MASSAGE

• Swedish Massage

Swedish massage is a full body massage with Grapeseed oil designed to reduce muscle tension, improving overall well-being. It has an effect on most of the body's systems, helping to relieve and relax the body through the stimulation of muscles. This massage can be tailor made to what you need from the treatment whether it be relaxing or energising.

• Indian Head Massage

Indian Head massage is given with the client sitting in a specially designed ergonomic chair. It covers the head, neck, shoulders, arms, back and face. You will be fully clothed and hair oil may be used on the scalp if requested. This treatment can improve the condition of your skin and hair and give relief from stress and tension.

• Pregnancy and Post Natal Massage

Massage in Pregnancy is a powerful natural tool to guide women in their journey into motherhood. It is a specialist type of bodywork which provides relief from common discomforts and ailments at a time when traditional medicines are often contraindicated.

The massage is normally carried out either side-lying or semi-reclined on a couch with wedges and bolsters positioned for your comfort. Eastern and western techniques are selected depending on the clients needs and include relaxing strokes, deeper muscular release, stretching and manipulation, energy work/shiatsu and lymphatic drainage. Practical ideas are provided to support the mum-to-be including simple exercises and stretches, postural changes and breathing relaxation.

The far reaching benefits or regular prenatal massage can include reduced anxiety and stress hormones, less back pain and fewer complications in labour.

Continuing massage into the postnatal period can provide the new mum with a wonderful sense of ongoing support. Physically it can help alleviate the strain of labour and childbirth, facilitate healing and ease pain caused by caring for a newborn. Clients often talk of a sense of overwhelming relief about “feeling whole again” and “allowing the body to breath again”.

Appointments available on Saturday.

• Cancer Care Comfort Massage

(Also appropriate for other life limiting conditions)

Cancer Care Comfort Massage can make a huge difference to a cancer patient's world and help them adapt to a “new normal”. At a very basic level, massage provides them with therapeutic, safe & comforting touch which is often a vast contrast to the treatments they are receiving. Massage can do so much more. By relaxing body and mind it can help relieve pain, soothe anxiety, lift your mood and calm nausea. Cancer Care Comfort Massage is very gentle & nurturing with the aim of “piecing the body back together” and restoring the client's faith in and acceptance of their body in it's new state. Put simply massage provides time for the client to JUST BE without any demands being made of him or her.

Orla Beaton our Therapist at The Althos Clinic has had the privilege of training with Gayle MacDonald MS LMT from the USA, who is a renowned specialist in this field. The training provided Orla with the information and experience to work safely and confidently with clients who have a history of cancer or are currently in treatment for the disease.

Appointments available on Saturday.

• Remedial Massage

“Remedial” massage therapy simply means using manual therapy techniques to try to “remedy” a problem. But to offer a remedy you must do more than just relieve pain; you must also be able to understand how the problem came about and how it can be avoided in the future. To achieve this, Orla’s training covered a range of massage and advanced soft tissue techniques set within a framework of assessment and rehabilitation procedures. As well as dealing effectively with a variety of musculoskeletal problems this can also be used to help in recovery and reduce the symptoms in many medical conditions too. Sports massage is a specialist area within Remedial massage therapy which applies all the same techniques and principles in a way that best meet the specific needs of the athlete.

Appointments available on Saturday.