Part of an occasional series by Sarah Lund: Look after yourself.... yes, you are worth it!

Everyone deserves to be cared for.

We’ve all read countless articles telling us how lovely it is to receive a massage and how we could all benefit from one. This is largely true so why doesn’t everyone have regular treatments?

If everyone who says they’d love a massage actually booked one, we’d never fit them all in the diary!

Aside from the obvious restrictions imposed by lack of time or money (although this is often more about prioritisation than anything else), we talk to many people with more subtle inhibitions. Someone who puts maximum effort into maintaining their car, for example, or their home, can feel strangely awkward about taking similar care of themselves!

it's OK to be shy

Others are shy about trying new treatments, and of course some people have a fear of being touched. The Indian Head Massage and reflexology are ideal for timid new clients: there’s no undressing or lying down involved (you sit in a chair) – and reflexology doesn’t tickle your feet!

A classic example is a client of mine who we will call P.

case history

I have been treating P’s daughter for years, helping her through 3 pregnancies with reflexology. Her husband and kids also have the occasional treatment.

P. herself suffers terribly from chronic insomnia and has done for years. Now I know from experience that sleep difficulties respond so well to reflexology, a one off treatment usually resulting in a good nights sleep, but of course a series of treatments are usually needed to provide a long term solution. From time to time between myself and P’s daughter we have managed to persuade P to have a treatment and each time she loves it, finds it very relaxing and has a better night's sleep for it.

In fact the reason why this is so fresh in my mind is that it happened again. I was at P’s daughters house treating the rest of the family, including the 2 older children and P was there so she was also persuaded to have a treatment. As usual she seemed very relaxed when I left. Then a couple of days ago I bumped into P’s husband who said” I don’t know what you did to her but she slept like a log that night.”

what's good for you is good for your family

I have discussed this with P on a few occasions, trying to persuade her to commit to a course of weekly treatments for a month or so that she can reassert a regular sleep pattern after all these years - but she feels it is too indulgent!! And it’s not a money thing at all: like many busy housewives, she feels uncomfortable about taking time for herself. P is a lovely kind lady who is always putting her family first – I, along with her husband and daughter, wish she’s just appreciate that she deserves a little care, too.

It’s all about quality of life!