Gorgeous massage therapy & mindfulness in London
So, what is Integrated Somatics?
In a nutshell, it’s gorgeous massage therapy interwoven with invitations to body-based mindfulness, and the holding of a caring space of conscious presence and intuition.
It’s massage, but crafted in a way to ensure it’s more than simply getting knotty muscles smoothed out. Yes, it’s intended to ease aches and pains and improve flexibility. But, it also aims to support you to experience your body’s wisdom and resources, and notice the intersection of body and mind. My hope is that you’ll leave feeling integrated, feeling good in your whole being.
And what does this somatic therapy approach to massage involve?
All sessions are 90 minutes - we’ll need that time. You choose from holistic massage, Thai yoga massage or Sarga® barefoot myofascial massage depending on what approach you prefer (see also brief comparison guide). We have a good chat at the beginning of the session - around ten minutes rather than the minute or two that is usual for massage therapy. I use that information to tailor the bodywork, and the timbre of the session. I will also check in during the treatment. I invite a breath when I sense holding. I may ask you what you’re noticing in your body right now. I use techniques that welcome a calming of the nervous system including support of active self-consent, where e.g. I invite you to not silently tolerate touch you find too firm or too soft (a lot of us know this discomfort or frustration, right?!). These additions are seamlessly woven into the roughly 75 minutes of bodywork. The closing time enables you to remain relaxed, to notice how you feel in your body, before slowly preparing to leave. There might be a suggestion of an exercise to take home if relevant e.g. a stretch or a simple breath technique.
My invitation
I invite you to exhale deeply and relax into the experience of attentive therapeutic touch, of eased aches and pains, of increased flexibility - and to allow the bodywork process to deepen your embodiment.
“Max is a rare find – a highly intuitive, caring and creative massage therapist who somehow finds ways to release and soothe in the moment, yet also to unlock deeper emotions and blockages longer term. The results are POWERFUL!”
“After a Max massage, I feel cared for and stronger to go back out into the world to face whatever is on my schedule for that day, week, month. I feel as if Max has partnered with my body to deliver the release of tense holdings that I didn’t even realise were there.”
“I received with Max for the first time in my life the massage I have always wanted. The 90-minute session in such a sumptuous space, combined with Max’s expert hands and tangible presence, really contributed to my feeling held, seen and listened to.”