Taster Massage Day in Berkhamsted

My trip to Sarajevo to volunteer with the Healing Hands Network is now less than a month away. That really has come around quickly!

In one of those small world coincidences, Carol Quirk, a Sports Massage Therapist who also offers treatments at BAYoga Studio in Berkhamsted, will be out there at the same time as me.

So we've decided to team up for an event at the Studio,  to fund our volunteer work with Healing Hands and raise money towards our flights and accommodation etc. 

Try Indian Head Massage
at the taster afternoon

On Saturday 25^th August between 1pm and 5pm, in the BAYoga Studio, Carol and I are offering 15 minute massage ‘taster’ sessions.  These will include seated back massage, Thai foot massage and Indian head massage.

In return we are asking for a donation to the charity, which will go towards our costs.

So please come along to support us on the 25^th, and bring a friend or family member with you!

For further information about Healing Hands Network please see this previous blogpost or go to www.healinghandsnetwork.co.uk 

To donate directly to mine or Carol's fund, please go to www.mycharitypage.com/carolquirk or www.mycharitypage.com/lucinda

Celebrating the Olympics

Although it seems no time since London won the 2012 Olympics, they are nearly upon us. To mark the occasion I'm holding two special events, with an international theme.

Indian Head Massage Day

Sohan Jalaiai, St Albans

Thursday 2nd August

45 minute Treatments for £30 (usually £38)

Thai Foot Massage Day

Revive Clinic, Apsley

Wednesday 8th August

Hour-long treatments for £35 (usually £45)

There is however a twist - these are TEAM EVENTS.

I have 5 appointments available on each day, and the special rates only apply if all 5 are taken. So if you want to take part, get all your friends to book in and fill those slots!

To take advantage of this offer, e-mail me with the day and time you'd like.

The slots to be filled are:

Indian Head Massage Day 2nd August:


1.00, 2.15, 3.30, 5.15, 6.30

I practice a gentle form of Indian Head Massage that incorporates shoulder, neck and face massage, as well as the scalp. The massage addresses the areas where many of us hold tension, gently releasing the muscles and connective tissue. It can feel wonderful to have our hair, scalp and face massaged, making this a surprisingly relaxing and enjoyable treatment.

Thai Foot Massage Day 8th August:


1.00, 2.30, 4.00, 6.00, 7.30

A recent import from China to Thailand, Thai Foot Massage has proven to be popular and effective. I use thumbs, knuckles, palms and a wooden massage stick to press, stroke and occasionally pummel the feet and lower leg, working on the reflex points and energy lines to affect the whole body. It is incredibly relaxing - I personally haven’t managed to stay awake while receiving a foot massage yet!

Appointments will be allocated on a first come-first served basis. If you could make more than one time, let me know and I'll fit you in to best fill the appointments.


Places will be held open until the 27th July - if they're not filled by then, anyone already signed up will have the option to keep the appointment at the full price, or to cancel.


For more information on these and other massages I offer see www.lucindacracknell.co.uk

Charity Massage-athon - in pictures!

Charity Massage-athon for the Healing Hands Network
Saturday 14th July 2012, St Albans Town Hall
Here's how it all went on the day...

Our beautiful display, with lots of information about
Healing Hands and our lovely massage therapists

Everything ready, waiting to go

An early client, he seems to be pleased

Neck and shoulder massages
proved to be the popular choice

Carly Day helping out with a shoulder massage

Danny Smith, who interviewed me on Radio Verulam
about the Massage-athon, came along to try a
massage for himself

The Massage-ometer!

Tracking our massage total throughout the day

(And everyone loves an excuse for a bit of colouring in!)

The end of the day,
21 massages done,
£129 raised!

1. 
   

Pilates - guest post from Carly Day

What is Pilates?


Pilates is a conditioning intervention that challenges the body and the mind. It combines mat exercises with the use of specialist equipment and aims to activate the deep, stabilising muscles of the body that many of us have 'forgotten' how to use properly. Humans have two layers of muscles, the deep, stabilising muscles that are located around the joints and the bigger, mobilising muscles on the outside of the body. If our stabilising muscles don't activate when they should do, the mobilising muscles have to do twice as much work causing fatigue and tension. Pilates aims to reinstate the neural activation of the stabilising muscles, making us more aware of how we move in every day life.

Stabilise your body from within

STOTT PILATES® practiced at Revive Sports Rehabilitation & Acupuncture Clinic is a contemporary approach to the original exercise method pioneered by the late Joseph Pilates. During his lifetime, Joseph Pilates studied many forms of exercise such as yoga and weight lifting as well as the innate movement of animals to develop a set of exercises to promote natural, tension free movement. The contemporary approach used in STOTT PILATES® includes modern principles of exercise science and spinal rehabilitation, making it one of the safest and most effective methods of Pilates available.


Pilates converts the way you look and feel about your body by eliciting core postural muscles to create a centre of strength, to stabilise and support the body from within. It is intelligent exercise with profound results.


Who will benefit from Pilates?


Pilates is great for those with movement difficulties but will be equally challenging to well trained athletes. This exercise method develops strength from within which means that tired, over used muscles of the back, shoulders and neck don't get overworked any more. It can help with reducing back pain and instability aggravated by occupational movements, is great for expectant and new mums as it promotes activation of the deep pelvic muscles and it can be combined with a regular exercise program for sports men and women to prevent injuries. Pilates is endorsed by many health professionals including GP’s, Physiotherapists and Osteopaths. Through regular practice, Pilates will help you restore more efficient and natural movement and can have profound results in relieving muscular tension, correcting altered alignment, breaking bad movement habits and improving posture. It’s used by rehab and prenatal clients, athletes, celebrities and everyone in between.


What does a typical session involve?

A holistic workout that will leave you
relaxed and rejuvenated

Pilates can be practiced in one to one, small group and larger group sessions. Private one to one sessions are a brilliant way to maximise each and every workout as the instructor can give absolute attention to every movement produced. These sessions involve a full postural analysis, outlining areas of tension, weakness and muscle shortening. You will then be taught the 5 basic principles of Pilates that are built upon throughout all of the exercises. Exercise modifications are then given to suit your own posture type and you will quickly learn what movements are beneficial and which are of less use to you individually. You can then use this knowledge of your body in future classes as well as during day to day activities.


Pilates can also be done in a group session which involves initially learning the 5 basic principles and then going through the repertoire exercise by exercise, working at a beginner, improver, intermediate and advanced level. Each exercise can be modified to challenge and support you depending on your goals for the session. Most exercises in the matwork repertoire are done in a lying position either on your front, side or back but it's not as easy as it sounds. Pilates involves the connection of the mind and body with breathing, so it's a holistic workout that will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, walking taller and with more confidence.


Carly is a Rehabilitation Specialist and Pilates Instructor, based in Apsley, Hertfordshire.


If you would like to talk to Carly about Pilates, or arrange a session, you can contact her on 07739 005874 or visit www.carlyday.co.uk.

Treating neck ache and tension headaches

Have you ever noticed that sometimes the same experience keeps repeating, as if the universe wants you to take notice of something? Several times in the past couple of weeks I've treated clients with tightness in their necks that transfers into the scalp and causes headaches. This has prompted me to explain a bit about why this happens, and a simple technique you can use when it does.

Here's "the science bit"

At the back of your skull there's a ridge of bone called the occipital ridge. You can feel it by putting your finger on the back of your head and running it downwards until you feel it dip onto softer tissue. The ridge is most obvious just to the side of the central line, but runs across from ear to ear, just above the hairline.


This ridge is an area for muscle attachment. Muscles from the neck, and even the shoulder, run up and attach to it, and a band of muscle and connective tissue runs from here, over the top of the head, to the forehead. Any tension in the neck and upper back, whether from computer work, holding stress in the shoulders, an injury, or anything else, is therefore transmitted to the occipital area. From here it can pull on the tissue over the head all the way to the forehead. This is why a tight neck can cause tension headaches.


It is also why, during massage, we work on the soft tissue at the occipital ridge. This is true of Deep Tissue Massage, Indian Head Massage, Thai Massage; there's even an occipital move in Pulsing.


By manipulating the tissue, we can often release contraction in the neck and shoulder muscles, and in the scalp. This can ease any pain and discomfort.


You can also do this yourself, if your neck is tight or you feel a headache coming on.

• Put your index and middle fingers together, and place the tips at the back of your head, on the occipital ridge, pointing inwards.
• If you have long hair, it's easier to work from under your hair, and with it loose - tying hair up tightly can also contribute to headaches.
• Make a few small circles with your finger tips, then move them outwards a bit, still on the ridge, and repeat.
• Resist the temptation to press hard - just firm enough to move the skin, rather than just the hair, is fine.
• Continue until you get to the corner of the ridge under the ear; you can then make circles back towards the centre, or slide your fingers back and work outwards again.
• You can also do one side at a time if it's more comfortable, but try not to twist your head too much.

Of course, if you have an underlying issue elsewhere that's causing the problem, this technique won't address that. However, easing the tightness in the occipital area may relieve the discomfort until you're able to take more permanent steps, whether that's taking more frequent breaks from the computer, or getting a massage to release tension in the muscles throughout the neck, shoulders and upper back.


There's more about Lucinda's massage at www.lucindacracknell.co.uk

Charity Massage-athon for Healing Hands Network

I hinted a while ago that I was scheming away on fund raising events for Healing Hands Network, and that there would be a chance to get involved (for those around Hertfordshire anyway). I've been true to my word, so without further ado, here it is!


What is it?  A Charity Massage-athon. Ten-minute mini treatments on as many backs/feet/shoulders/heads as possible


When is it?  Saturday 14th July, between 10am and 4pm


Where is it?  St Albans Town Hall, alongside the Artisans, Arts and Crafts Market, and the St Albans outdoor market


Who can get involved?  You can! Please bring along achey shoulders, sore feet, stressed heads or tight shoulders for us to treat; we can't do it without you!


Where do I sign up?  You can e-mail me to book a slot at a specific time, which will help with planning, but you can also just come along on the day and book in, or if we're free, get a massage there and then!


Who will be doing the massaging?  At the moment, me! But I'm hoping to have a team of brilliant therapists joining me throughout the day. If you're a massage therapist, or massage student, and would like to join in, if only for an hour, get in touch. It's a great way to get loads of experience and meet lots of people, and it's fun too!


What does it cost?  A minimum of £5 donation for each treatment - but any more you can give will be truly appreciated and it all goes to a great cause.


How else can I help?  Help man the stand for an hour (or more!). Tell your friends about the message-athon, and encourage them to come along. Even if you can't make it, you can sponsor me - go to my charity page or e-mail me.

Who are the Healing Hands Network?  A charity dedicated to the relief of suffering caused by war and disaster. In Sarajevo, volunteer therapists treat survivors of concentration camps, rape and horrendous physical injuries. "HHN is one of the rare things I look forward to in life because its therapies have enabled me to laugh again." Peljto Behija, Concentration Camp Union. For more information see their website and this blogpost.


What if I have more questions? Ask me - just drop me an e-mail and I'll do my best to help.


Any and all support you can give me, by coming along, helping out or spreading the word, will be hugely appreciated.

Healing Hands Network Workshop

On Sunday, I went up to Berkswell, near Coventry, for a workshop with the Healing Hands Network (HHN). The idea was to find out more about the work they do in Sarajevo and what to expect when I go out there, as well as a chance to ask all my questions - and I had a lot!


HHN is a charity dedicated to the relief of suffering caused by war and disaster. Since 1997 volunteer teams of complementary therapists have worked in Bosnia, giving over 40,000 treatments. Their clients come through the Civil Victims Association, the Concentration Camp Union, the Centre for Torture Victims, and the Mothers of Srebrenica.


It was a fantastic day, and I left feeling much more confident about going to Sarajevo. I'm really fired up and enthused about the value of the services HHN offer, and I can't wait to become part of that in September.


The thing that struck me most was the clients' stories. I was young during the war in the former Yugoslavia, and struggled to understand what was happening at the time, who was fighting who and why. I certainly wasn't aware of the impact on the ordinary civilians until I became involved with HHN. When I went to Cambodia last year, I was deeply affected by what had happened there, the fact that it was during my lifetime, and many of the people I walked past on the street had lived through it. Although I am not trying to draw impossible comparisons between two situations, the siege of Sarajevo was more recent and much closer to home. Again I feel the sense of shock, of disbelief at what people have lived through, and a guilty relief that I haven't had to face that. The fact that, through HHN, I have a way to use my skills to reach out to a few people and make things a tiny bit better for them is, quite frankly, an amazing feeling. And it seems inconceivable to not go.


I just want to share a few of the quotes and pictures from the workshop with you, to try to explain why I am so excited about what HHN does.

I am a refugee from Eastern Bosnia.
I was held 1 year in a concentration camp.
I have damage to hips and legs from the regular beatings I received. 
I hardly sleep, nightmares haunt me still. 
I live with my son now as my husband died a year ago. 
I belong to CWV  (Civil War Victims) Association.
I am so glad to receive help from Healing Hands Network as their continued work has helped me to recover this far. 

My name is Hrzeta.

I was held at gunpoint in my home, along with my husband and brother.

They were shot dead.

I jumped out of a window to save myself, I though I was going to be killed too.

I broke my back- I was paraplegic for a long time.

I had to work for years to regain my bodily health and learn to walk again.

Healing Hands Network have been giving me Reiki and I have begun to work through my emotional traumas.

I am beginning to feel like a person again, and to lead a useful life thanks to this continued care.

Thank you from my heart for your wonderful work, kindness and support.

This is the first time Selma had slept for a long time.
Selma was in a concentration camp for 4 years, and still suffers nightmares about her treatment there. She suffers severe depression and it was affecting her family life. Her husband was concerned about her.
After her treatment session, she slept like a baby for half an hour! She looked totally different.
When she returned the following week, she had a big smile and a spring in her step that had been missing. She had turned a corner, due she claimed, to repeated therapies from HHN. 
She was coping better and was working again. Her family were pleased!

This lady was sitting at her table one day when a shell came through the window.  It took off her left breast, her arm from just above the elbow, and her abdomen burst open. Her husband even has to fasten the zip on her skirt – you need two hands.  

This is the outreach centre at Vogosca. HHN works through four such centres near Sarajevo, as well as the clinic in the city.









Of course, there's also the opportunity to get to know Sarajevo, and beyond, an undeniable draw for a travel nut like me. From speaking to members who'd been, it sounds like a beautiful city, which is gradually but perceptibly rebuilding itself after the devastation of the war. I'm told that the shopping is pretty good as well.


For more information on the Healing Hands Network, you can contact me and I'll do my best to answer your questions, or you can visit their website www.healinghandsnetwork.org.uk.