The tools, explained.

What it is

A structured conversation with a practitioner about what brought you in, how long it has been going on, and what you have already tried.

What a session is like

You sit and talk. Most of it is you speaking and the practitioner asking questions and writing. Nothing is done to you.

Who usually benefits

• Anyone attending for the first time
• Anyone whose plan needs revisiting

Where it does not apply

A consultation is not a diagnosis. Where something needs medical investigation, this is where we say so and refer you.

What it is

Objective measurement of the things a plan intends to change — vitals, body composition, posture, movement range — recorded so progress can be shown rather than claimed.

What a session is like

Similar to a health check. You will be asked to move in specific ways, stand against a marked wall, and step onto an analyser.

Who usually benefits

• Everyone before a programme begins
• Anyone part-way through who wants to see whether it is working

Where it does not apply

Measurements describe. They do not diagnose, and a number outside range means we refer you, not that we treat it.

What it is

Hands-on soft tissue work — sustained pressure, kneading and stroking applied to muscle and connective tissue.

What a session is like

Firm rather than gentle, on a table, with oil. It should never be painful; tell the therapist and the pressure changes immediately.

Who usually benefits

• People with muscular pain or persistent stiffness
• Desk workers carrying tension in the neck and shoulders
• People whose stress shows up physically

Where it does not apply

Not suitable over acute injury, infection, or where there is a bleeding risk. Screened before every session.

What it is

Assessment-led rehabilitation: identifying what is not moving properly and prescribing specific loading to change it.

What a session is like

More active than a treatment. You will be asked to perform movements while the practitioner watches, corrects and loads them.

Who usually benefits

• People with back, neck, knee or shoulder pain
• Anyone recovering from an injury
• People whose pain follows a clear mechanical pattern

Where it does not apply

We do not treat fractures, post-surgical rehabilitation without coordination, or anything requiring medical imaging first.

What it is

Controlled application of heat, either to the whole body or to a specific area, to increase local circulation and reduce stiffness.

What a session is like

Warm to hot. Duration is judged by watching you rather than by a timer, and a practitioner stays within reach throughout.

Who usually benefits

• People with muscular stiffness
• As preparation before manual therapy, which is its most common use here

Where it does not apply

Heat is a cardiovascular event. Not suitable with uncontrolled blood pressure, cardiac disease, during pregnancy, or with reduced sensation.

What it is

Water applied externally at controlled temperatures — contrast bathing, compresses, wraps and affusions. Strictly non-invasive.

What a session is like

Alternating warm and cool, or a wrapped compress left in place. Bracing rather than unpleasant.

Who usually benefits

• People needing circulatory support
• People with sleep or stress difficulty
• People with routine digestive discomfort

Where it does not apply

Nothing internal is offered here — no colon hydrotherapy, no enemas. Screened for cardiac and circulatory contraindications.

What it is

Prepared mud applied to the skin, either locally over a region or as a full-body application, then left for a set period and removed.

What a session is like

Cool and heavy at first, warming as it sits. Full-body applications are done draped, in a dedicated room.

Who usually benefits

• People with local inflammation
• People with certain skin concerns
• People who find it settles digestive discomfort

Where it does not apply

Not applied over broken skin, infection, or where there is reduced sensation. Material is single-use.

What it is

Movement, breathing and relaxation practice prescribed for a specific concern rather than taught as a general class.

What a session is like

Slower than a studio class, with more correction and fewer postures. You will be asked to do less than you expect, properly.

Who usually benefits

• People with back or neck pain
• People under sustained stress or sleeping badly
• People managing metabolic concerns
• Older patients, at adapted intensity

Where it does not apply

Some postures are unsuitable during pregnancy, with uncontrolled blood pressure, or after recent surgery. Screened first.

What it is

Dietary assessment and a written plan built around what your household already cooks, rather than around ingredients you would have to buy specially.

What a session is like

A conversation about what you actually eat, when and why — followed later by a written plan you can hand to whoever cooks.

Who usually benefits

• People managing weight or metabolic health
• People with routine digestive discomfort
• Anyone on a programme, as support alongside it

Where it does not apply

This is nutritional support, not medical nutrition therapy. Where you are under treatment for diabetes or kidney disease, we coordinate with your physician rather than replace them.

What it is

Structured behavioural support for stress, sleep and habit change — practical technique and routine rather than psychotherapy.

What a session is like

A conversation, with specific things to practise between sessions. Breathwork and guided relaxation are usually part of it.

Who usually benefits

• People under sustained stress that has started showing physically
• People whose sleep has stopped working
• Anyone trying to change a habit and failing

Where it does not apply

We do not treat mental illness. Persistent low mood, panic attacks or any thought of self-harm needs psychological or psychiatric care, and we will refer you.