Nestled in the heart of Ashfield District lies The Wellbeing Studio, a sanctuary for holistic health and rejuvenation. With over 26 years of experience, Scarlet Moonchild, the studio’s senior therapist, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in advanced clinical massage and complementary therapies. From Scarwork to Acupuncture, and Deep Tissue Massage to Reiki, Scarlet has dedicated her career to helping clients find relief from pain, manage stress, and embrace self-care. As a licensed establishment recognized by Ashfield District Council and professional bodies such as the Sports Massage Association, Federation of Holistic Therapists, and Reiki Federation, The Wellbeing Studio stands as a trusted destination for bespoke treatments. Scarlet’s dual role as a qualified teacher and Reiki Master ensures every client not only receives expert care but also leaves empowered on their journey to improved health and wellness. Join Mystic Mag and read more.
Your passion for natural healthcare is evident in your work. Can you share what first inspired you to pursue a career in holistic therapies?
I never thought of a career in natural healthcare, it came to me. I was in the corporate world, working as a buyer for a construction company in the early 1990s. My job was very stressful although I enjoyed it and thought stress was good. We played hard and partied hard. However, the tolls of the job eventually caught up with me, which resulted in me losing my voice for about six weeks. I went to my doctor, who prescribed antibiotics, but they weren’t working. After three weeks, a different doctor suggested I see a speech therapist, which I did, and my voice gradually returned. Happy days, or so I thought. When I returned to work, all was not well. On my first day back, as soon as the elevator doors opened on the 7th floor, I felt this intense burning in my throat. By the time I got to the front doors, I had lost my voice again. It became clear that my job was causing this issue—it was all due to stress. I was in my early twenties at the time.
Obviously I couldn’t continue like this and decided changes had to be made: no more working lunches, always taking my lunch break, and setting boundaries about not working late. We all hear these “don’ts” when it comes to workplace stress, but we often ignore them at our own expense. That first lunch break changed my life! I went into the staff room to take my lunch. This was long before we all had mobile phones. All I found to occupy myself was an old, coverless magazine. I started reading, and I came across an article about aromatherapy. It sounded intriguing—mixing potions and things like that, I loved the sound of it. The article explained that aromatherapy could help with stress and sleep, but if you wanted to learn more, recommended going to college to study. As luck would have it, there was a college almost across the street from my office.
I ran over during my lunch break and asked if they offered courses. They did, but I’d have to start with massage therapy first. I thought, “Why not?” I had no children or major responsibilities, so I signed up, thinking I’d learn to make some potions for fun. But from that first lesson on anatomy and physiology, I was hooked. At this time it was just for personal interest. That’s how it all started. I qualified in massage, aromatherapy, Indian head massage, reflexology, and other subjects over a period of a few years, absorbing everything like a sponge. I loved it. I didn’t think of these new skills as anything other than a hobby. I set up a treatment room at home and worked with a few friends and the odd recommend client.
I continued in the corporate world and a couple of years later, I discovered I was pregnant, which surprised me because I hadn’t thought I could have children. My beautiful son was born, but a few months afterwards I developed postnatal depression. My health visitor noticed and insisted I see a doctor. The doctor prescribed antidepressants, but since I was breastfeeding, I refused them. “What are you going to do, then?” the doctor asked. I told them I’d go for an aromatherapy massage, which prompted an eye-roll, but off I went. As I was getting dressed at the end of my aromatherapy massage, I mentioned to the therapist that I was trained in aromatherapy.
She asked if I worked as a therapist, “Oh no” I replied bizarrely I didn’t consider it a “proper” job at the time. The therapist encouraged me to ask if there were any job openings where she worked. I was hesitant, but the next day I called, got an interview, and was offered a position. That was the turning point.
I started working three days a week as a complementary therapist, and I loved it. Six months later, I opened my own clinic, which was very successful. Fast forward three years, I sold the clinic to some staff members as I was re-locating. When I moved I started working from home, then taking a room in a clinic and so on. I have been walking the complementary therapy path for almost 30 years and I still love it. Holistic therapies weren’t widely recognized when I started, but looking back, it feels like fate led me here.
I never did take those antidepressants. My recovery came through aromatherapy and embracing natural remedies. By that time, I wholeheartedly believed in the power of natural healing and understood how a few drops of the right essential oils could have profound effects on mental and physical health. These remedies, from essential oils to flower remedies and crystals, are all gifts from the natural world—our original medicine. Pharmaceutical companies often make synthetic versions of these plant-based compounds, yet herbal medicine has been around for thousands of years and I know which I prefer.
Today, I’m a complete convert. At 57, I look back and marvel at how this journey started in my 20s. If someone had told me back then that this would be my path, I wouldn’t have believed them.
How do you approach creating a personalized wellness plan for each client at The Wellbeing Studio? What factors do you consider most important?
Every client is unique and has different needs, so one of the very first questions I ask is, “What brings you in for treatment today”; They might say it’s due to physical pain, stress, anxiety, or something else. It’s not necessarily about treating that specific issue directly, but rather looking at the person as a whole. I ask questions like, “How does this affect you day-to-day?” or “How does it make you feel?”
With my wide skill set developed over many years in the industry, I can tailor treatments based on each client’s needs. For instance, a client may come in for a massage, but after our conversation, I may think that reflexology may be more beneficial and will discuss this with them, explaining “From what you’ve told me during your consultation, you’re experiencing sleeplessness and other symptoms, so I believe this approach might help” If they still want the massage, that’s fine, but I focus on identifying the root cause of their ailment. Often, where it hurts isn’t where the true cause lies.
Ultimately, it’s about listening closely to each person and figuring out the best way to help them. I feel it’s second nature to me now.
What type of services do you offer?
I specialize in aromatherapy and various forms of massage, and I consider myself to be a clinical massage therapist. Most of my clients originally come to me with physical ailments, such as neck, back or shoulder pain. Their needs often vary as they continue treatments with me and I continually adapt treatments to suit them. My work incorporates a wide range of massage modalities including aromatherapy, sports massage, deep tissue, pregnancy massage, hands free, hot stones, warm bamboo, lomi lomi, hydrotherm, Thai massage and more.
Although I specialize in massage, I provide a wide range of holistic therapies including reflexology, crystal therapy, reiki, facials, color therapy, sound healing, flower remedies, manual lymphatic drainage, myofascial release, and acupuncture. My skillset is forever evolving.
In addition to 1:1 treatments, I also teach complementary therapies at The Wellbeing Therapy Academy. I enjoy teaching, sharing my skills and experience with other therapists, watching them learn and expand their knowledge.
What role do you believe massage therapy plays in supporting clients with long-term health conditions, and can you share a particularly impactful client story?
I believe Massage therapy to be incredibly beneficial for managing long-term health conditions. In my experience, clients with conditions such as fibromyalgia—which is quite common—see significant improvements. I personally have had fibromyalgia for about ten years, so I understand the challenges it brings.
Fibromyalgia causes persistent pain, along with other symptoms. It does affect everyone differently. Sometimes, it feels like all the nerve endings in your body are screaming. I find it takes one to two hours each morning to feel ready to start my day. But, the more I move, the better I feel. Common symptoms include pain, brain fog, and restless legs. I’ve found that many clients who come to me with fibromyalgia show dramatic improvements when they receive regular massage therapy. Their pain levels reduce, their mobility increases, nerve pain eases, and even brain fog improves. It’s amazing to see them go from barely making it through the door to practically flying out of it. Massage truly changes their lives for the better, and every client leaves with a smile. I absolutely love what I do, and seeing my clients’ progress is incredibly rewarding.
I am very fortunate and extremely thankful to my wonderful clients, who have been very supportive and continue to be. Most of my clients have been with me for years and new clients are usually personal referrals, I am kept very busy.
With so many options available, how do you decide which new therapies or products to introduce to your clients at The Wellbeing Studio & Shop?
That’s a difficult question to answer. There are always new therapies emerging, and over the years, I’ve completed many different training courses. I am a member of several professional therapist organizations and they provide regular updates on industry news, regulations and new treatments or ways of working. I also subscribe to a range of therapist support groups which are great for finding out what’s going on in the wider world. Sometimes, I’ll read about a treatment happening in places like Australia that hasn’t made its way to the UK yet. I’ll reach out to friends there—“Have you tried this treatment? Let me know what it’s like!” Social media is great for keeping up with what’s new, both the weird and the wonderful.
I don’t usually travel across the globe to learn a new massage technique, but I’ll follow its development, research similar options, or join an online class. Online learning provides valuable information, though hands-on training is still irreplaceable. Before introducing anything new into my studio, I thoroughly research it, try the treatment myself, and assess the benefits. I have attended many training courses in the last 30 years, not everything has made it into my toolbox. Every course has been interesting in some way and if a technique aligns with my beliefs about natural healthcare and treating the whole person, I’ll test it out myself before offering it to clients.
The same approach applies to products, such as essential oils or skincare. I’ll use and test products first to check the quality and results. I only use professional ranges, never items that can be bought in a local drugstore. My background in research as a buyer still influences me—I check things out thoroughly before offering them.
I avoid gimmicks and focus on selling items that complement my treatments. For example, if I hold a meditation circle, we’ll have crystals, sound healing instruments, incense, or essential oils—all related to the experience. When I host aromatherapy classes, I have essential oils, blending tools, books etc… available in the shop that connects to that.
As The Wellbeing Therapy Academy expands the retail side of the business will transfer online with a few main product lines remaining in the physical store. Unfortunately space is a premium!
