Summer’s coming. This is the time of year to rest and rejuvenate. If you can’t escape for a week, how about an hour? I’ve heard that a one hour massage can be the equivalent rest of one full night of sleep! Could you use a little down time?
When you book and receive your next regularly priced one hour therapeutic massage in June 2017, you’ll receive a coupon for $30 off of your massage in July 2017.
Purchase the GIFT of MASSAGE for someone right now. Click HERE.
Is our current political environment STRESSING YOU OUT? Me too! No matter where you stand on the issues … you deserve / NEED a little time to decompress. Book your next 30 minute Therapeutic Massage between today and November 9, 2016 to receive $15 OFF … and a clear head.
It’s simple to book online now. Just click the link, choose 30 minute Therapeutic Massage and select your preferred day and time. Discount will be applied at the time of your session. Book now on MassageBook!
In addition, drop in on election day, Tuesday, November 8, 2016 between the hours of 10 AM – 8 PM for a relaxing, rejuvenating chair massage for only $10.00. [normally $12.00] No appointment necessary. See you then!
“Self care is not selfish or self-indulgent. We cannot nurture others from a dry well. We need to take care of our own needs first, then we can give from our surplus, our abundance.” ~Jennifer Loudon~
Finding time to fill your well just got super easy! Just click on the “booknow on MassageBook” button to book your next appointment. Then take a big sigh of relief as you anticipate the peace and relaxation that awaits you.
Looking for the perfect present for a loved one who needs a mini vacation? Gift certificates can now be purchased online too. What could be more simple?
#14 A good majority of people still think taking care of themselves is an indulgence.
It’s true. With all the busyness of life, feeling 10 steps behind yourself in the day, taking the time for a health break can often feel like a poor use of time. When some days the time to brush your teeth or your hair feels like a negotiation, how can you justify an hour for a massage? Or even a 10 minute meditation break?
With the cumulative effects of stress on the body, how can you not? Not managing the pressures of your life can decrease your health both mentally & physically. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, been moody, had a hard time quieting your mind, felt depressed or are finding yourself isolating from others – you may be experiencing some symptoms of unmanaged stress. I was astonished to learn in massage school that upwards of 75% of all doctor’s visits are stress related. If you are sleeping less, have headaches, muscle aches, high blood pressure, etc. as a result of something that you have the power to reverse naturally, why wouldn’t you?
A few of the many ways massage can support your health and well-being? It gives you a mental break and helps you remember how to let go. It is calming to the nervous system, increases the flexibility of joints, eases muscle aches and can help you sleep better. It can increase circulation and help boost the immune system and decrease the stress hormone cortisol. It can also increase serotonin leaving you feeling lighter and more at peace. All of this without taking any medications and with the added bonus that it just plain feels good.
Being “selfish” is actually one of the most selfless things you can do. By taking care of you – body, mind and soul – you’ll have more to offer your loved ones now and in the future.
(March 15th marked 14 years since my first day of massage school out in Port Townsend, WA. I spent a little time reflecting on what I’ve learned from having my hands on countless bodies of all different shapes, sizes, and levels of health over the years. In random order here are some of my observations and things I wish my clients knew.)
#13 Our bodies are designed to move.
We have the opportunity to live mainly sedentary lifestyles now a days. Sitting in front of computers all day at work, then phones, laptops and TV’s at night means we never have to physically engage or challenge our bodies. We weren’t meant to be inactive.
Here are a few benefits of moving more, taken from the ACE Fitness website: lower blood pressure; better control of body fat; improved immune function; increased muscle strength; increased flexibility; improved mental functioning; higher quality of sleep. Some of the consequences of inactivity? Loss of bone density; stiff joints; weak muscles; weakening of heart & lungs; degeneration of the cellular energy systems.
I see lots of “holding patterns” in my practice. Limited range of motion in joints because they are rarely moved or stretched. Shoulders curved forward and curvature in the cervical spine from endless hours of sitting all day. Our fascia, especially if we are dehydrated, will tighten and sort of hold us into place if we are always in familiar movement patterns.
Self-care is vital. While you are making strides to take better care of you and increase your daily movement – take time now for bite sized changes. Once an hour stand up at your desk and stretch in any way opposite of what you do all day. If your hands are palm down typing, put them palm up, and gently stretch your fingers towards your elbow with your opposite hand. Shoulders always hunched forward? Clasp your hands behind your back to open up the chest and round the shoulders back. Walk to get a drink of water. Just little one minute “snacks of self-care” can really add up.
(March 15th marked 14 years since my first day of massage school out in Port Townsend, WA. I spent a little time reflecting on what I’ve learned from having my hands on countless bodies of all different shapes, sizes, and levels of health over the years. In random order here are some of my observations and things I wish my clients knew.)
#12 Massage Music-LESS Mondays
You know the campaign that’s been floating around for years now to get people to add more plant based meals into their diet? Meatless Monday. Well, the studio is closed on Mondays and I’ve taken the pledge to always have “massage music-less Mondays”.
Don’t get me wrong. Massage music is beautiful and soothing and an important tool in helping to create an environment that encourages relaxation. And, every once in a while I hit my limit of hearing ocean waves crashing, or bells ringing and flutes fluting. There was a time period about 4 years into my massage practice when I played anything but massage music for anyone who would let me. We did a lot stuff like Norah Jones and Madeleine Peyroux. Several clients made me ‘mix tapes’ of their favorite music to unwind to and we’d play that during their sessions.
Help us massage therapists get out of our massage music blues and bring in something you’d like to listen to. We’ll appreciate the variety and you may even let go more easily listening to something you can connect with.
(March 15th marked 14 years since my first day of massage school out in Port Townsend, WA. I spent a little time reflecting on what I’ve learned from having my hands on countless bodies of all different shapes, sizes, and levels of health over the years. In random order here are some of my observations and things I wish my clients knew.)
#11 Our bodies are always seeking balance.
Our bodies are equipped to heal themselves. They are always seeking homeostasis. They are amazing!!
The Merriam-Webster definition of homeostasis: a relatively stable state of equilibrium or a tendency toward such a state between the different but interdependent elements or groups of elements of an organism, population, or group
Put more simply via biology4kids.com: All of your body’s systems work together to maintain homeostasis inside of your body. Homeostasis is achieved by making sure the temperature, pH (acidity), and oxygen levels (and many other factors) are set just right for your cells to survive.
We had a fun hydrotherapy teacher in massage school who encouraged us to experiment and test ways to naturally heal ourselves using water and the bodies quest for homeostasis. One of my favorite techniques was using ice cold water to relieve a headache. There are many different types of headaches and this won’t work for everyone – but it’s worked for me when nothing else has brought relief.
When you feel a headache coming on put your hands in ice cold water for as long as you can. While your hands are in the water you can open and close your fists. The cold narrows dilated blood vessels. When you take your hands out of the water your body is going to naturally rush blood to that area to warm it [striving for homeostasis] and therefor relieve some of the pressure in your head. At least that’s my understanding of it. All I know is my body is wise and it can naturally heal itself when I do things to support it.
(March 15th marked 14 years since my first day of massage school out in Port Townsend, WA. I spent a little time reflecting on what I’ve learned from having my hands on countless bodies of all different shapes, sizes, and levels of health over the years. In random order here are some of my observations and things I wish my clients knew.)
#10 Every body has a story …
… and we are all seeking love and acceptance.
Please don’t apologize for anything about yourself.
We’ve all had twists and turns in our lives. We’ve given birth; broken a leg skiing; danced at a wedding. We’ve comforted someone with a hug; ran a marathon; tripped while walking off a curb. We’ve gained weight and lost weight. Dyed our greys and tried to minimize wrinkles. We’ve survived the loss of loved ones.
Our amazing, miraculous bodies have carried us through every step of the journey.
People express a lot of their fears before getting on the table. Reasons they believe they do not deserve a massage. They worry they are too overweight; too tense; too sensitive. They forget to shave their legs and feel embarrassed. They apologize for scars and tension and varicose veins.
We, as massage therapists, are not judging you. We are applauding you for being brave enough to take care of yourself.
One client spent a good 15 minutes before & then during their massage session telling me all the things they believed were unacceptable about their body. They were concerned about being overweight, worried about some holding patterns in their body that they hadn’t been able to release for years, ashamed of some visible scars, uncomfortable with some damage in their feet, etc.
As we continued to do bodywork my intention was to witness them, hoping to create a safe, accepting space for them to be in. They shared some of their story with me. They had suffered and been abused greatly in their childhood. I don’t want to share details even anonymously as it is not my story to tell. What I do want to share is how much immense respect and compassion I felt for this person. I was awed and stunned to hear about what they had gone through and to know them in the present as a kind, big hearted person. They were angry at their body for being ‘deformed’ and in pain. As I heard the stories of what happened I knew their body had done everything it could to protect them and help them survive. They seemed to look at themselves as being all used up and of no value. I saw them as a walking miracle. A person deserving all the kindness, love and compassion the world has to offer.
My hope is that one day they will see how amazing they are. And that they will stop being angry with their body and start lavishing it/themselves with kindness. Every body has a story and they all deserve to be honored.
