The benefits of massage and complimentary therapies are well documented and these practices have been used to help people’s health for centuries.

BUPA UK note the many therapies that come under the complimentary therapy heading, which people often use alongside traditional medicines and conventional therapies. These include massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy, reflexology and herbal medicines. BUPA also notes that around 16 out of 100 people will be treated by a complementary therapist, and as many as half of us may use a complementary therapy at some time in our lives. The reasons for this, they state, can be many including some of the following –

• You might feel like they’re an option if conventional treatments aren’t working as well as you would like, or you’ve found they haven’t suited you.
•         Complimentary therapies can feel like a more natural approach. Remember that natural doesn’t always mean harmless, though. For example, some herbal medicines can interact with other medicines or be harmful.
•         Complimentary therapies may take a more holistic approach, which means they focus on treating your whole body rather than part of it.
•         They may help you feel better. Many complementary therapies focus on relaxation and reducing your stress, which helps you to feel less anxious.
•         They can help you to feel like you’re more in control. Sometimes it can feel like the health professionals are making all the decisions, especially if you have a serious or life-threatening illness. Choosing to use a complementary therapy can help you feel like you’re playing an active part.

Cancer Research UK note that researchers estimate that 30 to 40 out of every 100 people (30-40%) with cancer use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The most common research is into touch-based therapies such as massage, acupuncture and mindfulness-based stress reduction.

Sarah Colley is a Complimentary and Sports Massage Therapist and an Infant & Baby Massage Instructor and runs Sea Fresh Therapies in Pembroke. Sarah is passionate about the work that she does and says her interest in complimentary therapies originated from family connection.

“I have been interested in CTs since I was young. My cousin and aunt have had experiences with different Therapies. I initially did the course just because I was interested it & then turned it in to a career.”

Sarah has a HND in Complimentary Therapies, Certificate in Thermo Auricular Therapy (Ear candeling), VTCT level 3 diploma in Sports Massage Therapy (QCF), Certificate as Infant Massage Instructor and Certificates in ProNails – manicure & pedicure – gel nails, gel removal, SO polish and nail art.

She says that there are many benefits to massage and complimentary therapies for the mind and body:

“There are physical, mental & emotional benefits for massage. Studies show it can help with anxiety, digestive disorders, fibromyalgia, headaches, insomnia related to stress, low back pain, myocardial pain syndrome, nerve pain, soft tissue strains or injuries, sports injuries, temporomandibular joint pain and upper back and neck pain. Some people like it just because it produces feelings of comfort, connection and caring.”

Baby massage can benefit both the mother and child and encourage them to bond naturally. It can help to relax, develop, stimulate and relieve the baby, while it can aid the parent in relaxing and connecting, learning and boosting their confidence whilst easing anti natal depression.

Sarah notes that there are many reasons that people may request her services.

“I get people, who take part in sports activities, coming in for maintenance between events and for recovery after events. Also, people who have had injuries, not necessarily from exercise.

People come in for many different reasons. Some for relaxation, others for their mental health or find it helps with their general health and some who find regular massage is good for self-care.”

Helping people is crucial to Sarah’s ethos and in the future, she would like to further develop the facilities she offers, highlighting the benefit of owning her own business:

“I’d like to develop my therapies and sports massage and to do more courses at some point.

I love helping people physically, mentally and emotionally. I get all sorts of clients for different reasons. I’ve worked in a clinical setting for a hotel venue and found that you can’t do as much for people as you can when working for yourself.”

Sarah is a qualified reflexologist and aromatherapist and tries to use natural products. At Sea Fresh Therapies she offers aromatherapy, a variety of massages, reflexology, sports massage and baby massage as well as luxury facials with tropic care skin products.

Find out more about complimentary therapies with BUPA here.  Contact Sarah to book an appointment or find out more about the services she offers here.