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.

Give the Gift of Relaxation this Christmas

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

Balance Holistics gift vouchers are the perfect gift!

Why not treat someone to a Balance Holistic treatment in Bristol this Christmas – such as a relaxing Aromatherapy Massage, a luxurious Holistic Facial, some Reflexology, or an Indian Head Massage?

Gift Vouchers can be purchased for a complete treatment or in £5 increments. Gift vouchers come with a blank gift card and envelope so that you can write your own message inside.

All holistic therapy gift vouchers can be used at The Healing Rooms in Bristol or in the comfort of your own home in Bristol or the surrounding areas.

Buy your Christmas massage gift voucher online today.

Questions & Answers: Essential Oils for Menopause

“What essential oils are good for the menopause?”

Clary sage, rose, sage (Spanish), and fennel are all very good essential oils for menopausal symptoms. Roman chamomile, lemongrass, peppermint, cypress, lemon and vetiver are excellent for hot flushes.

Making a spritz spray with a few of these oils can be very effective at helping hot flushes.

To make a instant relief cooling spray, mix 100ml of distilled water (or spring water) with 20ml of vodka or witch hazel and add your chosen essential oils. I would suggest adding 8-10 drops of essential oils in total. I would be inclined to use peppermint, roman chamomile, and cypress.

Pour in to a spray bottle, place the lid on, and shake well. Always shake well before use. This can be stored in the fridge to increase the cooling affect. When using sprays on the face, avoid contact with the eyes.

View the video below for an alternative recipe for a cooling spray. It uses lavender and peppermint essential oils along with rose water.



As always, make sure you perform a patch test before using the product on a larger area of skin.

For more information on how to use the essential oils listed above for menopausal symptoms, check out 15 ways to use Essential Oils – you could add the oils to your bath, an oil burner, or a cream.

Question & Answer: Preparation for Birth Wounds

I am expecting my first child in a couple weeks and would like to make a preparation to use on any birth wounds that I might get. Could you recommend anything?”

I would recommend mixing some aloe vera gel with lavender and tea tree essential oils which can be used on birth wounds of any kind including caesarean scars and stitches. Keep the gel in the fridge and apply 3/4 times a day. It will help speed up healing, reduce pain and inflammation, and help prevent infection. According to the Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants by Andrew Chevallier, extensive research has been carried out since the 1930s showing

“that the clear gel has a dramatic ability to heal wounds, ulcers and burns, putting a protective coat on the affected area and speeding up the rate of healing. This action is in part due to the presence of aloectin B, which stimulates the immune system.”

A spray can also be made using the essential oils mentioned above along with witch hazel.

“Witch hazel contains large quantities of tannins. These have a drying, astringent effect, causing the tightening up of proteins in the skin and across the surface of abrasions. This creates a protective covering that increases resistance to inflammation and promotes healing of broken skin.”

You could also place a small amount of either of these blends on a sanitary pad to wear if you would prefer that to applying them direct.