Holistic haven hosts open day
Heather Lodge, Arran’s newest holistic health centre, will be hosting a number of open days over the following two weekends to allow visitors to go and see the facilities and to meet the practitioners.
Based in the former stables of the Douglas Hotel, the newly refurbished Heather Lodge has been attractively upgraded and expanded to provide several therapy rooms and a relaxing secluded garden.
Therapies
Heather Lodge is a cooperative of several therapists, all based on Arran, who provide a range of treatments, therapies and support services ranging from hypnotherapy, counselling, reiki, psychotherapy, holistic massage to reflexology and herbal medicines, and much more thanks to the multi-skilled abilities of the nine practitioners who all bring something special to the team.
Providing a healing and nurturing environment conducive to health and wellbeing, the centre is dedicated to the treatment of the whole person, including social and emotional factors, and not just the symptoms of disease.
Commenting, Malcolm Kerr, who owns Heathers Lodge with therapeutic counsellor and trained psychotherapist Susan Knox, said: ‘Islands are often regarded as “special places”, both by residents and visitors, with a different atmosphere and way of life. It is not unusual for visiting tourists to see Arran as an environment for recreation, rejuvenation and health.
‘Increasingly over the years, Arran has become a place for healers. Practitioners of massage and other holistic therapies have been working in hotels, clients’ homes, their own homes and adopted premises, but often felt they lacked therapeutic space created explicitly for their purpose.
‘Holistic services have been made available to some Arran residents on a basis of need and by GP referral through the work of ArCaS (for cancer patients) and the Mary Davis Trust (for carers).
‘Over the past year, work has been undertaken to satisfy planning conditions and improve disabled access at Heather Lodge. Several practitioners have already been working in the centre, providing a wide range of holistic and psychological therapies, predominantly on a “health” rather than “recreational” model. Space is provided for individual consultations and treatments and also for small group work.’
Each therapist runs their own appointment diary so bookings do need to be made with the individual therapist in advance. The centre caters for Arran residents as well as short-term visitors, and treatments and sessions can be tailored to your individual needs.
The open days will begin on Saturday (tomorrow) from 10am to 4pm and on Sunday from 2pm to 5pm. The same times apply for the following weekend but which will also include Friday and visitors can either just drop in or schedule a time by emailing info@heatherlodge.scot.