Sports Massage with Natalie

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! This message is for fellow group fitness instructors who have tried to create a balance between delivering an effective class while preventing themselves from entering burnout phases. Teaching group fitness since 2009, one of the aspects of teaching which I found was occurring quite often was trying to manage and regulate how all the participants were feeling by re-enforcing what I knew one participant would find funny or what I knew the other would find helpful. Creating a rapport I find is important but I also realise that participants can manage their own feelings and this would allow more space for me as the instructor to be more present with the class, let the music speak, enjoy my job more with a more relaxed state of mind, which the members feed from. I find this balance seems to work for me and the members based on how my teaching has evolved, teaching in smaller class groups and also learning more about the body. Being a qualified soft tissue therapist now as well, being more focused on symptoms/issues if for example they have osteoarthritis, I am more focused on that which reduces the overthinking loop of worrying if it is something as an instructor that I have done anything wrong.

Out of interest, has any other fellow instructors found this or has it been different? Enjoy the rest of your weekend all 😀.

I hope everyone had a good Easter break 🐣😀.

Trigger points are small nodules which are located in the muscle fibres and develop when the fibres are not receiving enough oxygen or nutrients. This is due to lack of movement, an imbalance in posture, repetitive movements as well as stress. As a result, people can feel general stiffness as well as a dull achey sensation in most muscle groups, especially the ones in the neck, upper/mid/lower back and hip region.

The benefit of trigger point therapy is that focused work applied to these specific areas help reduce the tension in the nodules which allows more oxygen and nutrients to be absorbed in the muscles. This can help reduce the pain/discomfort associated with it.

For further information or to book a treatment please send a message in the inbox section of this page 🙏.

Hypermobility does not relate to how the skeleton is designed but the collagen that the tendons, ligaments and connective tissue contains. In hypermobile individuals, the collagen has more elasticity, which is why there is greater range of movement at the joints.

During excessive joint mobility, the muscles around them have to tighten to create stability. As a result, tension builds up and the muscles become fatigued. Massage therapy can help reduce stiffness here, which helps relieve dull aches and pains that go along with it. Techniques, such as myofascial release are applied to help achieve this.

For further information or to book a treatment, please get in touch via the message section of this page.

Have a good day all 🙏.

My studies have now finished and I am resuming my normal hours for massage treatments at Reflexions Health and Leisure, which are :-

Monday - 8am-8pm.
Tuesday - 10.15am-5pm.
Wednesday - 12pm-8pm.
Thursday - 2pm-8pm.
Friday - 12pm-6.30pm.
Saturday - 8am-9am + 12pm-3pm.
Sunday - CLOSED.

For further information or to make a booking, please feel free get in touch via the message section of this page.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a chronic lung condition that affects breathing, which manifests in the depth of breathing being shorter.

Alongside exercises and treatment given by the relevant medical professional, remedial massage can help individuals manage their condition better by helping improve their quality of life.

Remedial massage helps reduce tension in the neck muscles, which allows breathing to feel more comfortable. It also helps reduce tension in the thoracic region of the back, which allows the chest to expand more easily during breathing.

If you suffer from this condition and would like further information, please get in touch via the DM section of this page.

Happy New Year all 🙏.

I have now started using tools as part of my services for sports and remedial massage, one of them being the fascia blaster. The fascia is a web of connective tissue that holds the body together, including the nerves, organs, muscles and bones.

Applying myofascial release techniques as well as using the fascia blaster allows the fascia to be more hydrated and less stuck, which allows the range of movement in the body to be smoother and greater.

This is particularly beneficial for people who suffer from chronic stiffness relating to poor posture as well as people who suffer from tension headaches.

The fascia is also packed with sensory nerve endings, so reducing restriction in the fascia is also good for calming the nervous system and can help with relieving stress.

Sweet almond oil is rich in nutrients such as zinc which helps with reducing inflammation as well being a suitable oil for sensitive skin. It also gives off a nutty scent which helps promote relaxation. Please note, this lotion is not suitable for people with nut allergies.

Lavender scented lotions and waxes are now used, which have calming properties which help reduce anxiety and help improve quality of sleep.

A lovely Christmas meal with you all and Christine + Dave you were there in spirit.

Looking forward to seeing you all in the New Year and remember that Aqua resumes on Friday 2nd January at 8.30am Stoke Mandeville Stadium and back to the normal time of 9.15am the following week.

A Merry Christmas to you all🎄🎅.