Penny Clemmow

Jacky Huson has created a wonderful new therapy room, very calming and comfortable, at Touch Therapy in Southwell. I am reviewing her Hot Stonefusion, a holistic massage using hot smooth basalt stones and the room is warm and peaceful with relaxing music playing. Jacky is, as always, very welcoming and the days stresses begin to melt away before the massage has even begun!

Before the massage there is a short confidential medical and lifestyle questionnaire for all new clients or the opportunity to update any conditions for regular clients. I have chosen a  back, neck and shoulders massage so I undress down to the waist and lie firstly face down on the special couch, beneath the warm cover provided. Half way through I am asked to turn onto my front as the treatment progresses. The atmosphere in the room is very calm, providing fast and complete relaxation of mind and body!

The hot stones enable Jacky to deliver therapeutic heat deep into the muscles. The heat relaxes the muscles, relieving muscular pain, speeding up recovery from injury and reducing stress. Jacky alternates between using the flat edges of the heated stones and her own hands, forearms and knuckles. The various sized stones are placed on strategic points on my body at intervals to prolong the effects of the therapeutic heat. The stones definitely enable a deeper massage that really reaches the areas of tension and strain in my back and neck.

The stones used for this treatment are very smooth and soft and are heated to the temperature of a warm bath, although this can be reduced for more heat sensitive skins. The hardness of the stones is never apparent during the massage as they remain either cupped in the Jacky’s hand or stationary on my back or shoulders. The heat they give out feels very comforting and I do not want the massage to end!

After the treatment I am given a drink of water – essential after any massage – and allowed to drift slowly back to reality before I dress and have to re-enter the real world! I feel revitalised and relaxed from the Hot Stonefusion massage and am determined to spoil myself more often!

Hot Stonefusion at Touch Therapy starts from just £25 and treatment can be tailored to your exact requirements. Jacky has extensive experience as a holistic therapist. She completed a rigorous training in Holistic Massage with anatomy and physiology at Central College Nottingham and she is also a trained counsellor She attends regular workshops and seminars on more advanced techniques and has studied Ear Candling, Indian Head Massage, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Seated Chair massage, Holistic Medical Massage and, of course, the very popular Hot Stonefusion, so that she can offer an integrated treatment package to suit the needs of every client.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, a gift voucher for a Hot Stonefusion treatment at Touch Therapy could be the perfect antidote to a busy life for your mum! Or treat yourself; you’ll be amazed how much better you will feel! To find out more or to book an appointment with Jacky telephone 01636 815739 or mobile 07837 800029 or visit the Touch Therapy website www.touch-therapy.co.uk for further details.

As a died-in-the-wool bloke, you’re generally about as likely to find me indulging in holistic health remedies as nipping down to the beauticians to have my nails manicured. However, I have long suffered from a particular health problem; specifically excessive wax build-up in my ears. Usually this manifests itself in the form of hearing impairment and a “bunged up” feeling in my ear passages.

A few years ago I used to enjoy free diving with a snorkel on my summer holidays. The water pressure would drive the wax into my ears and by the end of the holiday I’d be deaf as a post. Then I’d have a very uncomfortable flight home and book an appointment with the doctor to have my ears syringed as soon as I got back. I don’t know if you’ve ever had your ears syringed but it’s not an enjoyable experience, rather like someone blasting a jet wash into your ear.

Consequently, when offered the opportunity to try out Hopi Ear Candles I jumped at the chance. One of the main benefits of the therapy is that it gently clears the ear passages; another is that it soothes the lining of the Eustachian tubes and moisturises them with a mixture of essential oils. Other benefits include relaxation and clearing of the nasal airways.

My therapy was carried out by Jacky Huson at Touch Therapy. Soothing music is playing, the air is fragrant with scented candles and it’s like stepping into another world. Jacky begins the session by running through a brief health questionnaire and then it’s time for the treatment. Forget conventional candles, Hopi Ear Candles are actually hollow tubes made out of bees wax infused with essential oils with a filter located close to the bottom. You lie on your side on a massage couch so that the candle is vertical as it is pushed gently into your ear and Jacky holds it in place.

The physical action of balancing your ear canals works in two ways. Firstly the candle acts as a chimney drawing air through your Eustachian tube and up into the candle. At the same time, the burning of the wax sets up a mild vibration in the air inside the tube which both massages the inside of your ear and promotes secretion in the sinuses. The essential oils stimulate blood flow and strengthen the cleansing circulation of the lymph glands. The total effect is to encourage the body’s natural processes to function more effectively. In order to allow the oils to take full effect during the next day or two, it is advisable to protect the ears from water while showering or hair-washing.

It’s a very pleasant sensation while the candles are burning; they make a sizzling noise and there is a sensation of warmth within the ear – infinitely better than having them syringed. After the candle-burning (it takes about ten minutes per ear) Jacky did a thorough massage around my ears, scalp and face to help stimulate the sinuses and lymph and maximise the effect of the treatment. When it was over my ear passages felt much freer and that sensation increased over the following 24 hours.

I’d definitely like to experience Hopi Ear Candles again. It’s a very relaxing experience and has a tangible benefit in decreased congestion within the inner ear. I’m going to Thailand this summer and I will once again be doing Jacques Cousteau impersonations over a coral reef.

Years ago while watching Dallas I witnessed the sight of JR having his hair cut while sat at his desk. I was impressed; here was a man who was powerful, important, a man so busy that he didn’t have time to get his hair cut so the barber had to come to him.

Nowadays, while few of us have scaled the corporate ladder to the heights that JR had, most of us are extremely busy and spare time is a scarce luxury. We are also more stressed than ever before. Consequently, now is the ideal time to launch an office massage service, which is exactly what Jacky Huson at Touch Therapy has done.

The benefits of massage are well known and include deep relaxation, loosening knotted muscles, easing headaches and relieving deep seated muscle pain, many of the symptoms of stress. A full body massage takes around an hour and involves disrobing, lying on a horizontal massage couch and the use of essential oils. All of these things preclude it from being performed in an office environment.

However, a half body massage can be performed in about twenty minutes on a semi-upright couch. No oils are used and there is no need to remove any clothing (although taking off your jacket and tie is strongly advisable.) Despite this, it yields most of the benefits of a full body oil massage. The massage can be performed in a quiet corner of a shared office, although a private office or conference room is better, simply because it makes for a more relaxing environment.

The treatment starts with a brief assessment, which covers any medical problems, symptoms of stress and any particular areas of muscular tension. Then you arrange yourself on the ergonomically designed chair. It looks rather like something from a torture chamber but actually supports your entire upper body very well and allows you to relax completely. The massage covers your back, shoulders, neck, arms and the back of your head and temples. I found it very soothing and it loosened the muscles of my neck and shoulders, which are prone to tension and discomfort.

A full body massage is deeply relaxing to extent that people often fall asleep during it and feel drowsy and lethargic afterwards. This massage leaves you feeling relaxed but invigorated and ready to get on with the day’s busy schedule.

The idea is that several office workers arrange to take time out for a massage during Jacky’s visit and possibly the company meets all or part of the cost. When you look at the number of working days lost through stress related illness and muscular-skeletal problems, this would be money well spent.
I think this venture is an excellent idea and wish Jacky every success with it.

Southwell Life September 2006

How about giving your loved one a voucher for an Indian Head Massage this Valentine’s Day? Break away from the anticipated box of chocs, flowers or Champagne and spend the same amount on giving them half an hour of indulgence. Are you wondering “what is an Indian Head Massage anyway?” I really hadn’t a clue either so went off to investigate….

Jacky at Touch Therapy wanted me to discover the IHM experience for myself, so didn’t give much away beforehand. She begins with all new clients by taking a full medical history and discussing lifestyle to ensure that the chosen treatment is an effective, safe and appropriate one. She explained briefly that the therapy incorporated three parts, with the client first sitting in a chair leaning forwards supported on pillows, then sitting back upright, and finally with a support around the neck for the facial part of the treatment. Depending on the client’s preference, this therapy may be done ‘dry’ through clothes, which makes it an ideal treatment for, say, an office situation or using oil with the upper torso exposed. I opted for a massage with oil and chose from Jacky’s selection a relaxing oil containing Ylang Ylang, my personal favourite.

And so we began. Rather similar to a holistic massage to begin with, relaxing massage on the upper back, upper arms, shoulders and neck and really rather de-stressing but with some invigorating kneading and tapping movements too. There followed massage of the face and even the ears(!) with the final section concentrating on the head, some of this very energising as opposed to the normal feelings of relaxation associated with other forms of massage.

Indian Head Massage is based on the Ayurvedic system of medicine practised in India which is based on balancing body, mind and spirit to promote well-being in a holistic sense – including massage alongside healthy diet, use of herbs, yoga, meditation and exercise. In Ayurvedic medicine the chakras, often associated with seven of the endocrine glands, are areas of subtle energy which may become blocked or impaired and create an imbalance in the body. An accumulation of negative energy can manifest itself in an emotional or physical condition and massage can help re-align the energy and restore harmony.

This treatment has gained popularity in the West and benefits include headache and migraine relief, improved hair and skin condition, relaxation of tense muscles and improved skin tone, improved lymphatic flow which may stimulate immunity, improved blood flow to head, neck and shoulders and release of endorphins to elevate mood and relieve emotional stress.

So will I be going back to Touch Therapy again and did I feel all these benefits ?
Yes, I’ll be going to see Jacky again because I think she’s a great therapist and her treatments are a pleasure to experience. She creates a calming ambience for her clients and makes you feel really pampered. Another Indian head massage? Maybe, wouldn’t rule it out. These treatments very much depend on personal preferences and, though very pleasant, this one didn’t score as high for me as my favourite massage treatment. But time will tell…if it gets rid of headaches, gives me great skin and hair and elevated mood I may just be tempted!

Watch this space or do your own experiment and treat that special someone this Valentine’s Day. Phone Jacky at Touch Therapy on 01636 815739 or 07837 800029.

Southwell Life – Feb 06

This month I was treated to a back and neck massage from Jacky Huson of Touch Therapy. Editing Southwell Life is demanding and takes its toll! A combination of lugging around a heavy newspaper delivery bag, working till the small hours to meet deadlines and the substantial stresses of the job has led me to become in dire need of Jacky’s services!

On entering the therapy room my tension began to dissipate at once! Jacky achieves the perfect ambience for relaxation with her calming manner, gentle background music and the scent of oils in the air.

We began with a discussion of my lifestyle (manic, two jobs, small and demanding children, neglected husband, not enough hours in the day, eating on the go, forgetting to drink plenty of fluids etc..!) and my medical history (major op early thirties) and present health situation (fine but many headaches!) so that an appropriate therapy could be selected.

A wide range of treatments are offered including a full body holistic massage, more localised massages concentrating on a specific area, Indian Head massage (great for stress or headaches) and Thermo-auricular therapy which combines Hopi Ear candles with a lymphatic drainage facial massage used to treat a variety of conditions. Together we made a joint decision that a back and neck massage would be the most appropriate and beneficial treatment for me.

The massage was fabulous! Jacky found all the knots and areas of tension and provided half an hour of sheer relaxation. She has trained in Swedish massage which combined long smooth stroking movements (effleurage) to soothe soft tissue and promote relaxation with wringing and kneading movements (petrissage) which helps to relieve tension in the muscles. Blood circulation is stimulated promoting good health through essential nourishment to tissue and organs. Massage works on all the systems of the body both on a physical and psychological level.

Jacky adapts the massage to suit the client’s needs. Massage can also be invigorating and in this case some tapotement would be used, which is a faster more stimulating movement, popular with sportsmen for massage of leg muscles etc.

The benefits are many and renowned: improved circulation, enhanced immune system, reduced stress and headaches, reduction of chronic pain, and improved sleep quality. Also skin tone can be improved and joint mobility and flexibility aided.

For me, the massage instantly reduced my tension. I felt more relaxed than I had done for weeks and this feeling stayed with me for a few days. I was surprised to feel revived and my mental alertness was definitely heightened. This was good news for a busy person! So, not just a luxury, but almost a necessity for anyone wanting to function to the best of their abilities on a day-to-day basis. I think this treatment should be available on the NHS. A regular massage would be very good and with prices being reasonable, I will be back!

Gift vouchers are available, great with Christmas just around the corner (Howard take note!) If you would like to make someone special feel wonderful or simply to give yourself the treat you deserve contact Jacky on 01636 815739 or mobile 07837 800029.

Southwell Life November 2005