About me
Hello, I'm Karina! Here's a little about me and my journey, so far, into the wonderful world of massage and holistic therapies. I hope this gives you a feel for who I am as a therapist and helps you feel comfortable about getting in touch with any questions you may have, or to book a treatment.
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Massage and the healing power of touch has been a part of my life since I can remember; I grew up in a house where we'd often give each other head and neck 'rubs' if someone was feeling headachey or stressed. The techniques we used were basic but it felt good and made us feel better so it definitely helped develop my respect for the power of touch.
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My official training began in 2004 with an intensive diploma in holistic therapies; falling head first into the wonderland of alternative health options; Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Indian head massage, Hopi ear candles - they're just the ones I was training in! I knew then that this was the path for me.
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As soon as I qualified I offered treatments on a part time basis from home, then a few years later, I began offering mobile treatments; a client felt her housebound mum would really benefit from massage.
This is a big part of my ethos now; everyone should be able to experience the incredible benefits of massage - even those that can't travel to appointments.
Although I predominantly work from the clinic now (a therapist can only take so much of pets getting on the couch mid treatment or licking my feet/eating my couch or being asked to set up and work in teeny-weeny little back breaking spaces or having to carry my couch half a mile, the list of reasons goes on!) if you're unable to get to the clinic or know someone in need who can't, please get in touch and I'll happily consider mobile on a case by case basis.
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In '17, after getting totally side-tracked by life and a full-time job in the corporate world I was frustrated about not having more time for doing what I loved, massage! As it had been so long since my initial training I wanted to refresh my skills so I enrolled onto the Advanced Clinical Massage Therapist (ACMT) qualification with Jing Institute of Advanced Massage Training. I'd been eyeing up Jing and this course for literally years but was never quite brave enough to make the move and go for it... now was the time!
The plan was to complete the course in September '18 and with my new found skills and confidence go forth as a full time therapist. Once I got started with the ACMT my passion for massage exploded to new levels with the new comprehension and understanding of how much benefit it could have to people in pain; I realised that I couldn't wait - I handed in my notice in February '18 and started looking for somewhere from which I could base myself to provide massage on a full time basis.
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Five years on and I'm using all the skills I've learnt and the experience I've developed for a beautiful list of regular clients. Many of whom have carried on with treatment after realising how much benefit they get even though the original pain they came to me about is now gone.
I'm also very fortunate to have a steady stream of new clients, usually in the form of people who've had enough of living with pain and discomfort or high levels of stress/emotional burnout and are wanting some relief from it all.
I've been lucky enough to work at beautifully luxurious yoga retreats in the UK and abroad, at a variety of networking events and in corporate settings, providing massage to improve the wellbeing of staff. Regardless of where I go and in what setting it takes place my massage is always well received and people are usually briming with compliments and happiness afterwards, that or too chilled out to speak and putting their clothes back on inside out or back to front; either way it's hugely rewarding!
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I love working with all of my clients and it brings me such a sense of joy and satisfaction when after committing to a treatment plan, following the advice I've given them, someone turns around and says 'I really thought I'd have to live with the pain forever but I barely notice it now' or even more so when a regular comes in and say's 'I'd forgotten that I first saw you about *insert ailment here*, it doesn't bother me at all now'.
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I love to keep building up my bank of skills and knowledge as this helps keep me developing as a therapist and getting better results with even more clients.
In line with this I've decided to go 'all the way' as it were. In March '24 I'll be back at Jing studying for the BTEC Level 6 in Clinical and Sports Massage - the only degree level course in massage therapy in the UK -eeek, exciting times ahead!
Do sign up to my mailing list if you'd like to be kept in the loop of opportunities to be part of a Case study or my research project.
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Well, that wasn't such a quick introduction after all! So if' you've learned anything from this it's that I love to talk about all things massage - please do reach out if you have any questions and even if you have doubts or uncertainties about if or how massage could help you.
I don't do the hard sell thing, massage does that for itself, however, I'm happy to share my knowledge and expertise even if it means referring you to someone who may be better able to help you.
So you really have nothing to lose... and a whole new sense of wellness and feeling good in yourself to gain!
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With Love and Light
Karina
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