Work out that tension the Swedish way

Lindi Bilgorri unknots her shoulders with a Swedish aromatherapy massage.

WHEN I told Ashi Le Hunt, the owner of Chilterns Complementary Care, that sitting at a computer all day and meeting deadlines wasn't giving me knots in my shoulders but huge boulders, she immediately said: "What you need is a Swedish aromatherapy massage."

She invited me along to her practice in Lane End to be worked on by masseuse Christine Lavers.

In general there are two kinds of massage -- an aromatherapy massage, which is a gentle touch and uses the aromatherapy oils to penetrate the skin and relax you, and a Swedish massage which has a heavier touch to knead away the tension.

The beauty of a a Swedish aromatherapy massage is that it combines the two -- the aromatherapy oils with the pressure of the Swedish massage.

Christine took me into a room where soft, calm music was playing and asked me to strip down to my panties. Throughout the massage I was covered by a blanket with only the part of my body that Christine was working on being exposed.

I laid back on her specially designed massage table and let her go to work kneading and easing all the stress out of my body.

She started on my legs, kneading and rubbing, which was very pleasant. Then, when she came to my back and shoulders, I was in agony. So much stress had built up that even the slightest pressure hurt. However, through gentle pressure the tightness slowly loosened.

Christine explained that, although she didn't press too hard, the aromatherapy oils would help to relieve the tension.

Being very tense in the shoulder and lower back is very common.

As Christine massaged the inside of the legs, down the back of the legs and the inside of the arms, she was able to unblock the tension and get the energy flowing through my body again.

And by massaging certain places on the body she stimulated the lymphatic system, where all the toxins in the body are stored, and released them.

It isn't only people with stressful jobs who suffer from tension, workout fanatics and runners often have tight muscles. The tighter the muscles, the easier it is to damage them.

One of the last places that Christine worked on was the stomach area. Massaging in that area, she explained, helps all the internal organs.

It isn't only the physical tightness and stress that is eased out of your body in a massage, other emotions which have built up over the months or years are released too.

"People can get very emotional and start crying. You just get so relaxed you let go." says Christine.

Because people can't relax, the stress continues and then it can affect family life.

"Once there was a lady who could not pass her advance driving lesson. She got too tense before the test. She was so uptight. When I gave her a massage she relaxed so much she just burst into tears."

My massage lasted an hour, at the end of it I felt very relaxed. The huge boulders in my shoulders had been reduced to pebbles.

Christine explained that I would have to have a massage once a week for a month to get rid of the tension completely and then I could reduce it to once a month as a top up when I knew what it was like having a body that didn't have any tension. What a wonderful thought.

% A Swedish aromatherapy massage costs £30 for a one hour session telephone Chilterns Complementary Care on (01494) 883946

Other ways to de-stress

Have an aromatherapy bath

Do a Pilates workout -- this is done by Greta Scachi, Tracey Ullman and Kristin Scott-Thomas

Yoga -- this is done by Madonna, Donna Karan

Chi Ball

The type of aromatherapy oils depends on what you want from the massage. Someone who is depressed will need to be uplifted and someone who is highly strung will need to relax.

Camomile Soothes the mind, anxiety and tension

Ylang Ylang Relaxes the nervous system, balances hormones, brings down high blood pressure.

Lavender Cleanses and soothes the spirit, respiratory problems, sedative for the heart, balances nervous system, combats menstrual problems.

Rosemary Nerve tonic

Marjoram For comfort and tired muscles.

Cinnamon Relieves tiredness

Celery Cleanses liver and spleen

Fennel Good for hang-overs and dissolves kidney stones

Carrot seed Gets toxins out of system and good for stress

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