Emmett Technique in Belfast: What It Is and Who It Helps

If you have never heard of the Emmett Technique, you are not unusual. There are only a handful of therapists trained in it across Northern Ireland, and most people who end up on my table find it by accident after everything else has been tried.

It is worth knowing about, because it works differently to the massage you are probably picturing.

What the Emmett Technique actually is

It is a soft tissue therapy that uses light, precise pressure at specific points on the body. Not deep pressure. Not elbows into your shoulder blade. A few seconds of gentle contact in the right place, and the muscle releases on its own.

It was developed in Australia by Ross Emmett, and it is used alongside massage rather than instead of it. The idea is that the body holds tension in patterns, and once you interrupt the pattern the muscle stops guarding.

What it feels like

Underwhelming, if you are expecting to be flattened. Most people are surprised at how little pressure is involved. You stay clothed, you are not left aching the next day, and the change in movement is usually noticeable before you have got off the table.

If you have had deep tissue work before and found it too much, this is the opposite end of the scale.

What people come to me with

The pattern I see most is people who have had a niggle for months, have tried stretching and painkillers, and have decided to live with it. Stiff necks that will not turn properly. Shoulders that catch when reaching overhead. Lower backs that seize after driving. Hips and knees that feel restricted rather than painful.

It is not a cure-all and I would not pretend otherwise. But for restricted movement in particular, it often does something that heavier work has not managed.

How a session runs

An Emmett session with me is 40 minutes and costs £40. You can see the treatment and book it here.

A lot of people have it as part of a longer treatment rather than on its own. If that suits you better, deep tissue massage at £48 or a Swedish massage at £45 can both have Emmett work built into them, and I will usually suggest that if I think it will help.

And if what you're carrying is more stress than stiffness, clinical reflexology is usually the better place to start.

Where I am

I work from Newtownbreda in south Belfast, a couple of minutes from Forestside, and see clients from Castlereagh, Belvoir, Carryduff and across the city. I am a fully accredited member of the Federation of Holistic Therapists and VTCT qualified in massage and reflexology.

If you are not sure whether Emmett is the right thing for what you have got going on, just ask. Book online here or ring me on 07715 537037 and I will tell you honestly whether I think I can help.