Riverflow Therapies

You can now book an Advanced Clinical Massage Therapy treatment on my booking page. I wanted to add this option for those of you who are looking for a specific outcome-based treament to target an acute or chronic pain condition.

Let me be clear: his isn't a fast and painful sports massage. I'm not a gym bro who's going to tell you 'no pain no gain'.

I'm someone who experienced chronic pelvic pain, and learned that my psoas was persistently engaged. Spoiler alert: ramming a psoas does *not* invite it to release. It's a lot about our nervous systems.

Working in a slow, connected, and listening way is at the foundation of all of my work. I'm interested in a holistic approach to pain that partners with your body, heart and mind to offer intuitive and evidence-based clinical and remedial therapies.

I've had some incredible outcomes with clients experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome, migraines, chronic lower back pain, fibromyalgia, supraspinatus tendinopathy and more. It can be so easy to resign ourselves to a belief that pain can't get better. I can't tell you what a privilege it is to watch that story start to shift.

If you book an Advanced Clinical Massage, we'll work together to create a treatment plan that's tailored just to you. We'll thoroughly assess your condition, taking the time to really consider your case history and goals, establishing the benchmarks you'd like to see improved.

When it comes to the massage I'll be using my toolbox of myofascial release, trigger point therapy, acupressure, targeted stretching and stillness. You'll be taking home aftercare, so that you can continue our work together at home.

If you're curious and would like to learn more about how I could support you, please drop me a message. I'd love to hear about what you're working with.

Yesterday I graduated as an Advanced Clinical and Sports Massage Therapist with The Jing School of Massage and Complementary Medicine. I am so proud!

I didn't attend my university graduation, nearly 10 years ago. I didn't feel invested in, or excited by what I'd achieved. This is different.

What a blessing to love and really care about what I do. To have a sense of purpose, trust in my skills, and faith in the value of my work.

Thank you to everybody and every body that has been with me on the journey so far. The feedback, encouragement, practice, mentoring, teaching, and many massages received. Thank you to my friends, clients, and colleagues ❤️

My practice has totally transformed over the last year. Jing is a place of learning like no other. I'm leaving this training feeling confident and grateful 🙏✨ may the learning never stop (...I've already booked my next one 😁)

Oof, I've just spent a luxurious day getting deep release in my forearms, wrists and hands. Studying can be a rollercoaster at times, but when the teaching and techniques are this good, it's an absolute pleasure. That's me 2/3 of the way through my Advanced Clinical qualification 🎉🎉🎉

Here's some highlights from Bristol, Wales, London and Brighton ✨ what a magic road trip it's been. Feeling relieved to have a few days ahead with no early starts required before I head home to Edinburgh 😴

Thank you to everybody who joined me for a beautiful retreat in the Welsh countryside with . Sharing bodywork on retreat is really special, and the container allows something pretty unique to unfold. So much stillness, listening and release. And big thank you to all my fellow students and the teachers at . I'm feeling energised and on a high after a week full of putting these last few months of learning into action.

I'm excited to see my lovely regulars next week and integrate what I've learned. Bring me your tired limbs for some really juicy work - it's done me a lot of good this week. Hope to see you soon 🌻 love from me and my receding hairline 🤣

Landing in the sunshine this evening after concluding another Advanced Clinical case study 🌞 this work can be so effective. It's incredible to look back over a journey towards pain reduction. I feel so lucky to be alongside folks on this journey 💗

Later this month I'll be heading back down to Brighton to delve into Sports and Events Massage, legs and feet, hands and arms. And definitely also to have a holiday while I'm there. Those of you with chronic pain affecting your limbs (eg. knee pain, sore wrists, hands, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis etc) stay tuned for another case study recruitment announcement ahead 📢

Reminding folks to get in touch for donation based massage for transfems and reduced prices for community organisers 🧚 drop me an email to chat more.

I have space for one more massage next Wednesday 14th, and two more on Tuesday 20th. That's all remaining for this month ✨ link to book in the usual place.

🌸🌼💮🌻🌷

Hello from Berlin. I've been blessed with a beautiful, nourishing week of connection, generosity, and solidarity from q***r community outside of the UK. I arrived here feeling a lot of shock and resignation last Thursday. Over the week I've digested the news, received kindnesses, and observed the ripples in parliament, on the street, in stories of loved ones facing increased harassment already.

Make no mistake: transmisogyny is a waste of time, and a distraction from where we should be collectively targeting our anger and disenchantment.

I've been reflecting on the politics of my work. Accessibility. What it means to care, to facilitate, my lineages, aspirations and inspirations. I'm blessed to be friends with generous souls offering donation based and free-of-charge work. As my capacity gently expands, and my priorities shift, I feel called to do the same. The time is here. I might struggle these days with the work on the ground, but feel committed to my role of support and care in the social change ecosystem ❤️‍🔥

And so, going forward, I am supporting trans women and transfems by offering fully donation based massages for those who need it. I'm aiming to offer around 1 PAYC session for every 10 massages I give.

🌸 If you would like to book a donation based massage, drop me an email first at [email protected] 🌸 I will let you know when my next available PAYC slots are 🌻 please tell ur friends!

Side note: I've always offered discounted rates to frontline organisers for social justice. People holding many balls, coordinating, caring, facilitating, type A personalities holding things together 💗 Drop me an email (and because these people rarely self identify this way...drop an email on behalf of a dear one who needs it!)

Love and rage and solidarity always. River # # #

Hello loves. I'm writing this staring out my window at a cloud dappled sky, listening to birds kicking up a fuss, noticing fresh waxy spring leaves poking through my fence. I think I'm savouring this seasonal transition more than ever before. How is it for you?

I'm indulging here in sharing some of the lovely feedback I've received recently. I'm integrating many streams of learning - experience, advanced clinical massage, somatic trauma therapy, wise words from friends and mentors - and I feel I'm increasingly finding my stride 🤓 It's hard to believe that next month marks just a year since I've been open to the public. Offering this work remains a real honour and a journey. I am so grateful for the trust!

I'm less present on social media just now. I'm still reachable via DMs albeit with a slightly longer response time. I'm reaching out to clients directly when I have cancellations. Please let me know if you'd like to be on a waiting list. I'm currently pretty consistently booked up 3-4 weeks in advance, but can sometimes make extra space for regulars. Do drop me a note.

Have a beautiful April 🌞🌻🌿

'Healing helps us fight in the places we need to, but love in the places we long to' - Prentis Hemphill, What it Takes to Heal.

It's been a dark month politically. The winds are fierce and biting. The snowdrops are peaking their heads. We made it through to February. May there be sparks of hope in your heart amidst the winter ❤️‍🔥

During January, I was blessed to spend a week in Brighton immersed in psoas release, scapulas, fascia, bodywork community and an abundance of learning. This was my first hands-on module for my Advanced Clinical Qualification with The Jing Institute 🤓

I'm seeking out case study clients for my clinical work in chronic pain remediation. Looking for folks with lower back pain, and neck and shoulder pain. If this is you, please drop me a DM or an email and we can feel into whether you'd be a good fit. I'd love to sort you a discounted package of 6 regular treatments (with my usual sliding scale) to bring you some relief. We'll be working with orthopedic testing, benchmarking, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, stretching and techniques for you to take home and work with between sessions 💪 I have seen some really incredible results with this work. Let's chat 🌈

I'll do a glossier callout soon, but this is my brief pitch for keen (sore) beans who might be in need 👋

Take care of each other 🫂🌈 and let us hope, dream and resist where we can. Prentis's book is some sweet medicine. See also Dean Spade's Love in a F*cked Up World which is up next for me. Top tip: Libro.fm is a Bez-free version of Audible which supports local bookstores, and if you sign up you can get 3 audiobooks for the cost of 1 ❤️

That's a wrap for 2024! ✨ A deep, heartfelt THANK YOU to all of my clients, colleagues and friends for your support! For the reviews, referrals and recommendations. For the trust, community, and curiosity. Thank you for investing in taking care of your body, for taking the time to slow down, release, and tend 🌛

It's been a joy to open my little home clinic to the public this year. I've worked with so many wonderful, diverse bodies, built supportive relationships with regular clients, and grown and developed along the way. I've completed 4 different trainings across Scotland and England, and begun my Advanced Clinical qualification with The Jing Institute. I've done chair massage pop-ups, at Edinburgh Festival, Pride, and a retreat. It's been *rad* to work consistently with a sliding scale to provide lower cost therapies to those who need it 🌟🌟

2024 has also been a tough year for many of us, myself included. This work has been a real anchor during some big, painful changes in my life, not the mention the grief I know that I share with many of you at heartbreak locally and globally. Amidst storminess, I've come back repeatedly to the wisdom of our bodies: that in order to move forward, we must be willing to slow down, trust, and listen to the most subtle of sensations 🙏

I hope you all have a magical break over the holidays, and get the opportunity to be lazy, merry and indulgent! 🎄 See you from January 7th, where I'll have very limited appointments, as I'm away for most of the month, headed to Brighton for training and Lanzarote with my Mum! 🌞 Stay warm and cosy, loves x

✨ grounded, safe, cared for, blissful, deep relaxation ✨ thank you so much!! 🙏🌿🍁

I'm preparing my treatment room for another day of clients as a storm blows wildly outside. The picture behind this review is of the Water of Leith, rushing and surging with melted ice. I will never get tired of it's loud crashing and currents ❄️

I deeply appreciate receiving reviews - especially when they're glowing like this one 🥰 - and I love to share them, because they convey something about what I'm offering that can be challenging to communicate. Branding and advertising admittedly isn't my forte! But not only that, it's one thing for me to talk about who I am, my training, and what I'm hoping to offer, and another thing entirely to learn how my practice is landing in another body. In a world where we can generate our branding via AI, testimony, reviews and peer recommendations feels evermore important. A heartfelt appreciation to everyone who offers me your feedback ❤️

Stay cosy my friends ❤️‍🔥

So grateful for this feedback 🥰

And a big shout out to my massage chair! It's so comfy, adjustable, and allows us to work fully dressed and upright. I've had some great experiences using it for events over the summer, because it's so portable, and it's been a blessing to have this resource at home too for days like today.

If you've been thinking about booking a session but have some reservations around un******ng, or lying prone, let's have a chat and see whether a chair session might be the perfect fit for you.

December diary is open, and gift vouchers are available 🍂 take care 🍁

Hello November! 🍂 I've been quiet on here, but it's been an amazing, jam-packed month, including:

- spending a week in Berlin soaking up workshops from incredible embodied facilitators
- organising and facilitating the first meeting of our new bodyworkers peer supervision + community group
- planning exciting retreat work for 2025 🧘
- diving into researching and creating policy around q***r workplace boundaries...q***r colleagues, stay tuned for a circle discussion on this coming soon 👀✨
- seeing a flurry of lower back clients to put my Advanced Clinical training into action
- celebrating turning 30 🎂

I also received my first ever purely sports massage. What an interesting experience, and a completely different approach to mine! Receiving massage is an important part of my work, and I always come away having learned something new. I'm really motivated to create treatments that find a meeting point between effective, deep, remedial work and holistic, trauma informed and nervous system tending approaches.

There's plenty of appointments available for November ❤️ and keep an eye out for some schedule changes in the coming weeks. Take a look at my story to let me know what you think of my proposed new days!

Stay warm and cosy, Edinburgh 🍂 x