My name is Dannielle and I've been interested in massage since I was 18. My friend was a massage therapist and I used to go once a month to her for treatment on my back. I struggled with bad posture which created problems with my shoulders. I also had a desk job which did not help. In fact, the more I think about it, I'm sure that's what greatly increased my bad posture. Anyway, my friend was very knowledgeable in different types of massage and listening to her explain how I could improve my posture and reduce the problem in my shoulders etc triggered a spark of interest in me. Although I didn't act on this for quite a few years.
I’ve always been a sporty person and when I was 24 I developed a passion for running. I had just worked up to running 5 miles when I had an accident at work and knocked my pelvis out of joint. I can not explain how painful it was! What was worse, I thought that I had only pulled a muscle, so I carried on with normal day to day life for two weeks. When it got to the point that I could not stand, sit or lay down without being in absolute agony, I decided to go see a specialist. I had to have my pelvis put back in place, followed by a couple of deep tissue massages. Unfortunately, this accident created a weak spot in my body, so I now have to have regular deep tissue massages to keep my back, pelvis and glutes working properly. And at this time I was advised to stop running. I was informed that I needed to keep a good gym routine to build my core strength, which would stabilise my back, reducing the pain and improving my mobility.
Because I wanted you to know that I fully understand what it's like to struggle with a bad back, whether it's due to poor posture, desk work or injury. On my bad days, the simplest tasks like getting out of bed or picking something up off the floor are just excruciating. So, not only do I sympathise with people who have similar problems but I want to help them, to help you, to stop the pain that prevents you from doing day to day activities and allow you to get back to enjoying life.
Training And Types Of Massage
I started my training with learning full body massage using Swedish massage techniques. This gave me the understanding of the human body. Seeing how one muscle can affect another, how a problem in the back could, if untreated, lead to a knee problem. This really opened my mind to different types of people who need massages. From people who work at desks, to people who play sports, to even those who have heavy duty jobs, to be honest, the list is endless.
After a few months, I had a conversation with someone who said how much they love hot stone massage and if they were to go for a massage, that is the only one they would choose. Straight away I thought to myself 'I need to be able to offer this to my clients'. So, I did some research and when I saw the benefits that come from hot and cold stone massage, I immediately booked myself onto a course. I'm always excited to perform this massage as I can feel my clients relaxing as we go through the treatment and when you are relaxed it is a lot easier for me to treat the muscles and to get the optimum benefits.
To move forward in my understanding of the human body, how it works and to be able to help my clients further, I decided I needed to take a course in deep tissue massage. This course really opened my eyes and gave me the tools I needed to move forward in my ambitions of helping my clients to have a more pain-free life. In fact, one of my clients after a couple of treatments said to me that they were able to walk down the stairs without holding on to the bannister for the first time in months! It's things like this that drive me forward to keep improving myself and my skills, so that I can give you the very best treatment, because that is what you deserve.
2 Years On... How Time Flies
The last paragraph was written over 2 years ago... and things have changed and developed since then. After taking the time to understand and develop my skills in Deep Tissue, I decided it was time to take a step forward in my understanding of the body and how to work with it.
In April 2018, I went on a course to learn Myofascial Release (MFR). A question I often get asked is 'how do you pronounce that?' ... It's Myo-fas-cial- Release. Now you know how to say it, what does it mean? Well, you can check that out by going to the Myofascial Release page. But let me tell you, I loved that course day! It truly opened my eyes to whole new way of learning and how to heal the body. For example, I have a client who struggles with constant knee pain due to injuries, I have used Deep Tissue many a time and with positive results. But with just one MFR session, the change in the calves alone was truly stunning. The muscles went from being rock solid to fluid like. Both myself and the client were ecstatic and as you can imagine they booked in for their next treatment immediately.
As a therapist, it truly makes me happy to see how I am able to help people become pain free, and to watch the clients journey, knowing how much pain they were in before their first session, then to see the difference in them days, weeks, months down the line.
Even though I am in the early stages of this new skill, I am truly in love with it and eagerly look forward to see how I develop in this line of massage.
Has anything else changed? YES it has...
In May 2018 I took a huge leap forward and popped myself onto a Natural Face Lift course.
Firstly, let me answer that burning question right now, yes it really works! Now that's out of the way, let me tell you a little about how I first viewed this course.
I have never been much of a beauty person, and many of my friends and family will attest to that. So, when I heard of this course a few years ago, I wasn't very interested in it. But as I developed my skills in Deep Tissue massage, I came to understand the need to help with tight muslces in the neck and surrounding areas. My mind then drifted back to the Natural Face Lift course and how it offers insight into the neck and facial muscles. After researching the course, I decided it was time to dive in and learn the techniques that this course offers.
Well, let me tell you that this course blew me away! Why? In all honesty, I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. In the courses I take, we all work on each other, so you can experience what it's like to have the style of massage you are learning (which I feel to be a very important part in my line of work. To give a massage, I really do believe you should first understand how it feels to receive it, so you can then tailor it to every client's needs). While learning the lift part of the massage, we took a picture after working on only one side of the face and WOW, what a difference. You could clearly see the effects of the massage and how much more improved that side of the face looked. I think this meant more to me, as when I was 10 years old, I had something called Bell's Palsy, (such a coincidence that my last name is Bell). Anyway, Bell's palsy paralyses one side of the face, so my eye was stuck half open for a while and I struggled to talk properly as I couldn't control my mouth, which also made eating and drinking very humorous, (it's a very funny story and i'm more than happy to tell you all the in's and out's on your next visit) but for now i will just say that it left me with facial side affects and my confidence in taking photos etc was knocked for a long while. 21 years later and I still have these side affects and if I am brutally honest, I am still conscious about them, but after having this massage just once on the course day, I could see a difference in my face. Or, more to the point, I could NOT see the difference in my eyes and mouth. Wowee! Yup, that's pretty much how I felt when I looked at the before and after photo's.
So, has my opinion changed with regard to the Natural Face Lift Massage? Yes it truly has! This massage not only gives the youthful look we all so desire, but it can bring confidence to those who have facial problems and it can help reduce issues like tinnitus and sinuses etc. While it is true, that there is a major beauty outlook to this massage, there is so much more involved and in what can be achieved.
On the course day I explained to my tutor that I was only really interested in learning how to deal the muscles and that i wasn't really bothered about the lift side of the massage. I'm actually chuckling to myself while I write this, because my outlook has completely changed. After giving this massage to my Sister and a close friend of mine, I find myself to be so comfortable with the massage, that while i perform this massage, it actually chills me out. Yet again I have fallen in love with a style of massage. Yes i do say that a lot, but, isn't that what you want from your therapist? To be so in love with their work that it relaxes them while they perform the treatment on you? Think about that for a second, if I am relaxed while I work, that state of feeling will flow through to you also and when you are relaxed, your muscles are so much easier to work on. It's a win win for you and me.
Anyhoot, I have rambled on long enough about me for the moment. I look forward to when I can add more to this page, but for now, I wish you well and I wish you peace. If you have any questions, hit the button below to get in touch.
Your Therapist,
Dannielle
