My Greatest Journey (Part 1)

I spent eighteen years working as a supplemental health insurance agent. To be more specific, I sold heart disability and accident policies. I loved dealing with people and providing them with something that helped them during their time of need. It’s safe to say that I was satisfied during that period of time in my life.

Then one day I injured my knee so badly I could not walk, and the injury was very slow to heal. I ran into an old friend who just so happened to know about massage, not just any type of massage, he specialized in Chinese work. I was shocked at how massage this form of massage treated my injury. That chance meeting led to my healing and changed my life. I decided that I wanted to help people in a different way. I decided to sign up for massage classes and began my journey to becoming a massage therapistin the Chinese healing arts.

Going Back to School

I learned real fast that massage is an amazing science. Learning the principles and practice of massage therapy was not easy. In massage therapy school our book learning consisted of learning anatomy, physiology of muscles and ethics while continuing to work full time. Massage school was both mentally and physically taxing.

What got me through was my excitement and desire to physically help heal people and relieve them of their pain through this remarkable vehicle.

What to Practice

There are several areas of massage that I learned in school. I knew that I wanted to work with people that suffered from chronic pain. I did not want to open or work at a day spa; I wanted to approach massage from a medical point of view. Not the weserne point of view, but from the view point that everything is connected.

In the early years of opening my studio, I offered several forms of massage that included Swedish, hot rocks, and Anma. As I worked with a mentor and began to improve my skills with Anma massage therapy, I realized it was the most effective form of massage for me.

My Travels

Recently, I decided to go to Phoenix for a ten-day seminar to learn more about Anma. Phoenix was an incredible journey. I made some wonderful friends, learned, practiced and improved my Anma massage skills. In my blogs to follow, I am going to discuss more about Anma massage, share pictures and what I learned while I was in Phoenix.

Next month I will share more about my travels to Phoenix.

4 Ways You Can Beat the Heat

I don’t have to tell you how hot it gets here in Louisiana. It’s not just the summertime heat we need to beat, our hot days start as early as March and can often extend into the holiday season. We have to stay conscious on ways to stay healthy and hydrated.

Drink More

It’s important to stay hydrated, especially once your body begins to sweat. Many of my clients do not like to drink plain water. You don’t have to drink water in order to stay hydrated. Try drinking the sports drinks in place of water, just remember to watch your sugar intake with the sports drinks. Another option is to add some flavoring to your water.

If you are looking for ideas on how to enhance your water, here are a few tips and recipes:

Bored with Water? Add Some Flavor!

The Magical Wonders of Water!

Control the Sweat

If you are prone to excessive sweating, you may want to take your workouts indoors or cut back on some of your activities. Making small changes, such as wearing breathable cotton clothes can help keep you cooler. Getting a massage can help keep your muscles active and improve your flexibility if you need to cut back on your workouts until the weather cools down a little bit.

Eat Cooler Foods

Eating cooler foods such as summer salads and cold soups. Cooking heats up your house and eating hot meals can raise your body temperature and make you sweat. Two other types of foods you may need to cut back on and monitor is your salt intake and super spicy foods.

Drinking milk, eating fruits such as avocados, plums, grapes, peaches and mangos are great for cooling you off. Veggies that keep you healthy and cool are asparagus, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, broccoli, green leafy veggies, zucchini and green beans. Here are a few recipes from my friend and integrative health coach Angie B. LeBlanc:

Asparagus with Lemon Grapeseed Oil

Cucumber Salad

Rancher Green Beans

Super Cold Drinks

This tip may surprise you, but you are better off avoiding super cold drinks. Drinking ice water with your meal can often lower your body temperature and slow down your digestive system. When your digestive system slows down, it takes longer for your body to rehydrate.

Why You Need an Anma Massage

There are many different types of massage; some forms help to relieve pain and others are more relaxation spa-oriented. Essentially, all forms of massage stem from the oldest practice known as Anma massage which it’s estimated to be in practice for five thousand years, but there is no written proof dating back past three thousand years.

Anma is my preferred method and find it helps the majority of clients get relief from chronic pain, injuries, surgery and fatigue.

Tired of Being Negative? Here is How You Can Turn that Frown Upside Down!

Have you been feeling pressure or snapping at those around you lately? Impatience and frustration are often caused by stress hormones such as cortisol and norepinephrine. The brain releases the hormones based on our heart rates and blood pressure.

One way to help reign in the feelings of anxiety is to learn how to think positive. I know it’s easier said than done, but practice also makes perfect!

Long Term Effects of Fatigue

If you are living a fast-paced, caffeine-fueled lifestyle, it may be time to slow down and rethink what energizes you. Are you ending your workday feeling exhausted every day? Exhaustion is not just a physical feeling; extreme tiredness can also impact your health. The first step in recovering from fatigue is to learn how to get some rest!

Do You Plan on Aging Gracefully or Fight It All the Way?

Let’s face it, you can’t fight the calendar but there are ways you can age gracefully. We are living longer but are not necessarily living better. There are ways you can minimize chronic pain as you age. I am going to outline a few tips for you to follow and the best part is you can easily get started today!

Quick Tips

Here are a few tips that you can easily work into your daily routine:

Pillow Talk

My clients always ask for advice on several topics in regards to how they can maintain their body after they leave my studio. One of the most commonly asked questions is what type of pillow they should sleep on. A good night’s sleep is critical to your overall physical and mental health.