Finding the right massage therapist is one of those things that’s really easy to get wrong. If you search “sports massage near me”, you’ll find that you’re getting a mix of spa-style relaxation treatments, gym-adjacent quick fixes and the occasional genuinely qualified practitioner buried somewhere in the results.
And the truth is working out what is right for you from a website isn’t always that easy. Especially if you need a specific form of treatment or you need a therapist who has qualifications that can help them focus their treatments on exactly what your body needs when it comes to sports-related injuries or the type of massage that is more than just relaxing.
That’s what we’re doing here by taking a closer look at Zac Botham, co-founder and massage therapist at Centred in Hessle.
What Is Centred?
Centred is a wellbeing practice based in Hessle, Hull. The practice is built around an integrated approach to mental and physical health. Alongside massage therapy, the practice offers psychotherapy, counselling and coaching, which you can already see is a different model than the typical standalone massage clinic. This framing points to the approach being on the person rather than just muscle tension in isolation.
Massage and bodywork is specifically led by Zac Botham, who co-founded the practice and holds the relevant credentials to back up the “sports massage” and “deep tissue massage” labels on the website. He holds an ITEC Level 3 qualification in Swedish Massage Therapy and an Active IQ Level 3 qualification in Sports Massage Therapy plus registration with the Federation of Holistic Therapists. He is also a member of the Sports Massage Association.
What Makes Zac’s Approach Different?
A lot of massage therapist bios read as if they’ve come from the same copy-and-paste template — they’re qualified, experienced and passionate about helping clients. And while this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, sometimes you need to know a little bit more.
Zac is specific about his background. Before training in massage and bodywork, he spent years in high-level corporate roles, which gave him direct personal insight into how stress and occupational strain physically show up in the body rather than just theoretical knowledge of it. His practice integrates massage-assisted stretching and targeted soft tissue techniques. And he specifically works across sports massage, deep tissue massage,e Swedish massage and assisted stretching rather than just offering one technique regardless of what a client actually needs.
What Does a Session Actually Look Like?
This is where things can go really wrong: you turn up, you get put on the table, and the therapist works from a fairly generic routine. Centred’s approach is more deliberate.
Your first appointment opens with a short relaxed consultation covering your physical tension, daily routines and any specific aches or injuries. This is then followed by a posture assessment and a range-of-movement assessment before the massage itself begins.
Sessions are described as trauma-informed and person-centred, and the practice is explicit that it does not push clients into ongoing treatment plans or long term commitments. After your first session, you get honest advice on how (or whether) to move forward, and you can then book again at your own pace rather than being locked into a schedule.
More Than Just a Massage
Because Centred operates as an integrated wellbeing practice rather than a standalone massage clinic, Zac’s work sits alongside psychotherapy, counselling, and coaching offered by the wider practice. That’s not something every client will want or need, but it’s worth knowing about if you’re the kind of person who would rather deal with a physical symptom and its underlying cause (stress, work pressure, posture from a desk job) in the same place instead of being referred elsewhere entirely.
Zac’s own corporate background feeds directly into this. His bio specifically frames his practice around how stress, posture, injury and daily life affect the body, not just sports recovery in isolation.
What Do Clients Say?
Client feedback consistently points to the same two things. The results and feeling genuinely heard. One reviewer described booking a sports massage after training for a half marathon, having tight calves sorted out along with recovery advice and has been back monthly since. Another who sits at a desk all day said that pain had persisted for years and started to shift after a few sessions, describing Zac as someone who actually listened and was thorough in his treatment. A third reviewer who holds tension in their shoulders said Zac’s approach was beyond the massage itself, helping her understand why her body reacts the way it does.
What’s the Catch?
It wouldn’t be a balanced and honest review if we didn’t look at the downsides, and like with anything, this service is a good fit for everyone.
- Limited availability. Zac’s clinical hours are Friday afternoons, Saturdays and Sunday mornings only. There are no weekday slots. If you need flexibility around a 9-5, this might not be for you.
- Single practitioner. Zac delivers all massage and bodywork at Centred personally, and there’s no option to book with a different therapist if his schedule doesn’t work for you, unlike a larger multi-therapist clinic.
- Location specific. Centred operates from a single site in Hessle, so this isn’t an option if you’re not local to the East Yorkshire area or you aren’t willing to travel.
Final Verdict
On paper, Zac ticks the boxes that actually matter for a massage therapist: he has recognised professional body qualifications and registration and a consultation-led approach rather than a one-size-fits-all routine. The trauma-informed, no-pressure framing is a genuine point of difference from clinics that push ongoing treatment and the client feedback backs up the idea that people leave feeling properly listened to and not just worked on.
The main limitation here is practical rather than clinical. It’s the restricted hours and a single practitioner, but for anyone in or around Hessle looking for a therapist who treats the whole picture, not just the muscle in front of them, it’s well worth booking a first session to see for yourself.