massage therapist | photographer

Posts Tagged ‘wa’

Newsletter – Week of June 24, 2018

In Business, CT, Manchester, Marketing, Massage, Newsletter, self care, Specials, studio on main, Uncategorized on June 22, 2018 at 4:39 PM

My next newsletter comes out tomorrow  morning – and in it is a crazy good massage special for the month of July.  If you want to sign up to receive future newsletters so that you’ll always know when a special is coming – send me a quick email to tania@taniapalermo.com – and let me know.  All I need is your first name and a valid email address.

While you’re deciding … check out some of next week’s newsletter below:

Port Townsend WA for June 24 newsletter

 

Why I picked PTSM for my initial training in massage .  .  .

I lived in the PNW for many years – specifically Bellingham, WA [or B-ham as some locals referred to it]. When I got the itch to consider massage therapy as a career I made phone calls to lots of local schools. The first thing that drew me to PTSM [Port Townsend School of Massage] was that the woman who answered the phone was from New York!
Seriously.
I’d been missing the East Coast and I loved that she had an accent I was familiar with … and that she was a little – I don’t know the right words for it – maybe forward and loud. All the people I was surrounded by in B-ham were so laid back and nice I sometimes didn’t know what to do with myself.
That was not the deciding factor, of course – but it felt like serendipity and got me to drive out to the school for an interview.
Fun fact about my time there. Each weekend we had class I had to drive down the coast a few hours to get to Whidbey Island to then get on a ferry that took me over to the Victorian Seaport of Port Townsend. One of my favorite parts of the trip was crossing Deception Pass. I wasn’t a photographer then … but stopped as often as I could to take pictures and walk around a little bit.
deceptions pass for june 24 newsletter
If we had time before class started after getting off the ferry, my friend Charity and I would rush to the Tyler Street Coffee House to see if there were any scones available. Seriously the best scone I’ve ever had, and they only made them a few times a week, so scoring one was a treat.
The whole thing was an incredibly rewarding and life changing experience and I wouldn’t change it for anything. In fact thinking about it now is making me heart achingly nostalgic.
pineapple june 24 newsletter
Hydration Recipe:
Keeping hydrated is an important part of staying healthy. Water promotes cardiovascular health, keeps your body cool, helps muscles and joints work better and keeps skin supple. Here is this week’s hydration recipe:
Mango Pineapple Water
Ingredients:
1 medium sized mango, thinly sliced
1 cup pineapple, chopped
Water
Instructions:
Peel and slice one mango. Add 1 cup of finely chopped pineapple and water. Refrigerate 4-6 hours before drinking to allow flavors to infuse.
Bonus Tip:
Possible benefits of eating mango & pineapple:
Mango – may help to – promote clear skin; improve eye health; alkalize the body; & improve digestion.
Pineapple – may help to – aid immune system; support eye health; improve gut health [anti-inflammatory properties]; & strengthen gums.

texting image for june 24 newsletter

DIY Hand & Forearm Massage:

Too much texting?
Don’t worry.
Try this hand / forearm massage to help relax your muscles.
  • Relax one arm, palm up, on top of your thigh.
  • Push the heel of your other palm slowly along the forearm in the direction of your wrist.
  • Use enough pressure to feel some heat, but not to give yourself a brush burn.
  • Do the same thing across your open palm all the way down toward your fingertips, and again over the mound of your thumb.
  • Repeat a few times, and switch hands.

 

 

I’d love to send you tips too. If you want to sign up for the next newsletter leave your email in the comments below – or send me a quick message at: tania@taniapalermo.com

14 things I’ve learned since leaving massage school : #5

In CT, Indulge, Manchester, Massage, self care, Uncategorized on March 22, 2016 at 5:44 PM

(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.)

#5  It’s an honor to work with you.

Back when I started my first practice in CT, over 12 years ago now, I had a client come to me to receive massage while she went through her treatment for cancer. I felt unqualified and a little bit nervous to lay my hands on this beautiful soul. At the time I was still fairly fresh out of school and I hadn’t done any long term work with anyone battling that disease. For various reasons, at that time there was still some lingering debate going on about whether or not it was even OK to do certain types of bodywork while a patient was receiving treatment.  [The landscape has changed a lot since then.]

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Needless to say we proceeded mindfully and with approval from her doctor. We were intentional about communication, not doing work that was too deep for her to be able to process, etc.  As the months went by we were doing less physical bodywork and more laying on of hands and energy work because that was all she could handle. My client was losing her battle with cancer and continued to come see me week after week because she needed a safe place to be. She needed to be witnessed. She needed a place to fall apart before she went back to her husband and children at home.  The simple, but powerful art of therapeutic touch gave her comfort and helped fill her spirit just enough to get through a few more hours.

I was heartbroken when I heard she lost her battle with cancer. All these years later I am still awed that she choose me and trusted me to share those sacred moments with her. I consider myself lucky to have spent that time with her and I still feel that way today any time a new client chooses to trust me with their well-being for an hour or so. It is an honor to work with you. ♥

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