Kathryn Crooks

Just 10 minutes of mindfulness a day will make such a difference. Whether it's meditation, breathing, colouring, a jigsaw puzzle or a walk in nature (without your phone in your hand!).
What will you to today to help your mental health? X

Just 10 minutes of mindfulness daily boosts wellbeing and fights depression New research reveals how short bursts of daily mindfulness can boost wellbeing, combat depression and anxiety, and inspire healthier lifestyle choices.

🌟 If you've had Gentle Release with me,would you be willing write a comment, send me a message saying what we worked on, how it helped, what you felt etc please for me to use anonymously to help others understand this fab therapy xx

What makes you smile? Have you stopped & thought about it lately?
For me it's the really simple things, being with family, laughing with friends, a new pretty flower in the garden, reading a good book, the feeling of a good cuddle, feeling the warmth of the sun on my face.
Take a moment today to think about what makes you smile & do more of it.
Maybe when you think about it, you'll realise you've actually been ignoring those things & focusing on the wrong things instead?
I hope you smile more today xx ☺️

🤖 Robot Massage machine, what do we think?
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Aescape’s massage robot is poised to totally change the spa industry Robotic massage company Aescape, which promises “the world’s most advanced massage,” wants to be Uber for back rubs: An easy-to-book and affordable experience.

Please remember, when I ask how are you, I'm offering you a safe space to say this stuff. It's OK to not be ok 🩵

Can you relate to this? When we're struggling, expressing our pain can be really difficult. But, our loves ones would rather us talk about what's bothering us instead of bottling it up. 💜

A little scientific proof that Reflexology helps with chronic back pain. I love when these studies are done as there's very little research that gets done for reflexology so any evidence of how amazing it is always feels fab!

The effects of reflexology on chronic low back pain intensity in nurses employed in hospitals affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Humans have been involved with the phenomena of pain and pain relief from the ancient times. Back pain is the most common pain. In fact, eight out of ten people experience it in their lifetime. However, individuals with specific jobs, including nurses, ...

Today's the day my gorgeous girly runs her half marathon for Alzheimers society, a charity very close to our hearts

A great article on how to breathe properly into your belly instead of just top breathing.
I hope this helps you to have a nice chilled weekend xx

Signs you’re breathing incorrectly, and how to fix it It should be as easy as breathing – but there’s a technique to getting the most from your breath, here's everything you need to know.

Can any of my crafty clients help these guys out with some new aprons? Message Food etc - Bedford if you can x

So often in my treatment room clients are beating themselves up with "I SHOULD do this", "I Need to just do that"
So often though, it's all pressure & to do lists that we build in our heads and cause ourselves overwhelm. Take a break & think about what actually needs to be done. Maybe chose one priority for the day & then feel the win when you achieve that rather than give yourself a list of 100s of things that you will probably fail at.

I love seeing this from my lovely client who came for a Gentle Release Session a couple of months ago.
Our original goal was to help her deal with a close relationship that had become fraught, stressful & almost broken.
As we began releasing her "blockages", it soon became clear that it was actually a real need to be seen and acknowledged that was causing issues in many areas of her life & not just with the original person.
This we soon realised was not only acknowledgement from others, but also of herself.
So now, thanks to releasing those blocks, she's rocking her big girl pants, feeling awesome & advocating for herself much more often! 🥰
(Oh & the relationship is back on track with the client being able to say how she's feeling 👊) xx

How are you today? Have you been feeling overwhelmed? Do you constantly feel tired? Do you feel that there's simply no time for you?

Then it's time to take a break.

It may feel like the last thing you should be doing, however taking the time out to breathe, to still your mind & calm your stress will undoubtedly help you to feel calmer & more in control.
Then, when your mind feels calmer you can work out what is & isn't working for you in your life & start making some changes for the better.

Stop & take a few deep breaths, I believe in you, you've got this xx

Love this article, for once it actually quotes some of the evidence of small trials & how they've helped people with ailments such as migraines, anxiety & back pain.
Sadly there's not many trials that have been done for reflexology which means we're not allowed to say all the things it might help with....
But I bet if you booked a session, I could make you feel better, even if that means you're "just" a little more chilled out 😉

Reduced Back Pain, Fewer Headaches—and 4 Other Health Benefits of Reflexology Reflexology applies pressure to specific points on your hands and feet to relieve stress and pain. Learn about reflexology and its possible benefits.

"In a landmark study published in Nature in 2016, researchers provided evidence, for the first time, that pregnancy renders pronounced changes in brain structure. Soon after, neuroscientists found that the impact of pregnancy on the brain is as significant as the impact of adolescence."

The topic of feeling "different", "lost", "struggling to know who I am now" has come up a lot with clients in my treatment room lately. This article is a really insightful look at what happens to our mental health when we become mums.

Understanding ‘matrescence’ – the word all mothers needs to know The emerging concept of matrescence is birthing a new mothering culture, and raising awareness about the bind of modern motherhood

Well this made me feel old this morning 😅
Just a few (uhhum, none 🙈) points for me!!

Anyone else get traumatic flashbacks from this photo!?! 🤕👩‍🦰😥
🤣🤣

True

Check out that winning smile 🤩
The gorgeous Bodhi came to see me with his mummy today. He kept us entertained with his chatter & cheekiness while I worked on mum's c section scar.
So many people don't realise that you don't have to put up with that pulling feeling, or the "itching inside" or "the ledge". No matter how old your scar, why live with the discomfort anymore?
Also, if you've had a c section & are considering another baby, working on the scar before subsequent pregnancies can lessen the scar tissue making future sections easier & less invasive.

When you can use your work skills to help the Mother of the Bride get her beautiful shoes on!
Quick 5 minute lymphatic drainage session & we were good to go 🥰

A fab article showing the importance of touch for anxiety, stress & healing including reducing pain perception for babies.
My hubby laughs at me because however bad it all seems, a simple cuddle makes the world feel almost right again for me. Looks like I'm not wrong 😉
🤗🫂👐

Four ways touch can boost your health and wellbeing From lowering stress to reducing pain, touch can have many important benefits.

So I've been pondering offering Gentle Release therapy as a "class offering". This would mean that I would talk you through where to place your hands during the session to enable the magic to happen and blockages to heal. We would work on generic sessions such as: Anxiety, releasing joy, dealing with menopause symptoms and much more as you lot can request.
Would you be interested? If so, how would you like to see it?
This could be offered as in person groups, online group zoom sessions or I pre-record and send out the video.
Great if you want to find a way of trying Gentle Release, relaxing and spending less money than a full session.
I've added a link to my website page for you to read a little more about the therapy if you are not sure what it is.
https://www.kathryncrooks.co.uk/gentlerelease

One of my lovely clients is launching her new baby massage class with a difference. The class is not only fab for baby as they get pampered but Laura is a trained parenting advisor and offers time to talk and ask questions plus spend some time with other mummies.

A post written by my gorgeous client Chrystal Day Coaching
Go take a read to see why you should follow your instincts, fight for what you believe in & keep fighting even when it all feels too much.
Sending you the biggest hug lovely. Can't wait to see you back on my couch instead of this crazy sci-fi one xx

Blimey what a year 2022 has been hey guys!?
This year I've had the pleasure of working with more of you than ever before & I'm not gonna lie, it's been a pretty crazy one.
You lot have come to me with aches, pains, heart ache, stress & drama & hopefully you've all left after each session feeling a little more human, a little lighter & a lot less stressed but it's not one way or "hard on me" like so many of you suggest.
I feel truly grateful that you all choose me to fix & maintain you all. You embrace my airy fairy, you've let me beat you up (sometimes physically, sometimes mentally!), you've put up with my countless lergies this year, you've helped me get through the fear of Ryan starting American football (& the grunting stage earlier in the year!!), and shown so much kindness about Alana moving on to university plus all the other chaos I bring!
It would be easy to look back at this one & say it's been a tough & stressful year both in & out of the treatment room.... but that's not what I choose to remember this year for.
I chose to remember 2022 for the loud laughing moments we've all had together, I choose to chuckle at the way you all sing at me or say random words instead of calling me names when I'm hurting you. I choose to smile when I remember the moments when we hug, smile & cry together & believe that together, we are all just doing the best we can.
Look back at 2022 & find the good.
And I hope that 2023 has even more love, laughter & joy for all of you # # #

I was so happy to see this article in Men's Health UK magazine today. Partners get forgotten in the childbirth story & we need this to change. Don't get me wrong, I very much realise it is the woman giving birth that goes through the pain, the fear, the hormones, their body never being the same again. However the partners have to watch, often fairly helpless, often terrified & seeing their loved ones go through such a tough time and that's when then the birth goes to "plan" so what about when it doesn't.
You are not alone. Reach out, get help, talk to people. This article lists some great support groups you can contact.
I also may be able to help both partners feel lighter if there is birth trauma, ptsd, anxiety or depression. Gentle Release Therapy & Reflexology are both gorgeous for helping with this. Reach out if you want to know how I could help x

Birth Trauma Affects Thousands of Men, So Why Don't We Talk About It? We spoke to dads who’ve been through birth trauma to find out what happened to them and what needs to happen next

I've never twigged it as a tool for wellbeing, but after reading this article, I realised that I find looking at the sky really grounding & calming. Whether it's watching the clouds, the birds, the colours I always feel much lighter after a bit of "skychology". Who says therapy has to cost anything!?

How looking up can boost your wellbeing - according to 'Skychology' The sky's the limit.

🫶 In a time where many people seem to be feeling sad and mentally beaten, a gorgeous story like this melts your heart 🫶