Treatments
What are the Benefits?
Massage has numerous benefits on the body and the mind, as more and more scientific studies indicate. Even if you do not have any particular aches or pains, a treatment will help to relax and refresh your body.
Many believe that massage can help with the following:
- Alleviation of muscle tension, which can be manifested in tightness or nodules (knots)
- By stimulating circulation of blood, nutrients, oxygen and lymph, it is argued that the systems of the body are encouraged to work more effectively
- Improvement of posture (this is aided by addressing muscle imbalance, assisted stretches and strengthening exercises, and homecare advice)
- The slow, rhythmic strokes lower the blood pressure, and thus help to reduce stress
- Release of the feel-good hormones, endorphins
- Improvement in the range of motion in joints – e.g. by releasing adhesions and mobilizing the joints
It is hard to prove many of the theorized and anecdotally suggested benefits of massage for a number of different reasons. But people generally agree that massage does help with de-stressing and relaxation, which is a very good starting point for improving the health:
‘Two general effects [of massage, MT] are well-supported by scientific data and widely agreed-upon by MT researchers. Quantitative research reviews show that a series of MT treatments consistently produces sizable reductions of depression in adult recipients. The effects of MT on anxiety are even better understood. Single sessions of MT significantly reduce state anxiety, the momentary emotional experiences of apprehension, tension, and worry in both adults and in children, and multiple sessions of MT, performed over a period of days or weeks, significantly reduce trait anxiety, the normally stable individual tendency to experience anxiety states, to an impressive degree in adults.
Together, these effects on anxiety and depression are the most well-established effects in the MT research literature. They are especially important for us to understand not only for their own sake, but also because anxiety and depression exacerbate many other specific health problems. In other words, it is reasonable to theorize that quite a few specific health benefits associated with MT may actually be “second-order” effects that are a consequence of MT’s “first-order” effects on anxiety and depression.’
(Affective massage therapy. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2008. PubMed #21589715, quoted by Paul Ingraham: http://saveyourself.ca/articles/does-massage-work.php (as appeared on 04.07.2014)).
Testimonials
‘I go to Catherine regularly and she is always able to identify and address my problem areas each time. I would highly recommend her as she always delivers a fabulous massage.
Moreover, not only is Catherine excellent in her work, but due to her friendly and talkative personality, she’s a pleasure to work with. Thank you Catherine!’
‘I felt very relaxed after your massage. I believe that getting a regular massage is an important part of my self-care.’
‘Thank you so much for this. It was amazing and I think we can do even harder next time. I’m a tough girl!
Drank more water as you advised and was “flying” the whole day after that. REALLY looking forward to have the next session.’
‘Having had brilliant massage therapists in Australia, I was worried that I wouldn’t find anyone to a similar standard when I moved to London. During my first session with Catherine, I knew I had come across an exceptional specialist and had nothing to worry about. With an impressive and varied background of massage styles and a thorough knowledge of injuries and treatments, Catherine is a highly educated and trusted professional that I would recommend to anyone.’
‘Catherine is a fantastic masseuse. She extremely professional, knows many different techniques that allows her to adapt her style to suit her clients needs. I have regular weekly sessions with her for my bad back and I have noticed a big improvement in discomfort and posture since sessions began, I’m happy with quite a hard massage and she doesn’t disappoint, it’s definitely not a simple back rub!’
‘I’ve had a chance to work with Catherine on a couple of occasions and I’m extremely pleased with her skill and the results from her deep tissue massage. She’s very sensitive to my individual needs, and works where I need it most — she has even sped up my recovery from a recent injury. I’m really happy with her and would definitely recommend her.’
