Touch Foundation

I started Essentials for Health to change the world though the healing power of touch. My experience in social work had led me to working with some of the most vulnerable in our society including people who were alcohol and drug dependent, the homeless, those with physical and learning disabilities and the acutely ill. It was no surprise that my massage clients were often those that other touch th...erapists felt under confident to work with, the dying, the sexually abused and those with HIV and aids.

Early in the company’s history we had strong links with the local community in east London where EfH was born and many of my students through EfH were able to work with similarly vulnerable groups, sometimes paid and often voluntary.

I always wanted to continue this service and have always dreamed of having our own charity to facilitate this and am extremely proud to announce that the Touch Foundation has been born! To start with we want to offer our massage e-course to clients of charities such as Relate, the British Heart Foundation and Scope.

 

Do you have any contacts? The Foundation will be instrumental in offering massage training to professional care givers and those in the medical profession as well as being a link between charities and those therapists who wish to volunteer. Pledge your time and interest now!

 

Gill Tree - Managing Director

www.essentialsforhealth.co.uk

Holistic Approach

The cure of the part should not be attempted without treatment of the whole … therefore if the head and body are to be well you must begin by curing the mind:
This is the great error of our day in the treatment of the huma...n body, that physicians separate the soul from the body.
Plato, Chronicles 156 e

Plato wrote these words over two thousand years ago, yet he could very well have been describing the situation we have today. Some of us are only just beginning to open our eyes to re-discover the wisdom in these age-old words. We have coined the word ‘holistic’ (which has its roots in the Greek word ‘holos’ which means ‘whole’) to summarise this concept. In holistic healing, the whole person — mind, body and spirit — is taken into account. In all schools of natural healing the most important underlying principle is that the body will heal itself if given the chance. The therapist’s aim is to create the most effective treatment taking into account all aspects of the client’s ‘integral biology’, or environmental stress factors.

It is important to encourage sound nutrition, adequate exercise, sunshine, fresh air and above all deep relaxation therapy or perhaps meditation to buffer the adverse effects of life’s inevitable stresses and to counteract the potentially harmful effects of negative emotions. Body and mind are interrelated; whatever affects one will also affect the other. So a positive mental attitude is vital for the whole, health is transient without it.

History of Massage

There has been documentation of massage and the use of herbs, spices and aromatic oils in Ayurvedic medical texts dating back 4000 years. The aim is to treat the whole body in order to maintain harmony between the physical, mental and spir...itual being.

Massage remains an important part of the rich tradition of inter-generational massage in Indian family life. Families use massage daily for both relaxation and healing, maintaining contact and enjoying the stress reducing benefits of touch. From an early age children are introduced to head massage and learn how to perform, enabling each family member to give and receive.

Women use head massage as part of their hair grooming routine, incorporating different oils according to the season and specific conditions they may have. Oils like coconut, almond, olive, sesame or herbal infused oils like butter milk, keeping the hair strong and in a beautiful condition.
Barbers practice similar skills. It is quite common to receive a scalp massage from a barber when they visit your home offering a ‘champi’ (head massage) as part of the service.

Echoes of this Indian tradition reached the West long before the practise itself, in the form of the word ‘shampoo’, coming from the Hindi word ‘Champi’. Being ‘champied’ literally means having your head massaged.

Indian Head Massage was introduced to England by Narendra Metha, a blind man who grew up in an Indian community where Champi was an important part of life. He was the first person to develop and formalise Indian head massage into an actual therapy. Having come to England in 1978 & trained as a physiotherapist, in 1978 he returned to India where he studied the benefits and practice of Champi. Metha soon included the neck, shoulders and face in the massage and employed modern knowledge of shiatsu and acupressure to relax tense areas, rebalance the energy and clear any areas of concentrated negativity. In 1981 he started running introductory courses which developed into diploma level, leading to a professional qualification to practice Indian Head Massage.

How to Choose a Massage School

What a headache! Deciding on a training course is quite confusing isn’t it! So many choices: different exam boards, course content, course length, locations and price - where on earth do you start?!

These factors should help you decide:

The... helpfulness of the staff on the end of the phone and at the end of the e-mail
If they were helpful, friendly, courteous, knowledgeable and informative in the office and via their website, the chances are they are also that way in the classroom.

The availability of the staff on the end of the phone
Did you get through to a real live person or was there only an answer phone? Some schools of therapy are very small and do not have an office or office staff. If they are doing it all themselves, the chances are they are rushed off their feet and may not be able to respond to queries and any issues you might have quickly throughout your course.

If you did have to leave a message, how quickly did they come back to you? An hour, a day, a week?

The qualification and experience of the teachers
I would suggest that you don’t want to be taught by someone who has only just qualified themselves, or be taught by someone who only has the qualification you are about to study. Ideally you want to be taught by an expert. Someone who has great knowledge they are willing to share both of the subject you are learning, and of what the job market is like once you’re qualified. And don’t just think of your massage teachers... what about the business studies teacher? And the A&P teachers? I would also recommend that you choose to be taught by someone who has trained as a teacher. It is one thing to know a subject, teaching it in an inspiring, creative and fun way is an entirely different matter!

The location
Is the venue, clean, light, bright, airy, modern, spacious and conducive to learning? Are refreshments and water available for you, on tap?

The track record of the company
Choose to be taught by a company that is hugely experi...enced, has a proven track record over several years and a great reputation within the industry as being a quality training provider.

The qualification offered
It is important that the qualification offered is recognised here in the UK. There are some overseas companies now operating in the UK whose qualifications are not recognised here, so be careful. If you want to work abroad, make sure the qualification will travel across.

The course content
Whilst it is important to get value for money, question whether a short massage course is going to short change you and make you feel you are missing out on content. The last thing you want to be doing is wondering for the rest of your life- what would I have learnt if I’d done a longer massage course? How much more confident would I feel? What knowledge have I not gained? In some circumstances, cheap is expensive if it means having to do the course all over again. And is it all taught in class, or is there some online learning you can do?

The timing of the course
Do you want a course that is weekend or fast-track, maybe part-time vs full-time? Do you have to attend everything or is there the flexibility to catch up or study online for part of the course?

The number of students on the course
When I study, I actually learn from others in my class as well as the teachers and I enjoy the social aspect and possibility of new friendships, so I felt happy to be in a group of 20- 30 people. I also like having lots of different people to practice on to build my confidence and experience. I know as a teacher that small groups of 5-8 people just don’t have the same energy and are not as enjoyable. If one or two people don’t get on, it can really spoil a course. In a larger group they can avoid each other!

Recommendations and testimonials
Ask for the e-mail of a past customer of the school and/or check for testimonials. A good school will have video testimonials on their website.

Meet the school before you commit
Go along to an open day, visit a class in action, do an introductory workshop or give them a call and talk it through with someone. Any good school will have put their staff through some of the courses at least so they really know what they’re talking about. Ask all your questions, get a feel for them and put your mind at ease.

What are the graduates of the school doing?
Find out how successful the school’s graduates are in their therapy careers and whether the school assists in informing their graduates of vacancies and supports them in their careers once the course has ended.

Is there a money back guarantee?
Any school that has complete confidence in the quality of what they offer, will be happy to provide you with a money back guarantee. If they are uncomfortable or not able to give one, question the quality of what they do.

What support does the school provide after the training?
Your relationship once you have finished your training with the school should not end there. There should be ongoing business support for you to become a successful therapist – what else do they offer?

The price
Now if all of the above is satisfied you’ve got it! You don’t want to be spending the time until your course starts worrying about whether you have done the right thing. You want to be excited and certain. Choose quality and value over price for the peace of mind you get from choosing a course with a highly professional and successful school.

Gill Tree, Managing Director of Essentials for Health
www.essentialsforhealth.co.uk

DISEASES AND DISORDERS....

... OF THE SKELETAL SYSTEM

 

1. Arthritis......Pain and stiffness in the joints. A general term.

2. Rheumatoid Arthritis...Body attacks its own tissue in a joint - the cartilage and synovial membrane
...
3. Osteoarthritis....Irritation of joints caused by wear and tear, usually due to ageing. Cartilage
degenerates and spurs of new bone tissue are deposited. Bones can fuse,
reducing movement

4. Bursistis....Inflammation of Bursa

5. Avulsion Fracture......Displacement of bone caused by tearing of ligaments or tendons

6. Strain....... Forcible wrenching or twisting of joint with partial rupture of attachments

7. Osteoporosis......Decreased bone mass as a result of decreased levels of oestrogen. Common in post-menopausal women

8. Fracture......Partial or complete break of bone

9. Ricketts……Soft bones due to bone not calcifying because of lack of vitamin D

10. Kyphosis - Exaggerated outward curvature of the spine in the thoracic region

11. Lordosis.... Inward exaggeration of the spine in the lumbar region

12. Scoliosis- Lateral curvature of spine in any region

13. Gout... A condition in which a defect in uric acid metabolism causes an excess of the acid and its salts (urates) to accumulate in the bloodstream and the joints respectively

14. RSI ......... Pain with associated loss of function in a limb resulting from its repeated
movement or sustained static loading

15. Stress….. Any factor that acts on an individual so as to threaten his or her wellbeing, which may produce a physiological and psychological response. Mechanical stress
(or the lack of it) also affects the skeletal system

16. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.. Swelling in the carpal tunnel (in the wrist) causing compression of the medial nerve

17. Herniated Disc.... Protrusion of the pulpy inner material of an intervertebral disc through the fibrous outer coat, causing pressure on adjoining nerve roots, ligaments, etc.

18. Bunion....(Hallux Vulgas)A swelling of the joint between the great toe and the first metatarsal bone. A bursa often develops over the site.

19. Whiplash…. Damage to the ligaments, vertebrae, or spinal cord, caused by sudden jerking back of the head and neck, often in occupants of a car hit from behind

 

 

My work with England Masters Hockey

My work with England Masters Hockey.

Rebecca Brett

What is the England Masters Hockey tournament?

Masters Hockey is played by males and females at club, regional and international level and usually those over the age of 40.  There are both male and female teams for the England over 40s, over 45s, over 50s.  The men also field teams in the over 55s and 60s catagories at the International Masters Hockey Tournament (IMHT).

In the last decade, the competition has come a long way, with the addition of the women’s competition and other age groups.  Originally the competition was intended for males over 50 years old.

The competition celebrated its 30^th Anniversary in 2011.

How did I get involved?

My contact with the England Masters Hockey began when I covered the Inter-services (RAF,Army & Navy) Hockey Tournament in Portsmouth early in 2011.  I had recently qualified with Essentials for Health on the BTEC Sports Massage Course and was also undertaking a Diploma in Sports Therapy (with the Society of Sports Therapists), due to be completed in July of the same year.

During the competition, I provided pitch-side first aid and pre event and post event massage.  Unbeknownst to me, I massaged the England Masters Hockey Manager and after the competition he asked if I would like to support the team throughout their fixtures in 2011.

The fixture plans were very exciting including the Home Nations in Swansea (July), the Euro Cup in Krefeld (August), and the 2011 International Masters Hockey tournament in Singapore, as well as various warm-up and selection matches played nationally.

Planning and Preparation for work with the Masters.

I first met the whole team when they played Letchworth 1st team in June 2011 and I used this session to talk to the players, discuss any injuries and watch the match to make assessments on players. It was interesting to see how they prepared for a match and managed their warm-up and cool-down sessions.

I went with the team to the Home Nations tournament in Swansea and gave guidance with their warm-up, cool-down sessions and provided pre-event and post-event massage as well as pitch-side first aid. Apart from a couple of minor calf strains and hamstring strains, the team remained injury free.

Previously their general warm-up had consisted of a brief run around the pitch before doing some stick and ball specific warm-ups. I helped provide a better structure to their warm-up demonstrating dynamic stretches and competitive warm-up activities to better prepare them for the match.

Their cool-down sessions had also followed a similar pattern consisting of a brief jog and quick stretch of the legs after a match. Here I offered guidance and led a prolonged stretching session post-match. This also served as a debrief session for the Captain and Manager. The feedback was positive and each player mentioned a reduction in their normal Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) the following day. This then enabled them to be better prepared for the next match.

The International Masters Hockey Tournament (Asian Cup) – Singapore 2011.

The Sengkang Hockey Stadium is in a newly developed part of Singapore, approximately 45 minutes travel from where we were staying. The stadium is new with 2 hockey pitches, grandstands and changing facilities. There was a massage room with a masseuse available to players but this facility was to be charged for on an individual basis. There was no other available space for myself or other nations’ therapy support to set up during the tournament. We also had to travel to the stadium every day using public transport which made it very difficult to carry my couch. I did however set up my couch in the hotel to work in the mornings and afternoons around match times. In these sessions I conducted injury assessment, maintenance massage and offered advice on injury management and prevention. This included advice on stretching, posture and guidance on self massage.

 

As can be seen from some of the photos pitch-side working conditions were not ideal. Owing to the tight schedule of matches, we did not have time to conduct warm-ups or cool-downs on the pitch. This had to be done to the side of the stadium. However, this did have its advantages as we managed to find a shady spot to prepare!

The climate also played a key role. Singapore is incredibly humid although thankfully the country seemed to be experiencing a milder climate than usually expected in late October and the temperatures were not as intense as they could have been. The temperature did rise to around 34°c with at least 80% humidity. The heat was a major consideration as I prepared the team for each match. The warm-ups were not prolonged as I did not want to tire them prematurely and it was imperative to keep them all well hydrated. During the matches, much time was spent distributing cold towels and water bottles to both players on the bench and as and when required on the pitch.

The Squad.

The over 40s squad consisted of 18 players, one manager (Graham Cartmell) a coach (Dom Camilleri) and myself.

I also worked with some of the over 45s also as they did not have any Sports Therapy/Massage support.

The diary for the trip was as follows:

26^th Oct – Arrival

27^th Oct – Acclimatise

28^th Oct – Training/meetings

29^th  Oct Match vs Singapore – WIN

30th Oct – Match vs Australia – WIN

31^st Oct – Rest day

1^st Nov – Match vs Hong Kong – WIN

2^nd Nov – Match vs Austria – WIN

3^rd Nov – Match vs Indonesia – WIN

4^th Nov – Rest Day

5^th Nov – FINAL Match vs New Zealand – WIN (England 4-0 New Zealand)

Injury Management

The intensity increased as the tournament progressed. I used massage and soft tissue release techniques daily to assess for injuries and maintain conditioning. Any slight pulls were quickly dealt with using ice and manual therapy techniques. Thankfully there were no serious injuries throughout the tournament, but if there had been, there was medical support onsite to deal with these.

What has happened since….

Last year, I was asked to work with the England selectors providing assistance with selection for the men’s over 40s team.  Here I worked with the Physical Trainers and Management to select the best players for the coming season.  I then continued to provide Sports Therapy for the England Masters Hockey team and followed them to the Home Nations in Edinburgh as well as covered the World Cup in Canterbury in August 2012.  Once again, it was a pleasure to work with a winning team as the team stormed through to a 3-1 victory against Australia.

Looking ahead, the coming season is set to be busy as I start on 27^th/28^th April providing Sports Therapy and Massage for the UK divisional teams as the England selectors head to Southgate to begin their scout for this year’s England teams. 

Working with the team is hard work but incredible fun and rewarding.  I have been lucky enough to have been part of the team as they have enjoyed a period of success and retain the title England Masters World Champions!

 Rebecca Brett, Tutor

www.essentialsforhealth.co.uk

Pricing Strategy

There are various ways of deciding how to price your treatments. One (not very accurate) way is to look at what other people are charging and either undercut them or add a small premium.

A far better way to ensure you sta...y in business and prosper is to work out:

1/ what salary are you hoping to earn in the first year? (This needs to be based on a survival budget, not what you currently earn £………………………

2/ how many weeks will you work per year, allowing for holidays, sickness and bank holidays? …………………………..weeks

3/ how many hours of massage will you do per week? ……………..hours

4/ what are your costs?

Setting up costs
couch
CD’s
CD player
covers
towels
answer phone
decoration
brochure and headed paper and business cards
Other

Operating costs

Weekly £ Monthly £ yearly £

oil rent professional
laundry electricity membership
couch roll telephone insurance
wipes Marketing Accountant
other car

Totals:

Multiply weekly costs by the number of weeks you are working £
Multiply monthly costs by the number of months you are working £
Add these with the yearly costs £
Add the setting up costs £
Add this sum and the salary you hope to achieve in your first year £
Divide the sum by the number of weeks you plan to work £…../ ….. £
Divide this sum by the number of hours of massage you plan
to give £……./……. £


This is the minimum you need to charge

 

Gill tree

Managing Director

www.essentialsforhealth.co.uk