Just Relax with Emma

When Stress Gets Stuck in the Body!

Last night, my back went. A sharp pain that seemed to resonate from the back of my lower ribs, but seemed to be affecting my diaphragm, which was taking my breath away.
I hadn't lifted anything heavy. I hadn't twisted awkwardly. There was no dramatic injury.
My body was just done.
The last few weeks have been quite stressful. I've carried on working, parenting, travelling, organising and dealing with life because that's what I do.

Mentally, I thought I was coping.
My muscles had a different opinion 😂
This morning, my partner (who I have trained up well ) massaged my back for me and he couldn't believe how much tension I was holding. As I worked into the area myself, I could feel it too. Tight, guarded muscles that simply weren't letting go.
And this is something I see in my treatment room all the time.
When we're stressed, the nervous system can keep the body in a heightened state of alert. Muscles brace. Shoulders creep upwards. Jaws tighten. Breathing can become shallower. We hold tension through the neck, back, hips and sometimes even the legs.
Do that for long enough and the body starts to feel different.
Movement becomes restricted. Muscles become sore and fatigued. You can feel heavy, stiff or completely drained.
This is what I often describe to my clients as disrupted flow.
I'm not talking about blood suddenly stopping or something being physically “blocked”. I'm talking about a body that is no longer moving, breathing and relaxing as freely as it should.
And sometimes, you don't even realise how tense you are until somebody puts their hands on you.
That's where the right massage techniques matter.
I don't believe every tight muscle needs attacking with an elbow.
Sometimes the body needs persuading to let go.
Heat. Slow deep pressure. Myofascial techniques. Gua sha. Cupping where appropriate. Breath. Working with the nervous system rather than fighting against the muscles.
The aim is to help interrupt that stress–tension–pain cycle and give the body an opportunity to soften.
My back reminded me of that this morning.
You can feel like you're coping mentally while your body is quietly carrying the load.
Sometimes your body speaks before you do.
And sometimes, you just need someone who knows how to listen to it.
Peace and Love
Just Relax with Emma 💚✨

Well… I've been a little quiet on here
The last few weeks have been a LOT
I've closed the doors on my Beverley room, moved fully over to Anlaby, squeezed in a much needed few days in Ibiza, navigated the usual chaos of being a working mum… and sadly we've also had a bereavement in the family 💔

Sometimes life just gets a little full doesn't it?
And I'm very aware that life throws stress, worry, grief and all sorts at everyone. We all have things going on behind the scenes that other people know nothing about.

That's also why I love what I do 💚

I'm still here. Whether you're in pain and need fixing, your head is overwhelmed and you need somewhere to completely switch off, or you just want to look and feel a bit more like YOU again.
Pain. Stress. Mental wellbeing. Confidence. Sometimes we just need a little help getting ourselves back to feeling good again.
I'm now fully based at Harrington Hair in Anlaby and my diary is OPEN.

I've also got something very exciting coming to the treatment menu
A results-driven Collagen Sculpt & Glow facial using advanced peptide skincare, intensive hydration and my beloved gua sha sculpting techniques.
More on that very soon…
But for now... I'm back!
If you've been meaning to book in, this is your sign.
Peace and love
Emma xx

A Little Heads Up...
Tomorrow is my final day working from Beverley before I move fully over to my lovely Anlaby location.
As many of you know, I haven't increased my prices for quite some time, but from 1st July there will be a small increase of £5 per treatment. (The leaflet below shows my new prices from July.)

✨ The good news? ✨
If you book your appointment before 1st July, I'll happily honour my current prices, even if your appointment takes place later.
I truly appreciate every one of you who has supported me over the years, and I'm here to continue supporting you in your health and wellbeing journey from my new Anlaby location.
For my Beverley clients, Anlaby is only a short drive away, and I would absolutely love to continue seeing you there. The room is peaceful, easy to find, with plenty of parking nearby, and I look forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces.

Thank you for being part of my journey. I look forward to seeing you in Anlaby.
291 Hull Road, Anlaby Common, HU4 7RY
📞 07926 397095
🌿 Just Relax with Emma
Book before 1st July to secure current prices. ✨

A New Chapter Begins ✨
After many wonderful years in Beverley, Saturday 20th June will be my last working day at my Beverley therapy room.
I'd like to say a huge thank you to all of my lovely Beverley clients who have trusted me with their wellbeing over the years. I've met some truly amazing people, and it's been a privilege to be part of your health and wellness journeys. 💚
I'm excited for this next chapter as I move my focus closer to home and continue growing my practice in Anlaby. This will allow me to better serve clients in Anlaby, Hull, Kirkella, Willerby, Hessle and the surrounding villages, while also creating a better work-life balance for myself and my family.
The good news is that I'm not going far! I'll still be offering all of the treatments you know and love, including:
✨ The Fixer
✨ The Flow
✨ The Escape
✨ Reiki
✨ Reflexology
✨ Beauty Treatments
If you've been thinking about booking in, I'd love to welcome you to my Anlaby Therapy room located in side Harrington Hair.
Thank you for your continued support as I take this exciting step forward. The best is yet to come. 💚
Just Relax with Emma
Massage • Reiki • Natural Wellness Anlaby 📞 07926397095

THE FIXER IN ACTION!

THE BODY DOESN’T ALWAYS SHOW THE REAL PROBLEM STRAIGHT AWAY…

These photos are from a taxi driver suffering with severe shoulder and arm restriction from years of repetitive gear changing, driving posture and overuse.
When he first came to me he had:
❌ Very limited range of motion
❌ Couldn’t properly lift his arm
❌ Couldn’t open his arm out
❌ Was struggling to drive comfortably
❌ Was unable to work

FIRST SESSION: The body was still heavily guarding and inflamed. You can see widespread redness and tissue response across the shoulder and upper arm where the body had been compensating for a long time.
At this stage, the nervous system is often still in protection mode.

SECOND SESSION: Once the superficial layers began calming down, the deeper trigger points and tension chains started revealing themselves more clearly.
You can now see:
➡️ wrist and forearm strain patterns
➡️ shoulder-to-elbow fascial tension
➡️ neck and upper trap compensation
This is why healing is often a process not just a quick “rub where it hurts.”

The body protects itself first. Then once it feels safe enough, the deeper problem areas begin to appear.
He’s now back at work and lifting his arm above his head again.
This is the approach I use in “The Fixer”: ✨ Heat
✨ CBD balm
✨ Gua Sha
✨ Cupping
✨ Myofascial release
✨ Nervous system regulation.

I don’t just chase pain. I look for the pattern causing it. To give you long lasting result.
If your body feels stuck, tight, restricted or like it’s been “holding on” for far too long… don’t ignore it.
Sometimes pain isn’t coming from where you think. The body compensates, protects and adapts until eventually something stops functioning properly.
If this post resonates with you, or you’re struggling with ongoing tension, restricted movement or repetitive strain patterns, feel free to message me and we can chat about the best treatment approach for you
Beverley & Anlaby
“The Fixer” – Deep Tissue • Gua Sha • Cupping • CBD Balm • Myofascial Release
Message me to book in.
Peace and Love
Emma

REIKI (ENERGY HEALING)
Reiki is a treatment in its own right…
not just an add-on.
It’s a gentle, fully clothed, hands-on experience that works with your body’s natural energy.

What is Reiki?

Reiki is described as universal life force energy that flows through us and sur.(ULFE)
The idea is simple…
your body holds its own ULFE but sometimes our energy is running low, (people and situations that drain us) and needs a top up of this beautiful energy to flow through you.
Whether you’re holding onto:
• Physical tension
• Emotional stress
• Or something you can’t quite put your finger on
Reiki works intuitively supporting your body in the areas that need it most.

✨ What can it help with?

• Deep relaxation
• Calming the nervous system
• Migraines and headaches
• Swelling and inflammation
• Emotional overwhelm or stress
It’s also a lovely, supportive treatment alongside things like cancer care, as it’s non-invasive and doesn’t interfere with medication.

✨ What does it feel like?

Everyone experiences it differently… but most people say:
• Warmth or tingling
• Seeing an array of colours
• A deep sense of calm
• Their mind finally switches off
• A feeling of release physically or emotionally.

This is one of those treatments where you don’t have to “do” anything…
you just lie back and let your body do the work.
If your body feels like it’s holding onto more than it should…this is a gentle way to let go.
Message me to book in 07926397095
Beverley & Anlaby
Currently booking from week commencing 13th May
Peace & Love
Emma Mailey
Just Relax with Emma ✌️❤️

THE ESCAPE MASSAGE
Sometimes your body doesn’t need fixing…
it just needs to switch off.
Life gets busy.
Your mind doesn’t stop.
Your body holds onto everything.
👉 That constant go-go-go feeling
👉 The tension you don’t even notice anymore
👉 The moment you finally stop… and realise how tired you actually are
This is where The Escape comes in
This is deep, flowing, full-body relaxation.
Using:
• Warm oils
• Hot stones
• Slow, rhythmic movements
And at times, I’ll naturally bring in Reiki energy work to help calm the nervous system even deeper.
This helps your body to:
• Let go of built-up tension
• Settle your nervous system
• Fully switch off

This isn’t just a massage…
it’s time for you.

The kind where you:
• Drift off
• Lose track of time
• Walk out feeling calm, reset… and lighter.

If you’ve been running on empty…
this is your sign to pause.

Message me to book in.

Beverley & Anlaby
Currently booking from week commencing 4th May
Peace & Love
Emma ✌️❤️

How your body SHOULD feel vs how you’ve got used to feeling.

HOW YOUR BODY SHOULD FEEL
Most people don’t realise how much tension they’re carrying…
because it’s become their normal.
You’re not meant to feel:
• Constantly tight
• Achy for no reason
• Stiff when you move
• Drained and heavy
• Like your body just feels “off” all the time
That’s your body telling you something needs attention.

How you SHOULD feel:
• Light and relaxed
• Able to move freely
• No constant niggles or tight spots
• Energised—not run down
• Like your body is actually working with you
This is what I work towards with every client.
Not just a quick fix…
but getting your body back to how it’s meant to feel.
Because once you feel the difference…
you don’t settle for anything less.
Message me to book in
Beverley & Anlaby
Currently booking from week commencing 4th May
Peace & Love
Emma ✌️❤️