Makepeace & Massage - Oxfordshire & Reigate

16/01/2026

The magic of hot stone massage….

It just feels right today to lean in to:
✅ Heat
✅ Warmth
✅ Relaxation
✅ Releasing tension
✅ Nervous system release

Hot stones are magical in the way you feel at the end…

But there’s science here too.

Warmth helps the parasympathetic side of the nervous system calm and regulate. Your anti fight or flight hero.

This helps you
Release stress hormones
Release nerve tension and muscle holding
Balance stress and anxiety
Get back into your body and feel grounded

This is the ultimate act of self care.

I don’t know about you but I’m still in my wintry go slow era, listening to my body and not pushing it when it’s still dark and cold is key.

You won’t see me making New Year’s resolutions or even intentions yet.

The times not yet right. I’ll be doing all that in the spring with the Chinese New Year.

Right now you’ll find me being super gentle, respecting a body’s need to rest and reset. To let go of what’s not needed at this quiet point of the year, nourishing and restoring ready to push (or maybe jog) in the Spring.

If this speaks to you and you need more care, more connection and more nourishment in your life…

Book in today at

17/12/2025

Hit pause with me this lunchtime….

Let’s take a breath together…

Go inwards and rest just for an hour…

Give yourself the gift of stopping for a second to regroup…

Happy Christmas everyone.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81612940470?pwd=7aCVG5Fopma0fsvQaCBEu4Xw2vvlAs.1

16/12/2025

A quiet pause before Christmas.

If you’re feeling full, tired, or in need of stillness before the rush of Christmas begins — this is for you.

Tomorrow, I’m hosting a free 75-minute lunchtime mindfulness session.

There’s no need to be calm or centred to join.
You’re welcome to show up just as you are.
We’ll pause. Breathe. Light a candle.
You can keep your camera off, move if you need to, or just listen in.

It’s not a performance — it’s a soft landing.
And you’re warmly invited.

📅 Wednesday 17th December
🕯️ Free and online
🔗https://courses.makepeaceandmassage.com/lightacandleofmindfulness

15/12/2025

Join me 12pm Wednesday 17th December for a microdose of meditation

And some Calm!

When Eli Susman arrived at a Buddhist retreat, he expected to spend most of his time there in deep meditation. After all, the Plum Village Monastery to the east of Bordeaux, France, had been established by Thich Nhat Hanh, sometimes known as the “father of mindfulness”. With a newcomer’s enthusiasm, he decided to test how long he could spend in silent contemplation, embarking on a mammoth 3-hour session.

Afterwards, he proudly told one of the monks. “It was almost like I expected a shiny badge for my efforts,” recalls Susman. Instead, the monk simply smiled brightly. “Three hours?” he asked Susman. “How about three breaths? That’s all you need to tune in to the present moment.”

Susman’s curiosity was piqued, and during his psychology PhD at the University of California, Berkeley, he set out to investigate whether such a brief period of contemplation could really reset someone’s thinking and bring about a meaningful change in their mental state.

Read more here: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2502370-too-busy-to-meditate-microdosing-mindfulness-has-big-health-benefits/

Image: Randy Faris/Getty Images

15/12/2025

This time of the year can feel like madness…

The rush and the stress…

The pressure to make things perfect…

Our bodies and our minds don’t respond kindly to these types of pressures.

How can you feel better and enter the flow with more ease?

The answer is settling and leaning into the moments between the busyness…

Join me on Wednesday 17th December for a lunchtime meditation.

We’ll light a candle together and breathe

And we’ll give you the gift of a micro moment of calm so you can know how to find them for yourself and enjoy the seasons offerings more fully.

What to give yourself the gift of space.

Click the link below 👇

12/12/2025

Introducing one of the most beautiful heart led clinics in Reigate.

We really care about quality community led care…

There’s such a beautifully talented and kind group of therapists working here, that I get to be a part of!

I’m Carmen, a clinical massage therapist, craniosacral therapist, myofascial and fascial unwinding practitioner, mindfulness teacher, and nerdy trainee osteopath!

I get to work at Reigate Wellbeing centre on Fridays!

Hopefully adding more days in the new year.

Here’s a taste of what I got up to today…

Releasing:
Shoulders
Necks
Spines
Hips and pelvises
Elbows and wrists

We really care about our work…

If you haven’t come in and had a look -please pop in and say hello - we’d love to meet you.

08/12/2025

Come in and curl up today away from the wintry weather.

If you feel like Nel (the cavapoo)… you’re not alone.

The hot stones are on, the bed is heated…

And I’m happy to help you release stress, reset a busy nervous system or get some freer movement through your body!

Whatever you need today drop me a Hi in the comments and I can start by listening…

04/12/2025

Thank you to all the wonderful customers who have given me so much patience this year.

When you hold space for others, how well you are is in the feel of the space…

I had big dreams this year to expand and grow…

Little did I know the growth wouldn’t be on the outside…

It would be all on the inside…

Going down into the layers I was still holding and making peace with their presence - however uncomfortable they were.

It’s given me so much grace to be in the moment…

And so much more space to offer to others…

Because truly we’re all human and need acceptance as we are just in this simple moment, whatever that looks like today.

I’m open again - my booking system should be back online for next week.

Thank you so much for allowing me to be utterly human too.

Much love.
Carmen

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.