“Anna has almost magical powers to sooth and relax the body and mind. When I first walked in the thing that struck me was Anna’s warmth and humanity. She took a thorough history before the treatment. The room is spacious and gently lit, and lovely to be in. During the massage she really paid attention to what I needed and had asked for. I have had several more massages since and I recommended her to friends and family, and to anyone else who will listen!”
Gina, Brighton
Massage Therapy is the scientific manipulation of the soft tissues of the body. Depending on the technique used, massage can involve working with the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearms, feet or many other massage aids, such as balls and bamboo canes, to apply pressure on the body. By these movements and pressure, massage is known to improve blood circulation and the flow of lymph, reduce muscular tension, affect the nervous system through stimulation and sedation, and enhance tissue healing.
I will combine touch, science and art to my practice, using specific techniques learnt during my various training courses. I will use my sense of touch during practice to determine the correct amount of pressure to apply to each client, and will be able to locate areas of tension and other soft tissue problems to work on. Touch also conveys a sense of caring, an important component in the healing relationship of a therapist and client.
Benefits of Massage include:
Studies have concluded that a 45 mins treatment increases white blood cell numbers and decreases cytokines, meaning more defence against disease & infection and less inflammation in the body.
Massage helps the body to expel toxins by increasing lymphatic drainage (this is why your sweat or urine may smell a little different after a treatment). I recommend drinking lots of water to continue to help the flush of toxins.
We live in stressful times, with pressure coming in from all directions – work, society, family, friends. Sometimes that’s hard to cope with and it can become detrimental to our health.
Massage stimulates the parasympathetic system in your body, which promotes relaxation. It also releases endorphins which give you a natural state of chill. This is probably the most important benefit of massage!
Insomnia is on the rise, and not getting enough “deep sleep” each night plays havoc with your physical body as well as your mental state. Massage not only slows your breathing down (a side effect of relaxation) but also increases serotonin, which in turn increases melatonin. It’s the melatonin which helps re-set your sleep pattern (and this is why air crew swear by the supplements for jet lag!)
For added sleep inducing goodness, choose my lavender based wax & oil for your treatment.
We’ve all got aches and pains, many due to bad posture caused by driving in the wrong position or sitting slumped at a desk 9-5. Massage can loosen tight muscles, increasing their flexibility and allowing more oxygen to reach them.
A firm head, neck and shoulder massage will help to relieve headaches and soothe away any tension in the upper back.
A lesser known benefit of massage but your skin will thank you for booking in. Your skin is your largest organ, and you want to treat it right! Using nourishing & natural oils & waxes can increase your skin’s elasticity and tone.
Improving your circulation also increases cell regeneration, helping scars heal faster. Your colour will also be fresher and as the sebum increases, it will become more supple.