Facial therapist Veronica Massa introduces her popular Facial Reflexology treatment. Read her blog to find out more about this deep reflex treatment and what this profound healing modaility can do for you Also known as Facial Reflex Therapy Sorensensistem™, this is a holistic reflexology carried out on the face. It applies the same principles of foot reflexology, but rather than working on micro maps of the body on a part of you that no-one sees, Facial Reflexology Sorensensistem™ works through your most visible feature. The face is richly supplied with nerves and blood vessels. Did you know there are 564 nerve points on the face? The face closeness to the brain means that stimulus perceived by your senses take the shortest possible route to the control centre of the body to potentially address your health imbalances. It is not a case that most of our senses, vision, smell, hearing, taste, are in our face so that the messages to the brain have a short route to travel. A Facial Reflexology session calms your mind and is deeply relaxing and grounding. We don't realise how much tension can build up in the muscles of our face, we use our face hundreds of times a day and communicate through our facial expressions. Expressed and suppress emotion may result in an accumulation of facial muscle tension, which the specific and intentional deep strokes of face reflexology may steadily dissipate - achieving a corresponding improvement in your overall health, releasing “stagnation” of blocked energy in the meridians (energy channels). In fact, many meridians, from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, start or end on the face, so by stimulating and activating them on the face, we address the corresponding body organs and systems including the associated emotions. This therapeutic modality is based on Traditional Oriental Medicine and ancient facial maps of the body from Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese traditions and indigenous tribes of South America, combined with the study of modern neurology of the face and central nervous system. Through these maps and 12 major Chinese energy meridians, we aim to stimulate the brain and nerve system and initiate the healing process. Cranial lines and points are also used where appropriate. Facial Reflexology initiate a natural improvement in the blood circulation, lymphatic drainage, muscle tone and nerve supply to the face and head. Clients frequently report an enhanced feeling of well-being – and a glowing complexion - all levels, that is, physically, psychologically and energetically. Facial reflexology helped thousands of people with all sort of complains and has also proven to be very effective in helping children and adults suffering from learning and behaviour difficulties and also in the rehabilitation of patients with brain injuries and neurological problems. The therapy is appropriate for clients of all ages including children (who may respond particularly quickly) and those with a dis-ability. What’s a session like?
A detailed health history is always obtained on your first appointment. Your current health status is assessed and a specific Facial Reflexology plan is designed for you. A pure, natural blend of botanical oils, including Rosehip oil, is applied on the face to perform the therapy. A course of sessions is often advised. You don’t have to be affected by a medical condition to enjoy the benefits of Facial Reflexology. Clients frequently report a restored energetic state and an enhanced feeling of well-being, feeling calm, grounded, centred, focused and with a clearer mind, essentially “back home to themselves”– with the addition of a glowing complexion and a happier outlook. It also helps to cope with stress and keep health in optimum condition. A session normally lasts about one hour, but can be extended to 90 minutes if an additional Facial Muscle Reflex Stimulation is incorporated. Facial Muscle Reflex StimulationA dynamic facial muscle stimulation technique for lifting and toning all the facial muscles in combination with facial reflex therapy. Facial muscle reflex was developed by Lone Sorensen for facial muscle stimulation to help with recovery from neurological and brain damaged medical issues. I.e. recovering the facial muscles after stokes or for lifting the face muscles from illnesses such as Bell’s Palsy. This unique facial muscle lifting technique gives amazing results to also help smooth out wrinkles as part of a course of treatments for Facial Reflexology. Facial and Neuro-Foot-Reflexology Bipolar Method is a special protocol of Facial Reflex Therapy for trauma, severe stress and deep emotional issues. It consists on manually stimulating different areas and points of micro-systems on the face, scalp and feet to release trauma and emotions stored in the body’s cell memory, in the limbic system and the amygdala. The method Lone Sorensen use is based in various microsystems with scientific studies behind Dr Yamamoto (YNSA), Japan; Dr Castillo Morales, Argentina; Dr Wong, USA; Dr Chau, Vietnam; Maria Perez, Argentina; Dr J. Bossy, France. With Trauma-Bipolar Therapy, the body and brain's hormonal levels will regulate the neurobiological process and balance neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine and release anti-stress hormones. When the balance of the internal chemistry is normal, you will feel in peace within yourself and with the external world. Thanks to that, you will regain energy to be able to control your world again, feel sharp, clear, and focused.
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With Karen joining us this month it felt like a good time to reflect on the range of therapies we now have on offer at WNT. It is our 10th anniversary this October – wowee 😊😊 – and over the decade we have had an alphabetic spectrum of treatments and classes from Acupuncture to Yoga with everything from Feldenkrais to Sports massage in between. So what do we have on offer now? Well, starting with massage where WNT began, we have a great range to choose from Sports and remedial massage with Tessa – Advanced booking required to see popular Tessa with her highly adept intensive treatments. She works with all sorts of athletes and desk-bound bodies to help free up stubborn tensions and encourage freer, more efficient movement. Tessa really is a master of her trade working with a range of deep tissue and trigger point techniques and using acupuncture needles in some sessions. Relaxing deep tissue massage with Erika – Erika has been in the massage business for over 20 years and her lovely strong hands work intuitively around the body, their experience meaning your body has easy confidence to relax and feel some relief. You can read Erika’s blogs and see how thoughtful, interesting and considered they are and her massage treatments are in the same vein, very nourishing. Tuina massage with Mihaly / Mike – Mihaly (also known as Mike) is a more recent addition to our team and we are so glad he joined! Mihaly has a lovely, peaceful, warm presence and his Tuina massage is very careful and intuitive. Tuina takes placed fully clothed and works along the meridians like acupuncture (which Mihaly also practises). This is a great treatment with Mihaly since he is a natural therapist and can help you work with acute and broader issues alike, often helping with lifestyle support. Philippa also practises tuina massage and tends to incorporate it into an acupuncture treatment when she feels it would benefit rather than offer it as a stand-alone treatment. And now we have another experienced pair of hands in Karen with Shiatsu. Similarly to tuina, Shiatsu works with meridians to open up stuck energy and uses stretching and pressure on points to help release and find relaxation and ease. Karen has been working in South London over the past 2 decades and her experience and skilful practice is a welcome addition to our team. And then we have a wealth of Acupuncture on offer too, which you can read more about in our blog, Acupuncture at WNT - three different approaches, who should I see? In brief, we have Philippa with a traditional TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) background and almost three decades of experience working in a broad range of professional settings, both privately and with the NHS. Philippa works a lot with women’s health, including menstrual issues, fertility through to post-natal recovery and menopause. Philippa’s treatments tend to be primarily pure acupuncture though she often incorporates some tui na massage into the treatment. Mihaly is also TCM trained and his treatments tend to be more of a blend of acupuncture with tui na massage and incorporates his background in martial arts into his approach. Mihaly’s interest is in the mind-body connection and developing this this both informs and is an outcome of his practice. Tessa uses acupuncture needles in a different way, her training is in Medical Acupuncture or Dry Needling which can be useful in treating musculoskeletal issues and helping to release stubborn tensions. Tessa uses these as an addendum to her sports massage treatments, incorporating them when she feels they’d be beneficial and the client is keen. And then we have some other treatments which are currently all offered by lovely Laura on a Saturday: Reflexology is Laura’s main practice, her warm and welcoming presence is popular with clients who report feeling the benefits of her kindness and empathy as well as her knowledgeable treatments. This foot treatment has an uncanny way of working on the whole body and can be profoundly relaxing and restorative as well as effective on specific aches, pains, digestive and menstrual challenges.
Reiki is another of Laura’s offerings and clients find this energetic work helpful in encouraging the body’s own healing capacity, a nourishing hands-off treatment that helps support the body emotionally and spiritually. And last but by no means least, Laura’s other skill is in sound bath healing and she offers one on one sessions at WNT – amazing sensation having bowls placed on the body and ‘played’ so you feel the vibrations and benefit from the deeply resonating sounds. This is a pretty special thing to have on offer and worth checking out if you have never experienced it. Reflexologist, reiki and sound healing practitioner Laura Devonshire looks at the various aspects that comprise holistic wellness What is Holistic Wellness?
The word ‘Holistic’ derives from ‘Holism’, with Greek roots ‘Holos’, meaning whole, complete, entire. Holistic Wellness is looking at a number of elements relating to a person and their way of life that contribute to them feeling at their most optimal. Each of these parts are intimately connected and if one part is out of balance it has an impact on all the other parts. Therefore, we cannot only focus on one part in isolation, we must consider all parts to have a full picture and understanding of how a person is. Below are 5 aspects that contribute to our whole way of being: Physical Wellbeing – this relates to our body and its associated systems functioning optimally. For this to happen we consider a number of influences: the foods we eat and a balanced diet, the amount of, and quality of sleep we have, keeping hydrated and daily exercise/movement. They all play a huge part in contributing to our physical energy levels and how our bodies cope and respond to daily demands, medical conditions and dis-ease. Mental Wellbeing - an optimal state of mental wellbeing does not mean an absence of stress but more one’s ability to process and juggle the events of day to day life. Our mental wellbeing changes and we can experience highs and lows, it can change daily, weekly, monthly, even hourly depending on our life experiences. When we feel in balance and flow, we make healthy choices, maintain healthy boundaries and are able to be fully present in the moment. Emotional Wellbeing - our sense of self, our self-esteem and how we think, feel and relate to ourselves and others. It is being able to recognise, feel and process our full range of emotions: joy, anger, stress, sadness etc... and our ability to communicate them with others. Our emotional wellbeing includes developing emotional resilience to be able to adapt and cope with changing situations. Our emotional wellbeing is intimately connected to our mental and physical wellbeing, it is estimated that 75% of illnesses are caused by stress. Spiritual Wellbeing - an aspect that will look different for each person as it’s such a personal part of one’s overall wellness. Spiritual health relates to our sense of life-meaning and purpose and how we experience and integrate this into our lives. Taking time to do the things that ‘light your fire’, finding the things that inspire you and make you ‘feel alive’. It may mean taking time to sit quietly in contemplation, having a mindfulness practice. Or conversely could be more dynamic and involve activities like dancing or singing. Spending time in nature can be really soothing for the soul and cultivating a sense of being connected to something greater than ourselves. Social Wellbeing - relates to the connections we have with other people. This can be with family, friends, community, common interest groups ie: social, work, sports, spiritual, religious etc... Overall as human beings we are wired for connection, however, one person may thrive in small intimate settings whilst another may thrive in larger groups. Having connections where you feel supported, heard and held can have a significant impact on our overall wellbeing. We can see how each of the above parts has a significant impact on how we feel on a day to day basis and how they continually interact and overlap: How we think and feel affects us physically. What we eat affects us mentally and emotionally. How we move and how we socialise affects how we feel. So although we have broken the whole down into parts to explore different aspects of the whole, they each contribute to the whole and also each reflect the whole. As we understand each aspect of ourselves and what does/does not work for us we can implement appropriate self-care practices to support each aspect of our lives. Sometimes we develop an image of how we are and what we are like and don’t allow ourselves to explore other possibilities. Acknowledging that on different days and at different times in our lives we may need different things and giving ourselves space to explore and room for change. Taking an holistic approach to your wellbeing does not replace medical advice or treatment when it is needed, but regardless of any existing health issues it can be really beneficial in supporting your current and future health and wellbeing. |
AuthorBlogs from the WNT team. For our blogs from before June 2020 please see individual profile pages - it's a good way to get to know practitioners too. Archives
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