School of Bodywork

General information

WHY MASSAGE?

Massage is one of the oldest and simplest ways of assisting our bodies to heal and support itself naturally. It is for everyone – whatever our age, gender, disability, physical or mental health, background, lifestyle or experience; or if we want to take time to breath from our busy lives as a means of helping us to find a more relaxed way of being.

Holistically it respects and acknowledges our whole body – after all, everything is connected – we are a whole person, though sometimes, of course, we don’t feel it!

How may bodywork help?
It can soften and release tense muscle and associated tissue. It can also be supportive in the management of and living with immediate and long term physical, emotional and psychological issues, conditions and impairments.

APPROACHES

All approaches listed here are therapeutic and holistic in nature – a ‘listening’ massage. In order to meet your specific and individual needs, approaches are often combined. All approaches take into account your physical, emotional and psychological well-being. Deep massage work is applied slowly and with awareness to enable the muscle tissue to ‘allow’ me in, rather than ‘bully it’ – this tends to enable greater depth and effect.

Holistic and Therapeutic Massage (HTM) Offers a mixture of soft to deep tissue and remedial work, including stretches, joint mobilisation and movement techniques. Strokes flow into one whole and holistic session.

Deep Tissue and Remedial Massage (DTRM) Similar to HTM but includes postural assessment as appropriate, together with specific remedial and post-injury techniques.

Integrated Myofascial Therapy (IMT) is a specialised and advanced remedial, yet holistic, therapy that affects and releases restrictions within the fascial network. What is fascia? It is connective tissue that surrounds, permeats, cushions and protects everything in our body. It puts up resistance to trauma, tightness, stress (physical, emotional, psychological, postural) and over a period of time tight fascia causes tension which can effect other parts of our body as well as the site of trauma. You will feel sustained but gentle pressure and stretch in order to affect the restrictions.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
(Vodder Method) is a specialised bodywork using slow, rhythmical movements to gently move the skin over underlying tissues. This stimulates muscles of the lymphatic system to aid the removal of waste and excess fluid from tissues. It can support with chronic conditions, areas of congestion as well as the management of lymphoedema and venous insufficiency conditions.

Reflexology based on the ancient premise that organs, glands and systems of the body are reflected in the feet and hands. Treating these different points with gentle pressure can have a relaxing and many people feel, healing effect.

SESSIONS – WHAT HAPPENS?

The first session includes an initial consultation. This includes questions about your health and well-being and agreement of a massage plan that will best meet your specific needs. I will also explain what happens next.

The massage is usually carried out directly on skin in order to move more deeply and effectively into the soft tissue (muscle fibres). However, if clothes are preferred – then we work with this too. You could be lying down or sitting – which ever is most comfortable. When removing clothes, I will leave the room unless you need any help. You will be covered at all times throughout the massage apart from the area that we are working on.

I tend not to initiate talking during the session unless I need to ask you to be involved in some movement or to check that you are comfortable –– but you can of course – it is your session, that’s the important element.

ABOUT YOUR THERAPIST

I began my massage training at the London School of Holistic Massage many moons ago! I am now based in North Devon and work with a wide range of clients; all seeking to meet their own individual and very different needs through the bodywork. Massage therapy is a fascinating world and I continue to develop and enhance my work through continued training.

In 2003 I established the fully accredited Meridian School of Massage and Bodywork in the Midlands and we are now developing courses in North Devon. I have in the past chaired the Massage Training Institute and am one of their national assessors for diploma courses.

I am also employed by the NHS to provide touch therapies for learning disabled people for whom we need to find creative ways of communicating and connecting and, currently, I am undertaking research with Aston University in Birmingham and the local community NHS Trust looking at the quality of touch within care work.

TEACHING

Please see our teaching website www.lhmeridian.co.uk. CPD training for qualified practitioners is being developed in the Devon area - if interested do let me know. Next one will be Introduction to Myofascia Therapy.

LORRAINE HORTON
MASSAGE & BODYWORK