Karen Thomas - the bespoke therapist

28/09/2025

🌿A Clear Path to Feeling Better: Why Visit Me for Stress Relief🍁

Stress lives in your body, but relief is within reach. When you combine skilled massage with targeted acupuncture, you can experience easier movement, calmer nerves, better sleep, and a brighter outlook—starting with your first visit.

Over the past days, we’ve talked about how stress shows up in muscle tension, movement, sleep, and recovery. The truth is, you don’t have to live with that daily tightness or fatigue. A focused session that blends massage and acupuncture can help unwind the physical hold stress has on you, restore your range of motion, and quiet the nervous system so you feel more like yourself again.

What you can expect from a visit:
🌟Immediate relief: reduced muscle tension and a sense of lightness after the session
🌟Calmer nervous system: fewer “alarm” sensations and easier wind-down at night
🌟Better movement: smoother range of motion and less stiffness after workouts
🌟Sleep support: easier to fall asleep and stay asleep in the nights following treatment

Why now:
🌻You’ve noticed signs of stress impacting daily life and performance.
🌻You’re ready for a practical, compassionate approach that works with your body’s natural healing processes.
🌻A single session can set you on a gentler path toward feeling more rested, resilient, and in control.

27/09/2025

🌟The Gentle Power of Combined Treatments🌟

Massage and acupuncture aren’t just treatments—they’re a bridge from tension to ease, helping circulation, sleep, and healing.

Think of stress relief as a bridge between mind and body. A tailored massage releases stubborn knots and improves circulation. Acupuncture helps rebalance energy and calm the nervous system. Together, they can reduce pain, improve sleep, and restore your body’s natural rhythm.

What you may feel:
🙏Post-treatment lightness
🫁Clearer breathing
💤Better sleep quality
🪢Reduced muscle soreness after workouts

26/09/2025

🎾How Stress Shows Up in Movement and Performance⛳️

For athletes and active people, stress can quietly undermine performance. Tighter muscles, slower warm-ups, and lingering fatigue after training are common clues something isn’t right.

Stress can reduce mobility and blunt your warm-up, showing up as:
🔥Tighter hips limiting stride
🔥Shoulders balking at overhead moves
🔥A nagging lower back after runs

Your body is sending a message: something’s off, and it’s worth listening to. Acupuncture and targeted massage can release trigger points, improve fascia glide, and restore smooth flow.

Have you noticed which movements feel “off” after a stressful week?

Book a session to tune your movement patterns with a combined massage + acupuncture approach for smoother, more efficient movement.

https://karenthomas1.as.me

25/09/2025

🛎How Stress Affects the Body’s Systems🛎

Stress doesn’t just feel overwhelming—it changes how your body works. Your nervous system can stay switched to “fight-or-flight,” affecting energy, digestion, and recovery.

When stress stays high, your nervous system can stay in a heightened state. Common effects include tightness around the shoulders, a racing heart, and digestive issues after meals. Chronic tension reduces range of motion and slows recovery after training.

🌟What to look for:
*Tight shoulders/neck during or after workouts
*Digestive upset or irregular eating after busy weeks
*Difficulty winding down and sleeping

🔥How I help:
Massage relaxes fascia, reduces muscle guarding, and improves circulation. Acupuncture helps calm the nervous system, balancing energy flow and supporting recovery.

24/09/2025

🔥The Real Impact of Stress on Daily Life🔥

Stress isn’t just a feeling—it's a signal your body sends through tight muscles, restless sleep, and everyday fatigue. When life moves fast, small tensions can pile up in your neck, shoulders, and back, making simple tasks feel harder.

When you’re stressed, your body often holds on to it in quiet places: 🌟jaw clenching
🌟lower back tightness
🌟or that “stuck” feeling in the shoulders

You might notice headaches, tight hips, or waking up tired even after a full night’s sleep. For active people, stress can steal your focus and impact recovery between workouts.

What to look for in yourself:
*Persistent neck/shoulder tension
*Sleep disruption or restless nights
*Fatigue that lingers after your workouts

If you’re noticing these signs, I can help you unwind both physically and energetically. I combine targeted massage with acupuncture to release tension, improve circulation, and calm your nervous system.

03/08/2025

Thank you to those of you who have already taken up the offer 🌟

🌟Please share with your Facebook friends 🌟

🎉 Exciting News & Special August Offer! 🎉

To celebrate my move to a brand new venue, I’m offering exclusive discounts throughout August!

✨ 1 Hour Treatment (including Initial Consultation for newbies) for ONLY £60 (Save £8 — usually £68)
✨ 2 x 1 Hour Treatments for ONLY £110 (@£55 each, save £26 — usually £136) *must be used by the same person*

With the summer holidays in full swing, it’s the perfect time to prioritise some well-deserved self-care and relaxation. Whether you're looking to unwind after busy days or support your body through active summer adventures, I’ve got you covered! This gives you a chance to see how good your body can feel, at a reduced cost, what's not to like?!

🗓️ Offer valid from August 1st to August 31st only!
💌 Message me directly to receive the booking link and secure your spot.

Thank you all for your support — I can’t wait to welcome you to the new space and help you feel your best! 💖

21/07/2025

🌟Please share with your Facebook friends 🌟

🎉 Exciting News & Special August Offer! 🎉

To celebrate my move to a brand new venue, I’m offering exclusive discounts throughout August!

✨ 1 Hour Treatment (including Initial Consultation for newbies) for ONLY £60 (Save £8 — usually £68)
✨ 2 x 1 Hour Treatments for ONLY £110 (@£55 each, save £26 — usually £136) *must be used by the same person*

With the summer holidays in full swing, it’s the perfect time to prioritise some well-deserved self-care and relaxation. Whether you're looking to unwind after busy days or support your body through active summer adventures, I’ve got you covered! This gives you a chance to see how good your body can feel, at a reduced cost, what's not to like?!

🗓️ Offer valid from August 1st to August 31st only!
💌 Message me directly to receive the booking link and secure your spot.

Thank you all for your support — I can’t wait to welcome you to the new space and help you feel your best! 💖

07/07/2025

I'm incredibly grateful to have such lovely clients/friends who make my job so enjoyable ❤️ Thanks for such kind words Karla Knapp

I've been seeing Karen for a number of years now, initially visiting her for pain in my back and hip. I had good intentions of keeping up a maintenance programme of treatments once she had "fixed" me... but life did what life does, and I dropped to sporadic visits when I had a problem. Every time, poor Karen would put my body back together after I'd developed yet another complaint (physical... although she massively helps my mental state too!). I work with horses, a long, hard and physical job and being the wrong side of 40, I was more often than not finding myself in pain... whether that was my back or compensatory pains elsewhere. This year I have been religiously seeing Karen every month (4-5weekly) and the difference in my body is INCREDIBLE. I turn up to appointments now and she asks if I have any current issues... and I say NO!! Obviously her magic fingers still find crunchy knots and tight spots to work through, but I can honestly say that frequent treatments on a regular timescale have been game-changing for me. I wouldn't think twice about the care I put into my horse's welfare, the least I can do for myself is the same.

25/06/2025

Lately, have you noticed how tension doesn’t always show up as pain?

Sometimes it’s waking up tired, even after a full night’s sleep 😴

Or feeling restless in your own skin.

Or finding it hard to fully relax, even when you have the time.

The body holds stress in quiet, subtle ways — until it doesn’t.

This is something I see often, especially in people who are active, over 35, and doing their best to stay healthy and keep moving. They’re not in crisis. They’re just... carrying more than they realise.

Sometimes, what the body really needs isn’t more pushing — it’s a reset.

A way to downshift.
To breathe again.
To feel at home in your body.

That’s the space where real recovery begins 🙌

Haven't been to see me for a while? This is your sign to book in 🌟

22/05/2025

Did you know your nervous system plays a huge role in how you feel every day — physically, mentally, and emotionally? 😀

Your nervous system has two main branches:

🌟 The sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) — which gears you up to respond to stress or danger.

•🌟The parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) — which helps your body recover, heal, and relax.

In today’s busy world, many of us spend too much time stuck in "fight or flight" mode. This can lead to anxiety, chronic pain, digestive issues, poor sleep, and burnout 🤯

That’s where massage and acupuncture come in 🙌

🌟Massage therapy uses physical touch to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Through calming techniques and the release of muscle tension, massage lowers stress hormones like cortisol and boosts "feel-good" neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, helping your body shift into a relaxed, healing state.
🌟Acupuncture works by stimulating specific points along energy pathways to restore balance. Acupuncture influences the nervous system by reducing inflammation, regulating heart rate, and promoting the release of natural painkillers (endorphins). It also helps "reset" your stress response and supports deep relaxation.

When you support your nervous system, you’re not just managing symptoms — you’re helping your entire body heal and function better.

Massage and acupuncture are more than just self-care; they are powerful therapies for nervous system regulation, resilience, and long-term wellness🙏

17/03/2025

Spring into Movement – Keep Your Body Feeling Its Best!

With the weather improving, many of us are getting outside more—whether it's running, cycling, gardening, or simply enjoying long walks. But with increased activity comes the need to care for your body.

Regular sports massage and acupuncture can help keep you moving pain-free, flexible, and strong, so you can enjoy the things you love without stiffness or discomfort slowing you down.

With over 20 years of experience, I’ve seen firsthand how consistent treatments can prevent injuries, improve recovery, and enhance overall well-being. And as an active person myself, I know just how valuable it is to feel mobile, agile, and ready for anything.

Invest in your body now, so you can keep moving with ease all season long.

Book your session today and feel the difference!

Leave a message in the comments and I can send you a booking link 🌟

27/02/2025

Consistency is Key—In Sports AND Self-Care! 🎾💆‍♀️

You wouldn’t expect to master tennis after just one lesson, right? To improve, you train regularly, fine-tune your skills, and build strength over time.

The same goes for your body! Massage and acupuncture aren’t just quick fixes—they’re essential maintenance that keep you moving, feeling great, and performing at your best.

With regular treatments, you can:
✅ Prevent injuries and reduce aches before they start
✅ Improve flexibility, circulation, and recovery time
✅ Reduce stress and tension for better overall well-being
✅ Stay active and agile for the long run

One session is great, but long-term benefits come with consistency—and to help you stay on track, I offer blocks of sessions at a reduced price!

Invest in your body like you would in your sport—because self-care isn’t a luxury, it’s part of the game!
📅 Ready to commit to feeling your best? Message me to book your block of sessions today!