The Hedolist bigs up therapists who are raising the bar for outstanding performance in holistic therapy…

Today’s spa star is Jason Bradford, a former baker turned massage therapist with reassuringly big and warm hands. Those years of kneading and shaping dough were not wasted.

This guy deserves a gong for a thoroughly relaxing and very unusual workout that I received recently - sat in a chair. Not a special chair, mind you, Jason is a ‘para-masseur’, able to drop in with the least amount of fuss, working with the conditions he finds.

For me, there was half an hour to spare, so he grabbed the nearest chair, sat me down and went to work.

I expected to be eased and relaxed in this guy’s capable hands, because on an earlier occasion, just a little way into inspecting his diploma certificates, I lost the will to live and asked him to get on with it - such is Jason’s copious technical depth.

In practice, the man matched the quantity of his on-paper credentials with a quality most practitioners would die for.

Without wanting to sound like a Motown songwriter, I have to say ‘warm and tender’ is the phrase that comes to mind, but the biggest and surprise was to come.

This delightfully relaxing session, I soon realised, was entirely pressure-based and devoid of the stroking, kneading and sweeping moves that I automatically expect when receiving massage – couch or chair-based.

Now I know pressure sounds, well, unrelaxing and vaguely medicinal, but try Jason’s beautifully timed, leisurely and systematic ‘hold and release’ method on all of your main muscle groups and the result is under-the radar bliss.

‘Pass the drool-tray’, some five minutes into his routine, was my last recognisable thought, as this master of his art went about his business.

Surprising (in a very positive way), time and cost effective, and seriously calm-inducing, Jason Bradford’s chair routine is one to try before you die. He’s got a gift and a passion for bodywork that you can feel through his fingertips; let them find their way to you soon.

You can book him for this, and a range of other massage-based approaches to relaxation and pain-relief on: 07909 960 884

If you want The Hedolist to review your therapy style (excellence, uniqueness and delight ONLY please), email: spastar@hedolistic.com