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.

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.

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.

Skills Update – Advanced Massage

Last weekend I attended the second part of an Advanced Massage course run by TEACH Therapy . I completed part one back in September and have been looking forward to going on the second part ever since. The course was great.

The course recapped on deep tissue techniques and also taught me a wider range of articulation techniques for the spinal, pelvic, and peripheral joints. I was introduced to muscle energy techniques and functional techniques which are both commonly used in Osteopathy. I found the strain/counter-strain techniques very beneficial and I will be using these with clients as and when required.

Muscle Energy Techniques (MET) is a system of soft tissue

“manipulation methods that incorporate precisely directed and controlled, patient initiated, isometric and/or isotonic contractions, designed to improve musculoskeletal function and reduce pain”

according to Leon Chaitow et al., authors of Muscle Energy Techniques.

The Functional Technique is a simple and gentle technique. It involves placing, for example the neck, in to a position in which it is most comfortable for the joint and held in place. This helps to rebalance the neural feedback mechanism and helps improve mobility of the joint, and ease pain.

I also learnt how to assess mobility in the sacro-iliac joints and articulation techniques to help improve it. The sacro-iliac joint is situated between the sacrum, at the base of the spine and the pelvis. It is a common site for people to experience pain and stiffness as in sacro-iliac joint dysfunction. This occurs when there is a problem with the normal movement of the joints, for example too much or too little movement. This can cause pain in the lower back, buttocks, and down the legs.

And finally, I learnt how to assess leg-length discrepancies and how to help realign any differences. Research has shown that a leg length-discrepancy can be a significant cause of chronic lower back pain.

Skills update – Essential Oils for Pregnancy and Childbirth

Photo by noblec.

Today I attended a one day workshop on Essential Oils for Pregnancy and Childbirth which was run by TEACH Therapy . The course was run by Julie Duffy who also teaches Clinical Aromatherapy at the University of Wales Institute.

The course covered the different conditions which are common during pregnancy such as indigestion, stretch marks, oedema (fluid retention), back pain etc. and how essential oils can help. It covered essential oils which can be safely used during pregnancy, dilutions and blends, massaging techniques and positions, and essential oils to help during labour.

When I first trained in Aromatherapy, I was taught that there were certain oils which shouldn’t be used on women who are pregnant at any stage, some which could only be used in the second and third trimester, and some which could only be used during labour. On this recent course, I was taught that the majority of essential oils can be used safely at any stage during pregnancy and that there hasn’t been a single case of any harm coming to mother or baby from using essential oils in massage – only when they have been ingested.

I was also originally taught not to give massage to women in the first trimester as this is when miscarriage is most likely. But I have recently learned that this is not the case. There has been no evidence to suggest that neither massage nor essential oils can cause miscarriage.

I thoroughly enjoyed the course. It was very informative and was quite an eye opener for me. Many therapists shy away from treating pregnant women due to the misconception that massage and/or essential oils can harm the baby. But now I am no longer one of them! The training providers (and also many books state this misinformation) are to blame here by not teaching the correct information to their students. Massage is very beneficial to women at all stages of pregnancy and is very soothing to the baby.

On the course, I was also introduced to several new oils which I haven’t smelt or used before which was quite exciting including Myrtle, Plai, and a different variety of Eucalyptus – Eucalyptus Radiata. I’m going to be adding these to my collection soon along with a few others.

Although I have treated many pregnant women with various holistic therapies including Aromatherapy, after this in depth training in essential oils for pregnancy, I feel very confident in massaging and using essential oils on pregnant women.

Skills Update

It has been quite a while since I've written anything on here. I have been very busy seeing clients, going on training courses and moving house.

Two weeks ago, I attended a one day course in Holistic Aromatherapy Facials which built on the knowledge I already have on Aromatherapy and facial massage. The course took place in Newport and was run by TEACH Therapy.

The course covered all aspects of a facial – cleansing, toning, exfoliating, moisturising, face masks, and facial massage. It was a very enjoyable day and I got to have 3 facials in one day! My skin felt great after.

I especially enjoyed learning about and using natural face masks. Some of the ones available to us were avocado, egg white, egg yolk, cucumber, strawberries and oatmeal. They were quite messy to apply but they were very good for the skin. Some of them were quite runny once they had been liquidised especially the cucumber. On the BBC2 Grow Your Own Drugs programme , James Wong showed how to make a natural face mask from papaya and kiwi. He used vegetable gelatine (agar agar) to thicken the mask up to stop it running everywhere and I can see why it’s needed. I’m not sure whether I will use this type of face mask in my facial routine yet (although I do like the oatmeal). I think I might use the natural clays such as fuller’s earth, kaolin, calamine, and magnesium sulphate adding essential oils to them to help with specific skin types and conditions.

I am hoping to start offering Holistic Aromatherapy Facials sometime in April. I will keep you posted.

Massage and Pathology

Photo by melodi2.

I have always had a keen interest in how the body works. When I was younger, I was a member of St Johns Ambulance Brigade. Even as an Assistant Scout leader, I regularly attended First Aid courses. Unfortunately, I have let the training slip in recent years but it is something I would like to take up again. You never know when it might come in handy!

Before training to be a Holistic Therapist, I worked as an auxiliary nurse on a Respiratory and Palliative Care ward at Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham. Working at the hospital fuelled my interest in the human body and I enjoyed learning about different conditions, symptoms, treatments, medication and the like. After leaving work at the hospital, I returned to college to study towards a Diploma in Anatomy & Physiology. And this was where my path to all things holistic started.

As a Holistic Therapist, I come in to contact with clients on a daily basis that have a wide variety of ailments - some minor and some more severe. Quite a number of these clients take prescription medication and/or supplements for their ailments. I feel it is important for me to know as much as I can about different ailments, their symptoms, how they affect my client (both physically and emotionally), and how they are treated, as it helps me to understand my client fully; allows me to tailor my treatments to their specific needs; and enables me to advise on ways in which they can help alleviate the symptoms if possible.

So to continue on my knowledge quest, I recently purchased a book called Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology by Ruth Werner. It was quite an expensive book but it was well worth the money. With 740 pages and a resource CD-ROM, there is heaps for me to read and learn about the body.

So what is Pathology? According to Dictionary.com, Pathology is the science or the study of the origin, nature, and course of diseases.

The book provides detailed information on more than 200 different diseases. By becoming familiar with the signs and symptoms of theses diseases, it will enable me to recognise conditions for which massage is appropriate; where massage must be used with caution or modifications; for which massage is contra-indicated generally or locally; and for which massage is inappropriate. Please note, this does not mean that I can or will diagnose a condition – it just means that I can offer and/or advise on the correct holistic and/or conventional treatment for that condition. It also helps me to know when to refer a client on to another professional, for example a chiropractor, a doctor, or a counsellor.

So far I have only flicked through the book but it looks great. Lots of detailed, colour photographs of skin conditions and it mentions which holistic treatments are suitable for each ailment and whether any modifications are required.

I hope to write about some of the ailments and how massage and other holistic therapies can help here on this blog. I’m very interested in learning about Osteoporosis as I have recently taken on several clients with this disease. Although it will not help strengthen or bring back the density of the bones, massage can help to relax the muscles around the bones and bring some pain relief to the client.

Skills Update

On Sunday, I attended a Thai Foot Massage course with TEACH Therapy. The course was aimed at qualified therapists and was taught by Judith Ryder.

The course covered the benefits of Thai foot massage, contra-indications to massage, how to carry out a full treatment using the Thai foot stick, reflex points of the feet, and Sen lines.

I enjoyed the course very much and I can’t wait to start offering this new treatment to my clients. I am enthusiastically practicing the therapy on all my friends and family to get some more experience at it (which they are loving I might add!) before offering it to clients. I am planning a day of taster sessions to coincide with Thai New Year (Songkran) in April so that people can try out the treatment.

I have visited Thailand twice now and on both occasions received many Thai foot massages. I loved the massages so much which is why I decided to train in this delightful therapy myself. Although, mostly the same, there are a few differences between the treatments taught and offered in the UK and those performed in Thailand. The massages in Thailand are a lot firmer and work on the whole leg as well as the foot whereas here, the pressure seems a lot lighter and we only treat as far up as the knees. We use a couch or reflexology chair to perform the treatment on but in Thailand all massage is performed on the floor on a thin mat. In Thailand, Coconut oil and Tiger Balm is used to soften the skin and warm the muscles but here aromatherapy creams are used. I hope to incorporate some of the Thai ways in my treatments.

More details about the taster sessions and when Thai Foot Massage will be available will be posted here and on the Balance Holistics website nearer the time.

2008 in Books

As mentioned in a previous 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 2008.

• The Endometriosis Natural Treatment Program: A Complete Self-help Plan for Inproving Your Health and Well-being by Valeria Ann Worwood & Julia Stonehouse
• Counselling Skills for Complementary Therapists by Rosie March-Smith
• The Healing Crisis by Bruce Fife, N.D
• You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay
• Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing by Caroline Myss, PhD
• Deep Tissue Massage: A Visual Guide to Techniques by Art Riggs
• The Art of Wiccan Healing by Sally Morningstar
• Facials & Skincare in Essence by Helen McGuinness
• Sport & Remedial Massage Therapy by Mel Cash
• Reiki Questions and Answers: 200 Questions and Answers for Beginners (Reiki Guide) by Lawrence Ellyard
• Creative Journal: The Art of Finding Yourself by Lucia Capacchione, PhD

I did buy several other books but I haven’t got round to reading them yet.

I found all of these very helpful and have incorporated many techniques and ideas I learnt from the books in to my treatments and consultation process.

I like to read books on common conditions such as the Endometriosis book listed above so that I can fully understand these conditions which clients may come to see me for and be able to advise on various remedies, for example, an aromatherapy massage oil to relieve abdominal pain.

I also subscribe to an international trade journal called Today's Therapist and the FHT's magazine International Therapist. Both journals come out every two months and contain heaps of articles on different therapies, massage techniques, oils, and much much more. I find them enjoyable to read and have learnt a lot from them.

I don’t think I have a favourite book from 2008; they were all enjoyable and helpful in different ways. Lets hope the books I read in 2009 are as good as these were.

Run Down of 2008

As 2008 ends and we head in to the new year I thought it would be a fitting time to give a run down of what’s been happening for Balance Holistics during 2008.

In March, I finished my Reiki training. I started on my Reiki path in June 2006 when I reached level 1 (Shoden) with a Reiki Master in Nottingham. After moving to Bristol, I continued my training with Ruth Hartley of ReikiJoy reaching level 2 (Okuden) in February 2007, and then my Master/Teacher level (Shinpiden) early last year. More information about Reiki can be found on the Balance Holistics website.

April saw the launch of Balance Holistics’ new website. Thank you to everyone for their contributions, comments and feedback.

In June, I attended Silverhill School Ladies Pamper and Shopping Evening in Winterbourne where I provided 15-minute taster sessions in Hot Stone Massage and Aromatherapy Massage. It was a very busy and enjoyable evening. I also attended several Pamper Parties around Bristol which were arranged through The Pamper Company. At the end of June, I left my part-time job to focus all my energy and efforts on Balance Holistics.

Balance Holistics blog was launched in July.

In September, I attended a two-day Advanced Massage Techniques course in Newport. I will be attending the follow-up day to this course in June 2009. At the end of September, I travelled to Donnington Park for the annual FHT Holistic Conference. I attended several talks and workshops on various aspects of holistic therapies including The Balance Procedure, How to avoid burnout, and Using music and meditation with Indian Head Massage.

October was a quite month for Balance Holistics as I was away on holiday in Thailand for three weeks.

In early December, I received 7th Kyu in Shotokan Karate. I started training with Bristol Shotokan Karate back in January and have been progressing through the belts. Karate helps to keep me balanced and gives me focus. It complements my healing practice perfectly.

I’d like to say a big thank you to all of my clients for their business in the past year and wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year.

2009 is a year of professional development for me. I have booked on to various training courses to further my skills in existing therapies I practice including Advanced Massage Techniques and Essential Oils for Pregnancy and Childbirth. I will also be training in two completely new therapies – Thai Foot Massage and Holistic Facials.

Skills Update

At the weekend, I attended a two-day course in Advanced Massage Techniques with TEACH (Training & Education in Alternative & Complementary Health) Therapy in Wales. The course was run by Joanne Perkins who is a registered Osteopath.

The course taught me how to assess whether a client has any postural problems such as scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis or pelvic imbalances; how to assess the spine for flexibility, tenderness, and mobility; exercises and stretches to help with postural problems and back pain; deep tissue massage techniques; and articulation techniques.

The course covered various muscular-skeletal conditions such as sciatica, arthritis, frozen shoulder, whiplash, slipped disks, etc and how to treat them with massage techniques, exercises, and stretches.

It was very informative and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can’t wait to go on the follow up course next year.

Information about courses run by TEACH therapy can be found on their website.

Professional Association Membership

After qualifying as a Holistic Therapist, I chose to join a professional therapists association called the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT). It has the largest membership of any therapy organisation in the UK with over 21,000 members.

To ensure high professional standards, the FHT devised a Code of Ethics and Professional Practice. As a member of the FHT, I have agreed to abide by this code as follows:

• Acting in the best interests of my clients and treating them with respect
• Taking responsibility for my own actions
• Respecting other practitioners and health professionals
• Practicing only within the limits of my competence
• Making sure my behaviour does not damage the professions reputation
• Observing confidentiality
• Practicing within the law
• Maintaining high standards of hygiene
• Maintaining and developing my knowledge and skills

The FHT encourages all its Members to continue to improve their skills and grow their knowledge. Each year, I am required to practice Continuing Personal & Professional Development (CPPD) in order for me to stay a member of the association. I regularly attend workshops/seminars, talks, training courses and conferences. I also regularly read books, magazines, journals and websites related to Holistic Therapies, general health, and wellbeing. All these activities help 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.

Although not part of the CPPD program, I regularly receive massages. I feel that this is an important part of being a therapist as it allows me to experience what it is like to be a client, to see how other therapists work, and it also looks after my own wellbeing.

By choosing a therapist who is a member of a professional association such as the FHT, you can be safe in the knowledge that your therapist
• is fully qualified and holds a nationally recognised qualification in the therapies they practice;
• holds a Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance policy;
• abides by a code of ethics ensuring professional practice and conduct; and
• is continuously honing their skills as a therapist.

More information about the Federation of Holistic Therapists can be found on their website.