2.  Before I was a massage therapist, I was a recreation therapist and assistant group therapist in an in-patient rehab center for teen and adult addiction units, and also worked on a crisis intervention hotline.

3.  If you want to make me laugh uncontrollably, you must be my best friend or my husband.

4.  I knew this was the job for me when I studied Kripalu massage, yoga and meditation for a live-in month long training prior to starting massage school.  I adored the attention to care, stillness and self trust that it required of me in order to tune into another person’s needs.  I loved how the work made me more aware and compassionate.  I liked that these were generally ingredients other seasoned professionals seemed to hold in esteem, effectively connecting me to my colleagues on an intimate level as we all strive towards awareness and health.  I knew I wanted to work with children when I saw the profound effects it has on the family unit when a child came into balance.

5.  If I could convince all my clients to do one thing, it would be trust yourself, listen to your body, be a friend to what is happening.   

To make an appointment with Nishanka, please call The Teal Center’s Randolph Towers location:  703-522-7637.  Visit our web page for more information about appointments and to learn more about the modalities in which Nishanka specializes:  Myofascial Release, Craniosacral, Somato Emotional Release, Infant and Pediatric Craniosacral Therapy, Post Natal, Swedish & Deep Tissue.

Hot stone massage @ Thespaatkonabeachhotel.com

Hot Stone Massage <—Click Here to Book Now!

Hot Stone massage at Thespaatkonabeachhotel.com is a therapy where their trained therapist use smooth, heated stones, either as an extension of their own hands, or by placing them on the body while they massage other parts of the body.  This heat relax and warm up tight muscle soothe therapist can work more deeply and effectively.

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Couple massage @ Thespaatkonabeachhotel.com

Couples Massage <—Click Here to Book Now!
Couple massage is best and affordable services at most of the spas. Here two members simultaneously get massage by different therapist. It can be a husband and wife, girlfriend and boyfriend, same-sex partners, or even moms and daughters sometimes or best friends. At Thespatkonabeachhotel.com, they have elaborate amenities for couples with fireplaces, pedicure chairs, steam showers and lounging beds where you can relax together after your treatments.

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Decleor Aroma Massage @ Thespaatkonabeachhotel.com

Decleor Aroma Massage <—Click Here to Book Now!
Treatments based on the power of essential oils to discover in the synergy of these precious ingredients and our expert hands. From the tips of the toes to the tips of the lashes, the specific Declare art of massage provides a genuine sensation of well-being. Freed of tension by these unique and generous treatments, your body undergoes a pure moment of happiness.

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Deep tissue massage @ Thespaatkonabeachhotel.com

Deep Tissue Massage <—Click Here to Book Now!
Deep tissue massage is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is especially helpful for chronically tense and contracted areas such as stiff necks, low back tightness, and sore shoulders. At Thespaatkonabeachhotel.com, their well trained therapist take care for intolerable pain while repairing tissues.

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Oceanfront massage @ Thespaatkonabeachhotel.com

Oceanfront massage  <—Click Here to Book Now!
Oceanfront Massage is the one of specialty for which Thespaatkonabeachhotel.com is famous in all over Kailua-Kona.
Joy of massage in front of sea makes you feel alive.

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Pregnancy Massage @ Thespaatkonabeachhotel.com

Pregnancy Massage <—Click Here to Book Now!
The main purpose of a Pregnancy massage is to create a sense of well being and peace in both the mother and child by improving blood circulation and bringing relaxation to the aches and pains that appear during pregnancy. For the duration of the pregnancy massage at Thespaatkonabeachhotel.com, your body will be positioned on your side and supported appropriately with the help of pillows and cushions to provide protection and comfort for you and your baby.

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Reflexology Foot Massage @ Thespaatkonabeachhotel.com

Reflexology Foot Massage <—Click Here to Book Now!
It is the best massage therapy for those who are suffering from leg problem. Most of the aged people suffer from leg problem. For this Thespaatkonabeachhotel.com has started new special therapy foot massage therapy and for this they had appointed particular doctors.

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Swedish massage @ Thespaatkonabeachhotel.com

Swedish Massage <—Click Here to Book Now!
Swedish massage is best massage for everyone who is new for spa and massage therapy. At Thespaatkonabeachhotel.com while Swedish massage your whole body is lubricate with massage oil and performed various massage strokes meanwhile this, These movements warm up the muscle tissue, releasing tension and gradually breaking up muscle “knots” or adhered tissues, called adhesions.

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Lomilomi Massage @ Thespaatkonabeachhotel.com

Lomilomi massage   <—Click Here to Book Now!
Lomilomi, stands for “masseur, masseuse” in the Hawaiian native language, traditionally called lomi meaning to rub, press, squeeze, massage to work in and out, as the claws of a contented cat”. At Thespaatkonabeachhotle they have trained therapist who massage your body with relaxing stroke.
You can contact them at Oceanfront spa at Kona Beach or book your massage at (808)-329-4772

  Our Valentines spa packages are both luxurious and affordable. During the month of February enjoy our “Moonlight & Roses” package or a “Couples Romantic Massage” package both only $99 each…..

Moonlight & Roses at Renaissance Day Spa (3 1/2 hours) $99

Includes a relaxing 60 min Full Body Massage with soothing scalp massage, foot reflexology, and hot towel back treatment. Followed by a soothing Aromatic Facial and ending with our Moonlight & Roses Manicure and Pedicure.

Moonlight & Roses package just $99…… reg. price $230. Want to spa with a friend? Inquire about making this a couples package for only $200 (per couple)

 Couples Romantic Massage (1 hour) $99

Also going on during the month of February enjoy our relaxing side-by-side 1 hour Signature Full Body Couples Massage in our couples suite.

Couples Romantic Massage package just $99…….reg. price $140 (per couple)

Sale Ends February February 28, 2013 

Call now to schedule your appointment

901-452-1544

Click Here To Purchase Online Gift Certificates

 
http://www.renaissancedayspaofmemphis.net

book your massage or guided meditation appointment with Monica Clarke

07733 976 502

New Mum’s receive a 50% discount on all holistic therapy treatments and group meditation sessions based at Monica’s spa space in Belgravia, Knightsbridge .

for information on ITEC courses at the Monica Clarke Holistic School in Islington please email: MonicaClarke2@Sky.com

Copenhagen, a beautiful city and the heart of Scandinavia (though Stockholm people may not agree about this last claim). With more than 1 million inhabitants, including greater Copenhagen area, the city culture has been famously dynamic and international. Encountering kebab parlors is as easy as entering world-class bakery and gorging Danish smørrebrød. The city is so busy, and as part of Copenhagen working ecosystem, I sometimes miss the beauty of exploring it, mostly due to being tired from work, plus Danish class, plus other after office activities. The company I work at is a Danish one, a review collector of other online companies, and with its extensive network it is very normal that we receive special offers from other business (typically bar, but as a non-heavy drinker, I rarely benefit from it). Until… there was an invigorating message came across my corporate e-mail one day:

I tried one massage at another clinic in Copenhagen before; fantastic…both quality and price, where I ended up with DKK 450 on my bill . So, when I knew this January offer from Tranquille, I rightly signed up for it.

Tranquille is private massage house owned by Catherine, and when I wrote house, it’s really a house of her, a little apartment beautifully located in Østerbro. It’s a registered firm, but Catherine decided to run it organically from her place.

I was greeted with a big Asian smile and welcome treatment from Catherine, a warm service & gratitude Denmark often miss. Coming all the way from The Philippine more than 10 years ago, it is quiet impressed me that she speaks flawless Danish and had been educated in software engineering at IT-University of Copenhagen. She shared about this life-parts while massaging (a typical women’s chit-chat during massage), which made me silently shock…wow her massage skill is really good (she is a trained therapist) and she is a software engineer!

Catherine is very skillful in deep-tissue massage, and a compromised one when her patient is screaming from pain. As someone who has been piling stress from work and personal stuff, my body is easily defending itself by tensing up when an external power tries to let in. I remember from one session (not the one with Catherine), the person who massaged me said that I need to reduce my stress, otherwise my body will start to give in. Years I have not been taking care of my body happiness, and it must be so hard for Catherine to lose in my muscles.

The first day at Tranquille was a challenge for her, where I focused 25 minutes just for my back pain. To me massage is not only about the quality, but also about how comfortable I am with the person who massages me. And Catherine has been personally really good in both. So, I came there again and again for my back and hand, and full-body massage. A happy returning customer.

The ambiance of the room she has is my favorite. Far away from clinical look, she turned her living room as a massage place, with one massage bed, a sofa and small table for conversation. She also lighted up candles in all corners, plus a scented oil burned, creating a relaxing atmosphere across the room. In the end of massage session, she will prepare aromatic tea to stimulate the patient to urinate as parts of post-massage detoxification, especially in the winter (well, we hardly sweat in minus 4 degree Celsius temperature).

She gives a personal care, stretching beyond typical massage clinic I have been in Copenhagen. Don’t be surprise when she gives you an easy-to-do-at-home-exercise with floor-mopping stick or a pair of rubber balls.

Everytime I walk out from Tranquille, I feel more relaxed and can’t wait to get more massage. Something I learn from her tips: I bombarded my apartment room with scented oil and lights it up with candles, including the bathroom.

To book massage, you may click here 
http://tranquille.simplybook.me/index/about
. There is another February promo.

Enjoy the day!

Related articles

• Massage Therapy Relieves Stress (massageenvy.com)
• Benefits of Reflexology Massage (massageenvy.com)

There’s no denying the power of bodywork. Regardless of the adjectives we assign to it (pampering, rejuvenating, therapeutic) or the reasons we seek it out (a luxurious treat, stress relief, pain management), massage therapy can be a powerful ally in your healthcare regimen.

Researchers say the incredible benefits of massage are doubly powerful if taken in regular “doses.” Professionals at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami explain the more massage you get, the greater benefits you reap. Here’s why:

Please click the following link to read the rest of the story
http://www.massagetherapy.com/articles/index.php/article_id/1080/The-Benefits-of-Frequent-Massage

Related articles

• Celebration of Love To Take Place at Hands On HealthCare Massage Therapy and Wellness Day Spa (prweb.com)
• The Tampa Signature Massage Center Announces Couples Massage Awareness Month (prweb.com)
• Men Need More Massages! (theendzonebarberspa.wordpress.com)
• Bodywork (Massage) (casapalmera.com)
• Massage Provides Health Benefits, Natural Back Pain Relief Says Harrisburg Chiropractor (virtual-strategy.com)
• Massage Helps Anxiety (caringtouchspa.com)
• Weight Loss and Bodywork (dawnwelburn.wordpress.com)
• Research Suggests Massage Therapy Is Effective For Health Conditions In People Of All Ages (sys-con.com)

Our Valentines spa packages are both luxurious and affordable. During the month of February enjoy our “Moonlight & Roses” package or a “Couples Romantic Massage” package both only $99 each…..

Moonlight & Roses at Renaissance Day Spa (3 1/2 hours) $99

Includes a relaxing 60 min Full Body Massage with soothing scalp massage, foot reflexology, and hot towel back treatment. Followed by a soothing Aromatic Facial and ending with our Moonlight & Roses Manicure and Pedicure.

  Moonlight & Roses package just $99…… reg. price $230. Want to spa with a friend? Inquire about making this a couples package for only $200 (per couple)

Couples Romantic Massage (1 hour) $99

Also going on during the month of February enjoy our relaxing side-by-side 1 hour Signature Full Body Couples Massage in our couples suite.

Couples Romantic Massage package just $99…….reg. price $140 (per couple)

Sale Ends February February 28, 2013 

Call now to schedule your appointment  

901-452-1544

Click Here To Purchase Online Gift Certificates

http://www.renaissancedayspaofmemphis.net

But the laying-on-of-hands, acupressure and therapeutic touch are ancient healing techniques that preceded the images that the word massage conjures up today. Massage is returning to its roots and finally being recognized, again, as a form of alternative health care. Some insurance companies reimburse for it as part of a recovery treatment after accident or injury. There are many types of massage, but the most common ones include Swedish, Deep-tissue, Sports and Trigger Point.

Descriptions of each type, offered by the Mayo Clinic include:
Swedish-a gentle massage, using long strokes, kneading deep circular movements, vibration and tapping to relax and energize.
Deep-tissue-uses slower, more forceful strokes to focus on the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue and helps with muscle damage from injuries.
Sports-This is more like Swedish but geared toward people involved in sports activities to help with prevention or treatment of related injuries.
Trigger point-focuses on trigger points or areas with tight muscle fibers due to injury or overuse.

Some of the benefits of massage include: Stress relief, managing anxiety and depression, pain relief, release of stiffness, blood pressure control, infant growth, help with sports-related injuries and to increase flexibility for performance, boosting immunity, and for cancer treatment as an adjunct to medical treatment.

The Huffington Post includes massage as beneficial for improving sleep, aiding with symptoms of PMS, raising alertness, curbing headaches; especially those due to muscle tension, draining the lymphatic system which releases toxins from the body and improves circulation, as well as for enhancing beauty. Massage can smooth out stress cracks on the skin and improve the quality of hair through increased circulation. Massage is used for pet therapy and to release muscle tension in infants to aid sleep. It’s important to drink a lot of water following a massage to flush the toxins out of the body.

As always, common sense should be used when seeking a massage therapist. Look for qualified professionals and be especially selective when pregnant or diagnosed with a medical condition. Be aware, too, of allergies to ingredients that may be in the massage oils or creams.

Not only can a massage, itself, be enchanting but the components of the experience can be as well. My dear husband gave me a gift card recently for one of those aforementioned spa-ahh massages at our fitness club. As in most massage rooms, it was dimly lit and relaxing music played through a sound system. The sheets and blanket smelled very pleasant—like Sandalwood incense. Then I was surprised when my massage therapist had me select two oils that she blended to heighten the intentions or release blocks held in specific chakras. She pressed them into the bridge of my nose as I breathed in deeply.

It was a terrific massage, especially when she moved the hot stones around my back. I felt so warm and pampered. The best part was that, not only did it feel good but, it promotes good health as well. If you don’t have time for a full body treatment, maybe have a foot or hand massage or a 15-min chair massage. Maybe ask a friend for a 15-minute neck and shoulder massage and you reciprocate with the same.

Relax and enjoy!

I cannot explain, or even fathom what this challenging season has meant for me, & I mean that optimistically. Yes, it has been both dark & discouraging, I have done more workouts indoors & alone, in the pool, on the Alter-G or bicycle, but I am stronger physically & mentally for it, & have learned leaps & bounds about what it takes to be a good runner.

More than anything, I am convinced of the importance of discipline & diligence in training, especially doing the little things. I have long taken my running for granted, as I was blessed with a healthy body for most of my college career & often neglected following through with the little things, like stretching & massage, rolling out my muscles, proper recovery & hydration. Sometimes you can get away with slacking, but as a serious runner, I have learned how utterly essential these little things are.

During my period of injury, rest & therapy were my utmost concerns. I did cross train quite a bit, but never to the extent that it compromised my ability to recover. In my “go, go, go” mentality, this often proved difficult, but I think I finally have the resting thing down. (:

I have come to love two new tools: “the stick” & the Y-roller. Both work to kink out tight muscles & stimulate deep tissue massage. For part three in my injury series (a relentlessly tight IT band & cramping knee), I found both of these essential for anytime therapy, especially when I could not get to my doctor for therapy. I recommend massaging like a crazy person, as my PT recently told me it is impossible to overdo it! And yes if you were wondering, it is painful.

Stretch & ice: the two big “duhs” for runners. I am guilty of loving yoga & not ashamed to admit it! Moreover, when something hurts, put ice on it. For me, I learned that concentrated “ice massage” works better than spot ice. I have this new tool for ice massaging called Ice Up, though you can easily just freeze water in a dixie cup & rip off the ends for perfect ice massage. This worked wonders for my tibia stress fracture.

Nutrition, Replenishment & Hydration: I know, I know, I am getting more predictable as this list goes on. I have always been a bit of a health nut, but tend to slack on hydration. Obviously, proper fuel & hydration are essential for running optimally, and are just as important following runs & workouts. Consuming a good recovery drink or bar as soon as possible following exercise has helped me maximize recovery & “get the most good” out of my workout. For me, Hammer Nutrition Recoverite & Whey Protein are two excellent choices for post-run recovery; they include essential proteins/ amino acids for muscle tissue rebuilding, & provide vitamins for a strong immune system. They are yummy in smoothies too!

In a nutshell, I have learned the importance of rest! Rest in between runs, refuel & hydrate properly, ease into recovery runs & get on a consistent sleep schedule. When injured, come back slowly & conservatively. As someone who frequently tried to come back too quickly, I had to learn this the hard way! Do all these things with diligence, & you are 1000 times more likely to stay healthy (not an actual statistic! :).

No one ever said you’ll have the most fun of your life as a professional runner, but for me, it is worth it!

Run happy, friends!

Refueling with peanut butter/applesauce toast & recoverite!

When you favor the most popular massage therapist at a spa, it is not always easy to book last minute appointments with said therapist. My work schedule is both crazy and unpredictable. I travel a great deal and often don’t know what my calendar will be like two or three weeks in advance. Recently, I had a totally free day, a true rarity, and I thought, “hey, a massage might be nice”. I called the spa and asked if my usual therapist was available. Not for a month, and when the laughter subsided, I was offered an hour and a half appointment with a therapist who was “capable of performing a deep tissue massage”, the way I like it. Great! I booked a time slot and planned my evening around it.

When I showed up at the spa, I was checked in and sent to the waiting room with my little plastic cup of water. I flipped through a worn magazine while the image of the fire in the fireplace flickered on the television mounted on the wall. In the background was the strange, earthy music. Each time I heard footsteps come down the hall, I looked up, anticipating being greeted by the therapist who could give me a deep tissue massage that in any way compared to the one my usual therapist could provide.

After a few minutes, after a few other therapists came down the hall and summoned other clients, my therapist revealed himself. As I sat in anticipation, I heard footsteps approach, they were both gentle and mighty at the same time. In the hallway, filling nearly the entire frame, was a very, very large man of uncertain racial heritage. Black, Samoan, I;m not sure, not that it matters at all. But for those of us bothered with details and observant to the point of obsession, it is something I usually at least make a note of. With a kind, almost timid voice, that in no way matched his size or the sound of his footfalls, he called my name and introduced himself, Tristan. My first thought was, “Oh my God, I’m going to die.”

I followed him down the hallway to the room I was directed, and obediently disrobed to the degree I was comfortable with, as instructed, climbed onto the table, under the sheet. There I waited.Before long, after an extremely gentle knock on the door, my gentle giant of a therapist entered the room. Based on his voice, his walk, his demeanor, I would guess he was gay, not that that matters at all, again, I just make observations about people so when I write about them later, I can fully describe them, and for no other reason.

For a large man with a womanly voice, he certainly did not mince words. He was very direct, at times almost blunt. He asked, forthrightly, whether I liked to chat during my massage, or not. I really don’t like to chat, but I would never be so rude as to say so. I evaded, but hoped to give him the impression that I’d rather just answer questions as needed, and otherwise, sort of zone out. I have been known to fall asleep, just a little, during a massage. That is the point, I find them both relaxing and therapeutic.

And with that, I found myself flattened out beneath his massive hands. then his forearms. I felt like I was between pavement and a steam roller. Deep tissue massage was an understatement. When he asked if the pressure was too much, I was rendered completely unable to respond, for I could not draw in enough breath to force a sound from my mouth. For the next ninety minutes I underwent the most intense “deep tissue” massage I have ever experienced. I would venture to say this was more of a skeletal massage. Tristan commented a few times, unabashedly, that I was incredibly tense, in almost a critical way. I’m sorry, but if you knew for certain that you were about to be crushed under three hundred plus pounds of pressure would you not tense up just a little? I won’t say it was painful, but it most certainly crossed the barrier of pleasant into something more like torture.

Having my hands massaged is one of the highlights of the treatment. Upon massaging my lower right arm and hand, Tristan again broke the silence and asked, in an almost accusatory manner, if I had any behaviors that required repetitive motion of my right hand. My eyebrows shot up, for this could have the same implication for women as it could for men, if your mind works as mine does, anyway. I thought, quickly, and replied that I do text a lot. That satisfied him, or at least no further inquiry was made. Thankfully.

Having never actually been crushed beneath a freight train, I can only imagine what it would feel like. I’d have to say, what I experienced on the massage table that day had to come close. I have never had an elephant sit on my back while lying on a flat, unforgiving surface, again, I can only imagine, but I’m pretty sure it has to be comparable to what I experienced that day. Nor have I ever been run over by a stampede of wild water buffalo on the Serengeti, but if I had to describe it, it would come very close to what I experienced on that massage table that evening. I swear I felt my spine touch my belly button on more than one occasion! At the conclusion of the session, Tristan recommended I have a Swedish massage next time, as it is firm, but not a “deep tissue” massage. Note to self, if Tristan is the only therapist available, Swedish it will be!

For the next week, I limped around like I’d been hit by a bus. I felt like Wylie Coyote must have felt after all the torturous things the roadrunner put him through on those good, old-fashioned, Saturday morning cartoons; grand piano falling on him, a one ton weight dropped from atop a cliff. That is precisely what I felt like.

No doubt, he got all the knots and kinks and tension out of my shoulders and back, but I was certain I’d lost an entire dimension in the process, now being only two dimensional, rather than three.

Years ago I purchased one online after trying it in a yoga studio.  I went to the studio and did a placement interview thing.  After a questionnaire and a verbal interview, we moved into another room.  They laid out a wooden pillow and I laid down on the yoga mat on top of the hardwood floor. The crescent-shaped wooden pillow was now round-side up under my neck. Imagine a hard bed and hard pillow. This was going to be interesting. The instructor checked the placement and made an adjustment.  I was given a blanket to cover up with too.  My arms were extended out, palms up. Then the yoga instructor began a deep breathing series that was accompanied by gentle, relaxing music.  The pillow instantly identified each and every knot in my neck that it touched.  It also pressed on them as if I was receiving a still, deep tissue massage to my neck.  I felt an incredible stretch across my chest and arms from the arm extension. It was definitely different than anything I have ever tried before.  After quite some time, my fingers and toes were cold.  This was something the instructor said would happen and the reason for the blanket. Twenty minutes or so later, I was told to roll onto my side and slowly get up.  He instructed me to drink lots of water as the pressure released toxins that needed to be flushed.  My neck felt surprisingly incredible.

Well, today I learned that there are ways to massage your neck by turning your head from side to side on this pillow.  I’ve rolled my head back and forth on it before, but never had instructions for it.  I found this information on www.thewellnesscafe.com.  You can also purchase one of these pillows there.  And I should mention, I have been known to fall asleep on this while doing the breathing exercises.

Massage Options

Massage therapy relaxes, soothes and ease muscle aches and pains. It helps rejuvenate the body and restore its balance. Massage centers know that the aches and pains of each individual are different. Hence, professional massage therapists can customize the massage for each person.

Among the different types of massage is Swedish massage. This massage focuses on whole body relaxation. There is deep tissue massage that focuses on loosening tied or knotted muscles. Deep tissue massage is also helpful in relieving muscle tension. There is sports massage for athletes who need muscle relaxation. In addition, there is Reflexology, a massage that applies pressure on specific ‘zones’ in the body. Reflexology is often performed on the feet, hands and ears without the use of any lotion or massage oils.

The Other Benefits of Massage

• Massage therapy helps alleviate lower back pain. At the same time, it can improve the body’s range of motion and joint flexibility.
• Deep tissue massage can help athletes who undergo strenuous workouts. This can help their muscles recover faster.
• Massage helps in enhancing the body’s immunity to health sickness and diseases. It can lessen anxiety and depression.
• For women who suffer from menstrual cramps, massage can lessen the severity and occurrence.
• Reflexology is great for people who are really stressed out. Putting pressure on pressure points will relieve stress.

Adding regular massage to your regular health regimen should make you healthier and happier. Deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, Reflexology and other types of massage can improve your concentration, focus, energy levels and sleep quality. Moreover, it can reduce fatigue, migraine, improve air flow for the asthmatic, lower blood pressure and less joint pain from arthritis.

More Visits, More Benefits

Regular visits to the massage center will do your body good. Regular massage helps improve your body’s blood circulation which can hasten your body’s ability to heal. If you feel rejuvenated and energized, you will feel more motivated to get up every morning and make the best out of your day. Do not let muscle aches and other pains get you down, be happier and stress-free with massage therapy.

Massage Envy Citrus Park
12865 Citrus Plaza Drive MM# 19430, Tampa, FL 33625
(813) 341-1900

http://www.massageenvy.com

I’m not a big believer in making New Year’s resolutions.  But I do believe in creating change for the better throughout life, particularly if the body is crying out for it.

For me right now, this is about drinking more water.

Herein lies the challenge, love.  I’ve never been a good water drinker.  Feeling vaguely thirsty all of the time has become so much a part of my inner landscape that I barely notice anymore.  However, I am beginning to notice the increase in headaches, joint & muscle pain, fatigue, fuzzy thinking, irritability, digestive “challenges” and dry skin.

What do all of these symptoms have in common?  They’re all intrinsically linked with chronic dehydration.

Our body is made up of about 60% of water, so naturally it makes sense to consume enough water to keep the body hydrated, but there are many other powerful reasons to drink enough water each day. It flushes toxins from vital organs, carries nutrients to the body’s cells, in turn giving a boost to energy levels.  It helps regulate body temperature (and hormones), improves skin condition, helps in fighting off infection, hydrates joints and muscle tissue, improves digestion, relieves irritability (and constipation, for that matter)  … the list goes on.

So, how much water is enough?  Studies suggest that at least 8 glasses a day is a good amount, but the truth is that your water needs depend on a number of factors, including your current health, how active you are, where you live and the temperatures you live in.  So while there’s no single, magic formula that fits everyone, learning more about your body and listening to it’s needs will help you determine what is right for you. It’s as much about instinct as it is science.

The thing is to make drinking (enough) water a daily habit.  And while this has always been a challenge for me, I am determined to begin.

They say it takes 3 weeks to form a habit.  With that in mind, welcome to my mini-revolution!

Introducing the 28 Day Water Challenge (I know, it’s a little over 3 weeks, but I’m determined to nail this habit in).

Beginning on the 1st February, I am going to tackle my own water challenge. I think it will change my life. Are you prepared to see if it will change yours too? 8 glasses (or thereabouts) a day.  That’s it. Truly.

Begin with a glass of water on waking to help flush any toxins that have built up through the night then just sip on the rest throughout the day. The trick is to hydrate slowly so the body has time to take the water in and use it. Drink too much, too fast and it will pass straight through your body with little benefit. Drink it slowly and with care and your body will soak the water in and be forever grateful.  A new you!

Expect an increase in urination and possibly some headaches and skin breakouts as the system detoxifies and flushes. But it will even out and you will start to thrive. I promise.

Try it. Join the Red Jasper Facebook community and report back. Tell us how you feel as a result.

I’d love you to join me in my revolution. 28 days.  Health and vitality.  I really believe it’s that simple. I do.

Are you in?

Time: 6:30-8:30amish

Only a few of these workshops left…come out for a jog or walk with our awesome trainers and participants, then get a free massage.

Check out there YouTube video our company created for social media and their website.

Filmed by: Turn It Up Videos

We’re busier than ever with longer workdays, less leisure time, shorter lunch hours, longer commutes, and more demands than ever before. We may even be in a job that doesn’t fulfill us, yet we spend most of our time there. When the day ends, we have almost no energy left to do what we enjoy. We live in a society that gives us ongoing mixed messages: one message has us aggressively achieving success, another collapsing in front of a TV or computer screen for “relaxation,” and another working out to achieve a perfect body. We need to find a balance between hyperactivity and healthy activity.

Plenty has been written about the therapeutic benefits of exercise. So, why aren’t more people reaping those benefits and moving toward health and well-being? We need to reexamine our notion of what exercise and movement are and consider what we’re moving toward or away from. Then we can begin to ask ourselves other questions: Not just are we fit, but are we physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy? Are we happy? Do we enjoy how we’re moving through life? How can we integrate more healing movement into our days?

Exercise as “Medicine”
We sometimes see more barriers than options to exercise. But what if we reoriented our point of view to notice where the opportunities lie? We can begin by simply redefining exercise (with its sometimes negative connotation of obligation) to movement. Already opportunities arise: How do we want to move in our bodies and in our lives? How can we have fun doing that? How can we move more (or maybe less, if we need to slow down)? How does it feel to be still? How can we make time to move into pleasure, to move with pleasure? Already, the notion of movement takes on a more healing expression. Rather than simply being another item on our to do list, it becomes a way for us to examine our lives, to see where we can move toward health, and use physical activity as a way to support this.

“When most people think of medicine, they visualize something material like a pill to be popped, a liquid to be swallowed, or an injection to be endured,” writes Carol Krucoff, author of Healing Moves: How to Cure, Relieve, and Prevent Common Ailments with Exercise (Harmony Books, 2000). “Some might also consider surgery, tests, or procedures … [But] simple physical activity can have profound healing effects.”

Krucoff, who cowrote the book with her husband, Mitchell, a Duke University cardiologist, advocates movement as preventive medicine, saying it’s an ideal way to combat the increasing number of inactivity-related health conditions such as heart disease and obesity. This could actually be expanded to include stress-related conditions. In fact, it’s often this combination of inactivity and increased stress that wreaks havoc on our immune system, endocrine system, and circulatory system. Every system in our body, in fact, responds to stress and inactivity. But, if this is true, then the inverse is also true: every system in our bodies will also respond to movement and pleasure. To make movement pleasurable and to use it as a way to reconnect with our bodies is, in many ways, the perfect antidote to the cycle of inactivity/hyperactivity and stress. As we move more in this way, we gain energy and health, we feel rejuvenated and relaxed, and we become more physically and emotionally aware.

Emotional and Spiritual Fitness
We often focus on physical fitness, but any movement toward health must also include emotional and spiritual fitness. Psychologist Nancy Mramor, PhD, author of Spiritual Fitness (Llewellyn Publications, 2004), ties emotional fitness with our physical health and with our heart’s expression. “There is evidence that the largest number of heart attacks occurs on Monday morning between 8 and 9 a.m.,” she says. “This occurrence is related to the experience called joyless striving. It applies to feelings of having to force yourself to go to a job that you have no interest in, or even truly dislike. Clearly these feelings suggest a lack of emotional fitness in the match between the employee and the job.”

The heart of the person pumps much more than blood; it also pumps our passion. It lets us know what we love doing and who we love doing it with; it circulates our compassion and reminds us of our commitment to life. When we’re emotionally connected to the work we do in a healthy way, and to one another in a supportive way, we not only survive, but we can also thrive because we have more energy available to become who we’re meant to be. Physical, emotional, and spiritual fitness are all intimately related. In understanding this interrelationship, we can begin to move toward health.

Personal and Interpersonal Health
Interpersonal relationships, in fact, are one of the three major causes of life stress, along with environmental events/conditions and personal attitudes and beliefs. In his book, Love & Survival (Harper Collins, 1998), renowned physician Dean Ornish, who first proved that heart disease was reversible through lifestyle changes, says that in order to survive, we need not only care for our lives, but the lives of others. Individuals with supportive relationships get sick less, heal faster, and live longer.

Our health and well-being are not about being hyper-active or inactive. They’re about finding a balance, making our actions conscious, and learning to move in ways that are both healthy and appropriate in own lives, then moving this healing energy out toward others. So, rather than exhausting or limiting our energy, we learn to expand it. Then we can begin exercising in a whole new way–exercising our right to choose and to better understand our body, our life, and what we want to be doing with it.

Begin by checking in with yourself as you’re moving through your day: How does your body feel right now? How are you breathing? Where is this movement taking you? Do you feel good? Are you satisfied? Are you happy? If not, then change something. Change how you’re moving, where you’re moving toward, or look at what you’re moving away from.

“Become the change you seek in the world,” Mahatma Ghandi said. This isn’t about a temporary quick fix to end a bad habit, lose some weight, or fill our time. This is about long-term change–making more conscious use of our time and of our life. It’s about moving though life in healthy and healing ways, and expanding our idea of who we can be. Then our view of the world widens, our heart grows, our spirit soars, and our body moves toward true change. This is the healing power of movement.

By Sonia Osorio a certified massage therapist, yoga teacher, and healthcare writer who offers workshops in mindfulness practices and bodywork. Her work is a continual reminder of the body’s capacity to creatively move through life with pleasure and joy. She can be reached at sonia@zensations.ca

Originally published in Body Sense magazine, Autumn/Winter 2006. Copyright 2006. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights reserved.

MASSAGE MEDICINE™ is a trademark of the Hands of Faith Holistic Healing Centers

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If you suffer from lower back pain, this study will be extremely valuable to you. According to a study posted in the Annals of Internal Medicine, massage therapy is proving to be a very effective treatment for patients suffering from lower back pain.

Medication and physical therapy are the recommended treatments that doctors typically prescribe for lower back pain. Researchers wanted to know if lower back pain could be treated with a different type of therapy—massage therapy. A group of researchers supervised by epidemiologist Daniel Cherkin started their study by selecting 401 randomized participants that suffered from lower back pain, which was caused by no identifiable event or situation.

The lower back pain study separated the participants into three categories. One group received deep tissue massage that is ideal for targeting tissues, muscles, and joints that are related to the source of pain. Another group received a full-body Swedish massage, which combines long stroking techniques to promote relaxation and the final group went through the typical treatments of medication and physical therapy.

In just 10 weeks, the results were very clear. Almost two-thirds of participants receiving massage therapy as treatment noticed a significant improvement in their back and some cheered that their back pain was completely gone. Only one-third of the group receiving usual treatment for lower back pain had significant relief.

The benefits of massage on lower back pain can last up to six months or even longer. Both Swedish and deep tissue massage were effective in eliminating back pain. For solid relief of back pain, massage therapy may be the solution you were searching for—if you suffer from lower back pain and need a trusted massage therapist, come to Rainwater Spa and we will definitely help alleviate the tension and stiffness of your body’s muscles. Call us today at 858-333-SPA1 to book a massage at Rainwater Spa—you’ll be one step closer to back pain relief!

Photo Credit: Thomas Wanhoff

The first step is getting clear on our motives and intentions.  If you have a few goals or ideas, write them down in detail.  Why is it you want to attain them, is it for you or for someone else? You might be surprised to learn that many of our motives are actually fueled by someone else, and who we think we need to be in order to satisfy a certain role or image.  Once you get clear on your goal(s), and you feel good about how to proceed it is time to make a plan.  Your plan should be detailed but also not too complicated.  Start off slow, and gradually build up to your goal.  Try to connect with power partners, friends and allies who you can be accountable to and share ideas with.  There will be tough days, and that is ok, the key is not to let one bad day change your course.   Change can be scary, for many reasons, but keep in mind that change is the only way we can grow as people.  The only true constant in life is change, so not only should you prepare for it, you should welcome it!

As you take the steps necessary to achieve your goal, be patient and kind to yourself.  If you are tired, make time to rest.  If you are hungry, stop to eat a healthy meal.  Whatever you do, practice presence and authenticity in each moment.  Whether you are going for a walk, eating a meal, working on a deadline for work, running on the treadmill or trying to perfect a yoga pose make sure you are 100% present in each task.  If you are too busy thinking about what is next or what you have to do later the task at hand suffers because it isn’t the very best you have to offer.

Challenge yourself, experience new things and embrace all that 2013 has to offer.  Each day we wake up is a new opportunity to change and begin again!!

I will be extending the packages I offered for the holidays into 2013.  A package is an excellent choice to bolster all the new changes you might be incorporating into your life….especially if working out is on the list! Massage is the best way to rid the muscles of lactic acid and get rid of that “sore” feeling post-workout.  Packages do not include gratuity, expire 6 months from date of purchase, and will only be available until February 28th, 2012.  Here are the package offerings for 2013:

3, 60 Minute Massages $175 ($20 discount)

3, 90 Minute Massages $255 ($30 discount)

Therapeutic Effects of Massage, Fibromyalgia Massage, Sports Massage, Pre-natal Massage, TMJ Massage, Trigger Point Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Medically Necessary Massage, Arthritis Massage and more to come!

If you have any questions on these, don’t hesitate to contact us at any time

Winter & Cold creates a type of Seasonal Affective Disorders (SAD) which affects many of us during this season.

Ayurvedic Diet and Lifestyle is immensely beneficial in Winter Depression. Guidelines for taking best Ayurvedic supplements for keeping depression at bay have been discussed in the article ‘Ayurveda for Winter Depression- Part I’. This article will walk you through some easy to follow and effective Ayurvedic Diet and Lifestyle for managing winter depression.

Tamasic Foods and Winter Depression
Food has a profound effect on our emotions and overall health of our mind.¹ Overeating Tamas dominant foods should be avoided by all body types during winters. Tamasic foods are heavy to digest and have a tendency to cause blockades in body channels. Also, most Tamasic foods are deficient or lacking in life energy or Prana. When eaten excessively, they can make us dull, depressed and sedentary.  Tamasic foods need to be taken in extreme moderation during winters, especially by those who are prone to or already suffering from winter depression.

Examples of Tamasic foods are:

To read my complete article visit- 
http://www.spiceflair.com/ayurveda-for-winter-depression-part-ii/