My experience of Maya Massage

It’s a Friday morning at work and my overdue period has come. I’m not pregnant. The hope of having a baby fades and the fear of being childless grows and I am left with this huge hole in my head which becomes filled with irrational thoughts (Why me? I’m 32 years old, it took my friend 8 years to become pregnant, and this is never going to happen for us). All I want to do is cry, but I hold back the tears, smile and return to my work without anyone realising I am screaming inside.

My husband and I were with each other 8 years, so when we got married we hoped to start our family as soon as possible. From a teenager my menstrual cycle was always very irregular, and on reflection I always had a feeling I may have problems conceiving. After several months of trying to conceive I decided to seek medical advice. My GP was very understanding and referred me to the gynaecologist for further investigations. A few months past and I had an ultrasound scan, and blood tests which indicated I had polycystic ovaries (PCOS).

Running back and forth to hospital appointments, undergoing investigations and being informed of my diagnosis was stressful for both my husband and I. We are both private people and due to other family circumstances at the time we decided not to worry our families about our current problem.

All we seemed to do was eat, sleep and breathe having a baby. Whether I was out shopping, having a tea break at work or driving the car there would be constant reminders of the child I longed for. Every time someone announced their pregnancy, my heart sank. Although I was genuinely happy for them, a part of me was sad that it wasn’t me. Putting on a brave face became exhausting.

By February 2011 the stress of the last 2 years was starting to take its toll on my physical health, psychological and emotional well being. Although I was only at the start of my infertility journey I felted completely deflated, and defeated prior to even starting treatment. I was already thinking the first line of treatment offered to me was not going to work and I would be heading down the IVF route. Through it all my husband always remained optimistic. Soon my family realized that something was not quite right and when I told my mum we were having problems conceiving she asked me to speak with a friend who had a similar problem. It was this friend who introduced me to Maya massage. We chatted about our experiences and she spoke of how Maya massage had helped her emotionally and gave her a positive outlook through her IVF treatment which resulted in her becoming pregnant. I knew I had a negative outlook which needed to be confronted. An appointment with Ruth Ellen was made for early spring, so my husband and I decided to hold off starting treatment until then.

I was completely put at ease by Ruth Ellen’s gentle warmth and sensitive nature during my first consultation which lasted approximately 2 ½ hours. No stone was left on turned; everything was covered from my diagnosis of PCOS, physical health, emotional health and well being and she even touched on my fears and hopes which I never spoke about. Ruth Ellen’s knowledge and assessment of infertility was indeed comprehensive. My friend had warned me there would be tears, but I did not expect the flood gates to open!

By the end of the session I felt Ruth Ellen completely understood what I was going through and all these emotions which I allowed to consume me were suddenly released and it felt good. She made me realize that I can become pregnant. As I drove home I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders and a sense of calmness came over me.

The treatment session included a detailed consultation, followed by abdominal massage using warm caster oil, aspects of cognitive behavioural therapy and visualisation techniques were also incorporated into the session. This treatment encouraged me to totally relax and reflect on my thoughts and feelings. I surprised myself by how freely I opened up to Ruth Ellen as this is something I would not normally do. Treatment finished with a neck and shoulder massage as I was quite tense in these areas. Crystals were also used to help with my emotional healing.

After my first consultation I decided to continue seeing Ruth Ellen. However I did not expect what was to happen next!
Over the next few days and weeks I felt more relaxed and embraced how I was feeling. I worked on the visualisation tasks she gave me and for the first time I could see light at the end of the tunnel and began to think more positively about becoming pregnant.
Six weeks later I was shell shocked, all eight pregnancy tests were positive, we were having a baby, no medical treatment required.
I could not believe how fortunate and happy we were. I was dying to tell Ruth Ellen my news but waited with excitement until my next appointment. She was delighted for us both but was not surprised as it has happened for other clients quite quickly after treatment. I on the other hand I was amazed, if it was not for her I may not be experiencing this overwhelming joy at becoming a mum.

I continue to see Ruth Ellen during my pregnancy. Treatment consists of Reflexology; Reiki and Maya massage is in-cooperated after 20 weeks. During this time with Ruth Ellen I feel completely at ease, the treatment keeps me relaxed and any insecurities or anxieties I may have about my pregnancy are addressed. I trust Ruth Ellen and have strong faith in the benefits of Maya massage.

Nothing can prepare you for the emotional rollercoaster associated with Infertility. On reflection by keeping my fears and anxieties around trying to get pregnant bottled up only added to my stress. This was a significant contributing factor to why we could not conceive.

I always felt guilty and weak for feeling so negative and emotional at this early stage of my journey when other women have been trying to conceive for years and remained strong. Ruth Ellen quickly reassured me that no matter what stage of the infertility journey you are at your pain is real.

Maya massage is a holistic treatment to infertility provided by a sensitive, skilful and knowledgeable practitioner in a relaxing environment. It allowed me to confront my emotional and psychological difficulties associated with trying to get pregnant and provided the necessary stress release which I undoubtedly needed. But more than anything it help give my husband and I the most precious gift imaginable, a little baby.

 My experience of infertility and maya massage

My journey through infertility started four years ago. My husband and I tied the knot in 2005 and we were both excited at the prospect of starting a family as soon as possible. It never really crossed my mind prior to getting married that I would have difficulty conceiving. Life had gone so smoothly up until that point and having children was a natural progression for us. Eighteen months past and I began to get progressively more worried.

In 2007 we both decided to seek medical advice. I arranged a private appointment with a local gynaecologist and subsequently underwent numerous investigations including blood tests and an investigative laporoscopy. Following the laporoscopy I was found to have multiple abdominal adhesions. This was the result of a ruptured appendix when I was 18 months old. The adhesions had affected my fallopian tubes and both ovaries. We were told by the gynaecologist that I was highly unlikely to conceive naturally. He recommended that we consider IVF. This was a very difficult time for both of us and it took some time to get our heads around. The concept of IVF was at first quite daunting but my husband and I both wanted a family so badly that we felt it was worth giving it a try.

A further two years past and having gone through three cycles of IVF and further abdominal surgery in an attempt to rectify the abdominal adhesions, as well as regular acupuncuture I still had not conceived. The emotional, physical and financial strain was starting to take its toll on both of us and I was getting to the stage where I was considering giving it all up. My husband thankfully still had threads of optimism left in him and believed that some day it would happen but I knew at times to look at him that he was starting to question whether it was all worth it. I was searching for something that would help to make me feel as positive and strong as I had been when I had first started my infertility treatment. I was worried as I knew that the more negative I was about IVF the less likely it would be successful, yet after so many failed attempts I couldn’t help but feel defeated.

I heard about Maya massage through a good friend of mine who was also experiencing difficulty conceiving. She had found that it had given her a different outlook on infertility and on life in general. I read up on what Maya massage was all about before meeting my therapist Ruth Ellen. I liked the idea that Maya applied a holistic approach to the treatment of infertility. From a biological perspective I felt it would be particularly helpful for me as the cause of my infertility was due to adhesions. Maya is described as applying ‘the external non invasive manipulation that repositions organs that have shifted’, one of the causes being due to abdominal adhesions. I felt that



this treatment could therefore be really effective in my case. Maya also facilitates emotional and spiritual healing, an area that I felt badly needed to be addressed.

 My first consultation with Ruth Ellen took approximately two and a half hours and was very comprehensive. I was particularly impressed by her knowledge of infertility and IVF treatment. I am trained as a medical doctor, and having gone through IVF three times, I thought I knew most things there was to know about the treatment. Ruth Ellen proved me wrong. She was able to tell me things about IVF that I was totally unaware off.

The first consultation covered not only my infertility history but also targeted other areas of my life that may be having an effect on my physical and emotional health and well being. I felt that Ruth Ellen had all the time in the world for me. At the end of this first session I felt that a massive weight had already been lifted off my shoulders. Ruth Ellen touched on things that I had never really spoken about before, in relation to my infertility. I really felt she truly understood exactly how I was feeling.

My husband and I decided to embark on a fourth cycle of IVF in January 2010. I decided to continue seeing Ruth Ellen during this treatment cycle and felt a sense a reassurance that I was trying something completely different with someone who I had quickly developed a lot of faith and trust in. I knew at the outset of this treatment cycle that there were no guarantees that I would definitely get pregnant however I was positive that I would have better coping mechanisms to deal with whatever was to come my way.

Going through IVF in conjunction with Maya massage made the experience a completely different one than in the previous three cycles. On previous occasions I had always tried to suppress my feelings of fear, of failure and of pure desperation to have a baby from family and friends. Looking back, I invested a lot of my time putting on a front and pretending that having infertility problems was not such a big thing, which in itself was exhausting. I was terrified that I would be perceived as weak or self pitying if people knew how I really felt. I have a wonderful family and circle of friends who were so supportive to both of us, however I knew that it was also quite difficult for them and three years on there wasn’t a lot more that people could say that hadn’t been said before.

I began to look at my sessions with Ruth Ellen as periods of time when I could really let go of all of my insecurities and fears around infertility. I felt I was free to say exactly what I wanted and as a result I never held back. I never once felt stupid or in any way inadequate by talking about how I was feeling. For me this was a major breakthrough in my emotional and psychological struggle with infertility.

An average Maya massage session for me would usually start with a discussion on what had happened in my life from the previous session. This was followed by a gentle abdominal massage using warm castor oil. I found this so relaxing and at the same time reassuring as I knew it was of therapeutic benefit. This was then usually followed by a neck and shoulder massage as I was found to have a lot of tension in these areas. At this stage of the treatment I was so relaxed that I felt at times I was floating. I found this state of relaxation a very safe place to be emotionally as it enabled me to start talking quite freely about how I was feeling.

Ruth Ellen was quite skilfull in applying some of the basic principles of cognitive behavioural therapy, a form of psychological intervention, that was quite specific to the thoughts, emotions and behaviours associated with infertility. She does not claim to deliver formal psychotherapy treatment to her clients but uses certain aspects of CBT to help her clients make sense of what is going on. I again was incredibly impressed by her knowledge, skill and sensitivity in this area. I work as a psychiatrist and am therefore very familiar in dealing with people’s emotional and psychological difficulties. During my own emotional struggle with infertility I had considered the possibility of having some psychological support to help me through this difficult time but was sceptical as to how beneficial this would be given that my difficulties were as a direct result of not being able to have my own child. This holistic approach to my infertility and its associated emotional and psychological difficulties was just what I needed.

As the treatments progressed and I was nearing the date of my egg retrieval, the treatments were adjusted accordingly. For example, the abdominal massage was stopped during my stimulation period and Ruth Ellen made me focus more on positive thinking and relaxation techniques to help reduce my anxiety. Massage was at times replaced by Reiki or reflexology so again I was always in a state of relaxation before embarking on some of the cognitive techniques that she applied.

The most difficult period for me during all my IVF treatments was the dreaded two week wait, the time between implantation and the pregnancy test. Ruth Ellen stayed in regular contact with me over my retrieval and transfer period and during these two weeks, which I found really supportive. I distinctly remember two days before I was due to carry out my pregnancy test I went to see her. I was taking quite a lot of medication at the time and my emotions were understandably all over the place. I was convinced on that day that the treatment had not worked. I remember going into the treatment room and completely breaking down. I told Ruth Ellen that this was going to be failure number four. With Ruth Ellen’s advice and reassurance I eventually calmed down and became more rational about the situation. I realised that there was absolutely no evidence at that time that I wasn’t pregnant. I left the treatment room two hours later and honestly felt like a completely different person. That night I started experiencing symptoms that I had never experienced before. Two days later I found out I was pregnant.

I am now 18 weeks pregnant and all is going well. I still wake up every morning and have to pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming and that being pregnant is indeed a reality. I continue to see Ruth Ellen on a monthly basis for mainly Reiki, reflexology and for ongoing reassurance around any pregnancy issues. I can honestly say that I would not have gone through a fourth cycle of IVF in such a positive frame of mind but for Ruth Ellen and the Maya massage treatments I received. I have been frequently told that if you think positively about IVF and infertility that you are more likely to be successful. I believe that my experience is proof of this. Maya massage changed my way of looking at not only my infertility problems but also myself as a person. For this I am truly grateful.

 What's New This Summer?

Are you counting down the days until your summer holidays? Or simply reveling in the few days of sunshine we have seen already. Now is the perfect time to get rid of your dull dead skin cells and give your skin a full once-over. Our latest revolutionary AK facials are the perfect remedy for preparing your skin for the summer season. With the intricate blend of glycolic, salicylic, malic and lactic acids applied in a wonderfully therapeutic facial treatment, complete with shoulder massage, the result of this magical facial is glowing beautiful skin. The exclusive treatment, a firm favourite amongst the celebrity set results in a significant improvement in collagen, fine lines and pigmentation as well as being a miracle worker for acne and acne scarring.

Visit today for just £60.00 and enjoy the One hour deluxe experience, complete with massage and skin analysis.

Our nail bar is also buzzing this summer, ready to whip your nails into shape. Indulge yourself with Essie's fabulous new range of nail colour, some great hot pinks the perfect complimentary accessory for your summer wardrobe!

And if you aren’t planning on jetting off to sunnier climes just yet, never fear, our new Hi Shi product will have you glowing like a goddess in no time.

To celebrate our new online booking system and the start of summer, we are offering all of our loyal Beauty Company customers 10% off when booking online. Choose from any of our nail treatments, overlays, deluxe manicure and many more.

 Wedding Fever

The Beauty Company is sharpening its pencils and investing in some fabulous new colour ranges in time for this years wedding season. Ruth Ellen and the expert team of make-up artists are firm favourites with brides all over the island of Ireland.

Our full colour analysis and trail make-up session, not only leaves you relaxed and brimming with excitement about your big day, but also gives you insider trade secrets on make-up application that suits your individual colouring and face structure.

To make your trial make-up appointment call today 028 90332 546

 Baby Boom at Beauty Company Belfast

The Beauty Company has extended its beauty offering into the holistic realm, being the first and only outlet in Northern Ireland to offer Maya Massage in a bid to make couples pregnancy dreams come true.

Ruth Ellen Logan travelled to the US to train in this revolutionary treatment which aids fertility and increases the chances of conception in fertility-challenged women.

See us featured in the May issue of IN! magazine for our fabulous range of Mama Mio treatments and Maya massage for both pre pregnancy and post 20 weeks. Read about one clients amazing becoming pregnant experience with the help of Ruth Ellen and Maya massage.

To book an appointment with Ruth Ellen, please call 028 90332 546

What’s New this Season in the World of Beauty and Make up?

Autumn is upon us with winter waiting firmly in the wings. The change in season brings with it richness and warmth which we translate to our wardrobes and our make-up bags. The skin at this time should look like it has been lit within, radiating your inner beauty. Think of a natural luminous glow rather than high-shine visage. Our Glo Minerals make-up range uses only pure natural mineral ingredients and is pefect for creating this must-have look.

To begin with, those with visible red patches on the skin should try the Glo Minerals concealer, combined with Glo base colour which will give you the ultimate look. Alternatively the revolutionary Diane Esher green concealer can be used to balance the colour with its light-reflective particles giving a more luminous coverage.

For the eyes, a back-glam and grunge theme is being seen on the catwalks. At the Dolce & Gabbana A/W show eyeliner was used in a dramatic wing-effect emphasizing the eyes to the max, this is great for a dramatic night-time party look, and in a more toned down version for daylight hours. When trying this at home, be careful with wide-set eyes that you don't make them appear too far apart.

A smokey effect is also hot this season and a real Christmas classic. For those with cooler skin tones why not try a midnight blue colour combined with slightly muted lips. (Rule 101: Never use a strong lip colour combined with a strong eye colour!)
On the lashes, shimmers and coloured mascaras are also making a huge come-back although, save these for the red carpet or the nightclub!

Blusher?

Heavenly Massages this Autumn/Winter at the Beauty Company to Banish the Winter Blues
Do you feel sluggish and in need of a detox? Need an energy boost? Or feel the need for muscle ease and an instant de-stress??? With the many fabulous new treatments at The Beauty Company we can literally massage your troubles away…

One of our fully trained therapists can tailor your treatment to your specific needs; whether you are in need of a relaxing full body massage an Indian Head Massage or if your ailment is more specific….
-With the introduction of Maya Massage into the Salon, we are the only practitioner in Ireland to offer this non-invasive massage technique which can eliminate fertility, back and digestive problems.
-Our mums-to-be can now sit back and enjoy our new product range exclusively for mothers in need of some serious pampering; the Mama Mio range uses 100 percent natural ingredients…(add more)

Also, don't forget the all-important skin this winter. Dehydration from central heating is extremely detrimental to the skin in winter months and needs both protected and cared for. Our Dermologica range is specially formulated to combat both indoor and environmental factors and can act as a barrier protecting the skin. In addition our Crystal Clear facials which are Microdermabrasion combined with oxygen therapy, a favourite amongst the celebrity world enhance, visibly improve and stimulate even the most lifeless skin.

Coming Soon…
The Beauty Company will introduce the exclusive Akademikliniken range at our VIP Christmas party on the Thursday 3rd of December 2009. This collection of products and treatments includes an unbelievable range of five star peels and we are delighted to report that we are the only beauty salon in Belfast to offer this fabulous range!
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