I'm not very sporty or active, is it for me?

Absolutely yes!

And for this reason I called my business Soft Tissue Therapy rather than Sports Massage as it autoatically puts the less sporty of us off!    

I denied myself this wonderful therapy for years as I incorrectly believed that it was just for athletes!  

 I wish I knew then how much difference a good massage could make. 

Daily activities whether active or inactive can cause aches and pains, massage can help fend off such problems before they occur and can help ease them if already established. 

If  in doubt, get in touch and I will answer any questions you may have - why not give it a go, it's natural, non-invasive and just may surprise you in how effective it is! 

It is not ideal to apply deep massage to any tissue that has just recieved trauma.  In these cases you should seek help from someone who is fully medically qualified to treat injury such as a Doctor, Physiotherapist, Chiropractor, Osteopath or similar.  

Deep massage can cause further trauma and may make the injury worse or certainly delay healing.

I have a number of people who I trust and can recommend from personal experience who may be able to help you.   

However, if a few days have passed and the site of injury doesn't feel particularly tender or sore then massage, may only be light, can be very soothing and helpful to the healing process.  I have techniques that can be used that do not involve direct pressure to the affected area.

Please contact me if you're unsure and I will be happy to advise.

Ultimately the answer is No as long as we can communicate well.  

I aim to work with the client to achieve excellent results.  At times, this may be uncomfortable, but shouldn't be painful.  

The client is always in control.

Many people have been on the recieving end of painful 'no pain, no gain' massage and have been firmly put off this wonderful therapy which I think is a shame.

Of course, if applied too aggressively it will cause pain.. and consequently the muscles will tense up and will make the therapists job much harder, impossible in fact.

Yes! See the Sports Massage page for more information.

 Some people may feel a little unsteady after lying down for a longer treatment, this normally goes after a few minutes.
Depending on the depth of pressure used, some people may have some  areas of sensitivity, again this should only last a couple of days.
Some people may have mild cold like symptoms, it is advised to drink plenty of water to discourage this.  
Any expected effects will be discussed with you before you leave. 

It is natural to feel self conscious, but there's no need - I have a screen for you to undress behind and  you will be covered at all times with a towel. I will only expose the area being massaged.

So depending on the area of your body we need access to bra's, knickers, pants, boxers etc are ideal but if you'd rather leave clothes on I can accomodate that too.

Bra wearers keep back fastening bra on and I will undo it once you are lay on your front.
Before your treatment I will expain what will happen and which areas I need access to before I ask for your consent, so there'll be no surprises and you will know what to expect.
If you are concerned at all please  contact me or tell me in person.

Prior to your appointment I will send you a link to an online form which I would ask you to complete with your personal contact details, including any relevant medical history and details of any issues you may have that either need to be excluded from the treatment (e.g. injuries), or areas that you feel you would like to be included.  
We will have a conversation about your  requirements,  I will assess your posture, range of movement and discuss any issues you may have. 
Most importantly, we will agree a plan of action for that session and we will only proceed if you are entirely happy that you  understand  and so know what to expect.  
Personal information including any written and verbal communication is kept and stored strictly confidentally - protected by the Data Protection Act 1998. 

I do not discriminate.  

The only reasons I would not massage you is:

 - if you have a medical condition that is contraindicated (meaning that massage could worsen your condition, impead healing or actually harm you).  

- if you are rude, offensive or abusive.

- if we can't communicate. 

If you have certain requirements that you are unsure that can be accommodated, please ask me whether I can help.  

If physical, it may simply mean that we adapt the massage bed to make you comfortable.  I also have a massage chair which maybe be more suitable for you.

If you have a mental/emotional condition that you are unsure could be accommodated again feel free to contact me and we can discuss this too.

If you usually have a chaperone, they should attend with you. 

If you find communication difficult then it is particularly important that a carer or chaperone is with you to make absolutely sure that we can communicate well throughout your massage.  

This is purely so that you can let me know of any areas that are sensitive or sore and if you would like the pressure altering. 

If in doubt, please ask.  I will do everything I can to accomodate your needs so you can enjoy the benefits of massage therapy too!  

Age is not a reason to deny massage, every client is assessed and an appropriate treatment plan is tailored to the individual.

I have clients aged from 8yrs to people in their late 80's, and have many clients who use wheelchairs and other mobilty aids.

I do insist on a chaperone if you are 17 years old or under, this can be your parent or guardian and it is purely a safeguarding issue.  I want you to feel entirely comfortable at all times.

I know from experience that shyness can prevent clients from communicating before and during the massage and it is important for me to be able to adapt the massage as I go to ensure that your treatment is both appropriate and effective for you.

You will feel more confident having an adult that you trust with you and I want to be absolutely sure that you understand the personal detail form and the treatment that we plan; sometimes that can be explained better by someone who knows you well.

On the same note, if your hearing is affected then you may also feel that a chaperone would be beneficial to ensure that we can communicate.

 If in doubt, please ask.  I will do everything I can to accomodate your needs so you can enjoy the benefits of massage therapy too! 

I am DBS certified.

It is currently recommended that people who are within the first trimester do not have massage, unless applied by a specialist therapist.  So if this is the case, I would advise that you contact someone who has special training in early pregnancy.

If you are further along than twelve weeks, then do contact me and I would be happy to massage you.  As with all clients, your health information will be discussed in full and will be taken into consideration for your massage.

Having recently been pregnant myself (my little boy is four), I realise how truly wonderful massage therapy can be when your body is going through a magical, but oftentimes challenging time and so I do plan on taking specific pregnancy massage training in the near future.