Deep tissue massage focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is especially helpful for chronic aches and pains and congested areas, such as a stiff neck and upper back, low back pain, leg muscle tightness, and sore shoulders. The movement is slower, the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain. 

During a deep tissue massage, firm, steady pressure is applied mindfully to encourage the soft tissue to soften and ‘melt’. From there, we can access deeper structures and realignment. This can’t be achieved when the body has triggered a stress response to pain. Which brings me to…

Don’t be fooled into thinking that treating deeper layers of muscles means the work should hurt. Deep tissue does not mean deep pressure! I don't believe that massage should hurt. Sometimes you will have sore or tender spots, but there is a difference between tenderness and pain.

Many people approach massage with a "no pain, no gain" mentality and believe that the more pain they are in after a massage, the more beneficial the treatment must have been.
This simply isn't true! Human tissue doesn't respond well to this kind of massage. The more you push, the more the tissue pushes back; so when a therapist works harder, they are actually less deep in the tissue and doing less productive work. This type of massage is more likely to leave you feeling pain and soreness, which is your body reacting negatively. It is normal to feel some soreness after a massage, but to be in pain or hardly able to move is not a healthy response to body work.
Some modalities will leave you feeling more sore than others, but none of them should leave you in pain.

During my deep tissue work, firm, steady pressure is applied mindfully to encourage the soft tissue to soften and ‘melt’. From there, we can access deeper structures and realignment which can’t be achieved when the body has triggered a stress response to pain.

This means that the depth we can reach is actually determined by you, the client, and how open you are to softening and receiving the work. If your muscles are activated; if you’re tensing underneath my hands or attempting to control the movements, I can’t sink down into the soft tissue.

The aim is to be just on the edge of discomfort; at most, we want you to be in “pleasant discomfort”, or pleasure-pain: that sweet spot where you can feel that a tender or tight spot is being released, but it still feels good. If you start to hold your breath or brace underneath my hands, that’s your body saying ‘nope’.

Rebalance postural habits, make space in the joints, address the root causes of chronic pain/impingement, and come back to your natural alignment with this subtle, advanced bodywork.

Structural Rebalancing a system that supports the body to heal and rebalance itself through the application of gentle manipulation techniques and therapeutic massage techniques.

This treatment taps into the muscular, skeletal and nervous systems, creating space in the joints and muscles so that the body can settle back into its own natural alignment. Techniques used include gentle mobilisation, myofascial release, soft tissue release and breathwork to create space in the body and stimulate blood flow to congested areas, thus creating the conditions in which the body can heal and realign itself.

This is a holistic approach to bodywork that is especially effective at addressing acute or chronic pain. Recommended for conditions involving muscular or skeletal issues, recovery from injury caused by trauma or physical activity, or as part of an ongoing preventive treatment plan to alleviate stress and rebalance postural habits.

Particularly beneficial in addressing:

• Sciatica

• Lower back pain

• Tight neck & shoulder conditions including ‘frozen shoulder’

• Chronic tension

Structural Rebalancing can be offered as a stand-alone treatment as well as being incorporated into a deep tissue/holistic massage. In fact, I use a few SR techniques in all of my treatments.

Multiple, frequent sessions are recommended to feel the full benefits of this work as we work to unravel postural habits and patterns that have built up over years.

First treatment: 75 mins / 90 mins (recommended)

Also known as pre-natal massage, pregnancy massage promotes relaxation and bonding, soothes nerves, and relieves strained, tired muscles in expectant mothers.

The body undergoes fundamental transformations during pregnancy, including postural changes, an enormous influx of hormones, weight gain, enlarged breasts, increased plasma and blood volume and the shifting of organs.

The Zen Den pregnancy treatments are a bit special, so they have a special page of their own: PREGNANCY TREATMENTS