Being in the complimentary health business is a very rewarding and satisfying area to work in. We all have a body and we all have the ability to look after and nurture our body but what I notice, through my work, is how people can become distanced from their real physical needs and lose touch with their body.

I do a range of treatments that hopefully can offer something suitable to a broad spectrum of people. The majority of my work is massage in the form of Aromatherapy, Hot Stone Treatments and also Indian Head Massage. I am also a practitioner of The Bowen Technique, which is a very light touch therapy that has a profound effect on a whole range of conditions from neck and back pain, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, asthma, migraine, constipation and lots more. It triggers or prompts the body’s own healing abilities in a subtle way that helps the body ‘to heal itself’. I also offer Reiki treatments – this works with our energy field and harnesses ‘Universal Energy’ to restore and rebalance our body.

I approach my treatments from a holistic point of view, which simply means that the whole of the body is taken into account, rather than an isolated area. The emotional and spiritual needs are considered as well as the physical. In many ways it is not practical to isolate various areas as everything is interconnected. A lot of what we think and feel is reflected in a physical way in our bodies. For example, if we are angry with someone our body will reflect this by becoming tense, we may clench our fists or grind our teeth. If we are feeling anxious this may produce a churning feeling in the stomach or butterflies in the chest.

We are all aware of how the pressures of everyday living can create stress and pressure. This is very often translated into stiff, tight shoulders but because it builds up very slowly and gradually over days, months and years, we are often unaware of just how much tension is being held in this region. If we woke up suddenly with tight shoulders one morning it would be obvious but these things can just creep up on you over long periods of time without you noticing.

The beauty of massage is that it can teach your body, or should I say, remind your body how to relax and let go of the tension in a way which is soothing, calming and feels totally luxurious. For those who say ‘no gain without pain’, I say they obviously havn’t tried a Hot Stone Massage. If someone comes to me complaining of headaches and lack of movement in the neck and shoulder area and they wish to have a touching therapy then I would suggest a combination of aromatherapy oils, hot stones and massage. The stones are warm and very smooth and feel wonderful as they glide over the skin. The heat from the stones transfers into the muscles which helps them to relax and this increases the blood flow to the muscles bringing oxygen and taking away any toxins. At the same time, the aromatherapy oils are absorbed into the bloodstream and go to work easing tension from the muscles. All this is just helping your body to carry out its normal functions more effectively and all you have to do is lie down and enjoy it!

The same technique can be applied to the stomach. A stomach massage feels wonderful but at the same time is able to stimulate the digestive system to work more effectively. Oils such as peppermint and fennel have a calming and soothing effect on our digestive system and by massaging them into the stomach area will go quickly to the right spot.

Once your body has remembered what it feels like to be loose and relaxed you can take this experience away with you. Now you are more aware of holding tension and so can develop ways of dealing with it. I find it can be helpful as a client to speak to your therapist about your daily habits so that you can work out ways of improving or alleviating problems. When you are in a space where your body is the focus of attention it is easier to look at how problems with posture, for example, may have arisen. If you always carry a heavy bag on your right shoulder then it is likely that you will have some discomfort in this area and it may be worth changing your bag. If you always sleep on your stomach then it is likely that you will have neck problems because your head is twisted to one side for long periods of time.

If you often feel anxious or worried then keying into the physical sensations that this anxiety brings about can make you more aware of what triggers these feelings and then perhaps you can look at ways of dealing with it.

There are so many ways that your body tries to alert you to problems and it is so easy to ignore or simply pass over these warning signs. Massage gives a bodily awareness that enables you to stop and consider in a non-emotional way, just what is creating these tensions, and so can help you resolve them.

There are also treatments which help to stimulate the digestive system so that it can work in a more effective way. Over the years particles of semi digested food can be left in your digestive system that clogs up the colon and prevents effective digestion. Treatment of this area of the body through either a massage or a Bowen Treatment will stimulate the muscle walls and remove the debris thus bringing about a more effective way to process what you eat. This detox will lead to higher energy levels, a clearer skin and a more alert mind.

So, as you can see, there are many ways we can help our body to carry out its normal everyday functions, but to do it better. We all want to feel healthier and more energetic and the therapies I offer really do help in a very natural way. I am based in Farnham, Surrey and work from home. If you need any further information look on my website www.relaxandrevitalise.co.uk.

This article should be regarded as a reference source only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Seek the advice of your doctor before beginning any protocol. The author disclaims any liability arising from the use of information on these pages.