MA Holistic Therapies

25/04/2025

This is your face after one of my massages!

I have an opening on Wednesday 30th at 4.30pm.

Come and get your ‘massage face’

https://calendly.com/michelleandreou/30min

21/04/2025

Let’s look at the relationship between the skeletal (your bones), muscular (your muscles) and nervous (your brain and nerves) systems.

They work as a unit. Nothing, NOTHING works without an impulse (message) from the nervous system.

⭕️ bones don’t move on their own
⭕️ muscles don’t contract on their own

1. So, an impulse comes down from the brain through nerves which tell the muscles to contract
2. The muscles contract which pulls on the bones and movement is created

So, it all starts as a thought in your brain - aren’t we just amazing!

20/04/2025

PAIN AND MASSAGE

Your muscles, bones and nerves form a perfect unit to facilitate movement (everyday movement, extreme exercise and even posture). (Another post coming!)

What effects one filters down to the others., and we have to bear this in mind when we massage. Pain can result from either of those 3 as well.

As humans we usually tense up when in pain - pain in the tummy (bowels) we hunch over to protect it, right? It is called guarding. Well, a similar guarding effect happens when you have a muscle injury - surrounding muscle fibres contract and become tense as a protective measure.

Similarly, a problem with a bone (fracture and even arthritis) will result in muscles surrounding the bone tensing up to protect. And, likewise an impinged nerve will cause tension in the muscles surrounding it.

So, when working to ease tension we need to go just deep enough to release but not too deep to cause even more injury and intense pain. What I like to call ‘good pain’ - the pain that feels manageable as you know a release will follow. Client’s often say ‘I know it needs doing’ or ‘it hurts good’. Like scratching an itch really.

Too deep pressure will cause intense pain and, you guessed it, guarding so the muscles will tense and not release. A never-ending circle.

I sometimes leave an area to ‘reset’ before coming back to it again, or use multiple directions of pressure to get release - side-lying and even on a chair if needed.

What pain do you have, and what remedies do you use to become pain-free?

19/04/2025

PAIN

What I know about pain:-

⭕️ it’s relative - what is a 2/10 for one person is an 8/10 for another

⭕️ it can be acute or chronic -

if you have an acute soft tissue injury you need to leave at least 3 days for the inflammatory process to get underway before you have any massage

Chronic pain can be something like ageing process, someone with a ‘weak’ or ‘bad’ back, arthritis pain etc and sometimes chronic pain can have a flare up and become acute

⭕️ emotional pain can manifest as physical pain

⭕️ where the pain is sometimes is not where the problem is

⭕️ a spate of headaches may arise from a tight neck

⭕️ your occupation has a lot to do with any pain you experience - RSI, bad posture, stress etc

⭕️ heat/cold can benefit acute and chronic conditions - although through experience I’ve found anything nerve related doesn’t go well with cold. Generally, we say pain=cold and tightness=heat but, if one isn’t helping try the other

⭕️ it’s always best to try to keep mobile, within a pain-free range, to stop getting ‘stuck’

⭕️ movement creates synovial fluid which is your body’s oil to lubricate creaky joints

⭕️ everything, EVERYTHING is generally better after a massage or a biscuit

17/04/2025

I have lots of stories about being a therapist but one that always sticks in my mind is:-

Upon turning a client over from prone (on your front) to supine (laying on your spine) and working up the body, the pecs and then neck are last.

I often close my eyes when working so I can feel more (!) and the left pec was noticeably harder/tighter then the right.

Speaking to the client about it and he says……

‘I think you’re massaging my pacemaker!’ Well I never 😂

Did I say NO-ONE has died on my table? Just to put your mind at rest!

https://calendly.com/michelleandreou/30min

£40 investment gets you
60 minutes of ME and my magic hands!

15/04/2025

Sshhh it’s a secret!

I’m a sports massage therapist (level 4) but it’s not something I shout about! Mainly because clients say:-

‘I’ve had a sports massage before and OMG it was soooo painful’ (or words to a similar effect)

So, let’s keep it a secret between you and me!

But, what that extra education taught me (amongst other things) is to:-

⭕️ really feel the tissue
⭕️ know the anatomy of the body to understand what you’re feeling
⭕️ know how to address dysfunctional tissue, aka why you’re in pain

So, my massage style is

❤️ deep but soothing
❤️ knowledgeable
❤️ ‘just right’ pressure

In fact a Goldilocks massage!

Using normal Swedish massage moves, deep tissue work and advanced sports massage techniques I bespoke treatments to what your body needs.

it’ll probably be the best massage you’ll ever have.

Sshh let’s keep my secret - I can trust you, right?

14/04/2025

Here is my new booking link

Appointments Wednesday and Saturday 3.15pm and 4.30pm (after my teaching)

Treatments:-

Massage - probably the best massage you’ll have! Using my expert hands, forearms and elbows you will feel like a new person! From the lightness of lymphatic drainage to the depth of sports/deep tissue I’ve got you covered. (Pregnancy, Cancer and coming soon Menopause too)

Reflexology - total bliss and a full body treatment through the feet.

Mian DUI- a facial like no other

Whichever treatment you choose know that you’re in expert hands.

If you’ve got a body you need to prioritise it!

A monthly MOT is just the ticket!

An hour of pure relaxation with eitherMASSAGEREFLEXOLOGYMIAN DUI

14/04/2025

This is my new booking app.

Appointments Wednesday and Saturday 3.15pm and 4.30pm (after my teaching).

Treatments are bespoke to you - whatever your body needs I’ve generally got a ‘thing’ for that!

Massage - probably the best massage you’ll have! I ease all the tension away using my expert hands, forearms, elbows. It’s a body MOT and, if you have a body, it’s a monthly non-negotiable!

Reflexology - total bliss, treating all body systems in one treatment.

Mian Dui - a facial like no other!

You’ve got one body - Look after where you live!

See you soon!

An hour of pure relaxation with eitherMASSAGEREFLEXOLOGYMIAN DUI

09/04/2025

THE NECK

Are you:-

⭕️ always on tech? (You’re constantly looking down)

⭕️ watch a tv that’s above eye level? (You’re constantly looking up)

⭕️ always on a screen? (You’ve probably got a ‘forward head’ posture)

Your poor neck muscles are (quite) short but undertake lots of differing movements and also hold up a head (which weighs at least 10lbs).

Lots of therapists seem frightened of working the neck deeply, mobilising the cervical vertebrae and releasing tension in those poor, overworked muscles.

But not me! However hard I pull (!) I can truthfully say no-one’s head has ever become detached! 😂 Phew!

Tight, shortened neck muscles can result in headaches, the shoulders may then hunch in compensation and then it’s all downhill from there!

Rather like the feet can impact the hips, knees and lower back so the neck can impact the upper body.

Get those ‘muscle niggles’ sorted before they impact your wellbeing.

Get a regular monthly ‘rub down with oil’ and your body will thank you!

Here’s my booking link

https://calendly.com/michelleandreou/30min

Just £40 for 60 mins - get in!

09/04/2025

Always looking after others?

We can’t pour from an empty vessel so, give yourself the same love as everyone else and look after your own wellbeing.

A treatment (whether Reflexology, Massage or Mian Dui) is the best hour of your day - it’s time just for you and you will leave feeling lighter and refreshed.

Here’s the link to my new booking app

https://calendly.com/michelleandreou/30min

It’s still only £40 for 60 mins!

29/03/2025

Spring seems to be finally here.

Are you thinking about Spring cleaning your house?

What about giving your body a Spring clean too?

My SIGNATURE LYMPHATIC MASSAGE will do just that.

Drain the stagnant lymphatic fluid and boost your whole immunity.

(Your lymphatic system is responsible for how your body deals with any aggressor)

Strong immunity = Strong You

07757 303775

29/03/2025

MY SIGNATURE ‘KNOTTY’
MASSAGE

If you come to me for a general massage this is what you get.

My hands are trained and very skilful in detecting where I need to work. I detect heat (inflammation), tension, contracted tissue, stiffness, damaged fibres and unhappy muscles!

I then use advanced techniques and stretching to realign fibres, return muscles to their original length and create happy muscles. And happy muscles = a happy you!

I’m not really one for Relaxation Massage! Why pay only to come out with the same aches and pains? What’s more relaxing than feeling lighter, pain-free and rejuvenated? But, I’d gladly take your money to stroke you (but I may sneak in some deeper tissue work whilst you’re not looking!)

Maintain the place where you live - book a BODY MOT

07757 303775