The pros and cons of Bowen Technique

The pros and cons of Bowen Technique

I plan to share some of the many bowen therapy pros and cons. This is based on my experience of receiving Bowen over the past 20 years and practicing it for 5 years. In a nutshell, Bowen therapy is a relaxing alignment technique, providing pain relief and increase in mobility. 

❤ It is sooooooooooooooooooo relaxing – literally it calms down your ANS, er what is this? Part of the nervous system (system of nerves) that takes us out of fight or flight, (too much adrenaline/fight = adrenal fatigue) therefore it supports your digestion, sleep, blood flow and sexual response, oh so now your interested eh?

❤ It can help reduce pain & inflammation – I love working with peeps that are ready to commit to being pain free, you deserve to be.

❤ It can increase your movement in your joints and muscles – yipsters

❤ It provides freedom to do what you love to do, but pain free!

❤ It can support healing of trauma from old & new acute injuries

❤ It can relieve back pain, sciatica and spinal problems, see some of my case studies here.

❤ It can ease joint pain and restrictions

❤ It can ease respiratory conditions

❤ It can help pre and post recovery of an operation

❤ It can ease sports injuries, such as a pulled hamstring, athletes such as Michael Owen, Jonny Wilkinson and Bear Grylls have all received Bowen treatments.

❤ You become more aware of your weaker areas after receiving a treatment and what your body is supported by to prevent injury from happening again.

❤ It improves posture – over time and from repeated moves, fascia becomes sticky and restricted. Fascia is a web like substance which surrounds all the muscles, ligaments and joints. With Bowen Technique, we work to free up fascia, this supports to unwind, restrictions and free up compensation patterns, providing a straighter, freer, lighter you.

❤Its a nice relaxing way to receive alignment as opposed to through strong alignment manipulation – some manipulation therapies require forcing bones back to alignment but often this is stressful and dosent hold, with bowen, your body receives the moves and processes where to make the changes,  realigning itself in a relaxing way.

❤ It encourages the bodies own self-healing mechanism, so your body does its own healing – Bodies are so clever and many of us don’t really understand how they work or how connected they are, in bowen when we make a move all the stretch receptors in the skin tissue and the brain are communicating.

Bowen cons

❤ It is a lighter touch and it’s not hands on all the time, so those used to hands on all the time massage, might feel a bit like they want more squidging. Would you ask your dentist or osteopath for a massage? No, the same with Bowen its a technique to support those that need help and there is no need to fluff it up, however it is still relaxing, I often do some lovely moves around the face and feet for extra relaxation.

❤ Some can find it hard to understand how it works, if its not painful or hands on all the time. A lot of us are used to the idea that you need to feel pain to see an improvement, whilst its perfect to choose what you see best supports you, this is a myth that you need to feel pain to see improvement. Like many of our beliefs and systems in society, they can be a bit out dated. So, I also am very patience to educate and introduce those that are already and wiling to re-education in how we take care of ourselves. 

So, to conclude I hope I explained some of the many benefits of Bowen, its a relatively unheard of treatment, but the effects are so incredible.

Book a bowen treatment here

Fascia Release Technique – What is Fascia and How it Impacts Your Health

Fascia Release Technique – What is Fascia and How it Impacts Your Health

Fascia release technique, otherwise known as Bowen Therapy.

Every cell in our body has its own electromagnetic field and each field pulses at different vibrations. Each cellular structure is surrounded by fascia. Fascia is like a web that wraps around all our cells, organs, bones, muscles, tendons, tissues, vessels. It acts like a telephone with many lines that are constantly transmitting and receiving. It is predominantly collagen, which has a characteristic of toughening when under stress.

Every bit of you is encased in it. You are protected by fascia, connected by fascia and kept in taut human shape by fascia.

Fascia is messy stuff, its hard to study, its so expansive and intertwined it resists the medical standard of being cut up and named for textbook illustrations, its more subtle that that of the other body systems.

Fascia is what composes over 80% of what we consider muscle tissue. Trauma, daily life and repetitive motions or positions can create fascial restrictions in your body. Imagine the amount of time per day we spend badly sitting at our desks or driving, over time this compensation takes hold.

Lack of activity will cement the once supple fibres into place. Chronic stress causes the fibers to thicken in an attempt to protect the underlying muscle. Poor posture and lack of flexibility and repetitive movements pull the fascia into ingrained patterns.

The picture below is taken from the book Anatomy Trains, by Thomas W. Myers. It is a beautiful illustration showing the different colours of fascial lines. You can see that the jaw has a close link to the pelvis and also runs through the digestive meridian. You can also see the knees are connected to the shoulders. This demonstrates why we sometimes have pain, restriction in one area, but it shows in another area. our body is a beautiful connected fascia web.

How to take care of your fascia

♥Move! Sticky adhesions form between fascial surfaces that are not regularly moved and over time these adhesions get strong enough to inhibit range of motion.

♥Drink plenty of water, it is made up of water and is happier when wet, if dehydrated, this will dehydrate. We loose so much water each day through sweat, urine and filtering out toxins.

♥Stretch for 1-3 minutes and relax into the stretch. When muscles are chronically tight, the surrounding fascia tightens along with them. Over time the fascia becomes rigid compressing the muscles and the nerves.

♥Epsom salt baths for up to 20 mins can loosen up tight muscles and fascia.

♥Use a foam roller to help free up tightness, take it slowly and gently.

♥If you are not seeing improvements or have a niggling injury, new or old, then see a therapist that can deliver fascia release technique, like a Bowen therapist, which is what I love to treat with. This will uncoil, relax fascia, soothe pain and provide more mobility. 

Bowen work is a gentle but powerful technique that works by balancing the ANS, which controls more than 80% of our bodily functions.

Bowen technique realises it is also working with our energy systems, not just the central nervous system but our meridians, which are like rivers that dissect our fascia, organs and all body matter.

♥Listen to your body, if you have an injury perhaps best to not push yourself but to do gentle exercise that benefits, rather than harms further.

Contact me here to book a fascia release technique treatment.

 

Back Pain Tips – 10 Ways to Take Care of your Back

 

Back care support caring for you treatments

1 Backpack

Two straps are better than one, can you imagine if everyday you wear a bag on one shoulder, slowly the muscles will adapt to balance out wearing the bag. They may rise up on the bag wearing side and to counter act this, the mid back may tilt for balance, the neck will tilt to counteract the change and then the pelvis will tilt up. It only takes 30 days for the muscles to adapt a new posture.  See direct example below.

So in a nutshell both straps for a happy back.

2. Footwear

Yeay for taking care of our feet. They carry us around, they put up with wearing all sorts of shoe shapes & heel heights, they provide stability, posture support, they carry natural waste (uric acid & calcium deposits) products in the form of crystals, there are loads of nerve endings here, they need care, put them in shoes that support all aspects of your foot. Pumps are death to feet. If you wear flip flops a lot, consider how much harder your muscles in the feet are gripping hold. I love Ecco & Hotter shoes, which are both UK companies & sandals that have straps so my feet are happy, secure & supported.

3 Posture awareness

How often do you bring the focus back internally, to how you are sat, are you relaxed? You can try this be isolating an area, tensing it then relaxing it, hunch your shoulders to your ears, then relax them down and back, tighten up your face muscles then relax them, especially the eye area. If you repeat this naturally when you remember, you will have greater awareness of your posture & can sense when you are sat in a way that doesn’t support you. Here is a simple beginners guide to this exercise.

4 Alignment treatments

Do you feel a bit wonky? Do you notice some areas have a restricted range of motion? Alignment treatments can prevent injury, soothe pain/injury, increase range of movement, improve posture & relaxation.

Bowen is what I love & practice, so it is my go-to, when I have an injury. Yes it can be used immediately on an injury, think of me as an emergency musculoskeletal support. Bowen is the perfect treatment to calm the nervous system immediately after an accident/injury and it removes the shock/trauma from the body, instantly relaxing you & prepping the body for restoration. Bowen supports to align fascia, surrounding all muscles, joints and nerves, therefore benefits are pain reduction, more range of movement and quicker recover time. The sooner the better, benefits felt from 1 treatment,  but typically 3 are recommended, 1 week apart. In my own experience and my clients, recovery is quicker with Bowen & you can get back on with your life again.

5 Sitting position

Getting clear on how we sit at work, when watching the TV or driving. then imagine how many hours a week, a month, a year do we spend doing the same actions repeatedly? A lot! So check how you are sitting & reflect if it matches where you might have back pain, Below is a suggested desk height posture for at work, I use a portable adjustable laptop stand, but there are fixed stands available too. You can also get an iPad stand & a phone stand to save holding the item, its way more relaxing just try it! An ergonomic mouse really supports my wrists & a good chair is a great help too, here are some supportive chair options.

Self care correct posture working at desk

 

6 Engaging your core with exercise

I always love Pilates for strengthening & posture support, but its important to find some exercise you enjoy, if you are not sure, try it! Backs typically prefer movement to being still.

7 Relaxation

Relaxation is our natural state, as seen more obviously in nature, for example the trees aren’t sweating that they don’t know what the future look likes, nor the flowers quivering due to fearing lack of money, or the bees worrying about their bumbly round body image, they are just doing their thing in complete relaxation.

Relaxation supports all of our body systems & mind to work at their best. A regular form of relaxation is a great way to provide self care & it can be whatever works & provides support to you. I love to take short moments of mind & body relaxation, also called strong mind, which can be carried out anytime, anywhere, with nothing else needed, it is so easeful & the results are very quick & profound. It supports stability of mind no matter the worries, fears of uncertainty, we never know what is around the corner, so to simply focus on each moment is very refreshing. This doesn’t mean that we can’t plan or prepare for the future, but for me, it has meant I can live a happier life where I feel contented, no matter the thoughts or emotions I have.

It is an ancient Tibetan practice that has been developed for the modern day. This practice has ultimately supported me to see the best way to take care of the self, how to make decisions & have clarity on how I would like to live my life. See here for more info https://www.bright.how/ also books can be found here.

8 Good mattress and pillow

We spend a vast amount of time in bed over our lifetime, please invest in a good quality pillow & mattress that will support to keep your spine aligned. Also how do you wind down for bed? A few stretches? A bath? what pillow do you use? Is it supportive? Is it providing benefit to your neck & spine? It is so important to upgrade your mattress & pillow to support preventing injuries & providing care for you. When you book in a treatment not only do I provide freedom from pain & injury but also look at your

posture at work & play so you can continue on injury free 💜

9 Lifting 

What the toddler did, we can learn a lot from small beings on the natural way to lift items.

10 Emotional care

Can you see when you are getting overwhelmed and stressed? We all know a bit of short term stress has benefits, as in getting our shit done, but if we are sitting around for a long time overwhelmed by a state of emotion, then it’s time to reach out for support. Emotions can sometimes manifest into physical ailments, so often backs I see need some relaxation from an emotional stress, rather than a physical injury. Fresh air & relaxation is always my first go to, also connecting with those important people in our lives, that truly wish for us to flourish and be well. We all and I mean ALL experience a continued variety of emotional thoughts and on some level it is just particles and energy, like fireworks in space.

Shifting our focus from a singular being of suffering, is a concept, yes, but actually there is part of us that is connected to many other beings, feeling the same thought or emotion at the same time. Whether it is your church, community, family, guru, pet, professional help, whatever it is that works for you, please always be brave and reach out, as just that alone can be a great relief.

Happy backs to you all 🙂 unhappy backs can make contact here.

How I plan to re-open with Care

How I am continuing to work during the pandemic with Care

Hi, I’m Emily and I am a lower back pain therapist. I love to help you relax, be free from pain and get on with your life in the quickest time possible. I treat using the Bowen Technique.

I share with you here my Covid19 safety measures:-

CAM (complementary therapies) is an unregulated profession, so there are a lot of opinions out there, but I went with guidance from the APNG (Association of Physical and Natural Therapists) and my insurance.

Updated on 10th August 2021.

💜 Clients where possible are encouraged to bring their own water bottle or empty bottle and I can provide water.

💜Upon entry to my home clinic, a hand sanitising/hand washing station will be set up.

💜 I will leave 15-30 minutes in between clients to ventilate the room with fresh air. I will disinfect any areas that the client before may have touched, i.e. door handles/chair (I have created a daily cleaning schedule for this yeay!)

💜 Although it is no longer mandatory to wear a mask, I am still wearing one, due to the close nature of my work. If you are happy to wear one that would be awesome, particularly when lying on your back during a treatment. 

💜 There will be screening questions asked to each client around Covid19 and follow up contact to check no one is showing any symptoms. 

💜 I will follow the suggested protocol if myself, a member of my household or a client I have been in contact with within 7 days develops symptoms. I will ensure everyone I have been in contact with are notified in case isolation is needed as a precaution to maintain the possible spread.

💜 If you are unsure about anything or have questions, then please don’t hesitate to be in touch.

Natural Facial Products

Ringana Natural Products

Amazing natural facial products!

As you know, I love skincare, I love caring for other beings, I love supporting people and finally I found a way to merge all that into one! I met Ringana through my housemate, she isn’t one for products but she was raving about them, perhaps she knew she had tapped into a secret treasure, so curious as the cat is me, I started asking her and she showed me the 100% fresh cream medium, no parabens or preservatives in at all, packed full of benefit, no added perfumes or aromas just fresh yummy nutritious cream on your skin.

So that was that, I was hooked, they have this cool 4 part philosophy:-

Fresh – a 14 days from production to customer aim, products are not sat around getting dusty on shelves, they are made on demand.

Effective – the products are designed for maximum benefit, as fresh as they can be, made with great care for the customer and planet, no extra fillers, cheap additives or artificial aromas.

Consistent – the products are sat in either sugar cane or glass, the glass products arrive wrapped in an unbleached cotton flannel. Collect 10 glass bottles and send them back and you receive a free product. Corn pops arrive in the package, they can be put straight on the compost. They also use plant paint for the tape logo.

Ethical – complete respect for the customer receiving amazing fresh products that work, the planet with their great sustainability policies, for animals as they are all vegan, cruelty free products and they make sure all of their suppliers also have this important care guidelines.

I was blown away by their great care and so now I love using the products and sharing about their incredible benefits to support you.

Fresh skin care, body care & hair care – moisturisers, serums, exfoliator, body milk and much more, click in blue to see each product range.

Caps range – targeted capsules filled with goodness drawing from ayurvedic, herbology and Chinese medicine, support for all areas such as hormones, memory, joints & immune system.

Drinks range – alternative to coffee without the caffeine jitters, brilliant for conscious partying, gives you mental alertness and energy using natural ingredients such as ginger, pineapple, vitamin C & ginseng.

Sports range – isotonic drink, protein powder and ginger and chilli muscle rub for those that love working out.

Packs – antiox, balancing and cleansing power packed powders to support your immune system, alkaline the body and cleanse the digestive system.

I also love working in a lush team and mentoring other beings to see that we can create an easeful work/life balance.

I love supporting people!

Shiny being post presentation

This is me post my first online Ringana fresh date, a 30 minute presentation of the philosophy and the product range.

Vegan shake meal replacment

One of my fav products, the D-eat complete meal replacement shake, its only 200 calories, vegan, contains all your micro and macro nutrients in, proteins, omegas, seeds, yummy goodness, perfect for on the go. No need to worry about missing a meal or missing out on nutrients. Also perfect for weight loss, 1 day a week, take 2 of these, then eat a balanced meal, as well as exercise this is a gradual way to loose weight.

Beauty skin hair and nails caps

The beauty and hair caps, are perfect for strengthening nails, hair and supporting the skin. I have vitiligo where the skin looses its pigment and I have white patches on my face, taking these have supported these to reduce and have made my hair grow and my nail stronger. Stressors and daily life can mean our bodies don’t always operate fully if something is using up energy, so this just felt like a natural support. It contains lush things like, SOD from melon extract, which reduces skin impurities and refines the skin. Hyaluronic acid ensures beautiful, even skin. Saw palm extract supports natural hair growth. Manganese and copper from buckwheat germ powder contribute to the formation of connective tissue. Zinc from buckwheat germ powder supports a healthy skin, hair and nail structure. Copper from buckwheat germ powder helps protect cells from oxidative stress, which plays a major role in skin aging.

These are just some of my favs, If you would like to know more about the products, you can view/purchase them here, or contact me if you have any question and I would be happy to support you! <3

Home Self Care

Home Self Care Tips

Relaxation

Relaxation is our natural state, as seen more obviously in nature,  for example the trees aren’t sweating that they don’t know what the future look likes, nor the flowers quivering due to fearing lack of money, or the bees worrying about their bumbly round body image, they are just doing their thing in complete relaxation.

Relaxation supports all of our body systems & mind to work at their best. A regular form of relaxation is a great way to provide self care & it can be whatever works & provides support to you. I love to take short moments of mind & body relaxation, also called strong mind, which can be carried out anytime, anywhere, with nothing else needed, it is so easeful & the results are very quick & profound. It supports stability of mind no matter the worries, fears of uncertainty, we never know what is around the corner, so to simply focus on each moment is very refreshing. This doesn’t mean that we can’t plan or prepare for the future, but for me, it has meant I can live a happier life where I feel contented, no matter the thoughts or emotions I have.

It is an ancient Tibetan practice that has been developed for the modern day. This practice has ultimately supported me to see the best way to take care of the self, how to make decisions & have clarity on how I would like to live my life. This is a pic of me below on a relaxation retreat, ahhhh super relaxed. See here for more info https://www.bright.how/ also books can be found here.

Relaxation self care tips

Exercise You Enjoy

Do something you actually enjoy, working out doesn’t need to look like pain & misery e.g. running for hours on the treadmill, do what is practical & will fit into your life, maybe a 7 minute workout each morning would work for you, or a Pilates class? There are many around, I personally love Sean Vigue pilates, he is on YouTube, so you just need a mat. I also have been tuning into a kundalini yoga class with Kirsty who is so down to earth, lovely & Bristol based. What about Hula Hooping!? It will help boost the happy endorphins & to promote good sleep, which is essential at this time.

Food To Nourish You

Our eating habits may well have changed due to panic buying, fear taking over when shopping that you forget what you need, or comfort eating. Even amidst comfort eating, be kind & gentle on yourself, you are a soft squidgy animal being that is feeling a lot at this time. I definitely laid into eating more sugars, alcohol & caffeine at the start of the pandemic, but now I have settled back into a typical diet, one where I relax, eat plenty of veg, protein, carbs, choccie & cake when I feel like it, but mostly cut out alcohol & caffeine as it triggers off urinary infections for me. I always say go with what you see you need to eat, if you listen to your body it will tell you. It definitely feels a time to nourish, bake & enjoy food together if you can. If you notice some foods don’t agree with you, test it out by not eating them for a few weeks & see how you respond, even better go & get some intolerance testing done here is a great lady I know which can help with that. She is still doing online testing.

I love juicing, my favourite is apple, carrot & ginger, I also love raw choccie occasionally, here is my fav, yum yum!

Self care chocolate includedCarrot orange ginger juice

Office/Work Posture at Home

Adapting to working from home, I wonder what are postures are like? How many hours a week, a month, a year do we spend doing the same actions repeatedly at work? If you are used to staring at a screen, give yourself little eye breaks every so often by looking away into the distance, hopefully there will be something nice to look at too! Below is a suggested desk height posture, I use a portable adjustable laptop stand, but there are fixed stands available too. You can also get an iPad stand & a phone stand to save holding the item, its way more relaxing just try it! An ergonomic mouse really supports my wrists & a good chair is a great help too, here are some supportive chair options. These can all be used at home as they are lightweight and portable.

Self care correct posture working at desk

Earthing Mat & Electromagnetic Chips

I love Wifi & the benefits of the internet & I am often seen with at least two devices! Yet I also give myself down time away from the screen, this can look like doing something else that you love, maybe going for a walk. There is this idea that Wifi rays can not be so good for us & we do not really know the long term side effects of living with Wifi. The truth is I am not sure what to believe, but what I do know is I love to take care & it feels supportive for me to sleep on an earthing mat & I buy earthing chips which can be stuck on all your devices too. I do not need to intellectually understand how this works but it feels a supportive thing to do & I share it here so you can read more & go for it if you would like to.

Fresh Air

Whether in your garden, sticking your head out of the window, like a dog in the car, or your daily allowed walk, really enjoy the fresh air, which is seriously low in pollution at this time. I have seen more stars at current in Bristol than ever before as there is less pollution. The bluebells are amazing at this time!

Lavender fields Dorset

Bed Time!

We spend a vast amount of time in bed over our lifetime, please invest in a good quality pillow & mattress that will support to keep your spine aligned. Also how do you wind down for bed? A few stretches? A bath? I love to relax in short moments which supports me to feel calm & when I remember, I naturally reflect on the day & all the things I enjoyed. It is when we are asleep that the body gets a chance to reset, so do take care of yourself here.

Comfortable sleeping position self care

Relaxing Treatments at Home

Whether a hot epsom salt bath, full of magnesium to soothe aches & pains, a foot soak with some rose petals, foot scrub, home made facial, gua sha crystal massage, don’t forget to treat yourself. I found these heated eyemasks by Spacemasks, which are amazing.

Spacemasks Eyemask Bristol

Focus on What You Love!

For me that looks like dancing, colouring in book for grown ups, walking & smelling flowers, watching netflix, catching up with friends & family. This is a time which is difficult, but we also are having to adapt to a new schedule, so to focus on your loves is a good support with the change. You could start by writing a list if you are not sure, no matter how small it is.

Reach out, for personalised self-care guidance or to share any feedback from this post.

Thanks for reading, please take care of yourself you little precious beings.

Emily xx

Reiki Benefits

What are the benefits of reiki?

Reiki in Bridport

Benefits

Reiki literally translates as universal life force energy. It is perfect for anyone that feels they need healing, feel out of sorts, stagnant, stuck, unsure what decision to make and, or suffering from emotional/physical stress or trauma. Reiki can help us cope by encouraging relaxation and bringing balance to both mind and emotions.

Benefits include relaxation, stress relief, improvement to immunity, reduction in blood pressure, a sense of calm, clearing any blockages energetically and physically, a sense of purpose, clarity on a situation or in making a decision, this can come in the appearance of colours, images or words.

Treatment

During any of my treatments, I always provide a health consultation, so I can listen and understand what is going on for you and how I can support you fully. I tune into a higher source of energy, called universal energy and I ask for information and support for the individual, thats you. I use different oracle cards as a way to receive support, these look like this:-

The consultation can be delivered online, or face to face. I then provide a reiki healing session, using crystals and universal energy from angels, spirits and guides that are here to help me and you, yeay! Just because you cannot see something, dosen’t mean it dosen’t exist!

This is a beautiful time to give yourself permission to relax, to open your mind and energy to information, that is needed to support you. Reiki is a non-invasive therapy, using mostly no touch or light touch.

This treatment can be delivered in person, or long distantly. [Please note during the coronavirus pandemic, long distance is the only option available until otherwise stated]. So you can find a nice warm and comfy spot to lie or sit in and I send you warm, beneficial healing, yippee.

Reiki’s gentle energy is easily adapted to most medical conditions and may be used safely by people of all ages, including pregnant mothers, new-borns, surgical patients, the frail and the elderly, in any situation.

How does it work?

When giving Reiki, practitioners have been shown to emit electo-magnetic or bio-magnetic energy from their hands. The frequencies of the energy emitted vary from one moment to the next; but many appear to correspond to those that medical researches have identified as being the optimum frequencies for simulating the healing process in tissues, bones and other body parts so far investigated.

Two ways in which these pulsing magnetic fields may stimulate repair of bone and other tissues include:

A cascade of reactions takes place from the cell surface to the cytoplasm and on the nucleus and genes, where selective effects on the DNA have been documented.

A phenomenon called amplification, in which a single hormone molecule, neurotransmitter of photo of electromagnetic energy has been shown to trigger a cellular response; and in fact very tiny fields have been shown to produce the best effects, suggesting that living tissues are much more sensitive to external fields than previously considered possible

One theory is that energy healing works up by opening up the communication channels that enable cells in the body to talk to each other, and opening up the terrain through which cells are able to migrate to places where they are needed to initial repair or to fight diseases. Another is that these methods help to calm the person so their immune functions can operate smoothly.

Contact me here to book a healing session.

Back Pain Therapist Case Studies

Read case studies and results from Emily, a back pain therapist in Bridport

Bowen technique back care

1 Symptoms and prevented activity

49 year old mum had recurrent episodes of her back seizing up and feeling out of place, she was prevented from doing anything when this happened, including working and especially working and gardening and she loved gardening.

Treatment and results

She had 4 Bowen sessions and the pain was resolved, the client wasn’t expecting it to work, but she couldn’t believe the quick and long lasting effect it had. She is now able to do so much more in the garden and has since had no further episodes of her back pain. Client now returns, for a luxury facial to feel relaxed and pampered.

2 Symptoms and prevented activity

34 year old counsellor was presenting with shoulder tension and pain, which was affecting her daily life, low self confidence and dissatisfaction and emotional stress from her work. 

Treatment and results

The client loved receiving treatments in Bowen, Reiki and Reflexology, so she often chose a different treatment depending on how she felt and had also asked what I saw would be best too. Results were complete relaxation, stress reduction, release of shoulder tension, increase in wellbeing, increase in confidence and encouragement to focus on her passions in the workplace, which led to a change in job.

3 Symptoms and prevented activity

24 year old student was presenting with back pain, after a fall to the coccyx, that had been untreated. Every few months her back would feel out of place and that would mean missing work, she was also suffering with migraines. She previously had found the chiropractor too aggressive for her preference and it created a bad pain in her neck.

Treatment and results

She began with a hot stone massage and she couldn’t believe how much this alone eased her symptoms, she then went on to have 4 sessions of bowen which completely resolved her migraines, back and neck pain and meant she was no longer taking days off work as her back wasn’t coming out of place. She now comes as and when for a top up either in bowen or hot stone massage.

 Quote taken from Kim from Google reviews

“I have been visiting Emily since April receiving marvellous treatments to help with aches and pains, specifically an injury on my lower back and neck. I first had a hot stone massage which made me feel as though i was in heaven and freed up a lot of aches in my body the warmth of the stones is very soothing. Emily made me feel at home straight away and really listens to what you are saying to ensure her treatments are personalised for you as an individual. Having spoken to Emily about the Bowen therapy I have since had a course of 3 treatments which completely fixed and reset my neck and back and helped me get back to my old more active self. I now just top up my treatments with a massage or bowen to keep the pain at bay…and just because I feel so damn lovely after a treatment!! couldn’t recommend Emily any higher – she is fab. Thankyou :)”

4 Symptoms and prevented activity

48 year old nurse suffering from stress, migraines and insomnia. This affected her work and social life with tiredness and needing to rest when migraines were present.

Treatment and results

After 1 bowen session her migraines had completely resolved and she had the best night sleep for a long time. She went on to have 2 more bowen sessions to relieve tension in her hamstrings, provide a balance to the body and aid relaxation and stress reduction.

5 Symptoms and prevented activity

34 year old fitness coach presenting with back pain after a coccyx injury, which affected her when exercising and she was experiencing difficulty in conceiving.

Treatment and results

Client received 9 sessions of a mixture of reflexology and bowen. After 4 sessions her back pain had completely resolved, after 4 more sessions she informed me that she was pregnant, this was a very heart warming moment to have supported someone along their journey of a wish to conceive a baby.

6 Symptoms and prevented activity

 34 year old female that books in monthly hot stone massages, overall improvements are.

“I have experienced so many positive changes. I came to you initially as a gift to myself because I had recognised I was suffering from stress. You’ve always been so kind, gentle and nurturing and have listened and responded to what I’ve told you. When a reoccurring back issue flared up you suggested Bowen Technique might be helpful, and after only two treatments I am no longer suffering from any back pain. This is remarkable for me as the pain has been there in the background for some time. I cannot thank you enough.

The other thing you have done so well is give me gentle guidance around how I can improve my wellbeing. You’ve always done so in such a brilliant way…it’s never felt like you are preaching to me or trying to tell me how to live my life. That sort of approach would’ve completely turned me off but you’ve been so brilliant…it’s enabled me to make good choices and change some of my less healthy habits. I have replaced my endless cups of tea throughout the day with water and have been allowing myself to snack when I’m hungry. The latter might seem like nothing, but for me, with my seemingly endless issues around food, it is a major step forward. I am so very grateful for the impact you’ve had on my life.

It was such a big step for me to invest in myself in this way and commit to a regular session with you. But I’m so glad I have. It’s making a huge difference to my life.”

7 Symptoms and prevented activity

56 year old musician who loves playing the violin but experienced constant pain in her shoulder, neck and back with stiffness and limited range of movement. This also affected her sleep as the pain was so bad.

Treatment and results

Bowen treatments improved her sleep, she now no longer has pain in her shoulders, neck and back. She has more energy and has began exercising more, which is benefitting her too. She still comes for preventative treatments as she is continually using her muscles a lot when playing her violin and bowen supports with overall health and freeing up stiffness. She says how much she looks forward to coming for a treatment and finds it so relaxing.

8 Symptoms and prevented activity

28 year old marketing manager was suffering from constant back pain, which she felt at work, when driving and when sitting on the sofa, this was seriously impacting her daily life and preventing her from feeling comfortable, on top of that she wasnt sleeping well.

Treatment and results

4 bowen treatments later, her back pain had completely resolved and she was sleeping much better, she could sit on the sofa without any discomfort. She chooses to comes back monthly for top ups as preventative care, which is her preference to support herself, after years of back complaints.

Taken from Felicity from Treatwell

“Emily has really helped me over the past few months. I had never tried Bowen therapy before but the results have been fantastic. Emily is really lovely too and her treatment room is so calming and relaxing.”

 9 Symptoms and prevented activity

65 year old housewife presenting with a slipped disc, from a previous injury, so she had a lot of back pain, sciatica, (shooting pain down the side of her leg) she was unable to walk and sit, without feeling some sort of pain. 

Treatment and benefits

6 bowen treatments have been received and she felt relief from day 1, such as being able to walk straighter, freer and the pain had reduced. The slipped disc has completely resolved and the client comes back monthly to support with overall health.

Taken from anonymous on Treatwell

Emily is very good at explaining the treatment. Very relaxed quiet atmosphere. I have benefitted from reduced pain and better posture from my damaged spine

 

10 Symptoms and prevented activity

27 year old sports lover had a ski injury with cartilage damage to the sternum, she experienced a lot of pain in her shoulders, arms, ribs and back when breathing and moving, she was unable to lift objects at work, the pain was seriously impacting her everyday life.

Treatment and results

After only 3 bowen sessions all symptoms had resolved, except minor pain when breathing due to cartilage damage to the sternum, which will take a little longer to heal. She told me she had another skiing trip booked after the first session and I said lets take it easy as you might not be able to ski and then she successfully managed to ski! Also enjoy her holiday as she quickly sought help for her injury. She is now way more relaxed and had the trauma/stress from the injury removed from her body. 

Taken from Jess from Google reviews 

“Emily helped me massively over 3 sessions! I was in some serious pain when I first came to see her, and a couple of days after my first session I had already gained back the majority of my movement that I had lost due to an injury.

She is very kind, provides a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere, and is very good at what she does. I highly recommend Emily and will definitely be going back for a visit when needed!

You do not need to put up with back, neck or shoulder pain, bowen technique can provide a quick long lasting support.”

Jujitsu student had ‘crunched’ her neck doing a backwards roll, which led to serious limited neck movements and a lot pain and discomfort in moving.

Treatment and results

She came to see me right after the injury for an emergency appointment, she didnt realise that Bowen is safe enough to treat right after an injury, she felt relaxed, the shock was taken out of her body and the body could begin to repair. Her neck movement returned shortly after the treatment and then had a follow up session a week later and was able to get back to training the following week. 

Taken from Indi google reviews 

“I badly injured my neck during jujitsu training and had to immediately stop. I was shaky and in shock. I called Emily as she had completely cured my RSI with 2 sessions of Bowen previously and so I wanted to see how quick she could see me now for this. She was pleased I called so quickly because Bowen can be used immediately on injuries as it’s non invasive and can really help the healing process right from the start. Treating acute injuries is another area she’s specialised in and she wished more people contacted her when they had just injured themselves, rather then days or weeks later.

I used to be physiotherapist for 10 years and I never touched a patient who had literally just injured themselves (especially on the neck!) and would recommend rest and ice or heat etc for the initial period. It was such a relief to find there was something I could actually do immediately to specifically help my injury directly. Within the hour I was on the treatment bed in the incredibly relaxing environment and in the safe hands of Emily. I was made comfortable as my neck had seized and my muscles in spasm. I felt my body immediately able to relax at a time of such pain and shock.

Emily carried out the treatment and I have no idea what she does or how Bowen works but after the treatment the shock in my body and mind had gone – I was no longer shaking! I felt more aligned, calmer and the pain had certainly decreased. I knew with this type of injury I wasn’t going to be pain free and have full range of movement for a while, but I knew I had significantly helped the healing process already and as Bowen continues to work over several days, and with Emily’s post treatment advice too, I was so confident that a more rapid healing would continue and that I was taking the best care.

I went back to see Emily about week later a lot better for the severity of the injury and very pleased with the progress, I was quite amazed actually as with the loud crunch of my neck I thought it would be weeks,  maybe even months, before I was back to normal again. So not surprisingly, I still had some decreased range of movement, pain at the end of range and most annoyingly, I still kept waking several times at night with discomfort. Immediately after the session, I literally couldn’t believe it; I had complete range of movement and no pain at the end of range at all – such immediate results! Not only that, but that night I slept like a baby, and have done every night since! Very happy 🙂

In all my time as a physio I have never seen or experienced such dramatic results for such an acute and significant injury. Neither for my clients or that of any of my colleagues. A few days later and I’m back to training again. I have no understanding of how Emily does it but she is just completely brilliant and magic as far as I’m concerned. I simply can’t recommend her enough: If you have any injuries or pain at all anywhere, do yourself a massive favour and just get to her as quick as you can!!”

12 Symptoms and Prevented activity

Anne was presenting with hip pain, lower back pain and knee pain, which was noticed after sitting for too long and driving

Treatment and results

Anne had already received Bowen from another therapist who relocated so she knew the potency of the results and although her symptoms were relatively minor, they were still problematic to her. After 2 sessions all symptoms had resolved and she now returns for maintenance treatments as and when.

Taken from Anne from google reviews

“Believe in Bowen! Bowen therapy with Emily is to be highly recommended. It is a remarkable treatment which realigns your body and miraculously eases any aches and pains you may have.

Some years ago I was convinced I needed a hip replacement after suffering with a painful hip for months. After x-rays showed there was no issue with the joint, I chose to go for Bowen treatments following a friend’s recommendation who has also experienced its benefits. The pain went within 2 or 3 treatments and has never returned. More recently, Emily has freed my other hip of pain as well as my knee. General every-day living such as driving, lifting, working at a computer, carrying uneven loads, sitting awkwardly etc. can, over time, put the body out-of-kilter. I cannot recommend Bowen therapy enough as a means to reverse these strains.

My elderly neighbour who was suffering with such a bad back that she wasn’t able to walk up stairs can now, after 2 treatments with Emily, do so easily – she is both amazed and delighted. I would urge anyone, whatever their age, who is suffering from any aches and pains to try Bowen therapy. Be amazed and believe in Bowen!”

13 Symptoms and Prevented activity

50 year old fireman struggling with lower back pain, sciatica and right shoulder pain which he could only raise up the side to a certain point, so it was restricting his range of movement. He also had a sore wrist and felt general concern and motivation to take better care of his body. 

Treatment and results

After 2 sessions the shoulder pain and sciatica had resolved, however the left shoulder now felt pain, most likely due to compensation patterns 

14 Symptoms and Prevented activity 

23 year old marketing executive with recurring kidney infections and lower back pain.

Treatment and results

After 1 session the thirst and urgency to urinate became slightly exacerbated for 24 hours then completely resolved, which usually lasts for up to a week. The follow up 3 sessions were able to align her pelvis which resolved her lower back pain and meant she had less recurring kidney infections.

15 Symptoms and Prevented activity 

66 year old retired teacher and grandmother had slept ‘funny’ her neck was seriously restricted and she couldn’t move her head to the right, she was in a lot of pain.

Treatment and results

After 1 session of Bowen she regained full movement in her neck and was amazed at how improved she felt with only 1 session,

16 Symptoms and Prevented activity

67 year old man with what he suspected was tennis elbow in his right elbow, this was causing him pain, it was swollen and felt warm to touch.

After 1 session of Bowen, the swelling had reduced, the pain had reduced and there was considerable improvement, after a second session the pain had reduced further and there was more movement to the elbow joint and shoulder.

Contact me here to book a treatment.

Bowen Therapy for Sciatica

Sciatica Relief

Bowen Therapy for Sciatica

What is it?

Sciatica literally means inflammation of the sciatic nerve, presenting as pain radiating down the leg, often felt around the lower back and glut area too. Ow!

How does Bowen help?

Bowen works to relax the nervous system as well as tense muscles, tendons, and ligaments, thereby allowing the pinched sciatic nerve to be released.

Not only is Bowen Therapy superb in addressing sciatica, but is it also very effective for other issues originating in the lumbar/pelvic region including lower back pain, hip pain, hip flexor issues, and sacroiliac pain.

Is your sciatica pain preventing you from your exercise, sport, or daily life? Ask yourself what makes it better or worse and use your body’s natural intelligence to support the healing here. It’s also fine if you don’t know as I can support you.

Usually, sciatica is resolved in a few sessions so it isn’t something you need to put up with and there is often a quick easy solution. 

As we treat the whole person in Bowen, I won’t just look at the localised sciatica area, but checking and address alignment across the whole body, as it is all connected. 

A brilliant side effect of this is an improvement in posture, more relaxation, more awareness of your body and the ability to get with your life pain-free hooray!

Get in touch here to see how I can support you further, or book in a 4 part treatment programme here to resolve sciatica pain now.

 

Sciatica pain relief

My round up of 2019

My round up of 2019

Here's my best posts to sum up the full year I had, mostly full of flowers, giggles & great care.

From left to right:✨Stuffing my nose into flowers ✨ I love my work & caring for you all ✨ Improving the quality of life for women by reducing back, neck & shoulder pain, by providing realignment, relaxation & self-care support ✨I love the sound of the rain on the skylight when you’re in a warm cosy treatment room with salt lamps, crystal & plants ✨ I am officially a giant daisy ✨ I’m happy to share that I treat in an eco-friendly home that uses ✨solar power energy for appliances used in the daylight ✨So lovely to be on the receiving end & to value even more what a treat it is to offer someone time to relax & recharge ✨ I often get asked what treatment should I have? So I blogged a clear & simple breakdown with problems you might have & my suggested treatment.

Thank you for a great year caring for you!

Loss of Libido in Menopause

Menopause and Hormone Balancing

I share an introduction to hormone balancing, including offering support with loss of libido in menopause.

During menopause there is an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone, both of these need to be balanced in equal amounts in the body, as they support each other (although have very different roles).

When menses stops, the GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) located in the brain’s hypothalamus can become overactive, producing symptoms, as the ovaries are not doing their usual job of producing estrogen and progesterone, as part of menses. Therefore symptoms occur and yes you can feel irritable, miserable, depressed, strange, cranky, grief, loss of libido in menopause and many more stories spiral out in the mind and body.

It’s important to know you are not alone, you never need to collapse in to any stories, your body is in need of some support, so reach out.

HRT (hormone replacement therapy) the most conventional method of treatment, doesn’t always work for everyone and can have side effects. 

Hormone balancing or hormone release technique works naturally without synthetic hormones through relaxation, nudging the body gently into harmony.

Alignment takes place over the coccyx and TMJ, which support the pituitary gland & hypothalamus to soften & regulate. The ovaries & uterus are also worked over to provide a balanced happy body (these points are accessed over the abdomen in a non-invasive way) 

Bowen works directly over fascia, a web like substance that surrounds all tissues, cells, muscles & joints.

I would advise asking your doctor for a salivary hormone test, to detect which hormone you are deficient in. Very few western women are deficient in estrogen, at menopause estrogen levels reduce from 40 to 60% but progesterone falls to zero! Both of these are needed to be addressed. Symptoms are also a great way to detect hormone balance:-

Estrogen Deficiency Symptoms

Vaginal dryness

Hot flushes

UTI

Small doses of estrogen may help

Estrogen Excess Symptoms

Weight gain

Water retention 

Breast swelling

Headaches 

Hypertension 

Insomnia 

Mood swings

Anxiety 

Symptoms supported with Bowen Technique are hot flashes, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, mood swings, tender breasts, insomnia, anxiety, migraines, bladder weakness and incontinence.

Typically treatments are 1 week apart, with a reduction of symptoms this then is 2-4 weeks apart.

Contact me to schedule a free consultation to see if this is the right programme for you.

 

I just want to be taken care of

How do I care for you?

Yep, you’ve guessed it, I love caring and I would love to break down all the ways I care for you during a treatment with me.

Aroma diffuser – I always hand pick an essential oil to create a relaxing, amazing smelling therapy space for you.

The music I play is super relaxing as it is created by a pianist for relaxing treatments, but the pianist is meditating whilst playing, so that carries a soothing relaxing power, yeah.

I have an extra wide comfy high grade couch for you to recline on or zzzzzz on.  Often people say, “I could just fall asleep already”

The therapy room has a chilled ambience carefully created to be super cosy and relaxing.

Eco friendly treatment space

I ask direct and clear questions in the consultation to look together whats needed to fully support you.

I have an understanding of many therapies, which means I can bring all different skills to the table.

I have a natural healing gift – (received from my nan)

I aim to reply to you within 24 hours

From the moment you walk through the door, throughout the treatment and after you leave, I am totally present and focused on supporting your health with all of my skills. (kind and caring are my big strengths)

I practice an ancient mind relaxation technique from a guru, so I hold a stable mind and presence and can see things clearly and that helps others to relax too.

Happy being with guru

I take time to care for myself to be the best therapist – (reading up, evaluating, upgrading, spas, pilates, fresh air, dancing, sleeping, good food, hydrated, receiving treatments myself)

I only offer bespoke treatments just for you.

I love caring and treating people.

I do all that I can to support someone, yet I encourage self care empowerment. 

I am very in tune with people’s bodies (feedback from clients)

I’m happy to share that I treat in an eco-friendly home, see my green policy here.

I have amazing listening skills, and I truly love to meet you where you are at, understand and support you.

Caring for you listening

I have a BSc Health Sciences degree in Complementary Therapies (hons) now I’m just showing off, but this is more for you to understand, how much I value my work and would love to support you. 

I love working with clients who are:

  • tired, stressed out, in need of some pampering and relaxation.
  • have back, neck or shoulder pain/injury/restriction and need some realignment.
  • struggling with menopausal symptoms and would like some hormonal balancing.

Contact me here for more information or to book a treatment.

Breast Care Tips at Home

Breast Awareness

Breast care tips at home.

Are you wearing the right bra size? Apparently you should get your size checked every 6 months?! After all they are lumps of fat, so they will change shape, as do our bellies.

Can you raise a straight arm to your ear, is there any restriction? Now try with your bra strap off and see if that improves it. I’ve seen women not able to lift their shoulder to their ears fully due to their bra strap digging in.

There’s an amazing chest move in Bowen, which relaxes & drains the lymph from your armpits & chest, which is so supportive in taking care of us. We wear underwired bras and put on deodorant, so the lymph glands can’t always do the job the job they are trying to do, which is to drain toxins & fluid. 

"It’s widely held that a tight-fitting bra restricts the lymph nodes around the breast and underarm area, preventing toxins from being processed through them and flushed out of the body. Accumulated toxins anywhere in the body increase the risk for cancer."

By Dr. Sadeghi

Singer and Grismaijer, author of  Dressed to Kill discovered that breast cancer risk dramatically increased in women who wore their bras over 12 hours per day:

  • Women who wore their bras 24 hours per day had a 3 out of 4 chance of developing breast cancer.
  • Women who wore their bras for more than 12 hours but not to bed had a 1 in 7 risk for breast cancer
  • Wearing a bra less than 12 hours per day dropped breast cancer risk to 1 in 152.
  • Overall, women who wore their bras 24 hours per day increased their breast cancer risk by 125 times over women who rarely or never wore a bra.

So, overall, 1. reduce bra wearing time

2. reduce time wearing underwire, or choose non-wired bras (I’m a c cup and there are plenty of support available without underwire)

3. check your boobs monthly, Coopa Feel send you an email or text reminders for you and they have more info on how to check, signs & symptoms, basically get used to what is normal for you & any changes go and see a doc right away.

I can show you how to do a simple chest lymph drainage on yourself, which can be done once a week and takes as quick as 10 seconds. Contact me to book in a bowen session, to support lymphatic flow, promote good muscle movement, to your arms, shoulders and back.

check your boobs

 

What does being healthy look like?

What Does Being Healthy Look Like?

Are you trying to be healthy and hold that in place?

Why not relax, enjoy and focus on being well, just as you are.

I share my tips below on what does being healthy actually look like?

Healthy dosen’t look like sitting on a cushion meditating, skinny, sun tanned, eating a lettuce leaf and never farting.

Valentines Day Love GIF by Salih! - Find & Share on GIPHY

Our we confusing wellness with an idea of what being healthy looks like? We might never reach this ‘healthy state’ and then feel like a failure.

I suggest we all step off the treadmill and focus on what we enjoy, what’s practical, fits into our life and budget.

Lets look at how we naturally take care of our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

Here are some areas to consider and support you.

Foods

What is it to be healthy bristol

I would encourage all of you to look at your own body, you have lived in that shell for longer than anyone, so become aware of what supports it and what doesnt. You might choose a high fats diet, with breakfast looking like a butter coffee! 

I love carbs, plenty of veg and some yum protein, that is best for my blood type and lifestyle. Obvs this includes cake! I know this can change, dependent on different circumstances and adapting to what’s best.

A food diary is a good place to start if you are not sure of what supports you, or simply testing out safely what nourishes you. I reached out for support and received  bio-resonance testing to clearly see what foods were best for me, here are the details. We are all tots unique don’t forget, so there isnt one way to eat, you might have an intolerance to broccoli?!

Exercise

How do you love to exercise? Walking with your pooch? Cycling? Gym? 7 minute workout? Paddleboarding? So many activities to choose from. Life is so short, make sure its something you enjoy and even better take a buddy with you. 

Emotional Support

Can you see when you are getting overwhelmed and stressed? We all know a bit of short term stress has benefits, as in getting our shit done, but if we are sitting around for a long time overwhelmed by a state of emotion, then it’s time to reach out for support.

Fresh air and relaxation is always my first go to, also connecting with those important people in our lives, that truly wish for us to flourish and be well.

We all and I mean ALL experience a continued variety of emotional thoughts and on some level it is just particles and energy, like fireworks in space. 

Shifting our focus from a singular being of suffering, is a concept, yes, but actually there is part of us that is connected to many other beings, feeling the same thought or emotion at the same time.

Whether it is your church, community, family, guru, pet, professional help, whatever it is that works for you, please always be brave and reach out, as just that alone can be a great relief. 

Spiritual 

I have seen people dying and there is a part of them that is totally well and completely stable, despite the physical body degrading & dying (arent we all degrading, dying, re-growing all the time?)

It may be you pray to a god or to other beings or to the greater wisdom in the universe or planet. Or you might be rocking it out on the dancefloor, which you might call your church.

Professional Support

Nothing would make me happier than knowing people are testing out what best supports them and learning and realising our innate intelligence which is able to guide us.

If you are ever unsure, what support you need, there are counsellors, naturopaths, GPs, nurses, nutritionists, bodyworkers, wellness coaches, holistic practitioners and many more that can advise you accordingly. Choose something you feel interested in or perhaps what has worked for people you know.

Caring For You Support

I am always here to take care of you and I love to support stressed out females that might have overdone it all, have muscular, joint aches and pains and want some realignment, restoration and relaxation, the three r’s! Contact me here should you wish to reach out for any support.

Ultimately and definitely, you be you, however you choose to take care.

Sustainable Skincare – Natural Mineral Sunscreen

Sustainable Skincare – Natural Mineral Sunscreen

Natural Mineral Sunscreen, that is beneficial to your skin and the environment.

Buying natural mineral suncreen can be confusing when considering all the benefits, such as recyclable packaging, reef safe, non toxic, no parabens, containing zinc and other minerals, effective & dosent make your face look like a ghost.

Which report says that you are supposed to spread 1 teaspoon of suncreen over each area of your body, which I have never done before.

It is recommended to reapply after being in water, (some suncreens are water resistant up to a certain time), apply 15 minutes before going out, then reapply 2 hours after each application.

Suncreen does go out of date and with that its ability to protect us from the sun.

SPF (An indication of how much protection you get from UVB) is how long you can spend in sun without burning i.e. SPF 30 is 30 minutes longer than no suncreem up until a certain point. Foundation with SPF in is not likely to work unless you put a teaspoon of it on your face.

UVA is another type of radiation

SPF 15 – blocks 93% UVB

SPF 20 – blocks 95% UVB

SPF 30 – blocks 97% UVB

SPF 50 – blocks 98% UVB

This is what I look like when I applied a teaspoon of factor 50 sun milk. You are supposed to slap it on, not smear it, after 15 mins it had settled into the skin.

suncream tips caring for you treatments

However, Which does not offer this advice based on natural/mineral suncreens, which sit on your skin a little differently. One of my fav mineral suncreens, Stream2Sea offers a mini video on how to apply mineral suncreen, which you can watch here – Stream2Sea.

Here is my top natural mineral suncreen.

 

Ringana Sunscreen SPF 20

Natural sunscreen Bristol

No preservatives in, so it’s fresh on your skin, it’s waterproof & wont seap out a slimy shield in the sea, as it uses nanoparticle-free pigments in the oil emulsion (after reading a lot of suncreens are not soluble in water & can affect marine organsims, even though they might say they are waterproof ah) contains *zinc oxide, titanium dioxide – natural shields against uv rays, milk thistle oils, tumeric extract, coenzyme Q10 plus more lush natural ingredients, easy to rub in, housed in sugar cane packing, yippeee. It also rubs in like a dream and leave no sticky residue.

Approx £35

 

Badger Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Top mineral suncreams caring for you treatmentsNatural, organic sunscreen full of plant oils & aloe, providing anti-oxidants. Water resistant up to 40-80 minutes. It has top ratings for safety and efficacy by the Environmental Working Group & it is coral reef safe. 

Approx £15
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Organii Everyday Organics SPF 30

mineral suncream caring for you treatments

100% mineral sun protection, suitable for all skin types, offering waterproof protection, free from parabens, fragrance & colorants. It is effective immediately after application, the SPF 30 suncreen is suitable for vegans & is certified organic by ICEA. 

£21.95 from BetterFoods

Beauty Counter Countersun

mineral suncream caring for you treatmentsA hydrating, lightweight zinc oxide formula that works for everyone, from babies and sensitive-skin-sufferers to outdoor-sports enthusiasts. Water-resistant, infused with antioxidants and aloe vera. It smells faintly of tangerine and lemon.

£39.00

Stream2Sea Suncreen SPF 30

mineral suncream caring for you treatmentsHigh performance mineral-based sunscreen, containing an antioxidant blend of green tea, tulsi, wakame & olive leaf, water resistant for up to 80 Minutes of swimming. It is non-greasy & contains 8.8% (non-nano) titanium Dioxide, with eco-conscious sugarcane resin tubes.

Buy it in the UK via Baldwins

£12.99

 Green People Scent Free Sun Lotion

mineral suncream caring for you

Suitable for sensitive skin & prickly heat, water repellent, contains aloe vera, green tea & edelweiss, 84% certified organic ingredients, reef-safe sun lotion, renewable sugar cane packaging, farmed on sustainable land, 30p donation to charity. It can be a little thick to apply but fine once you get used to it.

£22.50

Odylique natural suncream 30 SPF

Odylique mineral suncream caring for you treatments

Suitable for vegans, 76% organic, no preservatives, silicones, fragrance or colour. The first ever sun screen both organically certified & approved by the Fairtrade Foundation. Immediately effective on application, it spreads easily, is non-whitening, non-greasy or pore-clogging. It contains raw shea butter, sunflower, chamomile, sea buckthorn, the packaging is recyclable packaging.

£25

Happy sunshine time.

If you want some hydrating skin pampering after sunshine time, that feel free to contact me to book in a nourishing facial.

 

Best Spa Bristol

Best Spa Bristol

My top 5 spas around Bristol

Being a spa queen & lover of being warm & comfy, I naturally get asked where can you go to get a good jacuzzi and sauna, especially in the colder months, so here are my fav spas in Bristol.

Happy spa lady Bristol

This is me when I go to the spa, happy, excited and like, get me in there asap excitement!

1. LivingWell Centre – free to some MoveGB customers, £6.70 with the app, Hussle & membership options monthly. 

Pros/cons – the changing room is often full of kids due to lessons, but only in the day. It has a nice jacuzzi, but it can sometimes be out of action, so call to check it is open before you go. It has a sauna, steam room and pool. The car park is free for 2 hours, any longer and need to get a ticket from the machine. Also the England rugby club were once training in there!

2. Aztec West Hotel & spa – add on fee for MoveGB customers, £15 day pass with the app, Hussle & pricey monthly membership options. Get a £10 off voucher with this code https://hussle.mention-me.com/m/ol/zp4mr-emily-dike

Pros/cons – a lovely place and its not usually that busy, it has a plush jacuzzi (although it can smell of chlorine) lovely steam room, pool and sauna. It has nice chaise longue so you can lye out, with an outdoor area too. No kids lessons so its peaceful (no offense to small beings).

3. Bristol Harbour Hotel – free to Classpass members, morning day package starts at £75 Refresh Spa Morning in Bristol | Harbour Hotels.

Pros/cons – it’s always a bit hot in there in general, but it’s in a cool underground old bank vaults building, not for those that have claustrophobia. It has a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. 

4. Bath spa, I know, it’s not in Bristol but it’s so lovely and a fun day out on the train. 2 hour visit is £37 Monday-Friday, £42 Saturday-Sunday and this is plenty of time for this spa queen.

Pros/cons – it is always brilliant, with a roof top bubbly pool, minerva whirlpool, steam rooms and sauna. I am not overally keen on the ice room though and the steam room doors don’t shut very well. The best bet is to get there early, as it can get busy, then float out for lunch and drink loads of water, it makes you thirsty all this spa-ing.

The Clifton lido is amazing and the make their own chlorine, so you come out smelling less of chlorine, go with a member for £10 or become a member (waiting list in operation)

Cadbury House Hotel and Spa I heard is also supposed to be nice, but not been myself, have you? Let me know if so. 

I heard Nuffield Health is nice for gym/swimming memberships & has thermae facilities.

If I have missed one, or you would like me to add an option, feel free to let me know in the comment below.

If you want to know more about the benefits of steam rooms on your muscles see here.

Read About Sauna/Steam Benefits Here

Who I Love To Help

Vibrational alignment technique and who I love to help

The vibrational alignment technique I use, is called Bowen Therapy, it is amazing at relaxing you and restoring fascia (web like substance surrounding muscles, cells, joints and nerves) and freeing up restrictions.  

Here is who I love to care for:-

I help people with injuries, get back to training, playing and to daily life, in the quickest time possible by using the Bowen technique which provides significantly quicker recovery to optimum health.

What The Treatment Benefits Include:

  • Ease of pain/ease of injury symptoms/muscular restriction symptoms
  • Provide realignment
  • Posture assessment 
  • Work posture guidance
  • Self care tips
  • Improvement of flexibility
  • Gentle & natural treatment working with the bodies self-healing mechanism
  • Relaxation &  stress reduction

What is the value I create for my clients with this programme?

 

  • Complete relaxation
  • Successful beneficial health treatment
  • Understanding of your condition & what supports you
  • Pain reduction
  • Muscle/joint restriction eased
  • Condition/symptoms reduced
  • Feel brighter with a higher sense of wellbeing
  • Stress reduction
  • Increase in energy & mobility to do more at work/hobby/everyday life
  • Increase of wellbeing and ability to flourish in life
  • Feel supported
  • Feel in alignment
  • Improvement of posture
  • Self care tips and how to manage/take responsibility to prevent re-injury
  • Money not spent on continual recurring appointments & able to return to work quickly if current injury is preventing you from doing so.
  • Quick appointment booking time.

Please do get in touch if this resonates with you and you would like to hear more about how I can support you. 

Read more about Bowen Technique here too.

Bridport Facial Treatment

Bridport, Dorset Facial Treatment

Come and be totally cared for with a Bridport facial treatment, here are my top benefits and how I care for you when treating you to a luxury facial.

If you are like me, you will hear the word facial & go soft & squidgy inside but equally alert as if a dog hears the word walkies.

Happy lady holding Love Gua Sha Crystals Luxury Facial 

(Thats me happy & excited to use my Gua Sha crystals, read below for the benefits they deliver)

I love delivering treatments around the face, shoulders, neck & scalp, as these areas often hold a lot of tension. Also our lush faces might not get the right sort of care in our daily life, internal criticism of what isn’t perfect about our appearance, a quick cleanse & slap on some moisturiser, but at Caring For You, I love to totally consider supporting you fully & bringing a nurturing treatment to those with self care at heart.

Relaxation

As with all my treatments my main passion & focus is to support with complete relaxation to all aspects of you. This supports you to recharge fully so you can leave looking & feeling relaxed & refreshed.

Bright Shiny Face

Massage helps to boost circulation, creating fresh blood supply with oxygen & other nutrients that are carried in the blood, so the face so it brightens up, literally.

Gua Sha

Gua Sha jade stone massage benefits include improves microcirculation by up to 400 per cent, tones & smoothes the skin, boosts collagen, combats pigmentation, dark circles & puffy eyes, defines jawlines & even decongests the sinuses.

Chocolate & Rose Face Mask

Chocolate and rose face mask – it contains cacao, rose powder, rose clay & rose geranium on your face to leave you feeling totally spoilt, the smell is sooooo good too.

Massage

Massage to your choice of shoulders, scalp or feet, it is so nourishing to have extra time to care for you fully.

Eco-Friendly

No nonsense eco-friendly products with zero waste, made using sustainable packaging & products made in the UK.

Deeper Cleanse

A deeper cleanse than perhaps what we make time for at home – a cleansing facial will help your skin get rid of oil buildup, toxins & dirt from your everyday environment. 

Facial Oil

A balancing facial oil working its way into your skin as the muscles in your face relax & soften, ingredients include Jojoba Oil, Hazelnut geranium & cypress oils.

Exfoliate

To be gone with you dead skin cells! This will also make your skin look & feel softer & smoother, making your makeup blend easier too.

Overall Caring For You

I offer time out for you and a health check to see how you are doing with all aspects of life. I love to focus on wellness support generally as sometimes we get so busy we forget about a little self care.

The Luxury Facial was just that. What a beautiful treatment! My skin looks amazing and I still smell delicious!

Happy Luxury Facial Customer 🙂

For more info on what a luxury facial includes see here.

To book a luxury facial contact me here.

Caring for you, an A to Z guide

Caring for you, an A to Z guide

In case you didnt know, caring for you, is one of my biggest passions, relaxing, squidging, aligning and supporting people to take good care of their health is soooo important. 

A – AROMATHERAPY I love essential oils, their unique aroma & powerful health properties. I create a tailor made blend & place them in an oil to soothe your aches & pains with the benefits of massage or place them in a moisturiser.

B – BOWEN TECHNIQUE an amazing realignment technique to support posture, free up tension, muscular restrictions, support healing injuries & pain reduction. It is very relaxing & can support with stress & wellbeing too.

Bowen technique back care

C – CARING my biggest strength, I love, caring for you & I am totally here to support you with any health & wellbeing needs you have.

D – DETOX Bowen Technique can support to detox & de-stress. Reflexology can ease up uric acid & calcium deposits, which are natural waste products in the forms of crystals which are deposited on the feet.

E – EARS support our respiratory system, hearing & balance. Bowen can ease congestion symptoms & relieve blocked sinuses with amazing lymphatic drainage moves around the ear, jaw, forehead & neck.

Caring for you listening

F – FASCIA an amazing web like substance that surrounds all our muscles, ligaments, cells & organs. Bowen works over fascia, when a move is made, the stretch receptors send impulses to the brain which communicates to the specific muscles, resetting them to an original blueprint & providing realignment.

G – GALLBLADDER in Bowen Technique there is direct move over this super fat digesting organ, freeing up restriction & supporting with gallstones. I also support with diet/lifestyle tips such as reducing a fatty diet.

H – HOT STONES they are hot & get in nice & deep to the muscles. They also are great for supporting with detoxing the body.

I – INSOMNIA which happens to all of us & I would love to support you to ensure you have a nice bedtime routine. A relaxing treatment can ensure your body is in a balanced state.

J – JOJOBA OIL a great oil for oily skin. My fav is to combine it with Patchouli & Geranium, which balances the natural sebum production that the skin produces.

K – KIDNEYS Bowen Technique has an ace Kidney procedure which works directly over this incredible filtering organ to support with stress reduction & lower back pain. Reflexology can work over the Kidney/adrenal glands to support you working at your best.

L – LIVER get your Milk Thistle in pre & post drinking to cleanse your liver with any toxins. PS don’t drink more, this is a support as well as moderate drinking & drinking water into between alcoholic drinks.

M – MOISTURISE no matter what treatment you book in for, I can check out your skin & create a tailor homemade natural moisturiser for you with SPF 25 in whooo, go skin go!

N – NATURAL, O ORGANIC OIL whoo natural and organic oil benefiting our skin, reducing the impact on our liver has in detoxing products & supporting the environment. Orange flower facial oil, get a load of that rubbed into your skin smells so good!

P – PELVIS often this can be misaligned from poor posture, accident/injury or even childbirth. This often goes hand in hand with jaw misalignment & lower back pain. Bowen technique has a great move which can support alignment, also benefiting your knees & ankles too, as well as supporting the lymphatic system to flow freely.

Q – QUALITY from the towels, the treatment bed, the music you hear, the products you smell, the colour scheme, the health questions asked, the picture on the ceiling as you like back, all is considered to support you fully & provide a quality treatment & experience.

Relaxing eco-friendly treatment room

R – RELAXATION plays an important part in health & wellbeing, being able to relax with all thoughts and emotions is something that has greatly enhanced my health. Bright.how is an amazing support network, which I highly recommend. Relaxation & taking time out for you to support your body is such a support to you and to everyone else.

S – SUPPORT I am here to support you with your health & wellbeing using all my tips and tricks that I know. It might be Bowen Technique, Aromatherapy, Hot Stones, Reflexology, Reiki, or a Luxury Facial.

T – TMJ an amazing move in Bowen Technique that can support with pre/post dental surgery, dizziness, colds/respiratory problems, releasing stress in jaw, providing realignment in the body, especially to your pelvis, as the jaw is connected to the pelvis via fascia.

U – U BE YOU I love to encourage you to be as you are & focus on your loves.

V – VERY NICE TREATMENTS 🙂

W – WATER which hydrates fascia to stay fluid & provide mobility, often after a treatment you feel thirsty because it’s like having a workout & allows toxins stored in the body to be eliminated. Your body loses up to 2 litres of H20 a day with very little expenditure, so that’s a reason to drink H20.

X – XMAS GIFTS get your gifts here, for you or a friend, go on treat yourself & de-stress.

Y – YOU I love caring for you & tailoring the treatment to you so you can receive the best care to support your health.

Z – ZZZ relaxing treatments aid the body being in a balance & support you to sleep better.

Contact me here to book a treatment.

 

Self-care During Period

Self-care during your period

 

How to take the best self-care during your period. I share my top tips below.

When it’s your period do you wear yellow shorts and run along the beach singing Bodyform like this happy lady?

Haha I didn’t think so and it certainly isn’t my style. Saying that, I do have many clients that take the pill, or the coil, so they have very few hormonal symptoms. These bring added benefits of ruling out an unwanted pregnancy, but equally can bring their own complications. It took me 2 years to have a period again after coming of the combined pill. I also had a brief encounter with the progesterone only pill and felt a strange sensation in my calf, after reading up about blood clot side effects and the trials carried out in poor African villages with awful side effects and fatalities, I decided that was enough for me, but of course everybody has their own unique body, preferences and ethics.  

So, back to periods!

The period app – get prepared and track symptoms

I don’t know how I managed without my trusty free period app, before, it was a oh no it’s my period, but somehow there is relief and understanding when I feel more in tune with what stage of my cycle I am at, so I am more ready and willing for it. After tracking, I now see recurring patterns, such as hunger the week before, increase in sugar craving and of course more emotional states. This reassures me as I understand there are hormone changes happening and I am extra gentle on  myself.

Eco friendly products

I have my trusty Mooncup and reusable bamboo sanitary pads, so there is no plastic, no waste, no chemicals used, so no skin irritation, plus they are already in my cupboard. 

Choccie support

Not forgetting my fav delicious bar of chocolate Doisy & Dam, yummy nom nom. I naturally crave more sugars around this time, so I trust in going with what feels most nourishing. This choccie has superfoods in and less refined sugar than your average bar. It’s also organic, with packaging that can be recycled. Whoopers all round!

Adjusting your schedule 

I have blocked out a day of less work, or no work from my calendar during my first day of my cycle, as the flow can be heavy then and so I can prioritise resting. The stigma of appearing weak when you need to rest for your period is thankfully reducing and actually it’s so supportive to honour your body and rest if rest is needed, that goes for other times too.

Of course I understand we all have our own lifestyle’s which might not adapt, but even if it’s a 20 min power nap, or being gentle, which could look like, wearing comfy trousers, going to bed earlier, taking comfort in what you see supports you.

Taking steps to take the best care of ourselves is a brilliant support & demonstration for everyone.

Some places of work, have honoured the period policy which is a wonderful upgrade in taking the best care of your staff. 

Vaginal steaming

I also have a friend who is a trained vaginal steam facilitator and this has really soothed my periods to be shorter and less painful. It is a very controversial topic, but in essence its herbs and the same amount of steam as a sauna. It is incredibly relaxing and actually supports me to look forward to my monthly flow.

The Sciencey Part

The menstrual cycle is a series of natural processes that your body goes through. During your period cycle, your hormone levels rise and fall, depending on which stage of your menstrual cycle you are in. These hormones can also affect your mood and level of energy.

The length of a menstrual cycle can vary from 23 days to 35 days. All bodies are different, so the length of your own menstrual cycle may be shorter or longer and not all menstrual cycles are regular.

If you struggle with painful periods, or endometriosis, please contact me here to discuss hormone balancing, its a relaxing way to restore the body to a balance and reduce symptoms. 

Other complementary therapies include herbalist’s and I have taken a herb called Agnus castus in the past which has helped regulate my periods. Homeopathy and naturopathy are all wonderful ways to offer regulation of irregular periods.