Deep tissue - sports massage - Derek McMillan Edinburgh. Gabor Mate

Body Work and Massage

Bodywork Qualifications and Experience:
– Diploma in Swedish Massage, West Lothian College, Scotland 2000
– Reiki 1 and 2: The Wellbeing Centre, Edinburgh, 2001
– Chinese Therapeutic Massage (Chi Nei Tsang) (Chanquanshu School of Daoist Arts, Scotland 2005).
– Diploma in Tuina massage (Chengdu TCM University Hospital, China 2009).
– Diploma in Ayurvedic Massage and Panchakarma Therapy (School of Ayurveda and Panchakarma), Kannur, Kerala, India – 2009).
– Diploma in Tuina massage (Hangzhou TCM University Hospital, China 2010)
– Thai Massage Level 1 and 2 (Shivagakomarpaj School of Massage, Chiang Mai, Thailand 2010).

Bodywork is any therapeutic technique that involves working with the human body in a form involving manipulative therapy, breath work, or energy medicine.

Bodywork techniques also aim to assess or improve posture, promote awareness of the body-mind connection, which is an approach that sees the human body and mind as a single integrated unit.

The diagnosis and manual techniques I use are primarily based on Eastern Traditional Medicine, including Chinese, Ayurvedic and Thai. These are used to treat various conditions including relieving muscle tension, backache, IBS, improving blood circulation and plantar fasciitis.

After an initial consultation I will create a suitable treatment for you using the following methods:

Chi Nei Tsang (abdominal massage)

Chi Nei Tsang (CNT) is an ancient Taoist system for detoxifying and rejuvenating the internal organs has been used historically throughout Asia by martial artists and yoga practitioners to strengthen and mobilise the body and improve their breathing.

CNT focuses on the navel centre, where emotions arise, and there can be an accumulation of negative emotions, stress and past illnesses – CNT provides physical and energetic support to process these, removing ‘stagnation’ and blockages and enhancing the function of the vital organs.

Other techniques used during treatments include blood flushing, lymphatic drainage and breathing/sound techniques.

Tuina Anmo

Tuina (tui meaning push and na to grasp) Anmo (press/rub or massage) is a branch of traditional Chinese medicine, based on Taoist philosophy, which is used in hospitals across China often in conjunction with acupuncture, moxibustion, fire cupping, Chinese herbalism, tai chi or qigong.

Various techniques are used, including brush, knead, roll, press, along the muscle/tendon/ligament connections where an attempt is made to open the body’s defensive qi (wei qi) and get the energy moving in the meridians and the muscles.

Techniques may be gentle or quite firm and is usually performed on clients wearing loose comfortable clothing. It can be used to help with musculoskeletal disorders, neck and backache issues.

Ayurvedic Massage (Abhyanga and Kalari/Marma)

Ayurveda is one of the main branches of traditional Indian medicine, still popular in the subcontinent and Nepal to this day. The practice of abhyanga or oil massage, uses smooth long strokes across the body producing physical benefits like released muscle tension, lymphatic drainage, and more nourished skin.

It stands out from other massages due to its focus on the skin, rather than just the underlying muscles and from the oils used to promote circulation.

Marma or Kalari Massage was traditionally used for martial artists in the Southern state of Kerala to help condition the body for martial training and recovery.

These techniques are often applied on the floor where the practitioner uses their feet and bodyweight to increase the pressure into the muscles for a deeper massage.

Thai Massage

Traditional Thai massage combines acupressure, Indian Ayurvedic principles, without the application of oils or lotions.

The client remains fully clothed during treatment. With Thai massage techniques the body is compressed, pulled, stretched and rocked. It’s sometimes viewed as assisted yoga postures.

Sports Massage

Sports massage is for people engaged in regular physical activity, both for maintenance and for specific injuries. Techniques work on the skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia (a form of connective tissue that connects all the other soft tissues).

Sports massage is designed to assist in correcting problems and imbalances in soft tissue that are caused from repetitive and strenuous physical activity and trauma. The application of sports massage, prior to and after exercise, may enhance performance, aid recovery, and prevent injury.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is a massage technique that is mainly used to treat musculoskeletal issues, such as strains and knots held in the body. It also helps to relieve tension or trauma, often caused by stress or anxiety.

Deep tissue massage involves applying sustained pressure using slow, deep strokes to target the inner layers of your muscles and connective tissues. Sustained pressure within specific areas are also used to break up scar tissue that forms following an injury and to reduce accumulated tension.

Initial consultations last 30 minutes and treatments from 60-180 minutes.
I also offer post treatment programmes (in person and over zoom), including, posture and movement practices, self-massage, and meditation techniques.

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