tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53182093788329740312024-03-20T08:08:18.324-07:00Thoughts from a soft tissue therapist....Kate Sheridan MISRM:
Sport and Remedial Massage Therapist, also a qualified Western Medical Herbalist with an interest in hedgerow plants.Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-47358210475419798782024-02-27T11:43:00.000-08:002024-02-27T11:59:37.241-08:00'When should I book in again?'Photo by Pablo Heimplatz on Unsplash 'When should I book in again?' is a question I am often asked at the end of an appointment, especially by new clients who are unfamiliar with massage.My usual response is that there is no set answer, it depends on you as an individual:- on how you respond to massage. Some people need to allow more time for the body to process a massage Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-1694182001944471122024-01-10T09:08:00.000-08:002024-01-10T09:24:34.469-08:00January catch upDaisy copes fine with mud....We've made it into 2024! I hope January is being kind to you. I seem to be spending a lot of time washing mud off Daisy....Speaking of mud, I will just mention my usual tips to take smaller steps, keep your weight over your feet and stay relaxed to allow your body to make the quick micro adjustments that will help you balance. I have noticed quite a few clients comingThoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-50800167493270511122023-12-13T10:09:00.000-08:002023-12-13T10:13:14.222-08:00December updateIt's halfway to Christmas already! I am working up to and including Friday 22nd December at the 919 Clinic, finishing at 4pm. My last December dates at the Nether Edge Herbarium are Saturday 16th and Tuesday 19th. Gift certificates are still available!I will be back at the Nether Edge Herbarium from the 2nd January, and the 919 Clinic from the 3rd January.Daisy loving the frosty conditions!It's Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-68752549953662824222023-11-14T04:43:00.000-08:002023-11-14T07:34:47.685-08:00November news I love autumn - the colours, the crunch of leaves (when dry!) underfoot, finding sweet chestnuts to roast and of course, as an avid knitter, the return of the sweater, hat, gloves and shawl temperatures! However, the rain deluges are making those leaves slippery underfoot, likewise the muddy paths. If you find yourself thinking that you are about to slip the instinct for most of us is to Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-51953169270747110602023-10-18T13:29:00.004-07:002023-10-18T14:33:58.411-07:00October catch up - including some listening recommendations.The leaves are turning colour and falling, the acorns are like ball bearings underfoot in the woods and I'm wearing my (handknit by me) Icelandic jumper; how did it get to be nearly November so fast! As usual, several months have gone by since my last blog....First up: my Saturday hours at the Nether Edge Herbarium are changing to begin at 10.15am - so you can have your massage treatment and thenThoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-78389198926503984422023-07-24T02:52:00.005-07:002023-08-05T03:17:28.276-07:00I'm back to working in two locations! Very exciting news for me - I am now working on Tuesday and Saturday afternoons at the Nether Edge Herbarium on Abbeydale Road. Nether Edge HerbariumI have known the Sheffield herbalists for many years, they welcomed me when I first arrived here, and I am delighted to be a part of this team. I will be practicing there the same as I do at the Clinic: soft tissue therapy with maybe more Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-59359173437724825522023-07-18T12:28:00.000-07:002023-07-18T12:28:32.147-07:00Food! Great book - must finish it!I bought 'More fuel you' after reading an interview with the author; I really like her approach to diet and nutrition - she works with you and your needs, values and requirements rather than dictating what you should do, and is an advocate of eating as a pleasurable and social activity. Things she considers in this book after an introduction on nutrition include Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-13735438844804468612023-06-15T02:24:00.012-07:002023-07-06T10:14:50.732-07:00Summertime! ......and my top tips are to wear sunscreen, keep as covered up as possible in cool clothing and make sure you avoid dehydration. All very obvious but I seem to slip up on this every year! I now keep sunscreen right by the front door in full sight to remind me to use it every time I go out. When rehydrating it's worth considering how much you have been exercising and whether you would Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-57873077433570388962023-04-13T13:55:00.001-07:002023-04-13T13:55:17.668-07:00Price changes....I have been putting off changing my prices as I really do like to keep massage treatment as affordable as possible, but my last price increase was way back in February 2020 and since then I have absorbed quite a few increasing costs. So, the time has come... from 01/05/2023 the price of the 45 and 60 minute sessions will be increasing by £5 to £35 and £45 respectively. This is still very Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-50309362965269779162023-03-13T08:14:00.008-07:002023-07-24T02:58:47.782-07:00Updates and some interesting listening. Well, I'd been meaning to write a blog post for a while but I've just realised that my last one was in 2022! Time really does fly by.Since then, we've had a deluge of snow in Sheffield. Snow and ice affect how we walk and I often notice an increase in back and leg issues as my clients cope with the conditions (including shoveling snow off paths and roads). My tips are to relax whilst Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-83542237162522141232022-11-30T03:11:00.004-08:002022-11-30T09:14:41.485-08:00Looking after your hard working feet....Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on UnsplashMany years ago I was watching a film during which an exhausted woman comes inside after being on her feet all day; takes off her shoes and massages her feet. Her face expressed her deep pleasure and relief at this self care and it really struck me - how many of us take such care of our feet.I can really recommend that at least once a week youThoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-35664078312801851092022-11-01T00:51:00.002-07:002022-11-30T03:17:44.545-08:00Are you using a hot water bottle?I love a hot water bottle; so comforting when you have aches and pains, and so wonderful for taken the chill off the bed before you get in. However, over the years I have seen clients come in with distinctive changes to their skin pigmentation where they have been using a hot water bottle for prolonged periods of time to relieve chronic pain; the changes are due to the prolonged exposure to Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-13043595946511072962022-10-06T02:57:00.013-07:002022-10-06T03:14:50.193-07:00ooops, it's been a while!Maybe the lovely distraction that is spending time with Daisy (and weaving leads for her) is why I have taken so long to post...I've been meaning to post for a few months now - and just realised that my last one was back in July! Now we are well into autumn, the leaves are changing colour and falling - and I should post. So this is just a quick update whilst I get round to making a video to Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-75393062834986464552022-07-01T02:14:00.001-07:002022-07-01T22:43:56.378-07:00Covid precautions update at the ClinicPhoto by Anshu A on Unsplash One of the things I notice when I look back over the years is the number of colds I had - usually several a year, of which at least one would be serious enough to take quite a while to recover from. As a massage therapist it's not good practice to work when ill so any infectious illness meant time off work, inconvenienced clients and a drop in Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-55141447598532641722022-05-31T13:03:00.000-07:002022-05-31T13:03:05.741-07:00...and May flies by... It's the last day of May and the next lot of woodland flowers are already springing up to replace the bluebells as they fade away. It's been a glorious spring, I feel the bluebell woods were exceptionally fragrant and beautiful this year, maybe due to the dry, warm weather. I am still not running due a foot issue, but I have been very much enjoying getting out in the woods every day with Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-85773410545233794932022-04-06T04:43:00.003-07:002022-04-06T04:43:35.720-07:00April already! Just checked, and this is my first post in 2022! How did three months fly by so quickly?Well, the first reason is this distraction arrived in our household! She is called Daisy and is about two years old; full of beans and keeping us busy as we learn each others ways. I have really missed having a dog; they are a huge commitment but an equally huge source of joy.A big part of having a dog Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-60029657288634946362021-12-23T09:47:00.001-08:002021-12-23T09:47:47.324-08:00Goodbye 2021, here's looking at 2022!The 919 Clinic is now shut for the holiday, we'll reopen on Tuesday 4th January.Thank you to all my clients for your support over the last year; I really appreciate people following our guidelines so willingly. I have not had a single cold or other illness since February 2020 - very unusual for me - and this is largely due to my clients being so responsible and thoughtful, not only wearing masks Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-80562735312668576292021-10-13T03:59:00.002-07:002021-10-13T04:03:02.087-07:00Some simple neck stretches I am often asked for these so have at last got round to making a video - at home on my day off, so please forgive the lack of clinical presentation!As ever, keep to a comfortable stretch that you can relax into. You can do all or some of the stretches shown as often as you find comfortable and useful.neck exercises videoThoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-11221469250440103482021-09-11T03:52:00.004-07:002021-09-11T03:59:04.295-07:00Where is that tension locked up.... Whilst indulging in my new pastime of spinning wool, I have been monitoring myself for habits that may end up limiting how long I can spin at a time - because of course I want to spin for hours, effortlessly! One habit I noticed is that I tend sub-consciously to create tension in my lower back; this gives me a nice, solid feeling of support - but is it actually going to help? - Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-27356731500239754972021-08-08T01:04:00.007-07:002021-08-08T01:07:52.709-07:00A new obsession.... As many of my clients know, I have a slight (ahem!) obsession with wool and knitting. I have loved everything about wool from a very young age, and have always sought out quality woolen textiles. I did learn to knit aged eight, but then forgot about it until my 30s when I was inspired to take up the needles again by younger friends who took their knitting to the climbing crag and on campingThoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-79772428895140994212021-07-11T04:21:00.005-07:002021-07-11T04:21:56.653-07:00How to help your knees when walking downhill...Image: Frantisek DurisI often hear from my clients that they experience pain at the front of the knee when walking downhill, especially steep slopes. It's worth having someone look at you when this is happening, to see if you are leaning backwards; this pushes your weight through the knee and puts it under pressure. It also makes it harder for your gluteal muscles to do their share of the work, Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-34442426354186582502021-06-26T00:50:00.002-07:002021-06-26T00:50:19.798-07:00Hours update and a useful link for runners looking for home exercises.I hope you are well and enjoying the long June days. First, a quick update: I am now working Mondays as well as Tuesday - Friday (early closing on Wednesday). I am continuing to arrange my own bookings so please use the contact details on my website to book an appointment:http://katesheridan.org/I am often asked about exercises; I do give these as part of my treatment plan for my clients butThoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-64458289103116097872021-06-09T12:52:00.011-07:002021-06-14T23:35:46.273-07:00Are you getting enough Magnesium?Photo by HowToGym on Unsplash Some professional literature dropped through my letterbox, including an article on magnesium. This is an essential mineral for us humans, used in a large number of ways including metabolism and energy production, synthesis of fatty acids and proteins and the transmission of nerve impulses; the article quotes it is used in 300 enzymatic reactions, and gives Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-82869926397316194882021-05-24T08:56:00.000-07:002021-05-24T08:56:07.604-07:00More thoughts on running easier... I have been avoiding running for the last few weeks as breathing deeply whilst I ran through the woods was bringing on hayfever symptoms - not great when you do close contact work! Next year I will have my herbal remedy made up in advance but this year I just opted for long, brisk walks instead as I didn't want to miss out on the beautiful displays of wild flowers.Today I noted that the Thoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5318209378832974031.post-59516500661068129612021-05-11T01:11:00.016-07:002021-06-10T04:02:27.234-07:00How are you right now?Photo by S Migaj on UnsplashTake a moment; how are you right now? Look around you, what can you see, hear, feel, smell; what do you notice? How are you feeling?A recurrent theme in a lot of the professional reading I am coming across is our mental and emotional state and how it affects our experiences and perception. Tom Goom of The Running Physio explored a recent study looking at the effects ofThoughts from a Soft Tissue Therapist...http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526272807259072592noreply@blogger.com0