Wellington Square
Natural Health Centre

Hastings’s seaside air made it a health-mecca for the Victorians. Now, more than 100 years later, there’s a new magnet drawing visitors seeking equilibrium of body and mind.

The Wellington Square Natural Health Centre is a tranquil haven offering a wide range of complementary therapies to help us recharge when energy levels are low and prevent health problems through day-to-day maintenance. With its beautiful bright rooms and sea views, the Centre is the latest project from the people behind Green & Black’s and our own Judges Bakery. It doesn’t disappoint, giving access to some of the finest health practitioners in the South East in fabulously designed surroundings, behind an elegant Georgian facade.

January is the ideal month to let yourself be blown by Hastings’s bracing sea air through the door to no. 44 Wellington Square, into the warm reception. The calming ambience is a treat in itself: from the subtle scents of herbal oils permeating from treatment rooms to a huge basket of rosy organic apples, everything is beautifully presented. Whether you want to escape the pressures of a busy life, confront a nagging ailment or simply shake off the winter gloom, The Wellington Square Natural Health Centre is a highly recommended place to start.

With over 40 treatments on offer, it could be a little baffling if you don’t know your Ayurveda from your Acupuncture. So you can take advantage of a free 15-minute consultation with any practitioner before booking in, or book a free ‘gatekeeper’ session with the Clinic Director to point you in the right direction. From regular Yoga and Pilates classes to Shiatsu, via Hypnotherapy, Counselling or even a complete top-to-toe health-check with Vital Signs, you’ll certainly find the expertise here to help you confront the post-festive dip in spirits… or gain on the scales. And there are therapies to ease the symptoms of acute conditions too - all complementary to conventional medicine, including serious back pain, migrane, sports injuries, depression and eczema.

Owner Jo Fairley-Sams is herself a regular at the early morning yoga classes. “I find that an hour of Yoga from 8 until 9am sets me up for work and I achieve so much more.” The Yoga Studio is a stunning room at the front of the building with high ceiling and polished floor, offering several styles of teaching throughout the week at various times of the day.

New this month, a healthy-eating cookery school opens at the Centre. There will be monthly cookery evenings and demonstrations, covering all sorts of nutrition-related topics, including eating for a macrobiotic, raw veg and diabetic diet. The January focus will be on Detox, held by resident Nutritional Therapist Linda Lazarides.

On the following pages, we bring you a brief introduction to ten of the therapies on offer here. You’ll find much more information about all treatments and practitioners on the website, or at the Centre itself, along with timetables for classes. So read on – and we wish you healthy 2008!

The Wellington Square
Natural Health Centre
44 Wellington Square
Hastings TN34 1PN
01424 442520
www.wellingtonnaturalhealth.com

Acupuncture with Yuko Nakamora  
Developed in China more than 4,000 years ago, Acupuncture is based on the meridians or energy pathways of the body. It’s most commonly used to treat pain. During a session, very fine needles are inserted into the skin at points corresponding to organs or other structures, and these associated points are thought to stimulate the body’s power to heal itself (it isn’t painful - the needles are really fine!). “My clients come with many complaints, including migrane, IBS and emotional problems. I specialise in infertility and also provide palliative care for terminally ill patients.” Yuko studied in Japan after experiencing the benefits of Acupuncture first-hand. She also practices Alexander Technique.
Initial consultation £45, follow-up £40. Alexander Technique £45 and £30 follow-up

Physiotherapy with Lesley Barnes and Matt Herriot
Chartered Physios Lesley and Matt are the people to help if you’ve done yourself an injury. Physiotherapy can work wonders when you’re out of action, offering immediate relief and on-going help to recover from damage done. There’s a drop-in clinic on Mondays, so just call to make an appointment. Treatment can help to relieve back and neck pain, spinal and joint conditions like arthritis, tension headaches and neurological conditions such as stroke and MS. Lesley and Matt specialise in sports injury, musculoskeletal treatment, Acupuncture for joint pain and posture analysis and re-education. “Physiotherapy is for everyone: young, old, fit and unwell.”
Initial consultation £35 for 45 minutes. Follow-up £30 for 30 minutes

Chiropractic with Sam Guillemard
McTimoney chiropractic is a versatile way to adjust the bones of the body and correct spine alignment. As it’s so gentle, it’s suitable for the elderly, children and pregnant women – none of those resounding cracks! Sam makes gentle manipulations to relieve pain and increase mobility, treating back, neck and shoulder pain, any joint stiffness, migraine and headaches, muscular pain, sciatica, whiplash, sports injuries and RSI. He’s the only McTimoney chiropractor in the area, since Kevin Murphy sadly died. “It’s a holistic treatment. A pain in the neck usually means the whole body needs attention,” says Sam.
Initial consultation 90 minutes £45. Follow-up session 30-45 minutes £35

Deep tissue massage with Samvida Swift
It’s very often bad posture that causes muscular and nerve-related pain, and Deep Tissue Massage offers a great antidote to this. It works by freeing trapped nerves and oxygenating poorly circulated muscles, loosening areas of tension and allowing the spine to relax into realignment. “Deep Tissue Massage works particularly well for people whose jobs lead to repetitive postures, or those with disabilities who have needed bed rest and may have impaired circulation and muscle tone,” explains Samvida. The release of muscular tension also leads to a state of profound relaxation.
An hour session £45. 90 minute session with Craniosacral also available

EFT with Jane Temple
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a powerful technique that helps you take control of your body and thoughts and is now acknowledged as being a highly effective cognitive therapy. It has shown impressive results in resolving personal problems, shifting behaviour patterns, decreasing stress, improving self esteem and helps with fears, phobias, anxieties, addictions etc. A gentle meridian therapy, it works by tapping on acupuncture meridians to release negative emotions. Jane has 20 years’ experience as a therapist and also practices homeopathy and stress counselling. “Making changes can be scary and seeking help is often the first step in your healing process.”
A 90 minute consultation £50

Hot Stone Therapy with Francesca O’Neill
Hot Stone Therapy feels like a wonderfully indulgent route to fast, deep relaxation. The heat and weight of the smooth, basalt stones used for the therapy penetrate the muscles with a soothing warmth, releasing tension much more quickly than an ordinary massage. The treatment has been valued for centuries by many cultures for the sense of peace and harmony it induces. “At this time of year, many of us are feeling the affects of winter which can leave us feeling below-par or depressed. Hot stone and aromatherapy treatments can really help to melt away tension and lift the spirits with the warmth and scents of our fragrant earth,” says Francesca.
A 90 minute session £55

Nutrition with Linda Lazarides
This treatment is much more than simply changing your diet. Linda tailors her service to the individual, assessing what a person needs by analysing symptoms, diet and with the help of tests. Specific diets can treat many problems that doctors are often unable to cure, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, migraine, skin problems, low energy, digestive problems, menstrual problems, prostate problems and children’s ailments such as hyperactivity. It’s also a very good way to embark on a sensible, effective weight-loss diet. Linda is a published author of many books on nutrition and has a wealth of experience behind her. An hour consultation £45. £30 for 30 minute follow-up

Pilates with Jodie Brown
The Wellington Natural Health Centre is the only centre offering a state-of-the-art fully equipped Pilates studio within a 30-mile radius. The equipment makes the enjoyable Pilates experience accessible to everyone, including elderly people and those with injuries. Workouts are taught individually or in pairs, expertly-guided by Jodie. There are many reasons to practice Pilates, including improvement to posture through controlled movements that correct alignment, improved muscle-tone and release from stress through relaxation. It’s a great way to tackle back pain, prevent injury and improve technique for dancers.
An initial 75 minute consultation £45. Follow-up from £24

Ayurvedic massage with Chris Elam
It may look like a novel way to relieve muscular aches and tension, but Ayurvedic Massage has been practised in Southern India for centuries. It involves massaging the body with the foot while the practitioner uses a rope for balance. Ayurvedic herbal oils are also used, which seep into the skin and help to dispel toxins. Ayurvedic Massage is a powerful way to induce relaxation and leave the body and mind feeling light and clear. As you would imagine, the foot can give a strong massage, ridding the muscles of knots and kinks, toning and stretching the tissues and even detoxing the organs. Chris ­ who is also one of Wellington Square’s popular Yoga teachers ­ studied in Kerala, Southern India.
An hour session £40, 1½ hours £50, 2 hours £60

Rejuvance with Valerie Dobson
Rejuvance could also be described as a natural face lift: a relaxing massage of the face, neck and upper back to release locked-in tension and firm contours. “It makes a noticeable difference. I start by working on one side of the face so the client can compare before and after,” Valerie explains. A series of six treatments will smooth out a certain amount of wrinkles and make your skin glow. “You can even make your eyes look bigger without cosmetic surgery!” Rejuvance can also work wonders on scarring by releasing tight tissue, and is particularly valuable to anyone suffering from Bell’s Palsy. Initial session £35 for an hour. Valerie also practises shiatsu