Contra-indications & Aftercare Advice

Please read before booking a treatment

Complementary therapies do have a significant impact on the body’s systems and so care must be taken as a result. For example, anything that stimulates the circulation and improves detoxification can also increase the rate at which the body may excrete prescribed medication, as well as toxins. Acupressure points on the shoulder, hands and feet have a strongly descending function so need to be avoided in pregnancy.

Please check the contraindications (link here) as a doctor’s note may be needed.

Contra-actions:

A contra-action is a minor symptom experienced during or following a treatment, as a response to the effects of the treatment.

This is usually a result of increased circulation, relaxation and subsequent detoxification; it should be regarded as a healthy sign that the treatment is effective and that the body is making the changes it needs to rejuvenate.

A more acute form of this is often termed a ‘healing crisis’ which may include a temporary worsening of symptoms, before a state of equilibrium is reached.

For example, a client with a head cold before treatment may find that their symptoms of sinus congestion are literally ‘drawn out’, before they feel clear-headed again. This process should only last for about 12-48 hours and usually brings an ending to symptoms quicker than if no treatment had been given.

Some possible contra-actions to treatment are as follows:

Headache/light-headedness
Nausea
Heightened emotional state/tearfulness
Increased tiredness and a need to rest
Frequent urination/bowel movement
Increased release of mucus from the nose or mouth

Resistance to treatment

When I first experienced massage therapies I was far too body conscious to relax and enjoy the treatments. I lay there analysing the massage moves and wondering why they weren’t effective for me, thinking that perhaps the therapist wasn’t doing a very good job!

I’ve since learnt that it takes time to feel comfortable with your therapist and that the effectiveness of the treatment partly lies in your own ability to let go: to disconnect from analytical thinking and reconnect with yourself.

Relaxation is a skill - it takes practice

If you’re new to massage, come with an open mind. You may not reach deep relaxation until you are more accustomed to the process.

Know that my wish is for you to have the treatment you deserve so please feel free to feed back to me so I can adapt the treatment to work better for you.

Although Indian head and back massages are extremely effective for most people, it is not uncommon for some to find they exacerbate tensions. A highly stressed individual may find their muscles become ‘trigger happy’, initiating a stress response even with the lightest touch. For this kind of person, massaging the face, legs and particularly the feet can be a solution as this drains attention away from the source of the problem rather than focusing more attention to it.

Many people take a little while to settle but once we find what works best, massage is a powerful tool to help find peaceful contentment once more.

Wellbeing is about feeling good and living life to the full – isn’t this precisely what is worth striving for?

Aftercare Advice

Massage treatments stimulate the circulation and with this comes increased nourishment to tissue cells so that growth and healing can take place, as well as the clearing out of waste products. To maximise these benefits you can support this process in the following ways:

Resting and remaining calm after treatment which will free up the body’s energies to focus on healing and detoxifying.
Avoiding rich or heavy meals which can divert the body’s energies from healing, to digesting food.
Drinking plenty (but not excessive) amounts of water or herbal teas, which aid the body’s cleansing processes.
Avoiding stimulants such as coffee, cola and cigarettes that place an extra stress on the body and can re-introduce toxins.

Positive ideas for improved health

Stretch regularly – stretching eases out tension in the body, improves posture and opens energy meridians, enabling it to flow more freely around the body. Yoga is an extremely effective way of achieving these benefits.

Focus on posture – poor posture will create tension and hinder all bodily functions. Good posture aids energy flow as well as boosting self-confidence. Imagine yourself as a puppet whose head is pulled up by a piece of string; relax your body and allow it to fall into its correct position, both upwards through the head (by this imaginary piece of string) and downwards, as you allow the force of gravity to guide you to distribute your weight evenly through both legs and feet, literally making you feel more grounded.

Breathe efficiently – oxygen is our most great physical need. We optimise this resource by breathing correctly. The abdomen should expand- rather than the shoulders rising – with each in-breath. In order to ensure a deep breath in, simply focus on the out-breath: breathe out until your lungs are completely empty and you are almost desperate for more air – your next breath will fully expand the diaphragm and be naturally deeper. Trying too hard to breathe in correctly can make you self-conscious and tense up, usually in the shoulders, inhibiting your ability to achieve a deep, relaxed breath.

Exercise regularly – negative stress is literally the body’s preparation for ‘fight or flight’. If there is no physical exertion to utilise the build-up of adrenaline, the pent-up energy produced can result in tension and an inability to relax. Therefore, the best way to deal with stress is to take flight regularly! Even a brisk walk can help release the causes of tension and prevent its damaging effects.

Take your own good advice! We usually know what’s good for us. It’s so easy to make positive suggestions to others but we often don’t take positive action for ourselves. ‘I’m OK; I’ve got to work; I don’t have time etc….’ We all have our reasons but ultimately, wellbeing is about feeling good and living life to the full – isn’t this precisely what is worth striving for?