FAQ's

What to expect post massage

Massage has proven results for both physiological and psychological relaxation, bringing

• An enhanced feeling of wellbeing

• Reduced stress

• A reduction in the symptoms of anxiety & depression

• More restful sleep

Post massage there are a few things to look out for

• Redness - sometimes massage can cause localised redness on the skin, it should not, however, in normal cases cause bruises, if bruising occurs do let me know and we can adjust the pressure next time around.

• Fatigue - the relaxing benefits of massage can have their downsides, you may find that you are sleepy post massage, you may sleep longer than you’d usually expect and you may find you have more vivid dreams.

What can you do to maximise the benefits of your massage?

• Drank plenty of water, you can be left feeling a little dehydrated after massage, and as a general rule, none of us drink enough

• Avoid overly strenuous activity, now is not the time to do the gardening or go to they gym and you might find yourself more prone to injury if you do

• Keep your meals light and balanced

The Toxin ‘Myth’

I am going to take this opportunity to burst your toxin bubble.

firstly toxin is a pretty vague statement and without clarity on exactly what toxins are being refereed to it’s hard to state yes or no on massage removing these toxins. Secondly, if massage moves toxins round the body, it moves everything that isn’t a toxin as an equal rate. Finally, massage has not been scientifically proven to remove toxins, simply not enough verifiable research has been done on the subject and while drinking water is good for you, drinking water post massage isn’t guaranteed to remove those toxins either. 

I have a lot of people coming to me for a massage because they are stressed and anxious. Most of these women are mothers, wives, carers, keeping the house in shape, keeping the pets fed, keeping the kitchen cupboards stocked. They are so busy looking after everyone else that they forget to look after themselves, or worse yet, they feel guilty for looking after themselves. These ladies are pouring from an empty cup, and fast fraying their mental health as a result. Massage can help these women recenter and refill their emotional cup, ready to face the hustle and bustle of their daily lives.

The article below is adapted from a talk I was asked to give on the value and importance of massage, and the therapeutic benefits of human touch on health and well-being.

The shift away from Chemical Antidepressants

According to Johann Hari in his book lost connections, the UK has the highest use of antidepressants in all of Europe. And while for some people medication is a very successful solution to the symptoms, for others medication is not so effective and that’s not to mention the very real and profound side effects of taking the medication.

Today society and the medical field are looking at medication as just a part of the solution, for instance offering talking therapy before medication The FHT (Federation of Holistic Therapists) took a look at the benefits of social prescribing during their 2018 conference.

Please note(!) I am by no means suggesting that anyone stops taking their prescribed medication and swaps it out for a few messages without robust communication with their healthcare professionals.

Massage as a Form of Therapy

Modern massage was developed by Henrik Ling, Sweden (1776- 1839).  While therapists have adapted Swedish massage so as to place a greater emphasis on the psychological and spiritual aspects of treatment (Vickers and Zollman 1999), massage continues to be classified as a touch based therapy. Touch itself is thought to be therapeutic particularly for those who have limited opportunities for physical contact such as people without intimate friends or family or who have painful physical conditions. Various studies have shown that the simple act of reaching out and touching another person can result in physical benefits (Parachin 1991, Bredin 1999). According to Parachin (1991) one touch can soothe, comfort and convey caring in a way words never can.

Massage isn’t cheap, and many people I speak to would qualify it as a luxury, but it can be a very effective method of relaxation and really should be considered as part of the complete package for maintaining well-being. It serves as a form of “social grooming” reflective of that carried out by primates, which is a behavior which is easily interpreted as being for stress management. As Paul Ingraham says, “it is a near certainty that humans can benefit from the same kind of interaction, and massage is basically just ritualized, formal social grooming, without the parasite eating.”

Massage therapy allows for interpersonal attention which may be lacking in a person's day to day life, and has parallels with psychotherapy. This sits in line with Hari’s theory that re-connection with people is a piece of the puzzle for treating depression, and I have seen in person the effects that 45 minutes to an hour on my table can have on clients in crisis. The time on an Massage Therapists table allows for confidential interpersonal contact where the recipient is the focus, we are it could be said holding space for our clients and in that time clients experiencing extreme emotional states react in different ways, sometimes they need that period of silence to decompress, other times they will talk over their troubles and stresses.

Scientific research into the effect of Massage on Anxiety & Depression

Moyer has done some very interesting research into the effects of massage therapy on anxiety and depression and the psychological effects of massage therapy on both adult and paediatric recipients, and I would urge anyone who wanted to see some of the research on this take a look at the book ‘Massage Therapy’ which he co-wrote with Trish Dryden. Research has shown that in recipients with trait (longer lived) anxiety massage therapy caused a significant lowering on anxiety. And recipients in a 2004 study noticed a noticeably lower level of post-treatment depression that over 70% of control group participants.

For recipients experiencing anxiety and depression and I will also add stress in here, one treatment has some significant effects, but it is the continuation of self care through regular receipt of massage that has the most significant effect. A quote by Moyer presented by Ingraham which I must admit to struggling to find the origin of but which has really stuck with me is that “it is possible that the greatest benefits come about only when a person has learned how to receive massage therapy.”

Of course it should be said that just like medication, and talking therapy, massage therapy will have different levels of effectiveness for different people, and different types of massage therapy will have different levels of effect on different people, though it makes sense with the gentle movements used within Swedish massage for this to be a starting point.

Bibliography & Further Reading.

Hari, Johann; Lost Connections: uncovering the real causes of depression and the unexpected solutions

Moyer, Christopher A.; massage therapy integrating research & practice

Paul Ingraham, Vancouver, Canada, Anxiety & Chronic Pain

A self-help guide for people who worry and hurt

Therapeutic Massage Study

The best things are worth sharing, refer a friend and you both get £5 off your next massage treatments when your friend books in.

For A Limited Time Only!

Refer three friends for a 45 minute or more treatment and get a 45 minute treatment absolutely free!!* (Or a 1 hour treatment for £10)

*once all three friends have completed their treatments

When booking an appointment you agree to the following terms and conditions put in place to protect you (the client) and me (the therapist)

Arrival times & ‘New Clients’ forms

You will be sent an intake form prior to your appointment, please fill this out in advance to save time at your appointment and to help me create the framework for oyur treatmnt plan. All treatment sessions have a specific time schedule and early arrival allows for a relaxed and unhurried experience. Late arrival may result in your treatment may be shortened in order to keep on schedule and the original treatment time may be charged.

Informed consent

Prior to each massage session, the treatment plan will be discussed with you.

In completing your forms you agree that any medical information you have given is, to your knowledge, correct.

Respect for your needs and boundaries

At Salix Therapies I am happy to adjust pressure, temperature, musical volume, work longer on an area or move on if you request it. You may choose to: leave on as much clothing as needed for comfort, refuse any massage methods or stop massage at any time. You will always be modestly draped and only the area being massaged will be undraped. For initial treatments you may be kept informed of the area to be massaged, and this can taper back as you prefer.

I treat all client visits and conditions as confidential. As such, I will not discuss your visit with anybody without your express permission. You may choose to talk or not talk during the massage and conversation will be strictly guided by your direction.

Sexual interaction or discussion of any kind is never appropriate. If I feel that this line has been crossed, I will terminate the session immediately and the client will be charged the full amount. All clients are empowered with the same right and freedom to end the appointment.