Christmas Cards and Charity

This year, instead of sending Christmas cards out to all my clients like I usually do, I have decided to donate the money that I would have spent on cards and postage to charity.

I have chosen the charity Caring at Christmas who help homeless people at Christmas and throughout the year. They run a Christmas shelter every year in Bristol and they also provide homeless 16 to 24 years olds with temporary accommodation in the homes of volunteer hosts.

During this recent spell of cold weather, I have not been able to shake the feelings I've had when thinking about all the homesless people out on the streets at night trying to survive these cold temperatures. It must be horrible for them. I moan enough just being out in it for 5 minutes! Their only hope is through projects like this and others like it to get them through it.

More information about the charity can be found on their website.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Best wishes, Sarah

Product In Focus - Natural Skin Cream for Eczema Prone Skin

Eczema can be really problematic especially when it's cold and windy. Looking after your skin at this time in particular is essential to keeping it under control.

Naturalistics has the perfect cream for Eczema-prone skin. The Naturalistics Skincare range is made in Bristol, England with natural ingredients and are free from nasty chemicals and parabens.

Scented with Cape Chamomile, this cream is rich in vitamin A and E and is very nourishing and healing to the skin and leaves the skin feeling super soft and supple.

Now a little bit about the ingredients....Vitamin A is necessary for the maintenance and repair of skin tissue. Vitamin E is very moisturising and can help smooth dry, rough skin and is a powerful anti-oxidant helping to protect your skin from free radicals. Aloe vera helps rehydrate and soothe the skin. Shea butter contains phytosterols which stimulates cell growth and cinnamic acid which has an anti-inflammatory effect and is very healing to the skin. Borage oil is exceptionally high in Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) which the body needs to create prostaglandins. The skin needs prostaglandins to keep it healthy and to prevent dryness, loss of suppleness and wrinkling.

This cream is an excellent choice for people with eczema-prone skin in particular as well as for those with dry or sensitive skin. It also makes a rich moisturiser for mature skin, for babies, and for the hands and feet.

A 60ml Jar costs just £9.99 and a little goes a long way! For more details on the cream, check out the Cream for Eczema-Prone skin on the Naturalistics website.

NEW Hypnotherapy Sessions

This year, I have been studying towards a Hypnotherapy Practitioners Diploma at The Clifton Practice in Bristol. The training there is very extensive and practical and I have gained a huge amount of knowledge and experience.

I have already been seeing clients for various issues including anxiety, depression, insomnia, bereavements, and phobias to name a few. I have now reached the stage in my training where I am oblidged to start charging for my services. The initial consultation is FREE and subsequent hypnotherapy sessions are charged at £25. This is a discounted rate while I am qualifying and is great value! In April 2011 when I qualify, my fees will increase to the standard going rate for Hypnotherapy which will be decided nearer the time.

I also provide a FREE 30 minute Relaxation / Self-Hypnosis CD to each of my clients

Hypnotherapy is helpful for many different issues including stopping smoking, phobias, stress, anxiety, depression, weight loss, negative thinking, sleeping problems, relationship problems, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pain Management, Lack of Confidence and Self Esteem, Public Speaking, and much more.

To find out more about Hypnotherapy and how it can help you, please visit my Hypnotherapy in Bristol website.

The Gift of Relaxation at Christmas

Know someone who works or lives in Bristol? Looking for an original and thoughtful gift for someone special this Christmas?

Balance Holistics gift vouchers are the perfect gift!

Gift vouchers can be purchased online and are available in increments of £5 or for individual treatments including Aromatherapy Massage, Swedish Massage, Reflexology, Hot Stone Massage, Thai Foot Massage, Holistic Facials, Holistic Foot Treatment, and more.

Massage Taster Sessions

I still have a few spaces left for massage taster sessions on Thursday 4th March at The Chiron Centre, Westbury-on-Trym in Bristol. Appointments available between 1.30pm and 4.30pm. Treatments include Aromatherapy or Swedish back massage, Aromatherapy face or foot massage, Reflexology, Reiki, and Indian Head Massage.

Booking is essential - For more information or to book a taster session call 07851 307 062 or email enquiries@balanceholistics.co.uk.

Check out my previous post on the taster sessions at The Chiron Centre and also a short post on taster sessions in general.

Address: The Chiron Centre, 130 Westbury Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3AL

Price Changes

This is something that I have tried to resist for a while now but after 3 years with no price increases and ever increasing costs, it has come the time when I must put my prices up on all the holistic treatments I offer. The new prices come in to effect from 1st March 2010—if you have already booked an appointment in March (before receiving this notification of price increases), I will honour the old price for that appointment. Block booking prices will also be changing. If you have any questions about the new prices, please contact me on enquiries@balanceholistics.co.uk. Further information can be found on the Balance Holistics website.

The new prices are as follows:

Swedish Back Massage -- £25
Swedish Full Body Massage -- £35
Aromatherapy Back Massage -- £30
Aromatherapy Full Body Massage -- £40
Aromatherapy Full Body Massage inc. Face & Scalp -- £45
Hot Stone Back Massage -- £35
Hot Stone Full Body Massage -- £45
Hot Stone Full Body Massage inc. Face & Scalp -- £50
Reflexology (30 min) -- £25
Reflexology (1 hour) -- £35
Indian Head Massage (30 min) -- £20
Indian Head Massage (1 hour) -- £30
Reiki (30 min) -- £20
Reiki (1 hour) -- £30
Hopi Ear Candling -- £30
Holistic Facial -- £35
Thai Foot Massage -- £35
Feet First -- £35
Mix ‘n’ Match -- £35

Holistic Therapy Taster Sessions

As of Thursday 5th March, Balance Holistics will be working from The Chiron Centre in Westbury-on-Trym in addition to The Healing Rooms. It is a lovely clinic with excellent facilities. There is ample on-street parking nearby with no parking restrictions and it is served regularly by buses from the city centre.

Upon arrival at The Chiron Centre, you will be greeted by a receptionist who will show you to the waiting area where you can help yourself to fresh filtered water and fruit. While you are waiting for your appointment, you can sit and relax on the comfy sofas and flick through any number of the books and magazines on offer, look out on the wonderful garden, or simply sit and listen to the relaxing music being played. There is also the added benefit of being able to pay for your treatment with your credit or debit card.

If you would like to come and check out the Chiron Centre and experience a treatment there, please give me a call on 07851 307 062. Understandably, the prices will be slightly higher at the Chiron Centre but I’m sure you will agree that it’s worth it when you see the facilities and feel how inviting and peaceful it is. Please check the Balance Holistics website for prices.

As a special introductory offer, I will be offering 30 minute taster sessions for £10 at The Chiron Centre on Thursday 4th March. Appointments are available between 1.30 and 5.30pm. Treatments on offer that day include Aromatherapy or Swedish Back Massage, Foot Massage, Reflexology, Indian Head Massage, Reiki, and Aromatherapy Face Massage. Booking is essential. Please contact me for more details and to book your appointment.

Run Down of 2009

2009 was a year of training and professional development what with me attending so many courses.

To kick start the year, I went on a Thai Foot Massage course in February over in Newport which was run by TEACH Therapy. The snow that month caused quite a bit of disruption (just as it has recently) with me getting to The Healing Rooms and to clients houses so I had to rearrange several appointments.

In March, I attended a course in Holistic Aromatherapy Facials with the same trainers as the Thai Foot Massage course and shortly after, in April, I started offering this treatment to clients. I also created and started offering the Feet First holistic foot care treatment which is fast becoming a popular treatment.

At the beginning of April, I took a week off from giving massages to go on a week-long Karate training course in Paignton. It was very intensive and I could hardly walk by the end of the week but I enjoyed it very much and hope to attend it again this year. Not long back to work, I provided various holistic treatments at several hen parties across Bristol. I also started working in several residential homes offering therapeutic aromatherapy massage to people with learning disabilities which I have found very rewarding. Another month and another course – I attended a course which looked at essential oils for pregnancy & childbirth.

In May I was asked to provide 15 minute free taster sessions in Indian Head Massage at The University of Bristol’s Staff Positive Working Environment Day. I had an amazing response with over 150 emails requesting a taster session. I ended up doing two days of taster session to try and accommodate as many people as I could. It was a great couple days and everyone found it very beneficial and many of the clients who had tasters have continued to have regular holistic treatments.

In June, I attended part 2 of the advanced massage course that I had started in 2008. The summer holidays were quite quiet with people off on their vacations so it gave me the opportunity to train a little more in Karate and I obtained 5th kyu (purple belt).

In September, I spent a week in London. I attended a course on cosmetic legislation, selling legislation and setting up business with Plush Folly in Hampton. I then went on a 3-day course in Fulham with Aromantic on making natural skin care products (Beginners through to Advanced). Since then, I have been designing and making my own skincare products and building a new website to sell them on. I am currently having the first range of products safety assessed with a cosmetic toxicologist to ensure they are safe to use on the skin. Once the assessments come back, I will start selling them on the Balance Holistics website and on the new Naturalistics website. All products are free from parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate, and other nasty chemicals. They are 100% vegetarian and most of them are vegan. They are not tested on animals. I am very excited about my range of products which include bath melts, massage bars, face creams, foot creams, balms, and ointments to name a few.

In September, I also signed up to Twitter - you can follow Balance Holistics at http://twitter.com/balanceholistic.

Despite the recession, Balance Holistics was very busy for the first half of 2009 although it did take a slight dip during the summer when people were off on their holidays and then picked up again just before Christmas with everyone buying gift vouchers as presents.

This year, I have tried a wide range of different holistic therapies to further my knowledge including acupuncture, sports massage, osteopathy, trigger point therapy, and bowen technique. I found them all enjoyable and helpful in different ways.

So as 2009 was a year of training, 2010 is a year of expansion. During the first half of the year, I plan to start working within two other complementary therapy centres across Bristol in addition to The Healing Rooms. More details on the locations and clinic times will be posted when the details have been confirmed.

I wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2010.

Balance Holistics Website Update

Over the past several months I have been revamping the Balance Holistics Website. The newly designed website is now available at http://www.balanceholistics.co.uk. Much of the information is the same – there are some changes to text such as the explanations of the various holistic therapies I offer and the terms and conditions.

I have added a new page for this blog and will show the last few posts on there too.

I have kept the layout simple to make navigating the site easy.

I hope you enjoy reading the site. If you have any feedback about the new site, please leave a comment on this post.

Price Changes

As of 1st January 2010, there will be a £5 price increase for all Hot Stone Massages.

New prices:
Back, Face & Scalp - £35
Full Body - £45
Full Body inc. Face & Scalp - £50

Also, there will be a £5 charge applied for all home visits to cover travelling time and petrol costs.

For more information on prices and treatments, check out the Balance Holistics website.

2009 in Books

As mentioned last year when I wrote the 2008 in books post, I regularly read books, magazines, journals and websites related to Holistic Therapies, general health, and wellbeing. This helps to enhance my skills and knowledge in the therapies I practice, broadens my knowledge of holistic therapies as a whole, and keeps me in touch with current practices.

Below is a list of books that I read and found helpful in 2009.
•The Edgar Cayce Remedies by William A. McGarey, M.D
•Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology (Fourth Edition) by Ruth Werner
•Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals by Robert Tisserand & Tony Balacs
•Molecules of Emotion: Why You Feel the Way You Feel by Candace Pert, M.D
•Complete Reflexology: Therapeutic Foot Massage for Health and Wellbeing by Inge Dougans
•Jude's Herbal Home Remedies by Jude C. Todd
•You Are What You Eat by Dr Gillian McKeith
•The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy by Salvatore Battaglia
•The Rough Guide to Blogging by Jonathon Yang
•Living in the Light: A Guide to Personal & Planetary Evolution: A Guide to Personal and Planetary Transformation by Shakti Gawain
•Living Well with Pain and Illness: The Mindful Way to Free Yourself from Suffering by Vidyamala Burch
•Healing with Herbs: Simple Remedies for 100 Common Ailments by Penelope Ody
•Reflexology and Acupressure: Pressure Points for Healing (Hamlyn Health & Well Being) by Janet Wright
•Hand and Foot Massage: Step-by-Step Feel-Good Techniques by Mary Atkinson
•21st Century Beauty Bible by Sarah Stacey and Josephine Fairley
•Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Survival Manual by Devin J. Starlanyl, Mary Ellen Copeland, and Christopher R. Brown
•Creating an Herbal Bodycare Business (Making a living naturally) by Sandy Maine
•Essential Reiki Teaching Manual: An Instructional Guide for Reiki Healers by Diane Stein
•The Aromantic Guide to Unlocking the Powerful Health and Rejuvenation Benefits of Vegetable Oils: In Skin, Hair and Health Care Products by Kolbjorn Borseth
•The Aromantic Guide to Making Your Own Natural Skin, Hair and Body Care Products by Kolbjorn Borseth

This year, I have held subscriptions with Massage World and FHT's International Therapist magazines as well as the The International Journal of Aromatherapy.

On a personal level, I have read various books on karate and on growing your own vegetables.