SPECIALIST MASSAGE THERAPY
Synergy Touch Therapy - Cherie Duir-Howe
Cherie was professionally licensed in the USA in 1985 and joined the Hogarth Group in 1999. She has trained in a variety of therapies including Reiki Master, Certified Somassage® & Rejuvanessance® Therapist, Access Bars and Body Processes Practitioner and is best known for her own style of Deep Tissue Bodywork.
The primary focus of her practice remains pre and post surgery, and injury recovery work, using techniques from several therapies for near painless scar tissue reduction and mobilization. Many of her clients are medical referrals (she generally works to the specifications of the referral team), but clients do not need to be referred or injured in order to benefit from her treatment. She has treated world champion athletes, including runners and triathletes that have participated in many events including the Hawaiian, Canadian Whiskey Jack and many European Ironman competitions. She regularly treats professional stage and screen actors, international opera singers and professional dancers of all disciplines, as well as acrobats, arialists, contortionists and competitive horse riders.
Cherie is originally from the Seattle area and moved to West London in 1991 with her husband Matt, a music producer and Grammy winning sound engineer. She loves horseback riding, gardening, oil painting, textile arts, creating stained glass pieces, cooking for fun (her former profession), and creative writing.
Cherie describes her therapies as "Synergy Touch" with myriads of treatments, best described as "soft touch" or "deep touch".
If you have any questions, need more information or would like to book an appointment, please give us a call on 0208 747 4746.
The Soft Touch Therapies
Tibetan Head massage
60 minutes: £80
90 minutes: £120
A one hour treatment for the head, neck, scalp, face & shoulders with different Natural Perfume oils. Using a custom blend of techniques to leave you feeling deeply relaxed.
Reiki Raku Kei – Tibetan Style Reiki
30 minutes: £50
60 minutes: £80
90 minutes: £120
The Way of The Fire Dragon as practiced in Tibet. Gentle but powerful, hands on or off relaxing. Ideal for a range of conditions like burns, where more intense or invasive physical treatment is not appropriate.
Access Bars®
60 minutes: £80
90 minutes: £120
Access Bars is a gentle and non-invasive hands-on body process that allows you and your body to begin releasing all the limiting thoughts, ideas, attitudes, decisions and beliefs that you have ever had. Based on touching 32 points on the head, this technique is similar to deleting files off your computer's hard-drive, more space becomes available to receive and create something totally new.
Rejuvanessance® treatment for the Face, Head & Neck
60 minutes: £80
90 minutes: £120
Looking better is only the beginning - you will also find that you feel better, breathe better, have more energy and feel more calm. Your body’s nervous system is finely tuned and harmony within is regained. This hands on treatment restores your spirit as much as your face!
Pregnancy Massage
30 minutes: £50
60 minutes: £80
90 minutes: £120
Massage can be safe and soothing for both you and your baby from very early days through to the delivery date. Before booking your pregnancy massage, please have a chat with Cherie so that she is aware of any special conditions that you might be experiencing and can answer any questions you might have. Many conditions such as pregnancy diabetes do not preclude you from having massage, but do require a more specialised approach to your care.
Access Body Processes
60 minutes: £80
90 minutes: £120
There are over 50 different body processes, including MTVSS® which have the benefits of activating, stimulating and boosting your immune, lymphatic and hormone systems, helping with digestion, metabolism and respiration, as well as undoing trauma and scar tissue.
The Deeper Touch Therapies
Clinical or Medical Massage (by referral)
60 minutes: £80
90 minutes: £120
Specific treatment for a specific condition such as post op back fusion, knee operations, effusion, haematomas, edema, acute and chronic spinal pain, post mastectomy tethering and reconstruction.
Myofascial Release (Trigger Point Therapy)
30 minutes: £50
60 minutes: £80
Fascia is simply the connective tissue of the body, it surrounds, separates and protects every bone, tendon, ligament, muscle, and organ. Trigger point techniques work with the connective tissue layers to release adhesions and realign the fascia, helping to restore symmetry. Focusing on the connective tissue, rather than just the muscles allows the practitioner to work on a much deeper and more structural level, therefore effecting greater degree of mobility than is possible with muscular massage alone.
Trigger Point work is used across a broad variety of issues from sports injuries to acute and chronic pain relief for things like tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, frozen shoulder, shin splints. Trigger points are small (pea sized) areas of adhesion and fixation in any soft tissue including tendons and ligaments, muscles, & connective tissue (as opposed to muscle knots, only in muscle tissue).
Deep Tissue Bodywork
30 minutes: £50
45 minutes: £65
60 minutes: £80
90 minutes: £120
Slow structural contour work to unwind and release muscular spasms and restrictions in the body. These techniques work with the body by melting into the contour of the muscles. ‘No pain, no gain’ theories don’t have any place in the professional therapist’s work; Cherie believes that the correct pressure at the right place and for the right amount of time will cause the body to respond more positively and start healing faster than overloading already painful and stressed tissue. The more comfortable you are, the deeper the work can be.
4 stage Sports Massage
30 minutes: £50
60 minutes: £80
90 minutes: £120
Specific treatments for specific sports disciplines. Prepare, prevention, maintenance and as an aid to recovery for the professional sports person or the weekend amateur.
Scar Tissue Reduction
60 minutes: £80
90 minutes: £120
For both post injury & surgery, the adhesions in connective tissue will be released. Cherie will also work to remobilise areas along cuts, tears and bad sprains - like Achilles ruptures, hamstring tears, hernia and mastectomy, and c section scars. Any scar that pulls, hurts, is tearing or reducing mobility in an area will be restored to a more normal range of movement.
SOMASSAGE® Neuromuscular Deep Tissue Bodywork
30 minutes: £50
60 minutes: £80
90 minutes: £120
“An elegant and focused treatment that facilitates whole-body integration. SOMASSAGE® is an attitude adjustment for the body.”
SOMASSAGE® is different from Swedish, neuromuscular or other types of deep tissue massage. The differences are: The intent is different than massage. The client participates in the session. They are requested to bring themselves into a focused presence; to feel into their body.
SOMASSAGE® is the only type of Neuromuscular work that is designed specifically to address the suspensory component inherent in an easeful upright posture. The body is worked in a very different direction than other types of neuromuscular massage.
Soma Hot Stones
60 minutes: £80
90 minutes: £120
Cherie has taken two of her favorite therapies and combined them to create a much more dynamic treatment. SOMA HOT STONES produce a faster, deeper change in the soft tissues than either treatment alone can in the same time frame. SOMASTONES will improve your outlook, your posture and it will leave you feeling uplifted and in balance.
Cherie is currently the only certified SOMASSAGE® Therapist in the UK and Europe
Client testimonials
I have been treated by Cherie for over a decade & have felt a remarkable improvement in my posture and have had a significant reduction in the number of times I have had bouts of severe back-pain. The idiom "Prevention is better than cure" is something that I have lived by over the course of the last decade and Cherie has always been there to support me during this time. After each session with Cherie I feel that I have been investing my money well rather than spending it. - Graeme Wilson
I feel magical. - Amie Rattigan, TV Show Host
All my stress and anxiety just disappeared. - Amelia Ayewan, Fashion Designer
After sustaining multiple injuries following an accidental fall, Cherie has been instrumental in getting me literally back on my feet. She has tailor-made my treatment program with such a natural instinct for healing both physically and emotionally. - S uzy Barton, former Aerialist & Acrobatic performer
I can’t tell you grateful I am or what a difference this treatment is making to me. - Suzanne Scott, Certified Pilate’s Foundation Instructor, MA (Cantab).
Whether Cherie is providing routine sports massage , acute relief for a ruptured disk or pain reducing therapy for a fibromyalgia sufferer, you find her doing her best – giving 100%. Because of her concern for their wellness, her clients know she cares about them and they will return again & again. She has not only the mechanical skills to provide excellent bodywork; but also she has the gift of healing that truly talented hands – on practitioner’s possess. - Dr Don Rogers MD, Head of Group Health Insurance
Is massage always appropriate?
Benefits
Massage is almost always helpful, however, there are certain conditions for which bodywork is not appropriate. Keep your therapist informed about any medical problems, even if it is a minor one. Also, always let your primary health care practitioner know you are receiving massage. Some conditions require close communication and need to have regular progress reports provided.
Finding what's best for you
Massage for relaxation or maintenance is usually beneficial on a monthly basis. The old saying, ‘no pain, no gain’ is definitely not true for Cherie’s style of bodywork. She says,’ The more comfortable you are, the deeper the work’. The pressure should be gentle but firm, gradually preparing you for deeper touch. The most effective and deepest Massage works with the body's own natural responses, not against them. Working in an area of an injury or chronic pain may at first cause some discomfort, which usually lessens in the first few minutes, and Cherie will work carefully within what feels right for you.
Prevention & recovery from injuries
Massage can help heal injuries such as tennis elbow, that develop over time, as well as ligament sprains or muscle strains caused by an accident. In addition, regularly scheduled Massage sessions can speed injury or athletic recovery, and relieve secondary pain that outlasts its original cause.
Therapy for Muscle shortening & trigger points
Massage helps restore normal movement by releasing trigger points, improving circulation and stretching shortened muscles that restrict joint movement.
Chronic conditions or a recent injury
These require sessions that are more frequent.
Therapy for Postural Stress & Muscular Imbalances
By working directly with your joints, which helps to stimulate production of natural lubrication, Massage may help to provide pain relief from conditions such as certain types of osteo-arthritis. This may help to reduce postural stresses & muscular imbalances. Massage releases restrictions in muscles, joints and surrounding soft tissues and fascia, freeing your body to return to a more natural posture. Massage can also relieve the stress of contracted muscles and reduce pain caused by abnormal spinal curvatures such as scoliosis.
After your therapy
A good deep tissue session is often compared to a workout, so give yourself and your muscles a break afterwards. Stay well hydrated and if you are exercising, start with an easy exercise, and finish with some gentle stretching. This will lengthen your muscle fibres, increase your mobility and circulation, thus increasing the benefits of your Massage session.
Gift Vouchers
Gift Vouchers are available from reception or Cherie, and can be for any amount you choose.
Special Offers
Please ask Cherie about her special discounts for block bookings. Ask at reception or speak to Cherie about her seasonal special treatment offers.
Cancellations
A 24 hours strict cancellation policy, in accordance with the rest of The Hogarth services, applies. Late cancellations or no-shows will be charged at full rate subject only to Cherie’s discretion.
Methods of Payment
Payment is made at time of appointment to Cherie by cash or credit card. The Hogarth vouchers cannot be accepted.