Interview with Gerry

Shan Holistic Massage Therapy

Interview with Gerry

07794 366227 Book a consultation

So, Gerry...what can I expect when I come to see you?

Well...your treatment journey truly begins BEFORE you walk through the door!!   By connecting here, we have already started to engage with each other.


You will be warmly welcomed and invited to join me in a process which will give you the chance to reconnect with your whole self – mind, body and spirit – and, if needed, reflect on and address worries, anxieties and attitudes that can be very real barriers to recovery.


All massage treatments and coaching sessions will start with a short consultation. We’ll agree the right treatment plan to address the issues you need help with. 


What is different about your work?


Well, I like to think of my work as "therapy-informed bodywork."  Working with me you will have access to my personal blend of Eastern and Western massage techniques and approaches (ranging from deep tissue remedial massage, sports massage (including specialist Kinesio taping), myofascial release, trigger point therapy and other neuro-muscular techniques), Reiki and my unique solution-focussed Body-Mind coaching service. 


We are inter-connected human beings – body and mind, spirit and emotions, past and present.  By working with me you won’t just be getting a therapist who is skilled in one field and who focusses only on one issue or body part.  You will be getting my full experience and attention to help you focus on the whole of YOU!


As well as being in practice for over 9 years, I have also presented and demonstrated at professional events, including the Back Pain Show in London and Birmingham, the Integrative Health Convention in London, Leeds Wellbeing Week, and Health and Healing Festivals in Leeds, York, Pudsey and Ilkley.  And behind this lies over 30 years of professional leadership, management, training, communication, mentoring and coaching experience in Public, Voluntary and private sectors. 


What is Holistic Massage Therapy and what is it good for?


I like to explain Holistic Massage Therapy as a bodywork approach that takes the whole person into account.  We are not just the sum of our body parts; our various body systems - nerves, muscles, digestion, immune, etc. - are all interconnected and interdependent.  But our bodies also respond to how we think and feel - our minds and our emotions - or the "Biology of belief" as geneticist Bruce Lipton puts it. 


My holistic massage service has a range of benefits such as pain relief, reducing stress levels, improving muscle tone and increasing mobility. Typically, the sort of muscular and other soft tissue problems I regularly deal with include: 

 

  • sports injuries
  • sciatica
  • frozen shoulder
  • back pain
  • tennis and golfers’ elbow, 
  • neck pain
  • headaches 
  • shoulder pain
  • Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)

 

Holistic massage therapy also helps to improve mood and relaxation, chronic pain, the effects of depression, anxiety, irritability and poor, restless sleep, fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, ME and fibromyalgia.


If you want to find out more - what do you need to wear, when it's not good to have a massage, etc. - go to my FAQs section below.

FAQs

  • Do you always use oil and will I need to remove my clothing?

    Massage can be done with or without oils, depending on the type of massage therapy you need. If you are comfortable with it, I will ask you to remove your clothing down to your underwear. You will always remain draped with warm towels; only that part of the body to be worked on will be revealed.

  • Do you offer early morning or late evening sessions?

    Yes – provided these are booked in advance. Evening appointments are most popular, with the 6.00pm – 8.00pm slots being taken quickly. BUT – it is always worth phoning as I may occasionally have a cancellation or a free slot. Weekend sessions are available on Saturday at 9.00 – 12.00.

  • Are there conditions where massage is not recommended?

    There are very few conditions where massage is not recommended at all: conditions that are infectious and that are potentially life-threatening and carry a high risk of reoccurring (eg. in the weeks following a heart attack or stroke, or in the early stage of a deep vein thrombosis).

    There are also conditions where massage may be OK, but these areas should be avoided: open, weeping or cut skin; fungal infections, eg. Athlete’s foot; inflammation, bruising or fractures. But it is possible, and beneficial, to work with them. So an area of inflammation would benefit from massage in adjoining areas that improves the circulation, removing waste products or excess fluid, while improving the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the damaged tissues.

  • Aftercare – what should I do after a treatment?

    You may experience some of the following symptoms after a treatment:

    • Tired or sore muscles, similar to how you would feel after a workout;
    • Thirst and frequent visits to the toilet;
    • Tiredness or light-headedness;
    • Headaches;
    • Feeling emotional, particularly if you've been under a lot of stress.

    These symptoms are completely normal and don't usually last any longer than 24 hours. They are positive signs that your body is responding to treatment (the healing crisis), and they become less likely as your body gets used to massage. 

    To make sure you make the most of the benefits of your treatment and help your body regain its balance, there are a few things you can do after your treatment:

    • Avoid exercise, heavy meals, caffeine and alcohol.
    • Drink plenty of water to help your body to flush out any waste products.
    • Take 10-15 minutes immediately after a massage to rest and allow your body to recover.
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