Boho Boxmoor

Dr Spafish in the Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead

By EMMA FALLON "Anyone fancy having their feet nibbled?" asked Victoria for Boho Boxmoor. “Me please!” I replied via Facebook. So whilst Victoria was sunning herself in Florida, I, in the name of research, popped along to Dr Spa Fish in the Marlowes for a taster session at their grand opening.

After removing my socks and soaking my feet in a bowl of warm water I tentatively placed my feet into the “tank” where immediately hundreds of fish took to my feet! A very ticklish sensation which soon became bearable and then almost pleasurable.

The best way to describe it is that the fish almost “hoover” or “kiss” your skin on your feet to remove the dead skin cells. My treatment lasted almost 15 minutes and when I removed my feet they felt much softer and smoother. 

The benefits are... all ages can use Dr Spa Fish; the fish stimulate acupuncture points; it's relaxing, and it's supposed to be fantastic for psoriasis and exema sufferers.

The treatments vary in time but the basic session is £10 for 15 minutes. You can buy giftcards in £10, £30 or £50 for between 1 and 8 treatments. Loyalty cards are also available. 

DR SPA FISH Ground Floor, Unit 18, The Marlowes Shopping Centre, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1DX Tel: 01442 236677. Dr Spa Fish website. 

Opening times are the Marlowes opening times 9 – 5.30 Monday – Friday and 9-6 and 11-5 on Saturday and Sunday.

Yoga classes in Boxmoor

Boxmoor's Brian Hanley has teaching yoga since 1992. He has a regular class in Boxmoor on Wednesday evenings that's fully booked, and now he's planning on offering more classes in the area:

BRIAN writes: I know only too well the stresses of juggling a work-life balance here as I have been living in Boxmoor for six years, commuting for the past two and a half years, and as a relatively new parent.

As a stay-at-home dad now, I’m starting up more regular classes – particularly suited to commuters, or other stay-at-home parents as there will be evening and daytime classes available. 

I originally discovered the benefits of yoga around Christmas 1987 when I left the Royal Navy. I was having difficulty sleeping due to irregular shifts and seeing active service. I saw an advert at the library for a yoga class which asked “Having trouble sleeping? Try yoga”.

Until relatively recently yoga was considered by many to be on the fringe. I had only heard of it through my training in karate as they used some of the stretching techniques – even my parents thought I was odd by going along.

But that night after my first yoga class I slept my first full-night’s sleep in years. There’s lots of other benefits too. And it’s suitable for anybody.

For more details about Brian's forthcoming yoga classes in Boxmoor, contact him on 01442 212903 or email: brianhan@tiscali.co.uk.

Nutrition4Life: Boxmoor's answer to a healthier you

BOHO BOXMOOR JULY SPONSOR Alyson Carter is a nutritional therapist who's treated more than 300 clients, working from her home-based business Nutrition4Life in Boxmoor as well as clinics in Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead.

What's nutritional therapy?
Nutritional therapy is a complementary therapy which utilises foods and vitamins and mineral supplements to encourage the body’s natural healing. The aim is to detoxify the body, correct vitamin and mineral deficiencies, restore healthy digestion and help develop a positive mental attitude.

 

 

Baby massage with Cathy Johnson

Cathy Johnson has been teaching baby massage in Berkhamsted since 2000, and estimates she's had over 1,000 local babies through her courses. 

I attended her course with my first daughter in 2002 and again with my second in 2004. It was one of the nicest things I did with them as infants - particularly in those early months when there's very little babies can actually do.

Baby massage is a wonderful way to bond with your baby and meet other mothers with small babies. It also equips you with massage techniques that you use to soothe and stimulate your baby at home. 

Cathy has 15 years' experience as a midwife and an aromatherapist, and worked at St John's and St Elizabeth's hospital in London. She is a calm, reassuring presence - the perfect person to run a course that may contain nervous first-time mums (like I was) or unpredictable small babies.

Cathy has recently launched Womb to Bloom, a collection of services for pregnant women, new babies and mothers. For dates and details about her four-week baby massage courses,  click here. 

Cathy Johnson: 0789 9995 622, cathy@wombtobloom.co.uk. www.wombtobloom.co.uk