I wanted to write to you all to thank you for the support over the last few months as I got through the last term of my pregnancy, and although I had hoped that I could continue to work up until Saturday 25th of May, it seems that my insistence to push on has caused a few more issues than I would have liked.

On Wednesday May 22nd I started having some health issues, and after trying to resolve them with my local healthcare practitioners, I ended up in the hospital and being admitted for more monitoring and tests.
Although my symptoms eased off on the Thursday, they are still of a concern so I will receive ongoing tests and monitoring every few days now until the Baby finally makes her arrival.

I have been allowed to come home but ordered to rest, and take it as easy as possible.

The good news is that baby is lovely and healthy, it's just mother incubator that is starting to fail.

I want to first apologize to anyone who may have had an appointment scheduled with me Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Caitlin has been attempting to contact everyone since Wednesday night to update them on the status of their appointment. Our first goal is to ensure that your original appointment can be covered by Caitlin, however if that is not possible we are attempting to reschedule for the first available appointment that is suitable to your needs.

I feel terrible that I have had to cancel some appointments, and can only apologize for any inconvenience this may be causing people, but at the moment my health has become a priority.

I hope that we will have some news regarding the baby in the next few days/weeks and then we can start to plan my return to the clinic.
I am sure you will all be in very capable hands with Caitlin during my leave.
If you have any issues and would like to contact me, I can still be reached at contact@weesally.com.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding.

Kindest Regards,
Sally Chamness 

There are countless types of herbal compresses out in the market to buy but we have tried to keep it as traditional as possible.

In Thailand they are very passionate about what they use in their compresses but also what they put in their food. That is why throughout this article we will discuss how the herbs and oils can be used in both compress and cuisine.  

Zingiber Cussumunar Roxb. 

Zingiber is more commonly known in Thailand as ‘Plai’. It is an essential oil that is extracted from the root, or Rhizome, of the Zingiber plant. Zingiber is native to Thailand and is often relatively easy to get a hold of. The oil is produced by steam distillation of the root. This could be one of the reasons for its common use in food and herbal medicine. Doctors in Thailand tend to use this on sports injuries because of its anti-inflammatory and analgesic purposes. This makes it ideal for those who suffer from rheumatics or arthritis. By combining the oil in the compress with the heat of it once it’s been steamed, it will ease the swelling around inflamed joints and help regain mobility.

Turmeric

Turmeric, or Curcuma Longa, is native to India. It is a powder rather than oil, but like the Zingiber it is also extracted from the roots. But instead of being distilled the roots are steamed over many hours then dried out in a hot oven. Once fully dried out it is then ground up into an orange/yellow powder commonly used in Indian cuisine for curries.
Although it is more popular in food, it is used for herbal compress because of its antifungal and antibacterial purposes. If you have ever had a traditional compress massage and the compress turns yellow throughout the treatment, don’t be worried. This is just the Turmeric. As it has such a strong colouring it can also be used for dying clothes, linens etc.

Zedoary

Zedoary is known by many names; Zedoaria, White Turmeric & Curcuma Zedoria. These are the most commonly used names for it. Unfortunately its name is more common than its use around Europe & America. This is due to the fact it has been replaced by ginger as it is easier to get a hold of and cheaper.  It is predominantly used in Indian & Indonesia for seasoning. This is also an essential oil that can be extracted from the roots of the plant. It is very unique and recognisable because of its smell & taste. It has a smell similar to Mango yet tastes like Ginger. Many people use Zedoary to ease anxiety, stress, fatigue, and pain and swelling because of its anti-inflammatory purposes. Once again perfect for those suffering from Arthritis. 

Lemongrass

Lemongrass, also known as Cymbopogon Citratus, is native to India & Tropical Asia. Lemongrass is very popular in Aromatherapy and is great when used during the cold/flu. In other health benefits, it is used to improve digestion, nausea and menstruation problems along with headaches, muscle cramps, spasms and rheumatisms. By combining  lemongrass with a  massage such as colon & deep organ massage, it will leave you feeling refreshed.  Lemongrass is perfect to use in any form of massage but by adding it to the compress gives a little added ‘Zing!’ to it.

So there we have it. The 4 four main ingredients for our Thai Herbal Compresses. If you would like to book in for a Thai Herbal Compress massage, or any of our other Thai treatments please call 01506 238366 or book online via Facebook or Weesally.com

Posture ranks one of the most important issues when it comes to staying physically fit healthy. It is just as important as eating your 5 a day or exercising regular. You may stay very active & fit but if your posture is bad and affecting your back you may not be functioning at your full potential.

Bad posture can stem from many things, but the majority of the time it is from  repetitive movements without frequent breaks.
If sitting for long periods of time, whether it be traveling in the car or sitting at your desk typing up reports it is vitally important that you take a break every hour or so and move.
This movement can prevent any permanent damage that may be caused by long periods of inactivity. If you work at a desk a lot of the time, it’s very easy to get lazy with your posture and slouch, but in doing so you end up with rounded shoulders and a neck that juts forward.
This can over stretches your back and neck muscles and shorten your chest muscles. Now, looking at the image to the left,  can we see how such a simple slouch can cause a lot more damage than you would think? Posture is very very important in any profession so always keep this in mind when yo uare going through your daily routine, and consider how an action, or position may be affecting your structure.

When reviewing the number of clients we see who report experiencing a sore neck, chest & back (not relating to specific illness or injury) we have assessed that it is mostly attributed to poor posture. If you are holding yourself incorrectly for hours at a time on a daily basis your body, like most things, will adapt to this new position.

Through our bodies attempt to always maintain Homeostasis, or balance, our eyes always adapt to be Horizontal, so if your shoulders are rounded,  then your spine becomes rounded too, which then curves your neck. And if you try to look directly in front of yourself in that position it is putting serious pressure on your neck as the weight of your head is no longer evenly balanced upon your spine. 

Bad posture is usually just a bad habit and, like most bad habits, once recognized as having a negative impact on your life, can be addressed. Massage along with stretches & exercises to do at home will improve your posture, relax those overstretched muscles and get you back in-line. But if it is not treated and left to worsen over many years thats when spinal conditions and chronic pain start kicking in, and they are not so easy to treat.

Conditions That May Occur Due To Bad Posture:

• Kyphosis (over-curvature of the Thoracic Vertebrae)
• Chronic Back Pain
• Sciatica/Piriformis Syndrome
• Shoulder/Neck Pain
• Patellofemoral Knee Pain (runner’s knee)
• Low Back Pain
• Shoulder Impingement
• Trigger Points
• Nerve Impingement

By dealing with postural issues early on we can assist in correcting them, leave it too long and it could escalate and become something you will have to live with for a long time. Regular massage, chiropractors, physiotherapist etc can all help you if you suffer from posture related issues so don’t hesitate when it comes to pain. Pain is a warning that something isn’t working the way it should. Listen to your body and help yourself when you need it.

This special package which lasts almost TWO HOURS is available for £70.
You will also get to keep your Herb Compresses to take home with you and use as Pot Pourri or as an additive to a relaxing bath, what better way to make the experience last even longer?

If you would like to book in for one of these sessions, or would simply like to ask more questions about the offering, give us a call on 01506 238366 

Thai massage comes in many different forms, and is practiced in many different ways, depending on the therapist.
Traditional Thai massage is different from regular massage because it is performed with the client on a mat on the floor rather than a massage couch/bed.
There is also a lot more active & passive stretching

- Active stretching is when the client contributes to the stretch

- Passive stretching is when the therapist is performing the stretch on the client with no help from the               client

They also work along Thai SEN Lines, or energy lines which are believed to be channels in which the energy flows around the body. So by working along these lines you are helping move energy round the body and keep it flowing. 

Thai massage is perfect for people who suffer from range of motion issues, stiff joints, body builders, athletes, anyone who has mobility issues and may be unable or uncomfortable on the couch, etc.

For those who have range of motion issues, joint stiffness & mobility issues, Thai massage is more suited because of the stretching. The stretches will be used to gently loosen tightened muscles that may be lying over joints and causing pain, stiffness, swelling and lack of mobility. It can also lengthen the muscles to their original state helping the results last longer.

For those who are very active; such as athletes, body builders, personal trainers etc, the end goal (usually) is to gain muscle tone, and in doing so you increase the muscle mass. As the muscles increase loss or restricted flexibility can occur along with lessened range of motion and possibly mobility, compared to those with lesser muscle mass, because the muscle fibers have increased in width and breadth. Again, the stretching will help lengthen and loosen the muscles returning them to there original state.

Much research has been done into benefits of thai massage and how it can help people and there are several conditions which can specifically benefit from receiving Thai Massage:

• Muscle strain
• Sleep problems
• Stress
• Migraines
• Postural issues
• Inactive patients (elderly with limited movement)
• Chronic joint disorders
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson's
• Neurological diseases
• Metabolism & Circulation disorders
• Irregular blood pressure
• Menstrual pains
• Digestion disorders

In Thailand research was done on patients who suffer from scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) to see  how the pain, muscle tension and anxiety are affected by Thai massage. Scapulocostal Syndrome  is a musculoskeletal pain syndrome that affects the shoulder blade. The pain can affect the upper and posterior parts of the shoulder but can also be uncomfortable in the head, neck, arms and chest areas. 

Only 20 subjects were selected and were aged between 18 & 50 years old. The patients said to suffer from “spontaneous scapular pain that lasted more than 12 weeks, and had at least one trigger point in the scapular region”

The 20 subjects were randomly assigned to 2 groups. One group received “30-min session of Traditional thai massage (TTM) for  9 sessions over a period of 3 weeks around the scapula region” The same therapist was used for all 9 treatments.

The other 10 were assigned to a group which received only “30-min sessions of heat pack and ultrasound therapy (for 10 min) for 9 sessions over 3 weeks”

From the research the results indicated that the patients received more long term relief from the TTM group than the non-massage group. There was no difference between the two groups concerning any immediate pain relief but as long term solution Thai massage can greatly reduce pain, tension and anxiety in patients who suffer from pain in the back, neck and shoulders.

“We may therefore conclude that the treatment by TTM among patients with SCS was superior to the PT”

To read the full article please click on the following link:

http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=14574

As a massage therapist my hands are constantly under pressure. They can get sore, stiff & sometimes painful if I don’t do anything to treat them. I have found that a simple 10/15 minute hand massage a day can help dramatically. A hand massage has many benefits (some of which you wouldn’t think of)

• increase grip strength
• ease pain & tension in joints & tendons
• reduce stiffness in fingers and wrist
• improve circulation
• increase flexibility
• improve range of motion

Hand pain is a very common but much ignored issue that up to 75% of the British public suffer from. People ignore it or take paracetemol to cover it and continue with their day, but what if there was a simple solution that could have staggering effects?

Dr Tiffany Field, Ph.D. is the Director of The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami Medical School conducted tests on the participants at the medical school in order to find out if hand massage could help.

“The researchers recruited 46 participants from the University of Miami Medical School who complained of hand pain regardless of the cause, such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome etc. Most noted that there hand pain was related to computer use”

The average age of the participants was 50 years old and were all of a different race. A mixture of Hispanic, Caucasian & african-American.

“They were randomly assigned to the massage therapy group or the controlled group”

The tests were carried out as follows;

1.  they received 15 minutes of hand massage once a week for four weeks
2.  they were also taught a simple home routine to follow
3.  a record was kept of each time they performed the self massage routine and were called by researchers once a week to check their progress

The results were that the participants in the massage group had decreased pain, increased grip strength, decreased anxiety & decreased depression.

Hand massage doesn’t have to be done by a professional, there are plenty of self-massage routines out there on the internet. You can have a look at a video on Youtube, or use a website with a routine.

I found a great one to use, www.livestrong.com/article/12454-do-selfmassage-/.

Now I have tried this routine over the past week to see for myself if it helped and it did!

For me this not only made my hands feel better but also my wrists & arms felt more relaxed and at ease. 

If you click on the link above and follow the routine yourselves, let us know your opinion on self massage, did it ease tension in your wrists? did it decrease joint stiffness?

This routine is not only for therapists like myself, those who work in banks and offices who do a lot of typing, answering phone calls, writing, those who suffer from repetitive strain injury or carpal tunnel, this is a great routing for everyone!

Well we have decided to make it better with an exclusive add on offer for one week.

Whenever you book in for a Thai Foot Massage you will receive a FREE facial masque with hot towels. So while you are getting your relaxing foot massage, a luxurious mud mask, enriched with deep sea mud to purify your complexion, will be slowly sinking in making your skin feel fabulous! It also contains orange blossom and ginger to balance and revitalize your skin.

This offer is exclusively for this week only (15th - 19th January)

After this week it will be $5 to have this add on.
So why not take the opportunity to get that special extra and treat yourself. Call 01506 238366 or use our “Book an Appointment” button on our Facebook and at Weesally.com

Bathgate:

10am-8pm Tuesday-Friday

10am-6pm Saturdays 

Edinburgh:

10am-8pm Mondays

Glasgow:

10am -8pm Fridays

We look forward to seeing you at the clinic in 2013, so give us a call on 01506 238366 and get booked in!