£10 'Tasters'

Chances are that you've seen some of my advertising and noticed the above.

What is a 'Taster'?

It's a shortened version of one the therapies I offer that you might want to try before booking a full length appointment.


How long does the session last?

A short treatment session is typically a generous 20 minutes.


Which therapies are available as 'Tasters'?




'Tasters' are available for:

Reflexology
Reiki or
Indian Head Massage/Seated Acupressure Massage









You can book a 'Taster' if you want to 'try before you buy' or if you are short of time. And the good news is that you can book as many of them as you wish.

You could even buy two or three 'Taster' sessions of each of the above treatments and have them all in the same day - the choice is yours.



A 'Taster' Gift Voucher is an ideal gift!

Call me for details on 01779 476664 or 07740 680 924
or mail me at belinda.kennedy1@btinternet.com

Hi Everyone!

The Festive Season is almost upon us and by all accounts it is as frenetic as ever. We're all so busy holding down jobs, cleaning the house, writing and posting Christmas cards, buying and wrapping presents... and on top of it all we're supposed to be out enjoying ourselves and hosting parties ourselves! The list of things to do is endless.

This is a time when we get through on adrenaline and joie de vivre (and maybe a little fizz thrown in for good measure!). There is a price to pay even though it is a time of enjoyment and happiness with friends and family (OK, there can also be a lot of friction as well - let's not be totally hypocritical).

It's not on the cards this month, but how about being kind to YOU next year? we're not talking pampering, we're talking health and wellbeing - inner peace and tranquility and also topping up that exhausted immune system.

So the tree is down, you're going back to work for a rest (!!!) and there's not a lot left in the piggy bank.

I have the answer!

Lift the phone and make an appointment to go to The Studio for some well deserved 'me-time'. I'm available from Tuesday 8th January 2013 and as a special New Year Gift to you I'm offering Toxin-releasing Back Massage, Reflexology and Reiki sessions for half the normal price. That's only £15 - don't say I'm not good to you! Offer available till end of January.

Call me on 01779 476664 or 07740 680 924 or email me on belinda.kennedy1@btinternet.com

The Studio can be found at 25 Ringway Road, PETERHEAD, Aberdeenshire AB42 3BW - by appointment only.

Flu

Graphic from www.holisticonline.com

Flu is caused by a virus. Symptoms include high temperature, fatigue, muscular pain and general debility. Flu can be dangerous, so don’t try to shrug it off and work through it. Those of you who are most at risk are advised to get the flu vaccination.  

Who is at risk?

Mums to-be; those over 65; those with another serious ailment like diabetes, asthma, heart conditions etc.  

Prevention

Precautions against this incapacitating illness are a) annual flu vaccination b) good hygiene and c) a strong immune system. Before you’re reading this, the chances are that you may have already fallen prey to this virus, so I’ll focus on what to do to relieve the symptoms and speed up recovery.

 

Conventional treatments

·        Keep warm

·        Rest

·        Keep well hydrated

·        Take paracetamol or ibuprofen

 

For full NHS information go to http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Flu/Pages/Introduction.aspx

 

Complementary treatments*



Graphic from www.successandyouth.com

·        All of the above PLUS consider

·        Zinc lozenges

·        Vitamin C (overdose my result in tummy troubles including diarrhoea or cramps)

·        Echinacea used in advance may help prevent flu and cold taking hold

·        Honey and lemon in warm water or in warmed up lemonade. Honey may be taken straight from the spoon!

·        Garlic – as a supplement or in food

·        Mum’s chicken soup!**

·        Aromatherapy oils

 At the first sign of flu like illness e.g. feeling shivery and cold, consider taking a warm bath to which this blend is added: Lavender 2 drops, Thyme 2 drops and Tea tree 5 drops. This blend may be added to a tablespoon of milk and then in to the bath water. Don’t use more than 10 drops of essential oil.

 The bedroom may be sprayed with oils mixed with water in an atomiser or burned in a normal burner: try a couple drops of Clove and Lavender; or make a personalised blend of any from Eucalyptus Lemon, Eucalyptus Radiata, Lavender, Cinnamon, Clove, Oregano, Patchouli, Sandalwood or Tea Tree. The oils all have properties such as anti-viral, antiseptic, antibiotic or anti-fungal.

 A good warm shower can refresh and make you feel better; consider using 3 drops of oil on a clean cloth, rub your body all over and shower as normal. Try Lavender, Bergamot or Rosemary to refresh you.

 

NB The medical profession don’t always consider aromatherapy to be effective but few question its safety. If you go on to consult with your GP please advise him of ALL the supplements or oils you are using.

Please do NOT ingest any of the oils and do not use during pregnancy.

*Please note that I suggest possible complementary therapies – that means in addition to mainstream advice, not instead of.

 

General advice

·        Lastly – be kind to yourself. Rest and sleep as much as you need to.

·        Viruses don’t ask and are not invited to invade your body – so take on board that it is never good to go to work and endanger the health of others.

·        The effects of the flu don’t disappear overnight and it may be 2 or 3 weeks till you feel more like yourself – do NOT consider this a sign of weakness, your body takes time to regain its former energy levels.

 

Useful sites

http://www.holisticonline.com/remedies/flu/default.htm

http://www.bupa.co.uk/individuals/health-information/directory/s/flu

http://www.fluawareni.info/

http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-the-flu.htm

 

In the future

 

 

Once you’re ‘on the mend’ think about introducing some holistic therapies into your life on a regular basis. It’s possible to help yourself with foot and hand massage as well as do-it-yourself Indian Head Massage – I am always on hand to give you advice or the odd tip here and there.

I can also offer personalised aromatic blends for you to purchase and take home – contact me for details.

Think about reducing or almost banishing damaging stress from your life – it helps neither your immune system nor your general health.

 

**Mum’s chicken soup recipe (for flus, colds and general malaise)

 

4-6 chicken thighs

1-2 onions – halved, not chopped

2 cloves garlic crushed

2 carrots – halved or in chunks

2 celery sticks – in chunks

Boiling water

Salt

Chicken stock pot (optional)

Leeks (optional)

 

Graphic from wiki

Place all the ingredients together in a large saucepan and simmer gently for a couple of hours. Strain off the stock. Pick chicken of the bones and reserve. To serve, put slivers of chicken in the bottom of a bowl and add liquid. Garnish with a little chopped parsley.

NB Either discard or mash up the stock vegetable according to your personal preference.

 

 

 

Paraffin Wax Therapy

My paraffin wax kit

What is it?

It is a form of heat therapy - paraffin wax is melted in a special container and applied to the skin either by dipping, e.g. hand or foot into the liquid or using a brush e.g. on the back/shoulder/elbow. Several coats are needed for full benefits to be achieved.

 

 

 

Who needs it?

Paraffin Wax Therapy is used by various practitioners in health, beauty and spa industries. It is used widely to aid in the treatment of arthritis; fibromyalgia; overworked or fatigued muscles; stiff joints to name just a few. Paraffin Wax Therapy reduces pain and stiffness around joints while providing lubrication.

 

Why have Paraffin Wax Therapy?

For pain relief; reduction of oedema and inflammation; skin softening (useful for scleroderma; arthritis relief; moisturising of very dry skin; increased circulation.

It soothes and moisturises the skin, opens pores, increases circulation and promotes a sense of calm. It increases the blood supply to the area being treated and traps moisture resulting in rejuvenated and nourished skin.

 It’s a luxurious addition to a manicure or pedicure – when the wax is removed, it takes with it dead skin cells, leaving the skin smoother and fresher.

It is easy and doesn’t take long.

What is a treatment like?

Let’s say you have booked for a manicure and added on a paraffin wax treatment – after nail and cuticle work is done and your hands massaged with a blend of aromatherapy oils or rich emollient cream you are invited to dip each hand momentarily in the wax bath, then this is repeated twice.

Your hands are then wrapped in salon roll and encased in a polythene protector and then a towelling mitt. The wax is left in place for approximately 15 minutes to do its work then removed. A short moisturising massage finishes the paraffin wax treatment.

 

It is also possible to introduce wax to the back prior to massage and this is also available at The Studio.

If you have any queries, give me a call on 01779 476664.

I am based in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

 

 

 

Relaxing Living Room Air Freshener

I thought that it was time to get back to my roots, and having given the living room a thorough clean, I decided to finish with a natural air freshener.
 
I filled a plastic spray bottle with 500mls of plain old tap water and added 8 drops of geranium essential oil, 5 drops of lemon and 3 drops each of clary-sage and bergamot. I screwed in the top, gave the bottle a quick shake and sprayed my living room liberally.
 
The smell is absolutely divine!

Afraid I can't take the credit for this beautiful blend; I consulted my very old copy of The Fragrant Pharmacy by Valerie Ann Worwood. The book is still in print and can be obtained from Amazon.
 
If you want to make this very quick and easy air freshener, I can obtain the oils for you or you can order them yourself. I can recommend Purple Flame Aromatherapy www.purpleflame.co.uk

By the way, you can make the blend in greater quantities and use a few drops at a time in a diffuser, either candle or the electric variety - absolutely beautiful aroma.

Some of you will have noticed that I have added ‘Toxin-releasing back therapy’ to my treatment menu, starting with dry skin brushing before massage with a detoxifying essential oil blend.

What are the benefits?

The skin is the biggest organ of the body and it eliminates approximately 25% of toxins from the body. Dead skin cells at the top dermal layer, accompanied with excreted waste (e.g. perspiration) as well as external pollution (e.g. heavy creams, dust etc.) can build up and clog pores, rendering the skin ineffective in getting rid of the body’s toxins.

Dry skin brushing is more than a beauty treatment – it is essential not only for beautiful skin but is also essential for  improved circulation, helps strengthen the immune and nervous systems, helps tone the musculature and aids digestion. In short:

·         Stimulates blood and lymph flow and strengthens the immune system

·         Dry skin brushing combined with exercise and massage helps speed the lymphatic system

·         Removes dry skin cells, improving skin texture and stimulating renewal of skin cells

·         May help reduce cellulite, though it takes some time to see results

·         A simple, more holistic approach to skin care

·         Skin brushing may well enhance your health significantly and increases your physical sense of wellbeing

This treatment is particularly beneficial for those of you who sit at a desk or computer screen all day long. You may have a sore neck and shoulders, thoracic and lower back pain. Dry skin brushing helps energise and invigorate both your body and mind.

Dry skin brushing is ideally carried out on a daily basis, before you have a shower or bath, so please keep it up – the benefits are many!

 

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