We are a spa, not a clinic
We offer massage, naturist massage, tantric massage, and couples tuition at The Workshop. Our therapists are skilled at what they do and most of them have years of practice behind them. None of us is a doctor, nurse, physiotherapist, osteopath, or any other kind of medical practitioner. The work we do is not medical treatment.
That distinction is the line this page rests on, so it's worth saying plainly. Everything else here follows from it.
See a doctor first if you're in pain or unwell
Massage is not a substitute for medical care. If you have pain, an injury, or a symptom that worries you, the first call is your GP, or A&E if it's urgent. If something is wrong with your body, find out what it is before you ask anyone, including us, to put hands on it. Then come and see us as well, if your doctor agrees that's appropriate.
The blog on this site has personal stories about how massage has helped me over the years. Those are my stories. They are not a promise that a session here will fix anything in your body. Bodies are different, what helps one person doesn't always help another, and what worked for me at thirty isn't a treatment plan for someone else.
Conditions to tell us about before you book
This list isn't exhaustive. If you're not sure whether something matters, ask. Common conditions where you should speak to your doctor first, and let us know in advance:
- A recent injury, fracture, surgery, or medical procedure
- Severe or unexplained pain, especially back, neck, abdominal, or chest pain
- Heart conditions, uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clots, or any cardiovascular concern
- Cancer, or recent cancer treatment
- Pregnancy, at any stage
- Skin conditions, open wounds, infections, or anything contagious
- Blood-clotting disorders or anticoagulant medication
- Severe mental health conditions, where deep relaxation, sustained touch, or intense emotional release may not be appropriate
In any of these cases, your GP's view comes first. Depending on what we hear, we may ask you to bring written approval from your doctor, suggest a different style of session, or decline the booking. None of those is a judgement. Each is the right call for your safety.
What we ask of you when you book
When you book, we ask you to tell us about any relevant health conditions, medications, or recent injuries. This isn't bureaucracy. It is so the therapist can adapt the session, work safely, and avoid making anything worse.
The therapist may ask follow-up questions on the day. If something has changed since you booked, new pain, a new diagnosis, a course of medication, tell us before the session starts. If you don't mention something material and we find out afterwards, we cannot help you safely. Honesty here is for you, not for us.
Tantric work, specifically
Tantric sessions can bring up strong emotional responses, sometimes including tears or unexpected memories. That is normal in this work, and our therapists are experienced with it. It is not, however, a substitute for therapy or psychiatric care.
If you are currently in mental health crisis, in active treatment for trauma, or under the care of a psychiatrist or therapist, speak to them before booking and let us know in advance. We may suggest a different kind of session, or that the timing isn't right for one at all.
In a medical emergency
If you, or someone with you, is having a medical emergency, call 999 or go to A&E. For urgent but non-emergency advice, call NHS 111 or visit nhs.uk. Our therapists are not equipped to manage medical emergencies, and a treatment room is not the place to be when something is seriously wrong.
Anything else, ask before you book
If anything on this page makes you unsure whether a session is right for you, get in touch before you book. Phone, WhatsApp, or email is fine. We would rather talk for ten minutes about whether the timing is right than have you arrive in a state where the session shouldn't go ahead.