Makepeace & Massage - Oxfordshire

22/06/2025

Happy Solstice

I’ve been off grid a lot lately hanging out in nature with the pup.

As I set off for a mindfulness teacher training tomorrow…

I just wanted to reflect that…

Sometimes the best things are free

♥️ Space

♥️ Time

♥️ Nature

♥️ Mindfulness & Meditation.

This summer so far has been about going back under the hood and doing some deep personal healing.

So far these words have just kept coming back to me.

“The purpose of a flower is to be a flower”

Truly the only job I think we have in this one life is to be truly ourselves.

“Be beautiful, be yourself” Thich Nhat Hanh

I know these words can be hard to hear and harder to feel and be.

But don’t you deserve that?
Much love

04/06/2025

We are taught that healing is something that happens to us.

A prescription
A plan
A procedure

But the healing process actually begins with you.

In my latest blog, I explore how tracking your body’s messages, like a detective, not a judge, can rebuild trust, reduce pain, and offer insight no one else can give you.

It’s called…’Be your own pain doctor to heal your body.’

Because I believe and research shows that the best results and outcomes come when you’re empowered

Plus it feels bloody good too to know you have the knowledge.

So join me today…

Taking 5 minutes out

And discover what’s happened.

How an injury goes from just something that happened to you - to culminate in chronic daily pain.

Most of all learn how to become your own kind and compassionate detective and find the tools and knowledge to move forwards today.

Let’s build this first step towards re-establishing a healthy, respectful relationship with your body as you heal.

5 minutes that you deserve.
Put the kettle on.
Change starts here.

https://www.makepeaceandmassage.com/post/be-your-own-pain-doctor-to-heal-your-body

28/05/2025

Have you ever found yourself whispering (or screaming) those words. Me too.

Healing can be very frustrating but regardless of how much you want to, you can’t micromanage your body back to balance.

Believe me, I’ve tried.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had to confront all the uncomfortable feelings that come with being forced to slow down due to an old head injury.

Guilt
Doubt
Impatience
Failure

Fear that I’ll fall behind.

But beneath all that noise, something else has emerged - a softer power and an even deeper respect for the inner wisdom of my body.

I know my body isn’t broken nor is it failing, it’s doing exactly what it’s designed to do.

But the ‘problem’ is it doesn’t run on deadlines, it doesn’t care about my calendar, goals, or my old pace.

It needs what it needs.

Yours is exactly the same.

The more you try to override what your body needs with pressure, productivity hacks, or internal lectures, the longer it will take.

If you're in a season of healing, this is your permission to step back and allow healing.

You don’t have to rush.

You’re not lazy.

Slowing down is moving forward

Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean it’s the right time to do it.

Do you resonate? Let me know in the comments. Most of all, You're NOT alone.

Want to read more about the process.
https://www.makepeaceandmassage.com/post/healingtakestime-dontmicromanagebody

26/05/2025

In our fast-paced productive world, we can so often fall into the trap of micromanaging every aspect of our lives, including health and healing.

However, true recovery requires us to let go of control and trust in our body's innate wisdom.

My new blog post is called 'Why you can't micromanage your body’

It's an exploration of the lessons I'm learning about patience, self-compassion, and the importance of allowing ourselves the space to heal without judgment.

My clinic might be closed but my inbox is always open.

Feel free to message me to share your own feelings and experiences that come up after reading this blog.
Remember, I’m still here.

Over the years, I have been working on recovering from head injury. What I've found works and what truly doesn't.

25/01/2025

Trauma is the body’s reaction. (Yes you read that right)

Holding trauma in your nervous system is like holding a pattern that’s affecting every action you take, the colour of your thoughts and emotions…

Until your past starts robbing your future.

It doesn’t have to be this way - at all.

One massive thing to know is that it is your body’s response.

Trauma is held in the body.

You can heal it by a “top down approach” with talking therapies - sure.

But you can also heal it by reteaching your body from a “bottom-up approach”, in putting new patterns of safety and compassion.

Both are very effective and most people need a mixture.

But if you’ve struggled to release trauma from talking - maybe like me - it’s something that came in non-verbally.

Then the body is the way to go.

For some it might be the only way to access it.

For others it might be their preferred route.

For anyone looking to release chronic tension and pain in their nervous system, who feels constantly wired, anxious, has trouble sleeping and feels constantly exhausted and even maybe a little manic all at once…

Well for those people the process in the treatment room with manual therapies - is all about holding space.

The space offers you a safe container to be however you need to be.

To slowly start letting go of all that’s been held.

It’s a beautiful process and the transformations I get to witness are life changing.

Thank you to all my clients who allow themselves the permission just to be for an hour or 90 minutes at a time.

In a fast paced world it’s a beautiful thing.

If you want to understand this world of chronic pain and tension, and you’ve tried a lot of other things, you might find here a missing piece of the puzzle.

My page will never be about judgment.

It’s an offer to explore freely and build self-love and deep inner acceptance.

If that sounds like what you’re looking for -hit follow

Here’s a big welcome.

Much love. ♥️

21/01/2025

Sometimes moving out of pain feels like you’re still stuck.

You can’t see the wood from the trees and it feels like you’re going around in circles.

The truth is every time you go round the circle you’re learning, you’re upskilling, you’re understanding.

It might look like the same view but your internal world

Your capacity, your energy, your awareness, your self-love…

Your PEACE. Is growing.

And one day you’ll just walk out and realise there is no pull back.

No gravity.

No pain.

And at the same time you have changed.

You’re freer.

If you want help moving out of pain click follow and I’ll show you a way that’s sustainable and changes your mindset across the board. 🧘🏻‍♀️

08/11/2024

Living with chronic pain can feel so overwhelming.

Somedays you’ll feel like giving up.

Somedays you’ll just want to throw in the towel.

Somedays will feel like you’ve put so much effort into change and it’s not happening quickly enough, that the journey keeps stretching out -what feels like endlessly.

Don’t give up.

Peace is there…
…underneath the next step
…behind the next breath

Just waiting to be found.

Waiting for the conditions to awaken again.

Underneath it all, peace remains waiting to be found.

Trust yourself, you’re on the right path.

04/11/2024

What’s does it take to transform pain?

Recently I asked myself - 
What was the point of change in my own journey with a head injury?

I realized it was whilst I was away on a week long walking holiday, the summer after my head injury (9-10 months later).

I woke up 4 days in a row and struggled to move. 
I couldn’t think straight. 
I hadn’t slept. 
I had constant 9/10 migraines for days. 
I remember forcing myself to move into a hot shower through will power and thinking...

“Is this it? Is this life?”

I used to love walking, here I was on a walking holiday unable to move.

It was as if the future of this feeling stood out before me.

I had tried to help myself with what I knew but the moment I relaxed on holiday, the reality of the situation came crashing in. 
9-10 months in & nothing had changed.

To me there were two choices, accept that this might never change and do nothing but wait,

Or invite every ounce of help & expertise in. Ask for help 100%

I chose the latter. 
I chose to seek out the knowers.

And if I didn’t meet them straight away, keep seeking until I stood in front of someone who I knew in my insides, had the knowledge and the wisdom to help me.

And when I met that person, I promised to fully immerse myself into the process of healing.

And then repeat this process again & again throughout the journey, practicing what those knowledge leaders taught, until one day I could do it for myself.

Until one day all that practice meant that I could hear the knower deep inside myself.

That was the moment for me, 
Realizing rock bottom,
Realizing that everything I had tried alone hadn’t worked
And seeking help on every side until finally I can sit here and write these words. I believe that under these difficult circumstances, is a path to growth & happiness once more.

I believe that having a person walking alongside you, shining the light along the path, makes all the difference in the world.

I tried to do it alone. It didn’t work. 
It’s not only ok to ask for help, I believe it’s essential.

31/10/2024

Do you live with Chronic Pain?

I get it.
I have lived with Chronic Pain, & sometimes still do.

😶I've sat there thinking "Is this it now?"

Pain has so many beliefs attached to it.

Should we just put up with it?

Many people I meet get to their absolute wits end and from that place, Ask for help.

💡What are your thoughts about living with Pain?

🎤 Do you think it's something we should expect?

🎤 Do you think it's just part of ageing?

🎤 Or do you think it's a sign that as it builds, we've been ignoring our body?

❤️ I believe, that it is possible to live pain free.

Yes, there will be days where stress walks in and shatters my peace - I'm still human.

But learning to move out of pain, in my opinion is a deep learning.

A learning to witness yourself and your inner world with kindness and compassion.

This process if done well, builds empathy and compassion as a practice.

IT teaches us balance.

Most of all it teaches us resiliency and self-care, so that we can show up with more vie in every aspect of our lives.

The culture we live in today seems to devalue the inner work and spending time getting smooth on the inside, but trust me...

❤️You can grow out of pain.

❤️You can grow into Inner Alignment

❤️And you can shine in who you are, and in everything you do.

29/10/2024

Hands up 🙋‍♀️

🙌🏼 Has anyone else had an incredibly long journey with chronic pain, before finding the recipe that works for them?

♥️You’re not alone.
♥️Lots of my clients arrive after the most convoluted journey.
♥️ I get it, It was the same for me.
♥️ It’s totally ok to be feeling frustrated & resigned.
♥️But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Person centred care that’s empathetic & that listens & investigates, still exists.

09/05/2024

One of my biggest beliefs that I see in practice and also read in the literature is that:

Healing occurs when we understand.

In the literature they call this a sense-making journey - literally getting your head around what is going on - on every level.

It ties in to so many different things:
❤️Being Heard & not being Gaslit...
❤️Sitting down & reviewing the whole situation together - taking the time...
❤️Collaborating and working as equals -therapist and client...
❤️Understanding the pathology (the things that aren't quite right)...
❤️Understanding what behaviours and thoughts might be feeding into it...
❤️Forming an adaptable plan together that speaks to the things that would benefit from change...
❤️Making that plan as accessible as possible within the realities of that person's everyday life...
❤️Seeing and hearing a whole person, a whole life, thoughts, beliefs, dreams, joys...

When we understand...
✅We can down regulate those worried anxious worst case scenario thoughts...
✅We can remove the uncertainty that feeds fear...
✅We can take the first step in reducing the pain and strain response...
✅We can start letting go...
✅We can start trusting we're on the right path...
✅We can work together...
✅And if you can't see the mountain top yet, I can hold the space for faith that this stuff really does work...

Treating a nerve entrapment goes far beyond knowing it's pathway:
🍎But it's still a key ingredient for a successful treatment plan
🍎We treat all the structures around that pathway that could compress that nerve
🍎And help a client to understand what's happening physically.

30/04/2024

The answer is Unconditional Support... (in my opinion)

Support that listens & feels the words someone speaks,

Support that acknowledges a body's felt experience,

Support that holds the space for all

I’ve just finished a 6 day intensive course with other therapists all about birth trauma and the reality of how we come into this world, how important our nurturing relationships are from a young age and how important the connection is between mother/care-giver and child.

These topics can be really tough.

Birth and pregnancy can be one of the most amazing experiences of all.

But they can also be hugely traumatic in the way we manage and support (or don’t support) someone in, during and after it.

I appreciated the course greatly for the true balance it offered, holding space for all the experiences that are felt.

We talked about how
❤️ The baby starts the birthing process by a release of hormones
❤️ This kick starts a further release of hormones in the Mum that lead to contractions.
❤️ How for someone supporting a mother, getting out of the way and letting the process thrive is so important,
❤️ How important it is to know the danger signs and when intervention is essential for safety.

We talked about miscarriages and the worst moments.

I felt the whole room shudder with the grief of that moment, and witnessed the incredible strength of the mother who told her story.

Most of all it made me reflect on how I can help and what I truly offer.

My offer is to nourish and support someone to help them gain the resources they need and more to heal.

❤️ I think the greatest offer I can give is unconditional, positive support to you, your mind, body, and spirit.

❤️ The body has an amazing ability to heal when the conditions align.

❤️ One of the biggest things I want to offer is support, kindness, compassion, nourishment, empowerment, knowledge and in that melting pot I believe healing can occur.

❤️ Let me know what you think the ingredients for healing really are?

❤️ Is there a magic single answer?

❤️ What do you think?