Vital Force Naturals

So I thought I ought to tell you a little about myself, being a bit of a ‘gregarious loner’ I find it a bit difficult talking about myself but here goes!

I’ve been a massage therapist since 1997 and started my business properly in 1999 focusing on Aromatherapy and acupressure. The corporate work kind of took over so most of my work over the last 20 years or so have been going into companies and destressing the workforce. I also used to do a lot of exhibition and conference work, travelling the country promoting various companies at these events. These were always great fun, meeting lots of people and getting to work with many different therapists. You learn so much that way and make great friends too. ‘Have chair, will travel’ was always my motto.

Around 2002 I started teaching for the Academy of On Site Massage (who I trained with), one of the leading seated acupressure trainers in the country which again took me all over the country meeting so many wonderful therapists and I discovered I loved imparting my knowledge to others and I was actually quite good at it! When I look back at the amount of work I used to do, I was never home! Weekdays were often at companies around the country, staying over in hotels and early morning driving (thankfully I love driving) and weekends were taken up with courses for the Academy in Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle, Bristol, London, Birmingham, Leicester etc. Such fun and how things have changed over the last few years!

Although seated acupressure was my main wage earner Aromatherapy was never far behind, I just prefered the accessibility and less fuss of the seated acupressure. The beauty of aromatherapy is you can still practice it without having a massage, which is what I’ve increasingly done over the years. As the massage clients dropped away I concentrated on mixing oils and products for clients to use at home and found this was a more suitable way for me to work. Many years ago I taught Basic Aromatherapy at Rotherham community college, again meeting many people from different walks of life. It was great to feel I was helping people who perhaps didn’t have access to oils and massage and it boosted my own confidence in my own knowledge and purpose. Great times!

Now, the nutrition side of things is a different beast. I don’t like eating. I don’t like food. Never have. I was a nightmare for my mum because I wouldn’t eat school dinners (anyone who remembers ’70s school dinners will probably sympathise) but I also wouldn’t eat packed lunches either. I just didn’t want to eat, I thought it was a waste of time. I remember thinking that when I got older someone would invent a pill I could take that had everything I needed and I wouldn’t need to eat. I kind of still wish that today! About 8 years ago after struggling with my health I saw a nutrional therapist friend of mine, went on her introductory course and decided to embark on a two year course in Nutritional Healing, looking at all aspects of nutrition not just food. It was great, took somewhat longer than two years to qualify but I did it and now incorporate it into my other work.

So as well as offering seated acupressure sessions to the corporate world and bespoke aromatherapy skincare I also offer 2 hour workshops combining my strengths – acupressure, aromatherapy, nutritional advice and teaching. Each workshop focuses on a specific topic – Better Sleep, Stress and Anxiety, IBS, and Healthy Skin. We discuss the issue of the day, practice the acupressure points, look at how we can adapt our lifestyles to help and mix an oil to take away that will help the condition. I also offer an Essential Oil Savvy workshop for those wanting a little more knowledge – where essential oils come from, what they’re good for and how to use them safely. Again we mix an oil to take away. Look out for details of each workshop and dates soon.

So, that’s my work life over the last 25 or so years. I live in Sheffield with an enviable view of the Peak District where I like nothing better than to get my walking boots on and lose myself on a mountain. (I also like drinking red wine and staying up all night but that’s another story!)

For more information on workshops, products or corporate massage please drop me a message or give me a call 🙂

vitalforcemail@gmail.com

07973 548858