From Hating Massage to Loving It

This is a repost of a blog I posted in 2016 on my other website

OK, I have a confession to make.

I hated the first massage I ever had. I couldn’t work out why people paid for these things and did it regularly. I led there wondering how long it would be, thoughts racing in my mind and thinking of the loads of things I could have been doing with my time.

It happened because I’d booked for a spa day and it was part of the package. A year later I did it again, but noticed I relaxed a little bit more. I then sporadically had massages when I thought I needed them.

The change was gradual

It happened when I stopped seeing massages as a pamper and more well well-being. I realised I actually needed a therapy to regularly to maintain my health, not just because it made me feel good. I suddenly justified the regular expense and decided I was worth the commitment.

Next, I found myself signing up onto an aromatherapy course. At the time I worked in an office in Internal Sales and was always on the go, working to deadlines and targets. I knew I didn’t want to be in an office for the rest of my life, but hadn’t appreciated the impact it had had on my life. Even on the aromatherapy course I would be keen to get on, frustrated that what could have been done in half a day was taking a day. Over the 18months something changed, I slowed down.

Slowing down stopped my mind racing so much, as I found a new level of relaxation. I became aware of this elusive thing that we are told is good for us. Relaxing was something I had thought I was doing, but in hindsight I realise I didn’t do it very well. Originally I considered relaxing as lying still while thinking of everything else I had to do, what I would be doing later, my to-do list, what I’d be eating later etc. Slowly but surely relaxing became quietening my mind, relaxing my body and switching myself to recharge.

Slowly I found myself looking forward to my massages and realising how much I have changed what I think about them. I get it when people say they’re not convinced about massage, I get it when people say they can’t switch off and relax. Our lives aren’t geared up for slower living, but if you can add it to your life it does make a difference. I’d recommend to persevere and see if it changes over time.

I now love my massages!

Louise is an holistic therapist who owns Therapy Centre, Bristol BS14 9HB, a clinic offering a range of holistic and beauty therapies. Louise offers reflexology, aromatherapy, aromatology, holistic massage, Indian head massage, reiki, baby massage and story massage. She is a mum of two boys and when she is not working she enjoys getting outdoors with her family. For further information about Louise you can visit her website louise-morgan.co.uk. The therapy centre website is kinsaletherapycentre.co.uk, the contact number is 01275 217160