ABC of why to have massage

In case you were unsure, here's the A to Z of benefits massage might bring you.


Allow yourself to STOP
Bolster your natural defences
Calm your nervous system

Dissolve tension – physical and emotional
Ease stiffness in muscles

Mmmmmm...

Foster wellbeing and self-care
Ground yourself in your body
Honour your body, and your need for connection
Improve your flexibility
Just feel great
Knead muscles into glorious, squidgy release
Lessen muscle pain
Make yourself go mmmmmm……
Nurture your whole being
Open your joints for freer movement
Promote (practically) perfect posture
Quieten your mind – stop all those spinning thoughts
Relax! Mind, body and spirit

Zzzz...

Stimulate blood flow in your skin, muscles and connective tissue
Trigger the release of endorphins, the natural feel-good hormones
Uplift your mood
Vitalise skin
Warm and soothe your tissues
Xperience nurturance through touch
You really must try one, and – yawn - 
Zzzz Slip into peaceful, natural sleep

Sound good to you? Contact me to book a massage today.

Gateway2Wellbeing Exhibition

Next Sunday, 20th May, I'll be in Elstree at the Gateway2Wellbeing Exhibition, and I'd love it if you could come along too.

I'll be in the Treatment Lounge, offering back and shoulder, and Thai Foot massages, alongside a wide range of other treatments from other practitioners. At £10 for 20 minutes, it's incredibly good value, and a chance to meet therapists and try treatments you otherwise might not have the chance to. As an added incentive, I have a draw to win a free massage.

In addition to the treatment lounge, there are exhibitor stands, free exercise classes and talks and workshops on health and wellbeing.

Usually exhibitions such as this are held in large centres such as London or Birmingham, so this is a unique opportunity to explore what's available locally, ask questions and try things out, all under one roof.

For all the details, and booking, see the website gateway2wellbeing.co.uk.

Venue:   Holiday Inn Hotel

             London, Elstree, Barnet Bypass, Borehamwood, WD6 5PU

Time:     11am - 5pm

Cost:      £4 - Booked in advance (online) or  £5 - Pay at the door

A percentage of tickets sales will be donated to Clic Sargent (for Children with Cancer) and Jewish Care

Starting at BAYoga Studio, Berkhamsted

In an hour or so I start work at my latest venue, BAYoga Studio in Berkhamsted. I'm really excited to be doing something new, and I'm fully booked for this afternoon, which is great news.


One reason for my busy-ness is the fantastic introductory offer:


£20 Massage

For May and June only, I am offering a selection of my most popular treatments at a special introductory rate of £20. Treatments available are:


• Oil Massage (1 hr)
• Thai Massage (1 hr)
• Thai Foot Massage (1hr)
• Indian Head Massage (45 mins)
• Pulsing (1hr)


To take up the offer, just get in touch and book an appointment at BAYoga for May or June*.


For more information about the treatments, have a look at my website, or ask me.


BAYoga Studio is centrally located on Berkhamsted High Street, and offers a range of yoga, Pilates and health treatments. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and although it has not been around for very long, there is already a community of teachers and therapists ready to help and support you.


I'll be at BAYoga on Tuesday afternoons/evenings, and Sunday mornings. I'll still be at Revive Clinic and Sohan Jalaiai as normal.


I look forward to seeing at one of these locations soon.


*One treatment can be booked at the special rate per person per month. Not available in conjunction with any other offer.

Shamanic Body Work

I am interested in exploring different approaches to health and wellbeing, especially those that encompass the mind and spirit as well as the body. A desire to experience Reiki and energy work last year led me to Becci Mudrini. Since then, I have been seeing her regularly for Shamanic Body Work. Here, Becci explains more about this unique treatment.

Shamanic Body Work

'Our Biography becomes our Biology'

Caroline Myss, Anatomy of the Spirit

Shamanic Body Work encourages you to pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you.

I began as a classically trained Reiki therapist and have been developing this style of treatment for the last 10 years through my own investigation of the Mind/Body connection in a variety of  ways including Asanas, Raja Yoga, Meditation, Mudras, Power/Totem Animals, Energy Work, and various other practices.

Shamanism has nothing to do with the so-called ‘supernatural’and is completely natural and holistic. It is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, forms of treatment.

It is not allied or directly opposed to any Religion and seeks only to connect the individual with Nature and other levels of existence– seeking not to manipulate, control or exploit but to engage the willing participation and active support of all forms of

life in mutual self-development and growth.

It is, by nature, highly individualistic. 

I have been asked if I practice Native American, Mayan or South American Shamanism

 and my answer is none of these, yet elements of all of those and more are present in my treatments, depending on the needs of the individual. Shamanism has no particular nationality and is common to all cultures, it is inherently ‘genetic’ in all of us and therefore there are elements that are the same the world over.

It recognises that everything (including us) has its own Energy-system and is operating within an Energy system greater than itself and is also connected to all the other Energy-systems that are present, each being worthy of respect.

Shamanism encourages a return to Wholeness

Reduce Stress Levels, Increase your Body/Mind Awareness,

Release 0ld Behavioural Patterns that are no longer useful, Restore Balance

Our own bodies are the best teachers we can have.

1hr Treatment £30 for more information or to book a treatment call

Becci 07738974708

rebeccamudrini@hotmail.com

On openness

My massage practice is still young, still growing, and has not yet reached the point of sustainability where it covers all the costs it needs to. Every new customer, every appointment, is a cause for celebration, a step on the road to "making it". So you would think that when one morning a regular client asked me if I could massage her later, I would have wholeheartedly and unfalteringly answered YES. And yet – I didn't; I hesitated.

It wasn't because I was too busy. It wasn't because I wasn't sure how to treat this client, or that I didn't want to treat her. It was because I wasn't prepared. I had only taken what I needed for the clients I knew about, that were booked in. For the want of a few towels, I nearly turned down a loyal client who needed a massage, and nearly turned down that income.

In the end we muddled through and I did the treatment. But how unsatisfactory. I want to expand, to welcome more clients onto my massage table, and yet when they come I am reduced to "muddling through". I was sending a negative, self-defeating message to the Universe. "Don't give me work, I can't handle it."

At the core, this is a question of openness. Despite my intellectual goal to have more clients, I wasn't open to getting them. As I started to think about it, I realised that this applied beyond the immediate situation. How many ambitions am I undermining by not being open to having them fulfilled? How powerful might it be to open myself to the possibilities waiting around the next corner?

So I intend to learn from the lesson given to me. Of course, I now carry extra towels, and everything else I need to welcome those last minute clients. And I'm trying to cultivate an approach of openness, to notice where my actions do not support my goals (and change them) and be more receptive to what may come to me, however unexpected.

Yesterday, a new client rang to ask for an immediate appointment. I had a gap in my schedule and saw her straight away, with no hesitation.

What inadvertent barriers do you create? How could you be more open to receiving your dreams?

Depression Awareness Week

This week is Depression Awareness Week.

This is a cause close to my heart, as I've suffered from depression. It is a terrible, debilitating disease, and despite the fact that 1 in 5 people in the UK are said to suffer from it, is still largely misunderstood. As the illness can cause shame and a desire to isolate yourself, many people are unable to speak out while they are suffering. It is also very hard to explain to someone who hasn't been through it. That is why initiatives like Depression Awareness Week are so important. I hope it will go some way to helping people, whether it's healthcare providers, employers, or friends and family, to understand the disease and how to support sufferers.

It may also reach those who are suffering but don't know why, and prompt them to seek the help they need. The good news is that there are things that you can do, and for most people depression is now treatable, or at least manageable. Things can get better.

If you think you, or someone you know, may have depression, it's important to see your GP as they can help you access a lot of the help that is available. I have always had wonderful support from my GPs, but I've also heard stories where this is not the case. If you don't think your personal GP will be sympathetic, ask if anyone at your surgery has a specific interest in psychological issues and arrange to see them.

There are many resources "out there" for people with depression and their family, friends and carers, here are a few I've found useful and/or interesting.

Depression Alliance

Black Dog Tribe via SANE

Help for partners

Self care is an important part of recovery from depression. Actually, it's important for everyone, but those with depression seem to have a lower tolerance for the strain we put ourselves under when we don't look after ourselves properly. The things that seem to really make a difference for me are:

• Getting outside. Fresh air really is a tonic. Sunshine helps a lot too, but even on a grey, drizzly day I felt better for going outside for at least 15 minutes.
• Exercise. If this is combined with going out, so much the better. Walking is great! I also do yoga, which helps me to relate to my body, and the meditative aspects of yoga practice are especially calming.
• Eating well. You see, this is not controversial, some might say it's stating the obvious, but it's so easy to not do when you're busy and a bit stressed and not paying attention to yourself. I would eat a large packet of crisps for dinner, even though I know that I feel so much better when I eat mostly fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Compassionate mind. This was a phrase my therapist used with me. He was basically saying, be nice to yourself. Treat yourself as you would a good friend - which means not expecting to be able to get a million things done in one evening. Not beating yourself up when something doesn't go to plan. It's incredibly hard to do for some of us, and may require the support of a counsellor or therapist. But if you can, even occasionally, tell yourself that you did your best and learnt something, or look at the things on the list you did achieve rather than the ones you didn't fit in, it can be the start of a change in outlook.

Please spread the word about Depression Awareness Week. Get help if you need it (or a friend does). Look after yourself. Read some of the information that's out there to find out a little bit more about what depression is and what it isn't. Maybe with greater understanding and compassion, we can reduce the stigma and judgement that there currently is around the subject.

On my feet for Healing Hands

As you may know, I'm raising money for the Healing Hands Network. Healing Hands is a charity that brings together complementary therapists and people needing help as a legacy of war or disasters. The network pioneered its work in Sarajevo, Bosnia and is still there, working with those for whom rape, torture and the disappearance of loved ones during the war continue to have terrible consequences.


I’m hoping to go to Sarajevo in September as a volunteer practitioner. Although I know that the two weeks will be extremely hard, both physically and emotionally, I also think it will be incredibly rewarding. To go, I need to raise £750, although the cost to the charity is much higher.

Waiting for the off

The fundraising got underway this weekend when I completed the Hertford 10k. This was a departure for me; usually I take my exercise, if at all, indoors and slow - think yoga. Partly this is due to back problems, so I was walking not running, but mainly it reflects a strong preference for warmth and comfort. Nonetheless, I'd been getting out and training, and not just when it was nice weather. I've been rained and sleeted on, all in the name of a good cause.


In the end, it was perfect day for it - sunny but not too warm. I set off at 10.30 with about 400 other participants, most of whom I didn't see again as I settled into my position at the back! I was second to last home, but really pleased to manage a time of 92 minutes, well inside my expected 100 minutes. And yes, I did treat myself to a massage afterwards.

Success - with my medal
and goodie bag

Having proven I can do it, I have whetted my appetite so I'm thinking about taking on another challenge. There are more fund raising activities in the pipeline too. Keep an eye out for updates and ways to get involved. Here's a starter for 10; book a Healing Hands Massage and 50% of the price goes to the charity.


For more information about the Healing Hands Network see my page or their website. If you would like to make a contribution, you can do so here.