Hi! I'm Rachael from Soothe Massage. I have been a massage therapist in the Waikato for the past 9 years and am trained in Level 4 relaxation, sport and pregnancy massage. I'm also a mum to 4 adult children and grandma to 1 delightful grandbaby, with another on the way. My dog and I live in a motorhome in Cambridge and frequently drive off into the sunset in search of adventures in new places. I'm an avid tramper (hiker for you non kiwis) and love being out and about in nature as well as spending time with family and friends.

But! Back to massage......

Massage is one of the oldest holistic traditions and was practiced in many cultures throughout history. In India, around 3000 BCE, massage was considered a sacred system of natural healing used by Hindus to aid injuries, relieve pain and prevent and cure illnesses by restoring the body's balance. These rituals traveled to China and Southeast Asia and were incorporated into Chinese medicines, martial arts and the training of Buddhists, the belief being that disease is caused by imbalance or deficiencies in energy. Then to Egypt where reflexology was added to the mix, and to Japan where practitioners sought to regulate and strengthen the body's organs and rebalance energy via stimulation of pressure points. The Greeks then went on to use massage to condition their bodies before competitions whilst Roman's flocked to Roman baths for "spa treatments' and massage to stimulate circulation and loosen joints. Hippocrates - the 'Father of medicine' - treated injuries in the 5th century with 'friction' and prescribed massage, proper diet, exercise and fresh air, alongside music to resolve health imbalances. And, more recently, Swedish doctor/gymnast Per Henrick Ling created the Swedish Movement Cure which became what we now call Swedish massage. 

All these ancient techniques and theories have carried over into the massage therapy of today. Massage is both part of integrative therapy, playing an integral, supportive role, and as a stand alone modality, improving health and wellbeing in a multitude of ways. 

So what is massage therapy?  Massage is a hands on, manual therapy that manipulates the soft tissues of the body ie, the muscles, fascia, tendons and ligaments. This can be through kneading, stroking, tapping, pressure, mobilization and trigger point work. It is an effective tool to help manage pain, reduce stress and anxiety, improve circulation and sleep, and ease muscle tension. The skeletal, muscular, respiratory, nervous, immune and lymphatic systems can all benefit from massage therapy. 

But massage is more than just a purely physical therapy. In today's hectic, overstimulated, overworked world we can become so caught up in the rat race that we forget to not only take care of our physical bodies, but our emotional and spiritual sides as well. I see massage as a conversation with the nervous system that also seeks to bring back that vital mind body connection, realigning the grounded physical body with the emotional body, spirit and soul.

As a massage therapist I like to work with my clients to define their desires and goals and then work together to form strategies to help achieve those outcomes using techniques that suit each individual's unique body, personality and needs. Every massage is YOUR massage, and my aim is to see you leave feeling better than you did when you walked in. Whether you had an athletic weekend and want a one-off session to ease tight muscles, whether you are recovering from a physical or emotional injury and need more regular appointments, or whether you just want to book in for some stress-free relaxation, I look forward to meeting you and walking with you through your health and wellness journey.

My workdays and hours are highly flexible and can usually fit around most people's schedules. Please don't hesitate to call :)

Rachael 027 421 4322

Side note! I am in the process of starting up Wellness Walks, aiming to re-establish and reinforce that beautiful connection we all have (or should have!) with nature. Think wild places, walking through woods, bare feet on grass/sand/soil, river dips and really soaking in the heart of the natural world around us. The natural world that we sometimes forget even exists. Feel free to give me a call if interested :)