Relaxation, well-being, a feeling of peace. These are the words used to define the state of mind, and body, after a therapy and massage. The ways to relax and rejuvenate are not that far from the beaten track in the Middle East. With oh-so salubrious experience of applying gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion, Cathy Alderson, a British natural therapist and clinical massage expert in Doha, provides a holistic experience of linking the mind and body with physiotherapy techniques. 
Cathy has been in Qatar for only five months but brings an experience of over 30 years. She lays stress on medical usefulness of the massage. Community recently caught up with her about her life and work.
Tell us about yourself and your work.
I have always been interested in natural health remedies. I love travelling and as soon as I turned 18, I started travelling to far off places for an exposure to different places, cultures and idea. I also learnt a lot about natural health and healing processes.
It was in 1988, I was in Australia when I got training for fitness instructor. I was also interested in receiving and doing massage. So, I moved to New Zealand where I formally studied massage at a college. The mind and body connection became very important to me. There I was introduced to a book,You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay and that’s what made me a fan of a subject like naturopathy.
I came back to UK, did another course in diet and nutrition, gym instruction and massage and became a natural health therapist and massager. For the last 10 years, I have been working as a massage tutor. In Doha, I am employed as a natural massage therapist. I have been in the field for over 30 years now. 
I am also adept in medical massage. I come from a medical massage background. I use pure and natural massage mediums. It is all about the technique how to use the massage mediums.


How do you explain natural therapy?
Natural therapy is the connection of mind and body and how your emotions affect in holding your body. As a natural therapist, I use a special technique called Myofascial Release. It is a technique that was developed by Americans more than 50 years ago. It deals with connective tissues.
As a natural therapist, you are looking at the whole mind and body situation. We look at the whole picture not just which exercise they have been doing. We deal with the way people breath and the kind of food they go for. I also study sleep patterns and examines how much and what kind of medication people have been taking. I treat people with massage therapy.
I am specialised in Myofascial Release and Craniosacral therapy, which is very good for infants and children.


Have you contributed something new to the field of natural therapy in all these years?
Well, I hope so. I have managed to help many people who have had problems and have not found anything else for help. I can help where other treatments have not worked. In Myofascial Release, the body goes into spontaneous movement. We facilitate the body with its own healing process.


Tell us about your future plans.
My dream is to open a massage training school in Qatar with UK qualifications. I am passionate about what I do and I want to help others. 


What piece of advice will you share about healing effects of massage?
Practically, massage is good for everything. In UK, I worked as a volunteer with NHS (National Health Service). The massage can help ease all sorts of body pains. It can also be helpful in Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis. I have treated children with autism. The list is endless.
There is a lot of medical research on effects of massage therapy. It decreases stress and increases white blood cells. I preach and practice massage for medical reasons.


How do you see life in Qatar?
I think it is an amazing place with a lot of opportunities. It is culturally very diverse. I was told there are 198 nationalities living in Qatar. I have done a lot of interesting things here that I have not done before in my life. People bring their experiences here. It is a young country, growing as a land of opportunities. I would love  to see FIFA World Cup 2022 here.




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