Meet the Team

Our team currently consists of fully qualified Massage therapists, Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Assessors and a Mindfulness Practitioner.

All our Essential Vitality Massage Practitioners have attained high standards of training and qualifications in On-Site Massage and are fully insured.  Our DSE Assessors have the appropriate training and, where required, are trained to conduct DSE Assessments virtually, as well as face-to-face.

Essential Vitality aims to provide the highest standards of service and customer care, both in person and with our virtual well-being services.

‘Caring’ is one of Essential Vitality’s core values. We care about your employees and we want each person to gain from our professional expertise. Our Well-being services are a culmination of our years of training, experience and advising on health and wellbeing topics to support your staff and their well-being.

Paola Saunders

Essential Vitality Paola Saunders giving a Seated acupressure massage - on-site massageHello, I am Paola Saunders and I established Essential Vitality’s Corporate On-Site Massage service in 2007.

I have over 25-years experience in the Health and Fitness industry with a background in Beauty Therapy, Aromatherapy and Massage. I’ve held management positions in a number of prestigious health clubs.

With the goal of bringing the benefits of massage into the workplace, I gained a Diploma in Seated Acupressure Massage (On-Site Massage) in 2006 and I continue to update and revise my skills. I feel privileged that I’ve been trained by some of the best massage practitioners in the field.

To find out more about me and my journey to establishing Essential Vitality watch out for my next blog!

Meet my fantastic team…

Anne-Marie Manners

Hi, I’m Anne-Marie, I began working life as an administrative and social research assistant in the Civil Service, before succumbing to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. In the process of recovery, I developed an interest in Complementary Health, particularly in relation to pain management and stress relief. I decided to retrain in massage, and to focus on treatments suitable for use in the workplace. Having seen and experienced the effect of workplace stress, I very much wanted to become a part of the solution, helping those in working environments to relax, maintain their health and be at their best.

I qualified in Indian Head Massage through ITEC and Hand Reflexology through the London School of Reflexology, before training in Seated Acupressure with the Association of Onsite Massage. It is very rewarding to see the positive effect of these treatments on people’s wellbeing – both immediately and over time. What I love most about them is that they work on the mind and body together to bring relief from strains and stresses to both at once. And of course, they make people feel good!

Taking inspiration from Paola I have also trained as a DSE Assessor.  This is such a practical qualification and valuable addition to our on-site massage services, focussing on prevention of pain and injury and reducing the risks from incorrect working posture.

In my spare time, I like to get out and about in the natural world, whether that be walking in local woodland or tending to my own garden. I also enjoy helping my daughter with arts, crafts and science activities.

Helen Hopkin

Hi, I’m Helen and I qualified with a Diploma in On-Site Massage with the Academy of On-Site Massage in 2004, with on-going follow up courses in No-Hands Massage and Advanced Seated Acupressure. I enjoy providing Corporate On-Site Acupressure Massage and Indian Head Massage to Companies in the North West.

I’m also a Professional Clinical Aromatherapist (qualified 1998) and have qualifications in Swedish Massage, Sports Massage, Indian Head Massage and Hot Stone Massage. In 2012 I qualified in Professional Clinical Reflexology, with qualifications in Nerve Reflexology and many other Reflexology specialisms. I offer these therapies to individuals.  My background is in Exercise and Sports Coaching and I have a keen interest in Yoga.

David Godon

photo of David Godon

David’s journey into Seated Acupressure and wellbeing stems from his interests and practice of Tai Chi. More for its health benefits than for the fighting side to this martial arts. David first trained in seated acupressure at The Shiatsu College before going on to further study at The Academy of Onsite Massage. He graduated as a practitioner from the academy in 2017.

Another form of bodywork that David also practices is Shiatsu and has been a practitioner since 2012. What David brings from Tai Chi training into both Seated Acupressure and shiatsu is the awareness and understanding of how energy (Qi) flows around the body. And that from time too time energy (Qi) can become blocked or stagnant forming tension or stiffness within the body, specially in today’s modern society with the usage of computers and phones.

David is both a registered member of On Site Massage Association (OSMA) and The Shiatsu Society. We’re delighted to have David join the team!

 

 

Dee Colbourne

Dee has been in the health and fitness industry for over 20 years. She has a background in modelling, dance and gymnastics.  She spent many years teaching dance, body conditioning yoga and Pilates.

She trained in Chair Massage in 2018 and then chose to further her skills with the Academy of On-Site Massage for the official Seated Acupressure Massage training. She qualified as a Seated Acupressure Massage Practitioner in 2019. She enjoys the results the massage can bring to alleviate muscular aches and tension caused by poor posture and stress in our everyday lives.

Her massage skills also include Myofascial Trigger Point work, deep tissue and sports massage.

Dee’s hobbies include Ashtanga and Vinyasa Yoga, sketching in pencil and charcoal and listening to a broad spectrum of music.

Dee joined the team as we started back following the Covid-19 pandemic and it’s a pleasure to have her join Essential Vitality.

Sue Matin

Sue is a massage and mindfulness practitioner based in Manchester.

She began her holistic therapy training with the IIHHT in 2000. Her Diploma in Stress Management included Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Swedish massage, Indian head massage and holistic facial massage. She began providing treatments for private clients in various locations around Manchester. In 2003 sue attended an exhibition and received an on-site acupressure treatment. She was so impressed by how powerful and effective the short treatment was, Sue immediately signed up to train with the Academy of On-Site Massage, adding their Hands Free and Additional Skills courses in 2005.

Sue has a long-standing interest in meditation and has attended various courses and workshops over the years. In 2013 Sue attended an 8-week mindfulness course and began to incorporate mindfulness and meditation practices into her life on a regular basis. This has helped with her own anxieties.  Subsequently, Sue completed a twelve-month teacher training pathway with MIND which has enabled Sue to offer mindfulness sessions in the workplace and also via Zoom.

I’m delighted to welcome Sue to the Essential Vitality team to provide On-Site Massage and Mindfulness services in and around Manchester.

Sarah Butler

Sarah started out in the fitness world as a Fitness Instructor nearly 25 years ago, and after a career in the corporate world she decided to return to her first love: a fascination of the human body and how to keep fit and healthy.

After having her two daughters, Sarah was looking for a flexible working pattern to combine family life and a career.  She trained initially in Therapeutic massage, and soon added her skills to include Seated Acupressure Massage, training with the Academy of On-Site Massage. ​

Sarah enjoys providing massage in the corporate world, enabling people who are in stressful and fast moving environments to benefit from the massage, who would struggle to find time to fit in a massage outside of their working hours.

​Sarah is committed to continuous professional development to enhancing the range and quality of treatments she offers.

Julie McGall

Hello, I’m Julie and after 20 years of corporate life, working at a desk, behind a computer, with its associated stress (and agonising shoulder tension!) I took the plunge in 2013 to pursue my dream of a much more fulfilling and rewarding career in complementary therapies. As well as gaining a City & Guilds Diploma in Seated Acupressure at the Academy of On-Site Massage, my training has included gaining qualifications in Reflexology, Indian Head Massage, Thai Foot Massage, Hot Stones and Deep Tissue Massage.

One of the things I like most about being a Seated Massage therapist is that it really does make a difference. Apart from easing the physical tension and both relaxing and energising staff it has an effect on morale. I am often told that people look forward to coming to work when it is massage day! After my years working in an office, it’s great that I can help to make a positive difference to someone’s day at work – I think On-Site Massage is simply fantastic.

Julie has worked for Essential Vitality in the past and I hope that we can work together in future.

If you’re a qualified Seated Acupressure Massage therapist and are interested in joining Essential Vitality please get in touch

Find out more about Essential Vitality here.