Tales of a Massage Therapist – quality over quantity
When I moved to Leeds 20 years ago I was covering someone's maternity in the advertising department for ITV. I had an inkling that I wanted to do something more active. If people used to say how nice the weather was I used to think why did it matter as I was stuck...
Lower back pain – erase the aches of #adulting
Causes Of Lower Back Pain Lower back pain, is often a symptom of a deficiency—in strength, flexibility, or a combination of the two—elsewhere in the body. Perhaps your core is weak, so instead of sharing the work to keep your torso upright while sitting, it’s forcing...
On the massage couch – longstanding customers
Ian first came to me for massage in 2019. He is a keen runner who is the only person I know that doesn't have a mobile phone or email address. He'd give you the shirt off his back (in fact he's brought me many of his goodie bag t-shirts). A few years ago he went to...
On the massage couch – how customers amaze us
To 'mark' 21 years in bodywork let me introduce you to the one and only Mark Cox, someone I have known for the majority of that time. I have worked with many triathletes, each of them unique in their own way. I've never understood the 5am club. No-one should see two 5...
On the massage couch – why referrals are so powerful
I'd like to introduce you to people close to my heart, some I have worked with for almost two decades. Let me introduce you to Lisa, who came to me 10 years ago with a back issue when pregnant. She had been recommended by a sports doctor who gave her my details and...
On the massage couch – couples massage
One of the highlights of 2023 was raising £220 for The Rob Burrow Centre for MND by making a donation for every person signing up to our monthly massage membership. I have been treating Claire for about a decade and a half. She initially came to me regularly for work...
On the massage couch – interview with a massage therapist
Therapist Life What are the biggest obstacles to working for yourself? It takes a while to appreciate your own boundaries on how many people you can see, whether you need gaps etc. It’s easier to say yes to opportunities sometimes, which then just makes you into a...
Back on Track – how rest, light exercise and massage therapy are the way forward
'After my dog, Delia, ruptured a disc and underwent spinal surgery, she was prescribed a recovery process that included rest, physical therapy and... acupuncture. (Yes, animal acupuncturists are a thing.) When I saw how much pain relief she seemed to get from those...
Don’t look back…unless you drop your purse!
My friends at Uni had a saying…don’t look back unless you drop your purse! I did a degree in Psychology, not anything sport related. People have always fascinated me. Why they do things, what patterns they get into, routines etc. When I look back at my patterns of...
Ooh, what shall I wear? To work out in!
When it comes to exercise you don't want leggings to ride down or be low waisted. You want to be sucked in when running or squatting heavy weights. I found some leggings that did this in all the right places. They are high waisted, long in the leg and come in funky...
Pain…why it feels so familiar
At the time you can't quite believe the pain. Taking painkillers and anti-inflammatories every 4 hours to get through the day. Sleeping and turning over in bed can be impossible. But within days, if not hours, this can change. Positioning is a big thing as when we do...
Has it crept up on you? Weight and the peri-menopause…
Weight, the infamous peri-menopause and our relationship with food... I’ve had a decade off dieting after being impressed by the strength in my body. However having always been a pear shape I had begun to thicken around my waist too. Was this the infamous...
Where should you book?
Where should you book - home or away? There are a few factors to consider when booking your massage appointment; As people often expect to meet in a more formal space, it doesn't always feel right to meet in a casual environment such as a home. As there is a dog on...
Issues with your tissues – celebrating 20 years of bodywork
To celebrate 20 years in bodywork i'd like to introduce you to people close to my heart, who i've worked with for a long time. Let me introduce you to Lisa, who came to me 9 years ago with a back issue when pregnant. She had been recommended by a sports doctor who...
Lifting Heavy Stuff…
When I really think about it, it has always been exercise that has allowed me to focus myself. As a swimmer in my youth having something to channel my energy into during those formative years was possibly a saviour. Sport is always something i've gone back to. I have...
We’re human, not machines…are we living in fight or flight?
Like a lot of people I was put into competitive situations when I was young to see what I gravitated towards. Because I won I was then encouraged to keep striving. But that sense of achievement then never left me. I have been 'going' ever since. Whether that was...
Does sport make you hungry?
It has always struck me how swimming makes you hungry, yet other sports stave hunger off. As kids we used to get ravenous for crisps and take hot chocolate home from the vending machines after swimming lessons. I was once told swimming lowers your body temperature so...
What’s it like emotionally to have covid?
Did you know we only have 7 principle emotional expressions (Ekman) - fear, surprise, happiness, sadness, anger, disgust, and contempt? Personally I feel like we’ve all been living in fear for the last couple of years. I’ve always thought I’d probably get covid but...
4 Steps to reduce stress on the discs
Article by Olga Kabel Did you know that astronauts get taller in space? According to NASA studies, when the spine is not exposed to the pull of Earth’s gravity, the intervertebral discs expand and as a result the spine gets a bit longer. That small gain is short...
Covid catch up
Catch up with Harriet about what’s been happening at Morgan Sports Therapy HQ over the last year. Find out how she has dealt with the challenges of Covid-19 and lockdown. Biggest obstacles during the pandemic... It has been a worrying time being self-employed, but...
What can I do for myself?
Three go-to stretches We are all quite immobile in our mid/thoracic spines. As it doesn't allow for movement in the middle of the back we have to move more from below and above it, which increases the chance of soreness in both the neck and lower back. This can be...
Is your butt isolating with you?
Do you have lazy glute syndrome? Your glutes (or the muscles in your bottom) are the biggest muscle group in our bodies. But, months of lockdown living has meant spiralling inactivity and more time sitting on our backsides. Experts warn that a side-effect of this is...
What type of yoga is for you?
Yoga comes in so many forms and with so many options: of style, of teacher, of time, of place. Gone are the days when you picked a class because it was the only one you could get to. Picking a style you like is often dependent on your own energy levels, what you want...
Touch hunger: the impact of the lack of touch
Social distancing and lack of touch over the last few months has certainly been an odd concept for the more tactile amongst us, especially for those using the art of touch for a living. This lack of physical contact or 'touch hunger' has had a major impact on people's...
Massage: back in business with new guidelines
PUBLISHED 14 July 2020: Now that restrictions on massage treatments have finally been lifted, I am pleased to be able to welcome you back to Morgan Sports Therapy! EXISTING CLIENTSAppointments will be available from the home studio on: - Wednesdays 1-7pm - Thursdays...
Becoming a yoga teacher during lockdown
Yoga teacher training is something I've almost embarked on a number of times in the past but circumstances were never quite right. I wasn't able to take weeks off work to travel and do an intensive in Bali - as nice as that may sound! It wasn't feasible logistically -...
Online course is now CPD certified!
My online course, Massage in Action has now received CPD recognition with The CPD Certification Service. As other health professionals, you can now benefit from being awarded 8 CPD points when completing my course online. Continuing professional development (CPD) is...
Yoga – a natural high?!
When people ask how long i've been doing yoga I can't even recollect my first class. I remember working in London in the late 90s and would trek up to Kings Cross in the evenings to an amazing pilates class with an ex ballet mistress in the late 90s. I loved her...
Being vulnerable
Being vulnerable - where do I stand on it? As a massage therapist I offer space for my clients to be vulnerable. For them to discuss injuries, areas of physical pain and discomfort, but also a space where they can feel comfortable being emotionally vulnerable too. I’m...
Q&A with Harriet of Morgan Sports Therapy
Harriet of Morgan Sports Therapy has been a practising massage therapist for 18 years, training others for 15 of those. During the Covid19 pandemic, she has been working hard to bring her knowledge and expertise onto the online space with a new course that will allow...
What’s it like to train with me?
"What's it like to train with you?". I get asked this a lot because people want to know my methods. I fell into training Sports Massage when my tutor Bruce Craven thought I'd be good at it and asked me to teach with him. He saw something in me that I didn't. I had...
Nutrition myths – tips to fuel/feel better
Nutrition is a contentious topic. There are mixed opinions out there and therefore conflicting advice. But as someone who is and always has been around sport, people either ask my advice or I've tried it myself. Mainly because I was a swimmer/athlete in my youth and...
TOP 5 TIPS for reducing back pain
I'm often telling people how we are in a weakened position when forward folding and twisting. It's no joke that when you have abdominal surgery they advise not to lift or hoover! Nobody knows their own body like the person living inside it however we all also have an...
Trauma: how it manifests in the body
Issues in your tissues? When I broke 18 bones people said I'd never be the same...in a good way! The most common question when you’re injured or been through something is “are you back to normal?!”. Trauma can leave you feeling like there is no normal or any way...
Chronic pain conditions
A buddy of mine asked me to post about a chronic pain condition they have called Ankylosing spondylitis. AS is a long term condition in which the spine and other areas of the body become inflamed. Massage and Hydrotherapy can have amazing relief for the chronic pain...
Too flexible? How to protect against hypermobility…
This week I got together with the Yoga teachers I work alongside for a YOGAJAM to discuss hypermobility. I have treated people for injuries sustained due to this condition as my ballet and yoga background can attract the 'flexible' and they can get pushed too...
Have you reached Burnout?
Chronic fatigue seems so much more prevalent in our society these days. People are burnt out and looking for respite through bodywork such as Massage and Yoga. This is a great guide from Yogacampus on how to manage the symptoms: 'Imagine coming down with a flu, then...
Reflexology – just a good foot rub?
Reflexology is best described as a ‘guided’ foot massage. It’s like having a normal foot rub, only you know which specific parts to stimulate to get the best result. Reflexology Massage benefits The following are just some of the known benefits of foot reflexology: 1....
What is appropriate?
It’s a connotation we are naturally in the line of fire for in the Massage Therapy world. It’s the reason I didn’t have the word 'Massage' in my brand when I started out two decades ago. But as female Massage Therapists we do have to suffer the dodgy calls asking "you...
Pain in the neck?
I’ve treated so many people lately with sore necks. As most of the things we do are forward facing we are living in a climate of looking down. Being very forward facing (computers, tablets, mobile phones) there is always going to be what can be referred to as ‘swan’...
How to correct your position…
“It makes sense when you think about it” is what someone said when they asked me about their injury last week. They had a sore knee after getting out of bed. It sounds so basic but so often injuries occur when twisting or bending awkwardly...unconsciously. We're...
Ice ice baby…
An ‘itis’ is an inflammation. Any condition ended itis is an inflammation of something: Plantar fasciitis - inflammation of the foot fascia Bursitis - inflammation of the bursa Arthritis - inflammation of joints And what do you need for acute...
Teaching Sports Massage
On the Yoga Kula TTC Harriet will be teaching students about injuries, what makes them better/worse and how to instruct people to adapt in certain poses. "I get a real buzz from teaching as it’s a huge accomplishment to look around a room knowing you have encouraged...
No pain no gain no brain…how much pressure is enough?
To be clear…my massage game is strong, strong enough to get results and work with the body. I don't teach others to hurt people, we take people to the edge but not push them over it. Recently a previous client of mine found a Sports Massage Therapist who they were...
How to manage wrist injuries
As Yoga Kula’s resident Massage Therapist and being a Kuli, Harriet understands how we can use yoga correctly to strengthen ourselves and prevent injury. Here she talks about alignment for preventing wrist injuries. http://www.yogakulaleeds.co.uk/yoga-wrist-injuries/...
Lost your mojo? How to find spirit again…
When I stopped swimming I literally didn't want to do it one day - so I didn't. After 7 years of training up to 160 lengths, six times a week, that was it for me. I thought the only backlash would be my parents and my coach. I thought I didn't need it, but my body...
Can we ever get back to normal?
Are you back to normal? Will I get back to normal? These are questions I have been asked many times and continue to ask myself. I've never been a fan of normal, fine or mediocre. But when you've suffered an injury or have been floored by something, these are natural...
What to do in the run up to a marathon…
In the run up to a marathon you often see written what to do in the week prior to a race. BUT what about what NOT to do? Anything different! When I was getting ready for an upcoming race I would often go stir crazy in the run up and so would find other things to do....
Fur coat…no kn*ckers!
The big news story of the moment has been about the dangers of skinny jeans, along with how fur hooded coats are weighing us down (there goes my look!): jeans-and-hoodies-can-cause-a-bad-back. I wrote a while ago inspired by @nutritiousmovement blog about how...
How life has changed, yet remains the same…
When I set out 10 years ago I would massage for 6/7 hours a day. The only distraction in those days were texts and calls on your phone. Time was spent making bookings - occasionally by email but primarily by phone calls. Life felt simpler with no businesses on social...