This is a question I often get asked by people who book my therapies. My take on it is I have a physical job and if I want to maintain my health I need to have regular therapies. Even before becoming an holistic therapist I would dabble with different therapies. In the beginning I saw them as a pamper, a bit of a luxury, and then I became aware I began to see them as a form of well-being. That they weren’t a pamper hour but something that kept my body balanced and rejuvenated.

Nowadays I aim to book a massage every two weeks. Sometimes it goes a bit out – take this week, I’m now three weeks in and I’m feeling the aches in my shoulders and neck as I count down the days until my massage (it’s this weekend), but as I’d been on holiday and I have to schedule my days with other busy therapists it’s how it sometimes goes.

I also go through periods where I want to practice more self care, so I’ll book a few weekly sessions. These are usually a combination of my massages fitted around a reiki, Bach flower remedy, reflexology, or kinesiology session. It really depends what I think my body needs. I’m currently scheduling myself up for one of these periods and over the next month I’ve already booked two massages, a reiki and a Bach flower remedy appointment. Why? Because I had a busy year, took a week off for holiday and still returned to work a little tired. I know if I’m to make it to Christmas I need to address aspects of my body and give it the gentle support it needs to get there. An hour off a week is a lot less of a commitment than weeks off because I didn’t listen to my body and made it to burn out.

I do this because I’m a serious therapist, this is my full time job and I live knowing the benefit of holistic therapies. I’m also lucky to know fantastic therapists who have great skill sets which can help me be my best, so I can then be the best for my clients. I believe in walking my talk – I don’t think it’s a good idea to trust a therapist who tries to sell you therapies when they don’t take regular care of themselves, just as I think few of us would trust a dentist who has rotten teeth. If you believe in something you find the time and money to do it.

So, if you find yourself on a massage couch wondering how often your therapist has a therapy feel free to ask them (if you decide you want to talk during your session!) My answer isn’t right or wrong and you’ll probably find another therapist has a different opinion, but if you ask you may find out I’ve been trying another therapy as a case study and that you may want to try it too!

Louise is an holistic therapist who owns the Therapy Centre 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 visit louise-morgan.co.uk or contact her clinic on 01275 217160