Massage and Covid 19

What to write about massage, when there is no massage at present? Here are some thoughts.

Extraordinary, Unusual. Unprecedented. These are some words to describe the current coronavirus crisis. In many places at present there is a notice of temporary closure shown in shop windows, on websites, etc. The emphasis is on ‘temporary’ with that word often being underlined, or in bold type or capitals. This is so with your friendly masseur here.

We know we are not being anti-social on purpose, but all doing our vital part, hopefully short-term for the long-term good. Though terrifying in one sense – do follow rules, or potentially die, being the stark options.

Some emotions at this time may be feeling hurt or pained, whether because of our own situations, or the general situation of everyone. There may be the stress too of remembering to observe social distancing, and an essential walk to shops and back home, or going out for permitted purposes, such a walk or exercise, can feel like walking through a minefield. This can work two-way – come not near me, and I will not come near you, in case......we all know why.

When the crisis eases, come along to experience a lovely massage or other treatment, even if involving a bit of unavoidable pain to obtain what you wish through particular treatments. There is, for example, Sports Massage and Waxing. Meanwhile, maybe try gentle self-massage, relaxation, meditation, or other things to calm mind and body.

With trusting that ‘normal service will be resumed as soon as possible’, a massage may seem extra-special, and a treat to pamper oneself with. This will be when we are not two metres apart, but two inches next to each other, as it were. Or at least meeting in person with each other again for a massage, remembering and experiencing what we have all had to do without for a time.

What Should I Do Before or After a Massage?

In a quiet corner of Horsell Common, not far from my home in Woking, off Monument Road there is Muslim Burial Ground, now a Peace Garden. 

A visit there can bring peace, whether needing to settle one’s mind before a massage or other treatment, or to maintain a sense of peace after a session.

Nearby is an area of tall trees, the setting for H.G. Wells’ ‘The War of the Worlds’, in an atmospheric and mystical environment. There need not be anything alien about treatments though. 

For example, the therapist will put you at ease if it is your first visit, hopefully making you soon feel relaxed and ‘at home’.

Taking a stroll to, or from, an appointment through this area of Horsell Common on a fine day or light evening can be very pleasant. 

Even passing the area if travelling by car, one can see the natural beauty of the surroundings. All this can contribute in some way toward the ‘before’ and ‘after’ of treatments, giving heightened awareness; a sense of holistic help; experiencing a peaceful and stress-free encounter, giving lasting benefit.

There is also ‘The Martian’ sculpture in Woking Town Centre. But then again, there is nothing spooky or suspicious in the treatments. You won’t have set foot on another planet, though you may feel you have, with a luxurious massage. 

Neither will your encounter be of ‘The Third Kind’. But all will be well, with friendly human care and attention given, not alien, which can often be hurtful, harmful, hostile. 

And yet – bring a camera if you wish. You might see E.T. if he has not gone home, or the Loch Ness Monster in the Basingstoke Canal if it has moved South!

Our Beauty Photo Shoot

We recently commissioned our photographer John to take more up to date pictures of our two Massage Therapists Daniel and Marcio:

The final photos will be on our Twitter Feed, Facebook and Website soon.

Male Beauty Therapist of the Year

We are thrilled to announce that Beauty Therapist Marcio is a semi-finalist for Male Therapist of the Year in the BABTAC Awards!

                                 The Talented Mr Da Rosa

The BABTAC and CIBTAC Annual Awards is one of the most prestigious events of the year in the beauty, hair and holistic calendar. 

The Awards are open to twelve thousand members and is known for it's rigorous trade tests and standards of high quality.

The Award ceremony will be held in Putney, London on 12 June 2016 at 7:30 pm. 

We wish Marcio all the very best!

Marcio da Rosa works for Daniel Beauty Ltd, providing male waxing, facials, massages, threading and many other treatments from our home-based salon in Woking Surrey. 

How massage can help with neck pain

Neck pain is a general term to describe any pain felt in the neck and surrounding area. The cause of the pain will vary from person to person as will the type of pain felt. Many people who work on computers all day and other things that can put pressure on the neck as one of the most common causes.


If your neck pain is caused by stress on the neck then you may want to make changes to your lifestyle to reduce the pressure on the area. In addition there are a large number of alternative therapies that can help with neck pain. For example you could consider body work therapies like swedish massage, indian head massage and shiatsu massage.

Daniel
http://www.danielbeauty.co.uk/

My new Massage Therapist

This is my colleague and fellow Massage Therapist Marcio who now works with me on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Marcio is qualified in Male Body Waxing and Male Intimate Waxing.

He is also a qualified Massage Therapist. As a Junior Therapist Marcio offers Massage treatments at just £60ph.

This is my colleague Ricky who runs the office. He books our appointments. You may see him on arrival.

We all look forward to seeing you soon!

A man in a woman's world

Recently I was approached by a journalist at MSN to discuss my unusual career - being a man working in the female-dominated beauty industry.

You can see the article short article here:

http://msn.careerbuilder.co.uk/Article/MSN-463-Job-Search-Here-come-the-boys-working-in-a-womans-world/?lr=int_ukmsn&SiteId=int_ukmsn_a463&sc_extcmp=int_ukmsn_a463

The downside of being a Self-Employed Massage Therapist

Often I tell friends and family that I love not only being self-employed but working from home: setting my own hours, the oh so long commute from upstairs to my  massage therapy room downstairs (also used for male waxing and facials by the way), deciding to take a day off if I want to or have a lazy summer's afternoon if the whim takes me.

However more often than not it's quite the opposite..you end up working 7 days a week and long hours to boot. But when it comes to the middle of December, and people's minds turn to other matters...like partying hard and visiting family far away from my massage practise in Surrey..well then, dear reader, the business just dies. For two whole weeks at least.

Add in a tiny little bit of snow and well, I might as well go on holiday myself...

Thankfully it is now February and business is picking up again nicely. Phew!  

A Male Waxing Client on the Telly

Having been running my massage business for a couple of years - and doing very well with it - I decided to offer waxing as well.

A colleague had suggested that it would complement the massage therapy business nicely. Afer a couple of waxing courses (body waxing and then intimate male waxing) and practising on my partner and several friends, it is going surprisingly well.

Some people come for a back and shoulders, others for the infamous BS&C and a few for full-body waxings (including a couple of young men who were off on a stag night; others just wanted to show off their bodies during the summer holidays.)

But the other day I had a call from a man who was being PAID to having a full body wax. He was a bit nervous, apprehensive and not wanting to be removed of all his hair at all! You see he was about to film a television commercial and is being well rewarded for it. Apparently he will have his body painted and will appear in an advert during the Christmas period.

I don't know if I will recognise him on the tellybox when he does appear and I doubt very much if he will be a repeat customer but it's rewarding to know that my handiwork will be seen my millions.

I also offer Male Waxing

Did you also know that - as well as offering Shiatsu massage, Swedish Massage, Indian head massage and Sports Massage (now that I am qualified) I offer the surprisingly popular service of hair removal by waxing.

There are two types of male waxing I can offer you. One is for your body parts (legs, back etc) and the other for, well, shall we say, the more -ahem - intimate areas of your body:

Warm waxing (strip waxing) is used for your legs, arms, bikini-line back and chest. Warm waxing is the most popular method as it removes hairs quickly and efficiently. It can be used on larger areas and is suitable for most hair types. I will put the warm wax on your skin in a very thin layer using a special new dispenser. Then I will use a fabric strip, pressed onto the waxed area and remove it as quickly as possible.


And then there is Hot Waxing (hard waxing) which is normally used for - down below - that is Brazilian and Hollywood waxes. I will put hot wax on your skin with a spatula. As the wax cools it hardens and it contracts around your hair. I will then pull it off your skin quickly and - this is the important thing -  the hair removed from the root.

And because the hair is removed from the root, rather than shaving which doesn't remove it - the lovely effect lasts for up to 6 weeks.

So does it hurt? I will use my special numbing cream before hand so probably not as much as you think it might. And if you come regularly for waxing treatments, the hair - when it does grow back - is much finer than before and is therefore less painful when it is pulled out. And each subsequent treatment becomes less and less painful. Easy eh?

Uniforms for a Massage Therapist

How difficult is it to get made-to-measure uniform for my hair removal by waxing and massage business in Surrey?


Here is a copy of a complaint letter to Inline London - bizarely based in Guildford, Surrey. Let's hope for a swift and satisfactory conclusion

"Dear Sir

I am absolutely appalled by the service which I have received from your company.

As a self-employed Massage Therapist, during a recent visit to an exhibition in London I visited your stand and was measured by one of your representatives for a a new brown tunic and matching trousers.

Eventually this arrived by post. The top was fine but the trousers were waist 34" (I am waist 30"); they were also 8 centimetres too long. I therefore returned the trousers (at my own cost), asking how these could have possibly been made to measure and pointing out that they were the wrong size.

A month and several phone calls later, I have now received a size 32" trousers which are still too long and too big in the waist. While I appreciate your policy on returns for made-to-measure clothing, my point - which I cannot get through to your employees - is that these trousers were NOT made to MY measurements.

The trousers are not "as described" or "fit for purpose" and therefore your company is in breach of the Sales of Goods Act 1979. Please either supply me with trousers that fit or refund me for the trousers, the postage and the tunic (which is no good on its own) within 14 days."

Indian head massage

Indian head massage is based on many of the principles of ayurvedic medicine which has been practised in India for thousands of years. Just like other massage therapies, the aim of Indian head massage is to release the tension and stress in the head, neck and face.


The benefits of Indian head massage are similar to other forms of massage; you will experience a reduction in tension, feel more relaxed and balanced as well as have your blood circulation and lymphatic flow improved.

As toxins are released from your body after this treatment, it is important to drink a lot of water afterwards to flush them out of your body. The main health conditions that can be improved due to this therapy are stress, tension, fatigue, insomnia, headaches, migraine and sinusitis.

You may also consider waxing by hair removal as a treatment at the same time.

Hot Stone Massage

Hot stone massage is a form of deep tissue massage that involves applying hot stones to the body during the massage. The heated stones are applied to change the temperature of the body. This therapy has been seen in many cultures including native America.


A hot stone massage is quite similar to other forms of massage but the hot stones are used to do the work rather than the hands of the massage therapist. As with other forms of massage there are many health benefits to this treatment; they include an improved circulatory system and softened, relaxed muscles.Toxins are released from the muscles and it gives you a sense of peace. The illnesses that can be treated include stress, anxiety, tension headaches, migraines, back pain, neck pain and general muscle pain.

Daniel Bester is a massage therapist and also offers intimate male waxing services.

What is Swedish Massage?

Swedish massage - or holistic massaage - is a full body massage therapy and I, as your massage therapist, will use grapeseed oil. This is by far the most popular form of massage in the UK.


There are 5 main techniques that are used during a session:

Effleurage – this is the most common stroke which involves a gliding, stroking movement across the muscles. It is used to warm up the muscles.

Petrissage – a kneading technique where I work your skin in a similar way to dough; it's aim its to release tension from the muscles.

Friction – this is pressure stroke and works on a deeper level than the other techniques.

Vibration – this is where I will use my hands or fingers to vibrate the flesh in certain areas. This removes tension in specific areas.

Tapotement – this is a very quick choppy movement on certain areas of the body and stimulates and tones the body. This may be too strong for some people and other will find it invigorating.

The use of Swedish massage can be very beneficial to many people as it uses a variety of techniques. On a physical level, it can help release tension from muscles, relieve muscle cramps and spasms, increase the range of motion and improve the strength of your muscles.

It can also calm the nervous system, improve blood circulation and make your skin firmer. Swedish massage can relieve the symptoms of asthma, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic and acute pain syndromes, myofacial pain, headache, temporomandibular joint dysfunction and athletic injuries.

Swedish massage can also help you relax and improve the quality of your sleep. It can also improve your levels of concentration.

The specific conditions which Swedish massage can help are: stress, anxiety and depression.

(You cannot have a massage and a waxing on the same day).

What is deep tissue massage?

I am often asked about the various forms of massage, and how they differ from each other.

Well here is a start..

Deep tissue massage is a form of massage that works on the deep layers of the muscle tissue. The aim of the therapy is to release deep-seated tension from the muscles. It will generally use slower more focused strokes then other types of massage. As it focuses on specific areas and can be quite hard, the client can often feel pain the day after the massage but you will feel much better within a couple of days.


Deep tissue massage will release a lot of toxins that are blocked in the muscles and causing the tension. For that reason it is important to drink a lot of water after the therapy in order to clear the toxins out of your system.

There are many conditions that can benefit from deep tissue massage and they include chronic pain, limited mobility, recovery from injuries (e.g. whiplash, falls, and sports injury), repetitive strain injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, postural problems, osteoarthritis pain, fibromyalgia, muscle tension or spasm.

Deep Tissue Massage - or Sports Massage - is just one of the therapies  - alongside hair removal - that I offer from my home in Woking, Surrey.

When you shouldn't come for a massage

No one ever tells you this until it's too late - that is when you are with the massage therapist or masseur and you will have wasted their time and yours.

When you shouldn't come for a massage.

You shouldn't go for a massage if you have a fever You have a contagious or infectious disease You are under the influence of alcohol or drugs You had an operation recently You have neuritis Or you have a skin disease.

When you need to get a doctor's permission to have a massage.
You should get your GP's permission if any of the following applies to you:

Cardio vascular conditions (thrombosis, plebitis, hypertenion, hypootension, heart conditions) Haemophilia Pregnancy Medical oedema Osteoporosis Arthritis Nervous/Psychotic conditions Epilepsy Recent Operations Diabetes Asthma Any dysfunction of the nervous system (e.g. Muscular sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Motor neuron disease) Bell's Palsy Trapped/Pinched nerve (e.g. sciatica) Inflamed nerve Cancer Postural deformities Spastic conditions Kidney infections Whiplash Prolapsed disc Undiagnosed pain Acute rheumatism When taking prescribed medication Any condition already being treated by a GP or another complementary practitioner

When you cant have a full-body massage.
If any of the following applies to you, I will not be able to massage on or around the affected areas:

Undiagnosed lumps, bumps or localised swelling Varicose veins Gastric ulcers Bruising Cut or abrasions Scar tissue (2 years after a major operation and 6 months for a small scar) Haematoma Hernia A fracture within the last three months Cervical spondylitis Conditions affecting the neck Sunburn Hormonal implants You are in your first few days of menstruation Undiagnosed pain Inflammation Or you have eaten a heavy meal