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.

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.