​Well, it's been far too long since my last blog! Always blaming lack of time etc.  I've certainly had plenty of that since my temporary closure on 20th March! But...it's time I've certainly put to good use.
 Lockdown has given me the opportunity for lots more studying, I've completed online courses on the shoulder girdle, hip impingement, whiplash & neck issues, tennis & golfers elbow to keep my skills up to date & to enable me to better treat my clients when I'm up & running again.
I now have a fully automated online booking system (see the book now button!) which enables my clients to book appointments & pay online. I have set up a Youtube channel with simple instructional stretching  routines to help my clients  to help themselves during lockdown.  I am also now a paperless & cashless business with all client notes in a secure online location & contactless card reader for payment in addition to online banking & online payment options :).
Also I'm massively proud to be a finalist in the category of Male Therapist of the Year in the Bolton Health & Wellbeing Awards! A huge, heartfelt  thank you to all of my clients who voted for me :).
Stay safe everyone & hopefully see you before too long.

​You definitely don’t need to be involved in sport to enjoy the benefits of sports massage.
 Who’s quality of life wouldn’t be improved by:

• enhanced relaxation,
• reduced muscle tension,
• better range of movement of  joints and
• improved blood circulation?

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​Today most of our work is sedentary and desk orientated, which brings a lot of postural problems and challenges. Think what stress is placed on the body with eight hours a day spent at a computer terminal for example. In addition, many of my clients are involved in activities in their work or home life which are manually repetitive e.g. manual labour or checkout work. Tension, stiffness and soreness in the shoulder and neck are very common in my increasing number of “non-sporty” clients.  
 Soft tissue work isn’t just for Olympians, everyone can reap the benefits.

The new year sees lots of us take up running, cycling and exercise regimes in general. It’s a real boom time for gym membership and exercise classes & as an enthusiastic runner myself I am always pleased to notice more people out and about on bikes and in running gear than usual in January.  

Whilst this is a hugely positive, beneficial and rewarding step, a proper, well thought out and researched training plan is a real “must have” when committing ourselves to a new fitness regime.

Pushing our bodies “too much too soon” can easily lead to soft tissue dysfunction and possibly injury. So make sure to build up slowly, 'couch to 5k'  is a great example of this, warm up & cool down properly and of course, have a regular sports massage!

Sunday 16th October saw me volunteering in the post race massage tent after the inaugural Manchester Half Marathon.  It was great fun and a real eye opener to see athletes in various states of disrepair and hypothermia! Finishing time gave no indication as to the condition of the runner post race as the dreadful weather subjected the runners to cold, rain & wind in equal measures.

Three solid hours of massage without a break really tested my thumbs & was a great indicator as to which runners regularly stretched & had warmed up properly beforehand.  With winter fast approaching & these conditions likely to become "the norm" very soon make sure stretching & warm up are a regular part of your routine...otherwise your sports massage may really hurt when I get into those knots! ​