Cherry Tree Holistic

Welcome to World Reflexology Week - a week where reflexologists celebrate their practice.

The theme this week helps to summarise everything that I have always stood for - supporting the whole you.

Increasingly I'm feeling like we are being seen more as separate instances of symptoms and not as an overall person.

Our bodies are complex works of art - the more you learn about the interconnection of every system and beyond.

Because we're not just the sum of our physical parts.

We're that plus our emotional, spiritual and past selves.

So we need to take care of all of those parts and be seen for connections across all of them.

Reflexology is one of many ways that allows me to support the whole you - literally down to the tips of your toes.

Curious to find out more; message me to see how I can support you.

R x

Happy 5th birthday to me (well my business).

When I qualified as a reflexologist 5 years ago, I had no idea where I'd end up. I knew that I wanted to work with women, supporting them to find some time for themselves, but I didn't fully know how.

5 years later, my business has changed its name and evolved and I'm using a number of therapies to support women through all aspects of life, helping them to ease back into themselves.

And the common thread?

Touch.

The aspect of nursing that always meant so much to me; human contact, therapeutic touch and the benefits that brings.

The business has evolved and so have I, but my foundations remain strong.

Thank you for being on this journey with me, for trusting me and supporting my little dream.

R x

Reflexology is where it all began for me.

And honestly, it's difficult to put it all into words.

Using reflexology in my business always feels like a coming home - the gentleness and the power, the rest it imparts on those who experience it and the lightness that follows as they leave.

And that's why clients love it and often come back to it even when they've tried some of my other treatments.

I've listed some of the benefits in the graphics, but really they don't do reflexology justice and it really is something that you need to experience in order to understand.

So perhaps it's time you stopped imagining an hour of you time and actually took a step towards making it happen.

Then you can feel the lightness and relaxation for yourself.

You have nothing to lose.

R x

What if self-care wasn't something you did once you were exhausted?

After 25 years working as a nurse and 5 years as a therapist, I've seen just how often people put themselves at the bottom of the list.

You keep going; you look after you family; you turn up for work; you cope.

Until eventually, something gives.

Self-care isn't about being selfish, self-indulgent or escaping your responsibilities.

It's about recognising that you are also someone who needs care.

That doesn't necessarily mean grand gestures: it might mean noticing the tension you've been carrying; taking time to breathe; allowing yourself to rest without having to earn it; paying attention to what your body and mind have been telling you.

The evidence supports the importance of self-care as part of health and wellbeing, and research around self-compassion suggests that treating ourselves with greater kindness is associated with lower stress and better wellbeing.

As a holistic therapist, that's something I care deeply about.

Not fixing you.

Not telling you what you *should* be doing.

But by creating a calm, supportive space where you can pause, reconnect and receive some care yourself.

Those who come to see me, know that the treatment starts as you enter my home. The quick check in as we head to my calm treatment space followed by the collective deep breath.

Then comes the more in depth chat - not a passing comment on changes but a proper chat about how things have been since your last appointment; life changes, significant events, mood, impacts.

Nothing is too big or too small.

Because at the end of the day, how you arrive dictates your treatment. Understanding what's happened before you walk in my door (either just before or in the days and weeks prior to your appointment) allows me to meet you where you are and set intention.

I'm learning that intention improves my treatments.

I'm learning that sometimes you don't know what you need until you take that breath and unload.

And no, not all clients do this and they still have restful and restorative treatments. But I do find that knowing more, helps me to tailor treatments and aftercare support in a more effective way.

If you're in need of someone to hold that space, message me to see how my therapies and I can help.

R x

There is something beautiful about the moment where, as a therapist, you notice the softening of the jaw, the regulation of breathing with slower but deeper breaths and finally the gentle sigh.

The moment that signals that a client has relaxed fully and has moved into a more parasympathetic dominated state - out of fight or flight and into rest and digest.

Too often, we run from task to task and forget to take a moment to breathe, drop our tongue away from the roof of the mouth, relaxing the jaw and release the shoulders from their long term friendship with the ears.

Holistic facials can help with that - a relaxing scalp and neck massage followed by a soothing skin cleanse before a combination of facial massage techniques designed with your needs in mind. All finished off with a combination of acupressure points designed to promote rest and wellbeing.

If this sounds like a treatment that is made for you - then message me to learn more, and book your moment to pause.

R x

Over the last few weeks, three words have been going around my mind whilst I've been settled in my treatment room.

Three words that I feel apply to life as much as the space that I offer to you.

🌸 Intention - working and living with purpose
🌸 Flow - movements connecting
🌸 Rest - that moment where everything stops

All three elements have always formed part of my treatments but lately they have seemed even more important.

Learning reiki helped me understand the power behind intention - the settling in during treatments, the power of the conversation before.

Working through the holistic massage course has meant that I've worked harder on connecting movements, and it's having a positive impact across all my treatments.

Most of my treatments include an element of rest beyond the obvious that you encounter during and after your time with me. But there's the element that you may not be as aware of - the pause over a certain reflex or area of tension. The focus of energy with the intention behind it.

All elements working together to provide you with the best possible experience and outcomes.

All elements needed for balance.

R x



All ele

Chapter 9

As we slip into the "ber" months, a gentle reminder that it's okay to shed in order to grow.

I've been seeing lots of reminders lately about beauty and new beginnings after destruction, and being a person who has loved the imagery of the phoenix for as long as I can remember, feel even more drawn to the idea of accepting that you must lose some things in order to become the best version of self.

The other day, I wrote about new beginnings at this time of the year and I'm sure this is a hangover from my own school days but I feel like the pressure of "new year, new you" is so much less now. More of an opportunity.

So, this September I'm inviting in the opportunity to snuggle down in warm, comforting fabrics, having more cuddles with the kids and discovering what I need to shed in order to continue to move forwards.

R x

I cannot believe the summer holiday is almost over - just a few more days until the children are back in school and I can return to more normal business hours.

I don't know about you, but I always find that my self care drops off a little over the longer holidays - with still relatively young children, I find that they need me intensely at times (especially my youngest) and this means less time to focus on my everyday activities that help keep me in check.

I've always tried to add in small daily practices to manage my wellbeing but I've definitely missed the daily school run for the exercise element and outdoor time.

September always feels like an opportunity for a new start to me - most people use the new year to make changes, but the start of the school year has always felt more important in a way (and this was even the case when I was a child).

So, as we head into the "ber" months, why not see this as your sign to add in some self care and book in to see how I can help support you and your wellbeing.

R x

Feedback like this makes all the agonising over which course to do, and the journey that comes with it, so worthwhile.

I’ve always tried to make sure I’m meeting the needs of the ladies who come and see me. And when I see a gap, I want to learn, understand and find a way to fill it.

Doing a course in holistic massage pushed me in so many ways, but comments like this are exactly why I did it.

I’m still finding my flow and figuring out how holistic massage fits within my practice and meets your needs, without diluting the work I already do.

But it seems to be working.

Flow.
Stillness.
Connection.
Grounding.

Key elements in gently nudging your body towards a reset.

R x