https://gariochmassagetherapy.com/

Garioch Massage Therapy, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire (2026)

08/04/2026

“Do I miss my old life?”

It’s a question I get a lot, and the truth is… yes and no.

I was incredibly lucky to spend the second half of my offshore career in Norway, and there’s so much about that chapter that still sits with me.

I miss the people. The lads I worked with became a second family - the kind of crew who made long trips lighter and tough days easier.

I miss the travel. Norway gave me some of the most breathtaking moments of my life. Thanks to the kindness of a crew mate, I stood on Kjeragbolten - 1,000 metres above the fjord, and hiked to Preikestolen - places I’ll never forget.

I miss the sunrises and sunsets offshore. Some of the best I’ll ever see.

I’m proud of what I got to do out there: operating cranes, driving fast rescue boats, firefighting, and learning skills I never imagined doing when I was younger.

But there’s another side to it too.

I don’t miss the storms or the brutal winters.
I don’t miss flipping from nights to days in 24 hours.
I don’t miss the exhaustion that followed me home.

I definitely don’t miss the sacrifices - the missed Christmases, birthdays, weddings, and moments with my girls that I’ll never get back. I told myself I was providing for them, and I was… but it still came at a cost.

Finally I don’t miss the constant uncertainty about job security and the stress this caused. This was a huge factor in me deciding to retrain in massage therapy.

So do I miss my old life?
In some ways, absolutely.
In others, not at all.

It was a great chapter. But it was just a chapter. Life has moved forward in ways I’m grateful for every day, both in terms of how the business is doing and for being more present in my family’s life.

31/03/2026

🔥 Heat vs Ice 🧊: What Should You Use for Pain, Tension, or Injury?

Choosing between heat and ice shouldn’t feel like guesswork. Here’s a simple, clinically sound guide to help you understand what each does, when to use it, and why it matters.

🔥 HEAT: Best for Stiffness, Tension & Chronic Aches

What heat does

• Increases blood flow
• Relaxes tight muscles
• Reduces joint stiffness
• Helps tissues move more comfortably

Use heat for

• Muscle tension (neck, shoulders, lower back)
• Chronic aches or long‑standing niggles
• Warm‑up before activity
• Stress‑related tightness

Avoid heat when

• The area is swollen, red, or warm
• There’s a new injury (first 48–72 hours)
• You suspect infection

❄️ ICE: Best for Swelling, Sharp Pain & Fresh Injuries

What ice does

• Reduces inflammation
• Numbs pain
• Slows excessive swelling
• Helps calm irritated tissues

Use ice for

• New injuries (sprains, strains, impact injuries)
• Swelling or visible inflammation
• Sharp, acute pain
• Post‑exercise flare‑ups

Avoid ice when

• You’re already stiff or tight
• Before heavy lifting or sport
• If you have circulation issues or nerve sensitivity

Dr. Sanjay Gupta recently explained on the Mel Robbins Podcast why icing an injury in the first 48 hours can actually slow healing. Inflammation is your body’s natural repair system, and ice shuts down the blood flow needed to kickstart recovery. Instead of reaching for the ice pack, focus on compression, elevation, and gentle movement when tolerable - these support healing without interrupting the body’s early repair phase.

🔄 What About Using Both?

Contrast therapy (alternating heat and ice) can help with stubborn, chronic issues where you want to reduce pain and improve mobility.
Think: long‑term tendon irritation, chronic low‑back tightness, or post‑training recovery.

🏋️‍♂️ Remember

Heat and ice are tools - not treatments on their own.
They help manage symptoms, but long‑term recovery comes from:

• Load management
• Strength & conditioning
• Mobility work
• Hands‑on therapy when appropriate

26/03/2026

Why I Won’t See You Immediately After an Injury

When you’ve just hurt yourself, it’s completely natural to want help straight away. But in those first 48 hours, the most important thing your body needs isn’t hands-on treatment - it’s time.

What’s happening in those first 48 hours?

Your body launches an inflammatory response the moment tissue is damaged. This isn’t something to “calm down” or “get rid of.” It’s a controlled, purposeful process that clears debris, increases blood flow, and sets the stage for repair.

Inflammation often gets a bad reputation, but in the early phase of injury it’s essential. Without it, tissue healing is slower, less organised, and more prone to future issues.

Why I don’t treat during this phase

Hands-on work too early can interfere with what your body is trying to do. Pressure, stretching, or deep work on freshly injured tissue can disrupt clotting, increase bleeding, and aggravate swelling. Instead of helping, it risks prolonging recovery.

Giving your body those first 48 hours allows the inflammatory phase to run its course so that when you do come in, treatment is safer, more effective, and better aligned with the natural healing timeline.

What you should do in the meantime.

• Protect the area from further strain
• Use gentle movement within comfort
• Manage swelling with elevation
• Avoid heat, alcohol, or heavy loading early on

These simple steps support the healing process without disrupting it.
(There’s a bit of a debate on applying Ice within the first 48 hours but more on this in my next post)

📅 When to book in

After the initial 48 hours, I can assess the injury properly, guide you through the next stage of healing, and help you move forward with a clear, structured plan. That’s when treatment becomes genuinely beneficial - not before.

25/03/2026

We talk a lot about training… but the real progress?
That happens when you recover.

Your workouts create stress - that’s the point. But your body only gets stronger when you give it the chance to repair, rebuild, and adapt. That’s where the magic actually happens.

When recovery is poor, you feel it: the lingering soreness, the dips in performance, the niggles that don’t shift. It’s not because you’re “not fit enough” - it’s because your body hasn’t had the time or resources to adapt to the work you’re doing.

Good recovery isn’t fancy. It’s the basics done well: solid sleep, decent nutrition, light movement, managing stress, and looking after your tissues so they can keep doing the job.

Massage therapy fits into that system by improving circulation, reducing tension, calming the nervous system, and helping your body switch into that “rest and repair” mode where adaptation actually happens.

If you’re training hard enough to follow a programme, you’re training hard enough to need a recovery plan.

Recover well. Perform better.

22/03/2026

Your support keeps this small business alive.

Liking helps more people find me.
Sharing to your story introduces me to your friends. Tagging connects the right people to the right service. Follow our pages to stay up to date and learn helpful tips. If you’ve had a treatment and noticed a benefit, please recommend me to family and friends.
Honest feedback - especially constructive suggestions - helps me improve what I do.
And when you need care again, choosing my services directly makes a real difference.

Thank you for supporting local small business growth.

19/03/2026

💬 What Is Muscle Tension?

Muscle tension is one of those things everyone feels, but very few people truly understand. It’s more than “tight muscles” - it’s a complex neuromuscular response involving your brain, nervous system, and soft tissues.

Muscle tension is a whole‑body response influenced by stress, movement habits, sleep, and the nervous system.
When tension becomes excessive, it affects performance, comfort, and overall wellbeing.

Massage therapy helps by calming the nervous system, improving tissue health, and restoring natural movement - making it a powerful tool for both short‑term relief and long‑term change.

18/03/2026

☀️ Holiday Dates ☀️

I will be closed on the following dates this year:

• 27 March - 3 April
• 3 -17 July
• 11 - 14 August
• 9 - 16 October

Please factor these dates into your scheduling to avoid disappointment. I will still monitor enquiries during these periods, but responses may be slower than usual. If you need an appointment, please book in advance where possible.

16/03/2026

🌟 Did You Know?

Stretching is one of the simplest ways to reduce muscle tension - and most people underestimate what it actually does inside the body.

🧠 Stretching changes how your nervous system behaves

• Your muscles don’t “lengthen” dramatically - instead, stretching teaches your nervous system to allow more movement.
• When a muscle feels tight, it’s often your brain protecting you, not the muscle being physically short.
• Regular stretching reduces the sensitivity of the stretch reflex, meaning your muscles stop “fighting back” as much.

💪 It improves the muscle’s ability to tolerate load

• Stretching increases tissue tolerance, helping muscles handle day‑to‑day stress without reacting with tension.
• It boosts blood flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients that help muscles recover faster.
• Gentle stretching can reduce resting muscle tone — the low‑level tension your muscles hold even when you’re not moving.

🔄 It helps your fascia glide better

• Fascia (the connective tissue around muscles) can become sticky when you sit for long periods.
• Stretching encourages better slide‑and‑glide between layers, reducing that “stiff” or “stuck” feeling.

🫁 It improves your breathing mechanics

• Tight chest, neck, and abdominal muscles can restrict your breathing.
• Stretching these areas helps your rib cage move more freely, reducing tension in the upper back and shoulders.

🏃‍♂️ Stretching supports injury prevention - but not in the way most people think

• It doesn’t “stop” injuries on its own.
• What it does do is improve joint range, reduce excessive muscle guarding, and help you move more efficiently.
• Better movement patterns = less strain on tissues = fewer overload injuries.

🧩 The real magic? Consistency

• Stretching once gives temporary relief.
• Stretching regularly changes how your body holds tension long‑term.

13/03/2026

💡 Did You Know? - Sports Taping Edition

Sports taping isn’t just for athletes on TV. Whether you’re dealing with pain, recovering from injury, or looking to enhance performance, taping can play a surprisingly powerful role in your rehab.

🎗️ Kinesiology Taping (K‑Tape)

Did you know…

• K‑Tape doesn’t “hold things in place” - its main job is to influence the nervous system, not physically restrict movement.
• It can gently lift the skin, which may help reduce the sensation of pain and improve awareness of how a joint or muscle is moving.
• Research shows it can support swelling management by encouraging fluid movement through the lymphatic system.
• It’s designed to move with you - it stretches up to 140–180% of its length, making it ideal for active rehab.
• K‑Tape can improve proprioception (your body’s sense of position), helping you move with more confidence during recovery.

🩹 Athletic Taping (Rigid Taping)

Did you know…

• Rigid tape is all about stability and control, making it useful for ligament support during high‑demand activities.
• It can temporarily limit excessive movement in joints like the ankle, thumb, or shoulder - especially helpful in early‑stage rehab or return‑to‑sport scenarios.
• Athletic taping can be used to offload irritated tissues, reducing strain on structures like tendons or ligaments.
• It’s often used as a short‑term solution during sport or training, while strengthening and rehab address the root cause.

🏃‍♂️ 🏋️‍♂️ 🚴‍♀️ Which one is right for you?

Both taping styles have their place - the key is choosing the right technique for your injury, your sport, and your goals.
During your session at Garioch Massage Therapy, taping can be integrated into your treatment plan to support movement, reduce pain, and help you get back to doing what you love.

09/03/2026

Why Choose Garioch Massage Therapy?

When you’re dealing with pain, tightness, or an injury that’s holding you back, you deserve treatment that’s grounded in skill, experience, and genuine care. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Garioch Massage Therapy.

🎓 Extensive, High‑Quality Training

Your treatment is backed by over 240 hours of hands‑on training through the Scottish Massage Schools, including:
• Swedish Massage Diploma
• Remedial & Sports Massage Diploma

Alongside this, I’ve completed additional training in:
• Medical Acupuncture
• Sports Taping - both athletic & kinesiology techniques.

This means every session is informed by strong clinical reasoning, evidence‑based practice, and a deep understanding of how the body works.

⏰ Flexible, Accessible Appointment Times

Life is busy - your treatment shouldn’t add stress.
That’s why I offer:
• Early morning appointments from 06:30
• Evening availability
• Online booking that’s quick and simple
• Appointments bookable up to 1 hour before the start time

You get the treatment you need when you need it, without waiting weeks for an appointment.

👋 A Therapist Who Actually Cares

I’m Lee - a Level 4 massage therapist, someone who genuinely loves helping people move & feel better, and getting you back to what you enjoy.
Clients describe me as:
• Professional
• Approachable
• Thorough
• Easy to talk to
• Fully invested in their progress

Every session is tailored & focused to your individual needs.

09/02/2026

✨ Medical Acupuncture: Helping Your Body Move and Feel Better

If you’ve been dealing with ongoing muscle tension, stubborn tight spots, or aches that keep creeping back into daily life, you’re not alone.

Common things people look for help with include:
• Neck or shoulder tightness
• Lower‑back discomfort
• Muscle knots that limit movement
• Headaches linked to tension
• Fatigue or slow recovery after activity

These issues can build gradually - from work, stress, training, or simply how we move day to day.

🧠 What is medical acupuncture?

Medical acupuncture (also known as dry needling) is a modern, evidence‑informed technique used within musculoskeletal therapy.

It works by using very fine needles to:
• Release tight or overactive muscles
• Improve local blood flow
• Reduce pain signals from irritated tissues
• Calm an overprotective nervous system

It’s based on anatomy and physiology - a practical, clinical approach to helping the body reset.

💡 What benefits can it bring?

People often report back:
• Reduced muscle tension
• Easier, more comfortable movement
• Relief from trigger‑point related pain
• Quicker recovery after activity
• Better day‑to‑day function

It’s not a one‑size‑fits‑all fix, but it can be a powerful part of a wider plan to help your body feel and perform at its best.

30/01/2026

🌙 New Evening Appointments Now Available!

Great news for anyone juggling busy days or looking for a little mid‑week reset.

From Wednesday 11th February, I’ll be offering evening appointments every Wednesday , giving you more flexibility to stay on top of your recovery, manage ongoing niggles, or simply unwind after a long day. These will be in addition to the 2 Friday evenings per month that I currently offer.

Whether you need:
• Remedial & Sports or Swedish massage
• Medical acupuncture
• Sports taping
• Or just some well‑earned time to switch off

…you’ll now have more choice to fit treatment around your schedule.

📅 Evening slots are limited, so early booking is recommended.
Looking forward to supporting your recovery.

Garioch Massage Therapy

08/04/2026

31/03/2026

26/03/2026

25/03/2026

22/03/2026

19/03/2026

18/03/2026

16/03/2026

13/03/2026

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

30/01/2026

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