About Me

A love of holistic therapies led Ellen to establish Halcyon

Therapies in 2016. Discover her journey below.

Meet Ellen

A Dorset girl at heart, I moved to Cornwall in 2002 to sail on three tall ships in Charlestown, St Austell. While I loved being out at sea under sail, I truly fell in love with Cornwall, so much so that I never returned home!

My journey into holistic therapy began in 2007 when I enrolled in a one-year ITEC Level 3 Diploma course in Holistic Massage at the adult education center in Helston. I absolutely loved the course! It was the first time in my life that learning felt easy, and as someone with dyslexia, this was a profoundly significant moment. Massage unlocked something within me that I had never experienced before—a passion, a desire, and a knowing that this was my true calling. In 2008, I studied for an ITEC Level 3 Diploma in Reflexology, also a one-year course, and once again, I felt I was on the right path. I found a deep sense of fulfilment in this caring and nurturing role.

I then stepped into a bit of a hiatus in 2009 after the birth of my 3rd baby! A beautifully chaotic time where my attention was lovingly directed to my littles ones. During that time I retrained and began working in my daughter's preschool (the absolutely fantastic Zelda School in Gweek) here I put my caring and nurturing skills to work - but this time looking after 2year olds! This incredible job gave me love, friendships and support, and also the flexibility I needed with my growing family. I will forever sing the praises of this beautiful school for it looked after my little girl - and then me!

In 2017, I felt called to return to massage therapy. I established Halcyon Therapies and began offering massages to friends and family, which eventually expanded to friends of friends and people referred to me. Over time, the business has continued to grow, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way

My Work

I have continued my studies, passed additional exams, and earned more qualifications in Indian head, hot stone, and pregnancy massage, as well as ear candles, and reiki.

I truly love creating a space where people can come, relax, and just rest, especially through the healing power of massage. There’s something so special about being able to care for them, to offer that moment of peace and release. It feels like a little pause from the busy world, allowing them to just be, and for me to hold that space of calm and comfort through touch.

I am continually in awe of the profound impact that a massage can have on a person’s overall well being. To me, it's so much more than a massage, it's a way to bring your senses back, to soften your nervous system, and to allow your body to stop.

Book Appointment

Halcyon

[Hal-Sea-On]

A mythical bird said by ancient writers to breed in a nest floating at sea at the winter solstice, charming the wind and waves into calm.

The dictionary defines Halcyon as a period in time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful, it’s these two qualities that drew to this word and I felt that it beautifully sums up that feeling of having a massage. I later learned that it also associated with Greek Mythology and the Kingfisher.

In Greek mythology, Alkyone, daughter of the wind god, drowned herself after her husband Ceyx’s death at sea. Moved by their love, the gods turned them into halcyon birds (kingfishers), which nested on the sea. Alkyone’s father calmed the waters until their eggs hatched. The word halcyon, first used in English in the 14th century to mean the mythical bird (later kingfishers), evolved by the 16th century to describe peaceful, idyllic times.

I love that the word Halcyon is also connect to the water - weaving my love of the sea in to my business name.