My passion for massage and healing comes from a family tradition passed down from my Burmese grandmother, ‘burma granny’ from the Shan State of Burma. With Anglo-Indian and Anglo-Burmese heritage, and an early life in Brunei before moving to the UK, my roots combine Eastern and Western traditions, much like my practice today.
These strands have come together in my current work. I understand both strategic pressures within organisations and the day to day strain experienced by individuals under stress. I also bring my own lived experience of anxiety, depression, redundancy, career change, and starting again. What matters most to me now is being hands on and present. Working as a trauma informed massage therapist and Body-Mind coach allows me to work with the whole person, helping people feel better in a way that is practical and respectful of their pace.
Over the years, I have had to cope with setbacks, redundancy, changes in career, bouts of anxiety and depression, as well as supporting colleagues, friends and family through similar life upheavals. Having played badminton competitively for over 45 years, I know the pain of injury and the frustration and struggle to recover.
I too have seen my fair share of doctors, physios, chiropractors, osteopaths, acupuncturists, and yes, massage therapists. I fully understand what it’s like to want to be pain free and active again.
Chronic pain and other chronic conditions happen when our body’s responses to ‘threats’ to our survival gets stuck. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to rewire the way it processes sensation, threat, and safety. With Body-Mind Coaching we work with attention, breath, movement, and felt safety to help the body-mind learn new responses—less bracing, more ease, to bring the body into the conversation; it helps you notice what you are ‘holding’ and shift old patterns of thinking that no longer serve you.
Book your FREE Consultation with me today.
We will dive into what’s bothering you and what you’d like to be different.
I’ll work with you to help you become free to move well, feel well and live well.
Holistic massage is something I have grown up with and have benefitted from as an active sportsman for over 35 years.
I draw upon over 30 years of experience, knowledge and skills in managing change in an array of roles, as a senior town planner, customer relations manager, neighbourhood manager, community mediator, community development consultant, trainer, facilitator and coach.
In addition to working with clients from my clinics in Guiseley, I also offer a mobile service that allows you to receive treatment in the comfort and convenience of your home. I cover a wide area, as far as Harrogate, Ilkley, Otley, Horsforth, Bingley, Yeadon, Leeds and Bradford.
I provide corporate massage, wellbeing sessions and programmes. Corporate clients include Leeds Marriott Hotel, Leeds City Council, Leeds Trinity University, Yorkshire Badminton Association, Badminton England, Leeds Mindful Employer Conference, Voluntary Action Leeds, and I have partnered with agencies, eg, Halsa Wellbeing and Hands on Health.
You might have experienced a sports massage or a relaxing spa massage or been for treatment with a physio, chiropractor or osteopath. These
approaches generally tend to target and treat ‘the problem’ or specific body parts.
But just as our muscles and limbs don’t work in isolation from the rest of our bodies, so we exist as ‘whole’ people – totally interconnected in body, mind and spirit.
My approach, therefore, is tailored-made to work with you as a whole person. Our ‘mental knots’ can often show up as ‘physical knots’ .
My approach gives you the chance to reconnect with your whole self – mind, body and spirit – and reflect on and address worries, anxieties and attitudes that can be very real barriers to recovery.
Massage is useful for regular body maintenance, as a way of managing pain and stress or to address chronic (long-standing) muscular tension and stress-related symptoms.
My full range of holistic services, including massage, Kinesio-Taping, Body-Mind coaching and Reiki, offers many benefits for my clients in Leeds and beyond, including:
I talk about the different issues or conditions I typically help with in my website, but the best way to find out what’s right for you is to talk to me. Following your initial consultation, we can agree what type of treatment or programme is right for you.
You don’t need to wear any specific clothing. If we are doing a deep tissue or sports massage a pair of shorts will be useful. Massage can be done with or without oils, depending on the type of massage therapy you need. If you are comfortable with it, I will ask you to remove your clothing down to your underwear. You will always remain draped with warm towels; only that part of the body to be worked on will be revealed.
Yes – I work by appointment, so provided these are booked in advance. Evening appointments are most popular, with the 6.00pm – 8.00pm slots being taken quickly. BUT – it is always worth phoning as I may occasionally have a cancellation or a free slot. Weekend sessions are available on Saturday at 9.00 – 13.00.
There are very few conditions where massage is not recommended at all: conditions that are infectious and that are potentially life-threatening and carry a high risk of reoccurring (eg. in the weeks following a heart attack or stroke, or in the early stage of a deep vein thrombosis).
There are also conditions where massage may be OK, but these areas should be avoided: open, weeping or cut skin; fungal infections, eg. Athlete’s foot; inflammation, bruising or fractures. But it is possible, and beneficial, to work with them. For example, an area of inflammation would benefit from massage in adjoining areas that improves the circulation, removing waste products or excess fluid, while improving the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the damaged tissues.
It is not unusual to experience some of the following symptoms after a treatment:
These symptoms are completely normal and don't usually last any longer than 24 hours. They are positive signs that your body is responding to
treatment (the healing crisis), and they become less likely as your body gets used to massage.
To make sure you make the most of the benefits of your treatment and help your body regain its balance, there are a few things you can do after your treatment:
I have offices in Guiseley, Leeds and Horsforth and offer a mobile service covering Otley, Yeadon, Harrogate, Ilkley and beyond.
Reflections, insights, and guidance to help you understand different approaches and what might feel right for you.
