The Massage Lab Sussex

Having surgery? Start practising your sleeping position before your operation.
If you’re 4–6 weeks away from surgery, it’s worth getting comfortable with the position you’ll need to sleep in during your recovery.
🛏️ Pillows are your friend! You don’t necessarily need lots of fancy equipment — a few well-placed pillows can make a big difference.
For procedures such as facelifts, abdominal or breast surgery, you’ll generally need to spend time sleeping on your back, so if you’re normally a side sleeper, start practising beforehand. Giving yourself time to get used to it can make the transition much easier.
If you’re having a BBL, your pillow set-up will be different, with support arranged more in a V-shape to help you follow your post-operative positioning instructions.
And don’t forget the little things. Before surgery, think about setting up your recovery space so that everything you might need is within easy reach — chargers, medication, water, pillows and anything else you’ll want without having to keep getting up.
A little preparation beforehand can make those first few days of recovery much easier.
Always follow the specific positioning and recovery advice given by your surgical team, as this will vary depending on your procedure.

Sometimes it’s not about choosing one particular treatment….
I might use a combination of different techniques, depending on what your body needs that day- whether that’s working in tight, uncomfortable muscles, supporting recovery, or simply giving you some time to properly switch off.

So if you’re not quite sure what you need that’s absolutely fine. We can work that out together 😊

🏃‍♀️ Well done to all the runners — and their amazing supporters — who completed the Littlehampton 10K today! 👏

What perfect conditions for a 10K — sunshine, blue skies and just a gentle breeze! ☀️🌊

A huge thank you to the RUNFEST team for having us along and for making us feel so welcome. And a special thank you to the Chestnut Tree House crew for all your support on the day. 💚

And of course, a massive thank you to my fabulous husband, who made absolutely sure that gazebo wasn’t going anywhere in that early morning breeze! 😂💪

Thanks to everyone’s incredible generosity, we’ve raised £67 so far — with more donations promised! 🙌💚
Watch this space… 👀
If you’d like to donate to Chestnut Tree House, the link is below. Every donation, however big or small, makes a difference. 💚
https://www.justgiving.com/page/the-massage-lab-sussex-mel-willard-1788634067708?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Well done again everyone 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️👏

🏃‍♂️Running the Littlehampton 10K today?!

I’ll be at the finish area offering pre & post-race massages in return for a donation to Chestnut Tree House — the race’s chosen charity and an amazing local charity supporting children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and their families, with the care and support they need. 💚

PRE-RACE
Want to loosen up before you run? Make sure you arrive a little earlier to allow time for a massage before the start.

POST-RACE
Come and find me after you’ve crossed the finish line, I’ll be next to The Chestnut Tree House stand and give those hard-working muscles some well-deserved attention!

📱 Just scan the QR code to donate to Chestnut Tree House and enjoy your massage. 💚

Chestnut Tree House is a charity particularly close to my heart, having supported people I know and their families. So I’m really pleased to be able to bring my work into the day and together we’ll help raise a little more for this incredible charity.

Good luck to everyone running — see you soon!! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

🌿 Deep belly breathing — a simple practice with powerful benefits

One of the gentlest ways to support your lymphatic system is through deep diaphragmatic (belly) breathing. 💨✨

Your lymphatic system doesn’t have its own pump, so movement and deep breathing can help encourage lymph flow and support the body’s natural drainage processes.

Try making it part of your daily routine — a few minutes every morning and evening can be a lovely way to slow down and reconnect with your body. 🤍

✨ May help to:
• Support lymphatic flow & circulation
• Reduce swelling and bloating
• Calm the nervous system & support relaxation
• Ease feelings of stress and anxiety
• Support better sleep
• Support healthy immune function
• Encourage gentle movement of fluid around the body
It’s so gentle Lymphatic drainage is also recommended post-op!

🌿Take a few slow breaths, relax your shoulders, soften your belly and let your breath move deeply and comfortably. Imagining sending your breath down to your stomach. 5-10 times twice a day is ideal.

Small practice. Big difference.

Save this reel and make it part of your morning & evening routine. 🤍

worthingmassage

✨ Exciting news! ✨
Last week I completed my Advanced Post-Operative Manual Lymphatic Drainage training, giving me even more knowledge and skills to support clients through their recovery after surgery.
I learnt so much over the week, but had so much fun at the same time. A huge thank you to Petra
and everyone involved for such an enjoyable and inspiring course.
This advanced training included:
✔️ Procedure-specific post-op care
✔️ K-taping to help ease swelling and support lymphatic drainage between treatment sessions
✔️ Compression garment guidance
✔️ The appropriate use of specialist foam where indicated
✔️ Most importantly, adapting Manual Lymphatic Therapy to the unique demands of post-operative healing, taking into account altered lymphatic drainage pathways, healing tissues, and the specific procedure you’ve had.

No two surgeries—or recoveries—are the same, which is why treatment should always be tailored to you and your stage of healing.
I’m looking forward to bringing this enhanced knowledge into my clinic to continue providing safe, evidence-informed post-operative care.

🍃Preparing for surgery or recovering afterwards? If you would like to know more about how post-operative surgery may support your recovery, please get in touch. You can submit an enquiry via my website or contact me directly by phone - I’m always happy to answer any questions.

🖥️www.themassagelabsussex.co.uk
📞07833 938507

I know I shared this last year, but coming out of this recent heatwave—with more hot days still predicted—I thought it was well worth bringing back. ☀️👣
Whether you’ve been squeezing your runs into the cooler mornings and evenings, or you’ve simply been on your feet more than usual enjoying the sunshine, your feet might be feeling a little worse for wear.
This simple tip can help soothe tired, achy feet and keep you moving comfortably.
Save this for the next spell of hot weather or send it to someone whose on their feet all day 💙

Still searching for the perfect Father’s Day gift? 🎁
Gift vouchers are still available for the Dad in your life…
DM me - 🔗 in bio

This isn’t a magic fix—it’s physiology.
By elevating your legs, gravity helps move fluid back towards the body’s central circulation, supporting lymphatic drainage and reducing feelings of heaviness, tightness, and swelling.
It’s one of the simplest ways to give your body a reset after long periods of sitting, standing, travelling, or training.
5 minutes. One wall. Let gravity do some of the work.
Have you tried it?
Follow for more tips 👌