Well all good things must come to an end at some time.   And very sadly, that time is approaching for Massage.

I have loved massage very much and will tell a little more about my Massage career below, but first I want to let you know that I am no longer taking on any new clients for Massage.

I first took up massage as an evening course, with the aim to make some friends after having emigrated to Brisbane, Australia and not knowing anyone aside from my then partner.   Little did I know that it was going to become a major part of my life and my career thereon.

I was great at massage, and I loved it.   Really felt so good to work with the body and to help people to better health.  Soon my studies turned to Aromatherapy and my mind was blown away.  Really? Could nature provide so much medicine within a plant that works so profoundly on a human.  I was hooked and a student from there on of natural medicine.

1995 opened my first Aromatherapy Massage clinic in Bulimba, Brisbane, within a Pharmacy owned by what was to become one of my dearest friends Kaye Sheppard.    This clinic ran alongside me working in the IT industry for ICI for a while until I really did become disillusioned with the whole kerfuffle of Y2K – the millennium bug and the impending IT doom.  I had to get out and I had to do something much more worthwhile with my life.

I didn’t know what it was that I would go on to do, but I knew that I would find it, if I stepped away from my routine day and gave time to think.   Being adventurous by nature, I loaded by 4 x 4 with camping gear and a mountain bike and I took to the road.   Alone and in nature, this was where I wanted to be to think and to reconnect.

Best part of a year later I was back in Brisbane and ready to embark on the next phase of my life.   I was to become a full time student of Naturopathic Medicine incorporating Herbal Medicine (more about the wonderfulness of plants) and Nutrition (something I had no idea was going to be so technical and difficult).    To help fund my time as a student I set up a massage clinic in the front room of my house and set to studying and doing a few massages to help pay the way.

In 2001 I graduated as a Herbalist and began a small herbal clinic on the Gold Coast Hinterland, again with the wonderful Kaye in one of her Pharmacies.   How wonderful to have been able to merge the world of Herbal Medicine and Nutrition into the realms of Pharmacy.

By 2002 I had fully graduated as a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and was offered an opportunity to join a clinic in Shepparton, Victoria.

This was a real treat and with adventure in my mind I set off for the 3 day drive to change homes and set up to start with this clinic.   Here I was working as a Naturopath and Massage Therapist.  But unfortunately, it was just not a great experience for me and I hated living in the Aussie Bush.   Whilst here I worked a day or 2 a month outreach at a town called Deniliquin, it was miles and miles away and so different.  i even managed to get a newspaper ‘Dear Tania…’ column.   People actually really did write in with their concerns!

Shepparton just wasn’t working for me and so after 18 months I quit and bravely returned to live in the UK.

Whilst Naturopathy was my ultimate qualification and work, massage was always going to sit alongside this.  Sick people get better and after a few appointments you don’t need to see them anymore.   Massage, however, proved to be a great business as a good massage gained immediate repeat and referrals and it grew and grew.

Romsey clinic was established in 2005 and since then many many of you have had the opportunity to experience my massage.   Many of you have complimented me on my massage treatments and the greatest compliment must come from the people that have remained regular clients for over 15 years.  It has been my pleasure to have been able to work with you all for this long time.

Massage is hard work on the body and my hands are starting to tell me it’s time to slow down.   I want to have full use of my hands long after I have retired.  So with this in mind, I have taken the difficult and quite emotional decision to close my massage books and say No to any further new clients.

This means that if you are a current client your massage will remain just as it has always done.   Please don’t think I am stopping completely, I’m really not ready for that yet.  I just want to do a little less, so that I can continue to do great massages.

If you have read this, and were thinking of booking in soon for your first massage, I am really very sorry that you will have missed out.   Romsey is home to many different therapists and I am sure you will find one that suits you.

Finally, I want to thank you all for having given me the greatest massage career years so far.  I really do mean it, it has been great to have been able to earn my living whilst helping you to better health.

Thank you.

Tania

Spark – is the name of our small outdoor exercise group.  We currently meet each Sunday morning at a park in Romsey, whatever the weather.

The group consists of just 4 members at present who are ranging from their 60’s to 80’s and exercise is tailored to ensure that each person is working to their levels as well as ensuring that any health conditions are given consideration.   Whilst with a small group we like to have a good chat and always find ourselves with a coffee at the end, it is about doing some exercise and working to help maintain wellbeing, with a focus on balance, strength and cardio.

It would be good to have a few more members, and it is honestly such a great way to exercise.

Additionally I am going to be putting the Wednesday morning session back on as well, so let me know if you might be interested in that.   I stopped so that I could myself go to a pilates class, and now as we are coming towards enclosed rooms for the cooler months, I realised that I really dont want to be inside doing exercise, I want to do it outside and by being part of the group we are all motivated to do it.

Classes are based on 5 sessions for £40, you dont have to come each week but I do ask that you provide adequate notice for lesson plans to be created.

Do you think you might enjoy this?   Benefit from it?   Why not get in touch and come along for a trial session, its open for men and ladies, whatever your age, whatever your fitness.    We all had to start somewhere and we are all grateful for having started this group.

Click here to go to the website

Foot health care is something that many of us will find ourselves needing at some stage of our lives.

Difficulty getting to the toenails is a reason that many people find themselves coming for regular appointments at the Chiropodist, Podiatrist or the Foot Health Practitioner.

I have recently qualified at the Institute of SMAE with a diploma of Foot Health, and am able to work with people of all ages to help with their foot care needs.

As mentioned, many people come for routine nail cutting as they have difficulty getting to the nails easily.

Others will come for removal of hard skin and callus, which can be painful, especially if it forms as a hard corn in a weight bearing position.    Debridement, or removal of this hard skin and the central enucleation of the core is something that can be simply done in a treatment giving immediate relieve and comfort.

Sadly, it is unlikely to be a one stop fix, as hard skin and callus is infact a protective mechanism of your own body from where friction is found, perhaps from excess walking, poor gait, or from shoes that don’t fit quite right and rub onto the little toe, for example.

Some people find they have a problem with athletes feet, and fungal concerns, which left untreated can get into the nails and under the nail plate, lifting the nail from the toe – unsightly and unpleasant, and unnecessary as it can be treated and cleared.

Cracked heels and sore feet, with the right treatment, creams and at home advice can be resolved and you can find yourself ‘sitting at home admiring my feet’ as one client has told me he took to after just one visit.  He now is looking forward to a summer in sandals not afraid of how his feet look.

If you are having any problems with your feet, book in for an initial assessment and treatment, and with my background in massage you can be sure to receive a lovely foot massage at the end if you would like it.