Inside the new massage studio in Bradford on Avon town centre

Mother-of-two, Lindsay Furness, has finally realised her long-held ambition of setting up her own permanent base, simply named Bradford on Avon Massage, and has high hopes for the future.

“This has been the dream right from when my son was born – and he is nine now,” Lindsay, 42, explained.

In fact, it was rearing her own children that set her on this path.

She said: “I specialised in pregnancy massage. I retrained when my son was a baby, so I really connected with that. 

“I really sympathised with what women go through and it’s special to be able to play a small part in it.”

Inside Bradford on Avon Massage

At 33 weeks pregnant myself – and feeling every one of them – Lindsay’s empathy shone through and when I was invited to try a massage for myself, it was too tempting to refuse.

Walking off Market Street straight into the single room with a simple screen separating the treatment space from the consultation area – the studio is certainly cosy.

But with the blinds drawn and the door locked behind you in the appointment-only operation, it soon feels perfectly private and the faint road noise much less disruptive than expected. And it is set up rather elegantly, with the studio clearly freshly renovated.

After a good chat to talk through my needs over an unexpectedly delicious locally-grown herbal tea, we began the hour-long treatment – all of which are charged at £60.

The lovely Lindsay Furness who will put you perfectly at ease

Despite wearing rather less clothing than I would normally desire when meeting someone in a semi-professional capacity, it is easy to feel entirely at ease with Lindsay.

The treatment itself was fantastic. I felt properly comfortable for the first time in a long time, with her perfectly-placed pillows. And there was no wussy feather-like tickling that some pregnancy treatments stick to.

She really got in there with the level of force I desired – all while feeling perfectly safe in capable hands. Because let’s face it – you never need a ‘proper’ massage for your aches and pains more than when you are pregnant.

Whenever I opened my eyes from my semi-conscious blissed-out deep relaxation, I was met with gorgeous seascapes which, like pleasantly scented oils, are a massage studio staple.

The artwork from local artists is available to buy

But as with everything in Lindsay’s business, these paintings are carefully considered to also be supporting local artists. The paintings are available to buy commission-free if a customer wants to take some of the zen home with them.

Lindsay is passionate about supporting other local businesses and especially empowering women. She employs a couple of single mothers to cover shifts for her, understanding how important it is for them to be able to choose hours that fit around their families – as she herself needs to do.

“The main thing is not to have to compromise being a mum – to be able to do something I love while having a good work-life balance,” she said.

I left the studio not only feeling in a glorious haze of physical relaxation – but emotionally ‘seen’, supported and part of a valuable community venture.

I can only sincerely hope to see Lindsay thrive. And with the increased awareness of self-care post-pandemic, I think she has every reason to - especially in a community as supportive as Bradford on Avon.

Find out more at bradfordonavonmassage.co.uk