Combination Therapy at Sean Elder Therapies: The ultimate reset for body & mind.
At Sean Elder Therapies in Guardbridge, just outside St Andrews, I offer a service unlike anything else in Fife: Combination Therapy. It is my flagship treatment, and for good reason. This 120- or 150-minute session draws on the full breadth of my training and experience in clinical massage, movement as therapy, stretching, breath work, and nervous system care—to provide a space where body and mind can recalibrate.
Why Combination Therapy?
Most people arrive with more than one issue. A tight hip often comes with lower back tension. Neck strain rarely exists without shoulder restriction. Stress lives in the breath as much as in the muscles. Standard treatments can help, but they can sometimes address symptoms in isolation. Sean Elder Combination Therapy recognises the body as an interconnected system whole.
Stretching, movement, massage, and breath are not separate approaches. Together, they amplify one another. Research shows that massage before stretching can increase range of motion and reduce muscle stiffness by improving blood flow and tissue pliability . Stretching after massage helps consolidate those gains, supporting longer-term flexibility and mobility . Breath work layered into both helps regulate the autonomic nervous system, shifting the body out of stress and into recovery mode.
Many people opt to do movement first, then have a massage afterwards as a “reward” for their efforts in the yoga studio! The session is yours, and I can guide and advise, but ultimately it is up to the individual to decide how their session goes with the input and knowledge from me as a guide.
The science of Stretching & Massage
Stretching isn’t just about muscles feeling looser. Studies have shown it can enhance circulation, support joint health, and even influence mood through endorphin release. The breathwork associated with the passive stretching style I teach promotes the rest and digest mode of the nervous system and creates an optimal healing environment. Massage has its own evidence base: reducing delayed-onset muscle soreness, lowering cortisol levels, and increasing parasympathetic nervous system activity; ever heard your tummy rumble during a massage?
When combined, these therapies create a loop: massage prepares the tissues, stretching integrates the movement, and breath anchors the nervous system response. It is a whole-person approach designed not just for short-term relief, but for lasting change.
What to expect in your session
No two combination therapy sessions will look the same. Just like a yoga class at Sean Elder Therapies, or a massage the combination therapy session will look different each time because your body will likely be different each visit. This is not a routine-it is tailored to your needs on the day. Together we will decide with guidance from me throughout.
As a rough guide the session might look like this:
Initial check in: We talk through current issues, any injuries, goals and any events you are preparing for if applicable.
Movement/Stretching: Targeted work tailored to you and your body utilising the full studio space and equipment
Massage Therapy: This can be before or after your movement therapy session, or in between, perhaps we do some movement, then some massage and more movement, or a massage first, some movement followed by more massage.
Breath & nervous system reset: Breathing strategies to support the rest and recovery mode, grounding and balance restoration at the heart of the session.
Integration: plans and homework form part of your care, and we will have time to discuss your ideas and needs.
Why this service is unique
In over 20 years working in nursing, clinical massage, trauma-informed practice, and movement teaching, I’ve never seen another therapist offer a service quite like this in Scotland. Combination Therapy is the culmination of that experience, and it reflects my belief that true care requires integration, not fragmentation. I come into my sessions with the non-judgemental approach that I take pride in, and ensure your needs are listened to and the sessions are adapted to your individual needs.
Clients who book Combination Therapy describe it as resetting, balancing, and freeing. It has become the service many of my long-standing clients trust most when they feel “stuck” physically, mentally, or emotionally.
How to book your Combination Therapy session
Combination Therapy is available exclusively with me at Sean Elder Therapies in the Guardbridge studio, just 5 miles from St Andrews, within easy reach of Cupar, and North East Fife. Sessions are 120 or 150 minutes, booked directly through the booking portal. If you’re ready for the most comprehensive, tailored treatment I offer, one that meets you exactly where you are and works across body and mind, the Combination Therapy session is where to begin.
References:
Arabaci, R. (2008). Acute effects of pre-event lower-limb massage on explosive and high-speed motor capacities and flexibility. *Journal of Sports Science & Medicine*, 7(4), 549–555.
Smith, C. A. (1994). The warm-up procedure: To stretch or not to stretch. *The Physician and Sportsmedicine*, 22(8), 109–117.
Zaccaro, A. et al. (2018). How breath-control can change your life: A systematic review on psycho-physiological correlates of slow breathing. *Frontiers in Human Neuroscience*, 12, 353.
Behm, D. G., & Chaouachi, A. (2011). A review of the acute effects of static and dynamic stretching on performance. *European Journal of Applied Physiology*, 111(11), 2633–2651.
Moraska, A. (2007). Sports massage: A comprehensive review. *Journal of Sports Medicine*, 37(6), 533–563.
