Ostara Holistic Therapies
Complementary Therapies in Kings Worthy, Winchester
Welcome to Ostara Holistic Therapies
Release Restore Revive
Hello and welcome to Ostara Holistic Therapies
Holistic Wellness Services for Women
My name is Michelle Smith, and I am an accredited Complementary Therapist. My aim is to provide women with a nurturing, calm and soothing environment where you can step out of your daily responsibilities, take a deep breath out and quite simply, relax.
I provide intuitive, restorative treatments in reflexology, reiki balancing, Swedish massage and aromatherapy, and also blended treatments tailored specifically for you. My serene, tranquil treatment room (click) provides the space to unwind, offload and be guided with regards to your total holistic wellbeing. I am fully insured and a full member of the Association of Reflexologists and the Federation of Holistic Therapists.
Understanding my clients is very important to me. Therefore, at the first treatment session, every client receives a FREE 30 minute consultation, regardless of the service booked.
From April 2024, I am also offering a limited number of mobile appointments for reflexology, for women in the Kings Worthy area who experience mobility difficulties. If you are unable to visit my treatment room, please do contact me to discuss a home treatment.
To find out more about me, click here.
The Meaning of Ostara
Ostara is the ancient Goddess of the Spring Equinox. She is associated with the nurturing elements of rebirth, renewal, restoration and reawakening as nature emerges from the long, desolate Winter and returns to its vibrance and vitality, flourishing with new growth and colour.
Ostara is said to have discovered a bird with an injured wing. Ostara knew it wouldn't fly again even if she healed it. Instead, Ostara lovingly transformed it into a four-legged animal known as a hare. To thank Ostara, the hare lays an egg for her every spring on her festival day.
I love this imagery and the beauty and positivity of Spring, as flowers begin to bud and bloom, the sun returns to our skin, and the grey skies diminish as our energy begins to return. The transformation of the seasons brings with it a transformation within us, and my aim is for Ostara Holistic Therapies to mirror this experience of healing and revitalisation, providing powerful restorative treatments with the support of an empathetic and trusted practitioner.
What is Holistic Therapy?
Holistic or complementary therapy refers to the treatment of a person as a whole – rather than focusing on treating individual symptoms. The premise behind holistic therapy is to treat the body, mind and spirit. As well as the physical treatment, a holistic therapist may suggest lifestyle improvements that might benefit you, including physical exercises, books, breathing techniques or direct you to additional resources and support. This rounded philosophy aims to assist the client with finding balance in all areas of their life, to improve their personal wellbeing.
Holistic therapies do not disregard conventional medicine or diagnose conditions. Instead, they are often used alongside the existing treatments offered by a medical professional, and you will be asked some brief questions in your consultation to ensure that the treatment you have chosen is suitable for your current health status. It is important to understand that holistic therapy is not the same as alternative medicine, which aims to replace traditional medical treatment.
My Location
I work from my home in a tranquil and modern treatment room in Kings Worthy, Winchester, which is easily accessible from Basingstoke, Andover, Eastleigh and Southampton. There is ample free parking outside my house in a designated public parking area or on the roadside. Full address details will be supplied upon booking.
My beautiful treatment room is situated on the first floor of my house. Unfortunately, this does mean that the environment may not be suited to everyone, as there are stairs to climb. Please do discuss any concerns with me prior to booking and I will be happy to assist you.
Opening Times
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10 – 7pm
Wednesday: 10 – 7pm
Thursday: 10 – 7pm
Friday: 10 – 7pm
Saturday: 10 – 2pm
Booking An Appointment
Who Do I Treat?
Ostara Holistic Therapies is open to women of all ages and focuses on female wellness. However, I currently do not offer services if you are pregnant. Please click here to view my Services & Treatments.
For young adults and children under 16 years of age, reflexology can be very beneficial, but a parent or guardian will need to be present and sign the consultation form. Please do get in touch with me to discuss this further and I will be happy to advise you.
Mobile Services
I offer a limited number of home reflexology appointments for female clients in the Kings Worthy area who have restricted mobility. I am happy to treat you in your home if it is difficult for you to visit my treatment room - please contact me to discuss your needs.
Your first appointment
To book an appointment, please contact me and include your availability e.g. days/times that work for you. Upon booking, I will send you a consultation form (via email) that asks you some questions about your health and any medication you are taking. If you would prefer to do this over the phone, we can arrange a convenient time. You are required to pay for your first treatment upon booking to secure the appointment and I will send you an email with details for the bank transfer. As soon as payment is received the appointment will be confirmed via email. Subsequent treatments can be paid for using either cash or card payment on the day of treatment.
Cancellation policy
I know clients will appreciate that I am a small business and so I require at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel an appointment (by phone, text or email). With less than 24 hours’ notice, Ostara Holistic Therapies will require 50% of the treatment cost. A no-show will be classed as a cancellation and full 100% payment is required in this instance.
Gift Vouchers
Give the special women in your life the chance to release, revive & restore with a gift voucher for Ostara Holistic Therapies.
Printed on recycled card with a self-sealing envelope, they are the perfect treat for birthdays, Christmas, a thank-you or a ‘well done’. You can purchase a full price treatment or an amount towards one, so a perfect choice for all budgets.
Please email Ostara Holistic Therapies here with the following information:
- The treatment/s you would like to purchase
- OR a specific numerical amount
I will then send payment details. £1.25 is payable for postage and packing (1st class). Once payment is received your voucher will be posted out to you. Gift vouchers can also be collected directly from me in Winchester.
Terms & Conditions:
- Gift vouchers cannot be combined with any offer or first treatment introductory discount.
- Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months from date of payment.
- Gift vouchers are non-refundable.
Get in touch
Please contact me about any of the treatments I offer. Please include your availability if you would like to book an appointment. You can also call me on 07811 596602 – leave a message if I am unable to answer, and I will get back to you after client hours.
It would be lovely to hear from you!
Fully insured with Alan Boswell Insurance.
Member of Association of Reflexologists.
Member of Federation of Holistic Therapists.
Ostara Holistic Therapies abides by the Code of Conduct for both the Association of Reflexologists (AoR) and the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT)
Frequently Asked Questions
Ostara Holistic Therapies appreciates that the Covid19 virus is still a concern for many. Therefore, pleased be reassured that it operates a Covid safe environment and has achieved the Barbicide Covid19 certification.
Clients are welcome to wear a mask, and for those who are medically vulnerable, I am happy to wear one during your treatment. Please just discuss this with me first.
Upon booking, I will send you a consultation form (via email) that asks you some questions about your health and any medication you are taking. This is part of the initial consultation and is just to make sure that I can treat you safely and tailor your session to your needs.
On the day, you are only treated from the knees down, so you can remain clothed with lower garments rolled up (or removed if you prefer). You will be covered by a soft blanket as you lie on my treatment couch. Your bare feet will be gently cleansed before the reflexology treatment, and your feet appraised by me for any visible areas of need. You will receive a warmup massage to the feet and lower legs, which is very relaxing. The reflexology itself entails a specific routine of gentle to medium pressure applied to certain reflexes on the feet, which correspond to vital organs and body systems. I may detect areas of imbalance or ‘blockages’ which will be released by the reflexology. After the treatment, you will be given a glass of water to rehydrate and time to become fully alert. You will also be given any relevant aftercare advice, and we can chat about anything I picked up on during the treatment.
By law, reflexology can only be said to help with relaxation, wellbeing and reduction of stress. This is because not enough scientific studies have been undertaken on large-size client numbers. However, stress is said to contribute to 70% of illnesses. Therefore, taking the body into a deeply relaxed state helps to rebalance your stress chemicals and calm the nervous system. From a practitioner perspective, I am constantly amazed at what shows up in the feet, and how the reflexes can change over treatments and how accurately it can reflect your health. Some people experience big improvements in their wellbeing and I can only say that if you come for a session with an open mind, this is the best way to approach it. Also, reflexology is most effective when an initial course of regular sessions is undertaken (normally 6) to get the body back into balance, after which a monthly maintenance treatment is recommended.
The consultation (both written and verbal) ensures that as a practitioner I have ensured that any holistic treatment I provide is safe for the individual. Occasionally, a health condition may be a barrier (contraindication) to treatment. Sometimes, a client may need approval from their GP or I may need to tailor my treatment approach so that the client receives the maximum benefit to suit their health. It also allows me to understand you and your lifestyle to achieve the best holistic outcomes from your treatments. Finally, client authorisation (signature) ensures that I am fulfilling my role with regards to practitioner insurance.
For reflexology, massage and reiki, the following guidance applies:
- Drink lots of water afterwards, to flush out toxins released by the treatment, and keep hydrated the rest of the day.
- Eat something light if you can rather than a heavy meal.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol for 24 hours.
- Get plenty of rest and listen to your body.
Sometimes, people can feel incredibly tired when they get home. If so, I would encourage you to sleep when you can. Occasionally, people experience a headache, increased urination, thirst or emotional fluctuations. All of these are a ‘healing reaction’ which is perfectly normal as your body flushes out toxins and begins to rebalance itself. Any side effects like these should pass within 24 hours. With reiki, people sometimes experience a feeling of heat/warmth, tingling or see colours or patterns in their mind while the treatment is in progress. This is quite common, although other people experience none of these things, but just feel nicely relaxed!