Easy Living

December 2009

The User’s Guide to Massage

A cure for everyday health niggles might be top of your Christmas list, but that’s a tough one for Santa to deliver. The right massage, however, can work wonders for a list of common complaints, says massage therapist Beata Aleksandrowicz.

Over the last decade or so it has become widely accepted that massage can make a difference to our mental and physical well-being. Research, including that from the leading Touch Research Institute at the Universe of Miami School of Medicine, where more than 100 studies on the positive effects of massage at all ages have been examined, proves the importance of massage therapy and its long list of benefits- such as improving circulation and reducing stress. As a result, the number of massage and places offering them has grown to an overwhelming level. So much so that most of us don’t know where to go, therefore we ask friends, search the internet, keep articles...

It can take ages to make a booking and where we’re asked what kind of treatment we want, the carousel starts again. You’d think someone like me, who’s been in this business for over a decade, wouldn’t have such a problem. Not so. I recently visited a well-knows spa for a massage and was given a thick booklet containing some 40 treatments. It took me more than half an hour to go through all the elaborate descriptions, which promised to not only release aches and pains but also calm me to such an extent that I’d never be troubled by life’s worries again.

Clearly massage can’t do that, but it can help, and be easily incorporated into your life- and I constantly see the profound difference it brings, emotionally and physically, to my regular clients. This is an amazing therapy which opens up tense and compressed bodies, improves sleep, breathing and digestion, keeps you aware of your posture, makes your skin glow, and decreases depression and anxiety.

But let’s return to the key question- which treatment to choose? This is particularly tricky- not just for all the reasons I’ve mentioned, but also because all forms of massage are capable of being effective to a certain point, as once a therapist’s hands are on the body the whole system is stimulated because every muscle and organ is connected, overlapping and depending on each other.

That said, there are certain forms of massage which work particularly well for certain complains. Following is the outline of the most common problems I see and the best forms of massage that can help to resolve each. And remember, although I’ve only listed a few of the many therapy options you might be given when you next book a massage, these- or certainly elements from each- form the basis of most treatments, so ask the receptionist to point you in the right direction.

Easy Living

March 2008

The Natural Facelift

Facial massage and acupuncture are being touted as the “softer” alternative to Botox, wrinkle fillers and even surgery. So can they really make you look younger? Catherine Turner finds out…

There is no doubt that Botox and fillers such as Restylane are he quick fix anti-ageing solutions of our time. It’s not surprising. With such a confusing choice of skincare products on the market, it can be hard to pinpoint which really work, but these so called non-surgical treatments really do live up to expectations by plumping out laughter lines and relaxing unwanted frowns almost instantaneously. Maintenance is low – the odd top-up – and the effects are long lasting.

The new result is you look younger and fresher as long as you have a great skin doctor who avoids the blank expression and overblown lips scenario. Still, somehow, I’ve not been able to give myself up to these treatments; even I’ve met some of the best cosmetic dermatologists in the world.

However it’s getting harder to resist, but as it stands, I’m not giving in. I’ve tried to do all the right things over the years: faithfully wearing high-factor sunscreens, no smoking, generally taking care of myself and my skin, so things could be worse. I’ve been practising yoga since my mid-thirties which definitely helps to melt away tension hat won’t necessarily get me far as I can only look in awe at the lithe yogis head-standing their way to everlasting youth while my life is rooted in the reality of classes squeezed between stressful commutes, deadlines and trying to keep a healthy work/life balance.

On my quest to avoid Botox, I’ve tried various alternative anti-ageing treatments, one of the most effective being facial massage. A good facialist always incorporates massage moves into a treatment, but I’ve never been able to fit regular facials into my routine. What got me hooked was a woman called Beata Aleksandrowicz, founder of Pure Massage in London, who, rather than focusing on the pampering side of skincare, believes in gimmick-free authentic massage. The anti-ageing face lifting massage she has devised – called Face Therapy – was born out of her mission to offer a more natural alternative to Botox and the like. I wasn’t convinced how much a massage could have a lifting effect, but after the first treatment the biggest change was around the eyes. Aleksandrowicz's gentle touch helped relax all the tension, giving the impression I was wider awake, as if I’d had the best sleep ever, as well as having less of a frown after one session. After six hour-long sessions, my complexion was positively blooming, refreshed and, yes, firmer. It’s hard to say exactly how long these effects lasted, but it felt like I exuded a post-massage glow for months. Why is this? Like many practitioners, Aleksandrowicz has perfected her own technique of gently stimulating acupressure points around the eyes to drain away puffiness and around the lymph glands to get the natural detox process going and generally boosting skin turnover.
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