The lunchtime de-stress

IF your stress levels are about to hit the roof and your head is about to explode, it could be time to make way for a Mini Stress Buster.

Jan Raine, a beauty and holistic practitioner from Darlington, has launched Mini Stress Busters or “lunchtime retreats” to help stressrelated problems in the workplace.

Jan is offering staff a range of treatments at their desks including Indian head massage and aromatherapy.

They take 15 to 20 minutes each and can be timed to fit in with a lunch break.

“Companies lose millions of pounds every year due to sick days from stress and work-related problems and a lot of employers are now looking at facilities to help staff who suffer from back, shoulder pain and headaches,” says Jan.

Jan has launched the service as an addition to her existing business, B Beautiful, which specialises in healing and holistic therapies such as reflexology, reiki and hot stone massage.

“I get a lot of people with repetitive stress syndrome in their arm, elbow or wrist,” she says. “When a person is doing something repetitively, like sitting at a desk using a mouse, generally the position of their arm and hand isn’t at the right level and their posture, neck and shoulders are affected.

“It’s not just office workers – a lot of reps suffer neck and back problems because they do a lot of driving,”

she adds. “The build-up of tension can become painful and they get eye strain and deferred headaches.”

The Mini Stress Busters start at £15 and can help anything from tension in the neck and shoulders and eye strain to ankle or lower leg aches and hand, wrist and finger discomfort.

Jan has been a qualified practitioner for nearly 18 years and has seen all sorts of problems. One of her current clients, a landscape gardener, has tingling and numbness in her arm and fingers as result of repetitive strain from digging. “I am working with her on a series of treatments, including reflexology, which can really help,” says Jan.

A woman who uses a computer all day has neck problems which have now began to affect the facial nerves on one side of her face. Jan is also helping her with reflexology.

“Posture is something we don’t think about very much,” says Jan. “If someone recognises they are in pain or discomfort, my advice is not to ignore it because the longer it’s left, the more acute the problem becomes.”

■ For further information about B Beautiful or Mini Stress Busters, contact Jan on 07812-913460.

Rockers help young cancer victims

MEMORABILIA from rock music stars is going on sale in the North-East to benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Items from Metallica, The Who, and other acts will be sold from today.

Local musician and memorabilia expert David Brewis, formerly of the Kane Gang, and currently a partner in rockstarsguitars.com, has a tambourine used on stage by The Who’s Roger Daltrey, Metallica have sent a package of personalised goodies and Bad Company have donated a signed poster.

All the items can be seen and bought at Newcastle’s Guitar Shop, 27 Grainger Street (0191-261-1568).

David hopes the sale will raise more than £1,000 towards a new Teenage Cancer Trust unit at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle.

Teenage Cancer Trust builds units in NHS hospitals which improve the quality of life and chances of survival for young people with cancer.

■ teenagecancertrust.org

Gallery springs into life

AQUARTET of artists have transformed a former music shop into an art gallery.

Four printmakers based at Northern Print, in Newcastle’s artistic hub of Ouseburn, are holding an exhibition in the former Roots music shop in the heart of Newcastle, at 67b Westgate Road. The exhibition, called Sprung, opens for a month from today.

Deborah Snell, one of the driving forces behind the project, said: “The recession has forced a lot of local retail premises to close. We thought it would be a great idea to bring one of them back to life and use it to showcase our art.”

The initiative has received backing from Newcastle City Council as part of an initiative to speed up regeneration and from Arts Council England.

Celebrating with Elan

NORTH-EAST fashion boutique Elan is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Customers were treated to a fashion show, champagne, cup cakes and discounts at the shop, in Grange Road, Darlington, yesterday.

Owner Linda Woods said: “To arrive at 25 years is quite an achievement as an independent.

It’s down to the loyalty of our customers and good customer care.”

Elan stocks a selection of top designers, from D&G and Theory to Anya Hindmarch.

Since taking over six years ago, Linda has also increased the range of accessories such as watches, shoes and sunglasses. “It’s gone from strength to strength,” she said.

“Most of our customers range from 30 upwards, but we can find something for everybody – every shape and every height.”

■ Elan, Grange Road, Darlington, DL1 5NH. Tel: 01325-281816.

Cashmere and casuals

BRORA is o p e n i n g the doors of its new Harrogate store today, the brand’s tenth shop.

The Scottish firm started off selling cashmere but has now expanded to include a full range of clothing for men, women and children.

It promises quality, not “fast fashion” and almost everything is made in Britain.

A website complements the mail order side of the business and overall turnover is now in excess of £13m a year.

■ Brora, 2 Prospect Crescent, Harrogate HG1 1RH.

Tel: 01423-538282; brora.co.uk