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.

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.

How Massage Helps You Lose Weight

As I scroll through social media, over half the posts I often see are about weight loss products. Weight loss is more than just appetite suppression. Establishing a life style change that includes making healthier daily choices with what you eat, how active you are, and consistency with your choices is the best way to get and stay fit.

Did you know massage can help promote weight loss? Massage therapy may not be the first weight loss aid that pops into your head but I can assure you, it absolutely can help! Massage is the manual stimulation of tissues, muscles, and circulation of a body. With massage, you can:

●     Increase circulation

●     Flush out toxins

●     Relieve stress and anxiety

●     Stimulate bowels and intestines

All these work hand in hand resulting in weight loss.  Whether you are just starting your weight loss journey or you’ve lost your goal weight and you wish to maintain your new body, massage therapy can assist in your journey.

Increased Circulation

Massage improves your circulatory system by helping your blood flow through your body more smoothly.  When your circulation is flowing properly, your muscles receive nutrients they need to work better.  In turn, when your muscles are fully functioning due to proper circulation you will experience improved energy levels and exercise won’t result in dread and pain. After exercise, vital nutrients must be supplied to your muscles so they can recover and rebuild. Massage maximizes the supply of these nutrients and oxygen though increased blood flow, which helps the muscles to grow and burn more calories as a result.

Flush Out Toxins

Improving your circulatory system also helps flush out toxins within your body. Flushing out toxins is great for overall fat loss because many of the toxins that are flushed out are attributed to fat accumulation. Massage aids in the acceleration of removing the toxins by improving your circulatory system.

Stimulate Bowels

In a recent blog, I discussed how massage helps resolve digestive issues. If you experience digestive issues, you know that it unfortunately can sometimes induce weight gain because of bloating or impacted bowels.  The good news is that massage can help stimulate the small and large intestines and colon causing the waste inside of you, to release naturally.  Once you are able to empty your bowels, you may feel lighter and cleaner and it may even result in losing a few pounds.  The more regular your digestive system works, the more success you’ll have at weight loss.

Abdominal massage also brings the following benefits that all aid in weight loss:

●     Increased Metabolism

●     Increased Antioxidants

●     Flush out and neutralize toxins

●     Greater release of enzymes that break down food throughout the body

●     Relaxes tension in the muscles surrounding the colon

Added Benefits of Massage

Massage therapy offers many health benefits in addition to aiding in weight loss such as:

●     Lowers blood pressure

●     Improves range of motion and flexibility

●     Relaxes muscles

●     Strengthens the immune system

Tummy Issues? Try a Massage

It may be an embarrassing and even a gross topic but I know everyone has dealt with digestive issues at some point in their lives.  Whether it be reflux, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion or something more serious like colitis or cancer.  No matter how many healthy choices you make, when deciding what you put into your body, you can still have issues with your digestive system. 

Feeling Stressed? 5 Ways to Unwind!

The top three causes of stress are pressure from work, financial problems, health problems. Stress occurs when you are faced with mental or emotional strains that often leads to physical and mental symptoms. Unfortunately, our culture accepts stress as a normal way of life. It is my mission to let everyone know, life doesn't have to be that way!

Take action!

Stress affects us because we let it. Now it is time to take action and start to live a healthier lifestyle. We all handle stress differently some keep everything bottled up inside and silently suffer the impacts of depression. Others tense up so much they develop knots in their neck and back and live with the pain. There are several ways you can manage your stress through physical activity, diet and positive distractions.

1. Make a Playlist

Research shows that listening to soothing music can lower your heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety.  Music provides a distraction and invites calming emotions.  It is a great aid to help induce a meditating state by preventing your mind from wandering.  Start incorporating music into your busy life by playing CD's in the car, stream soft classical music from Pandora while at work or play your favorite iTunes music while you soak in the bathtub.

2. Reduce Caffeine & Sugar

The temporary adrenaline rush caffeine and sugar provide often end with a crash in both your mood and energy. Reducing the amount of coffee, soft drinks, chocolate, and sugar snacks in your diet, will make you feel more relaxed and you’ll sleep better. Getting a full nights sleep is the best way to fuel your mind, as well as your body.  Feeling tired increases stress because it often impairs our judgement.  

3. Be Thankful

Keep a journal of gratitude.  Journaling reduces stress due to its meditative and reflective effects.  Making a daily list of what we are thankful for can really put your life, worries, stresses into perspective.  You don’t need to write a novel, just jot down a few of your daily events, your feelings, and what you are thankful for.  Documenting life events and feelings can also provide a way for you to reflect on events and gain a new perspective while you are in a calmer state of mind. Reading through journals of your past months and years can show you how much you’ve grown as an individual.

4. Go Outside

Sometimes simply walking through nature and smelling the fresh air can help put your mind at ease and give your brain a break.  Whether it’s walking, running, or sitting on a blanket in the grass; studies show that time outdoors can:

• Spur Creativity 
• Increase Concentration Levels 
• Increases Vitamin D Levels  

Vitamin D improves seasonal depression, anxiety, boosts your immunity, is critical to bone health, and heart health.  The healthier your bodies, the less likely you will experience negative stress.

5. Get a Massage

Massage is more than an occasional luxury. Getting a massage on a monthly basis:  

•  Alleviate physical strain and pain
• Improves your mood
• Increases circulation
• Reduces stress related pain such as headaches and muscle tension

Once your stress level is reduced, you can reclaim the energy you once enjoyed, and experience a refreshed body and mind.

Don’t Worry…  Stress Can Be Good!

Stress is your body's reaction to harmful situations whether real or imagined.  When you feel threatened, your body produces a chemical reaction that allows you react and protect yourself.

 Not all stress is bad. In small doses, stress can help you accomplish tasks and protect you from injury. For example, stress is what makes you to slam on the brakes to avoid getting into a car accident. That's a good thing!  

The key is knowing what kind of stress you are feeling. 

• Is your stress good or bad? 
• Is it negatively affecting your everyday life and activities? 
• Defining your stress helps you take action on how to get rid of it. 

It’s time to take charge of your life and tell stress to go away!

This holiday season give the gift of massage! Go online or call me to order your gift certificate.

What the Heck is an Anma?

Massages are known for promoting relaxation and improving one’s overall well-being. There are several methods of massage; all having great benefits for your body.

Over the past decade massage therapy has become increasingly popular in our society. I have seen the rise of several studios such as mine along with big chain studios. There is also a misconception that massage is a luxury. You may be surprised by the history and popularity of massage that dates back to 710 CE. For the first thousand years massage was considered a form of medicine not a luxury.

Essence of Essential Oils

Essential Oils contain the “essence of” the fragrance and characteristics of the plant from which it comes from. Popular uses for essential oils is in aromatherapy where the oils are diffused in the air, burned as incense, or used in massage. There seems to be an essential oil that can fulfill almost any need emotionally or physically.

I have several clients that suffer chronic allergy problems and migraines. I recommend a few essential oils and demonstrate how to apply the oils to help them get some relief.

Is Running Helping or Hurting You?

Running has numerous health benefits including prevention of high blood pressure, strengthens your immune system, and relieves stress.  However, we often don’t realize how delicate our body really is. Just like any exercise, if not done with knowledge and proper care it can cause injury instead of benefit. Here are a couple issues to be aware of when running:

What Exercise is Best for You?

Every day you hear pro’s and con’s of various types of workouts. Designing a fitness plan that works for you and does not put you at risk for injury is important when you want to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Remember when you were a kid and running, jumping and rolling around was just second nature? As we get older, physical activity becomes something that we know is important but sometimes we tend try and fit it into our schedule and easily find an excuse to skip it.

Developing a fitness plan should include some aerobic activity, strength training and improve your balance.

How to Relieve Chronic Pain, Fatigue and Insomnia

If you are feeling tired and suffer from chronic pain, you may not be getting enough magnesium. When you do not have enough magnesium in your system, your muscles will stay in a constant state of contraction causing pain and fatigue. Magnesium is one of six essential minerals and comprises 99% of the mineral content in your body.