage has often been viewed as a treat, or a pamper, but it is so much more.

Massage therapy/body work and touch has been used throughout history as an important part of a person’s holistic health. Right from birth, babies are massaged by their mother, instilling a vital sense of comfort, healing and well-being. Animals also use forms of massage in their bonding rituals.

Hippocrates, with all his innovations in what we now know as modern medicine, recognised the importance that massage plays in a person’s health, both mentally and physically.

Swedish massage is a manual form of therapy. Therapists use a variety of techniques, pressure and strokes on the muscles. Some aid relaxation and stress, whilst others involve tapotement and friction movements, for more refreshing and uplifting massages. Therapists create treatment plans specifically tailored to meet the individual client's needs.

Swedish massage works with 4 different kind of strokes; each is designed to have a specific effect on the body : -

• Effleurage: This is a long smooth gliding stroke, which warms up the muscle before it is worked on, and creates a sense of calm and relaxation. This stroke is also used between deeper movements to soothe the skin and underlying muscle.

• Petrissage: This is a deeper more specific movement involving the rolling, wringing and kneading of the muscle.

• Friction: These are deep, circular movements which increases blood flow to soft tissue and the muscle.

• Tapotement: These are shorter faster movements using the side of the hand in a hacking movement, or by cupped hands. This is an energising stroke and can help in the break down of fatty deposits.

Each treatment consists of the most relevant strokes for the desired result.

Here are just a few ways in which massage can be beneficial to your overall health and well-being : -

Relieves pain and muscle tension.
Increases circulation and blood flow.
Encourages the release of red blood cells from bone marrow, which is vital in our growth and well-being.
Can reduce pain and inflammation.
Strengthens our immune system.
Aids and encourages the transportation of lymph, which removes harmful toxins from our body.
Reduces headaches and migraines.
Enhances skin tone.
Decreases anxiety.
Treats indigestion.
Reduces stress.
Enhances sleeping quality.
Improves joint mobility.
Can improve posture.
Cares for soft tissue.

These are just a few of the benefits of regular massage. Please have a look at my website (coming soon) for further detail, if you are interested.

Before any treatment is carried out, a full medical and health consultation is taken.

This allows me an opportunity to understand more about your individual needs. I can then create a treatment plan tailored to your specific requirements. My aim is to ensure that you receive the most appropriate and effective therapy possible.

A consultation also allows me to ascertain if there are any specific medical conditions which may prevent me from carrying out a treatment. If this is the case, I will inform you as to why a treatment cannot be performed. Or, if authorisation from your Doctor may be required.

Please allow an additional 15/20 minutes prior to your initial booked treatment time in order for this to be carried out fully. Please always be totally honest in this consultation.

I am not medically qualified and do not make any form of diagnosis, or treat medical conditions. If a contraindication prevents me from carrying out a treatment, this will be explained and I may refer you to your GP, or a more suitably experienced professional. Some contraindications may require consent from your GP, prior to treatment.

All treatments are carried out in a calm, relaxing, safe environment.

Sadly, the massage industry carries some unsavoury connotations. It is a shame to even have to be writing this part but, I am a professional therapist, and ANY inappropriate behaviour/requests etc., will not be tolerated, at all. Please respect this.