Tag: self-care

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Uncovering Why Miracles Massage is Different

I believe massage has incredible power to promote healing within our bodies, which are often neglected until something is out of alignment. Massage is a gateway to better overall health. Understanding the benefits of regular massage has the power to change the course of your future medical picture, in many cases. It’s that powerful.

When I began my blog, I hoped to educate and encourage my readers about massage, self-care, essential oils, and really, all the natural tools available to us for a healthful lifestyle. I believe Miracles Massage is different from some other massage establishments because of my commitment to my clients’ health and my passion for sharing my knowledge gained as a therapist, as well as my studies at Baltimore School of Massage.

Let’s uncover why I’m different from other therapists, and more importantly, why I believe regular massage is beneficial to your health.

1. Thoughtful Intention in Every Massage
I really like to focus on the aspect of healing. I try to spread love and gratitude to other people. As I work on my clients, I put a real intention into each massage with the hopes that they leave my session feeling great, grateful, healthy, relaxed, and happy. Therefore, their next transaction with another human will be a positive one. I put a lot of intention in my messages so that the ripple effect of the good feelings acquired during massage will go out to other people in future interactions. I do a lot of meditation on being the catalyst for the betterment of mankind through my massage.

2. Healing Through Touch is Real
I am a true believer in the healing art through touch. Massage stimulates brain activity and growth in babies. For example, using a gentle circular technique to massage their head. Studies also show the difference between newborns who are cuddled and those who are not touched. The cuddled babies really thrived and the ones who weren’t touched, in some cases, had a failure to thrive so there’s onus in scientific-proven studies. I’ve seen it through my own work, so I’m a real true believer of healing through massage.

3. Stress is a Catalyst for Dis-ease
Too much stress is terrible for the body. Whether you are financially, emotionally, or physically stressed, you are putting yourself at risk for a host of health problems. Reducing your stress will reduce the chance of getting some diseases like cancer, as well as dis-ease, which can be related to poor posture.

4. Regular Exercise, Self Care, and Diet Preserve Our Bodies
I believe that our bodies self heal and that we walk around in our own little healing machines. Many people don’t realize they are in pain until massage releases the tension they were holding. When supported by regular exercise, continuous self care, and a healthful diet, our bodies can withstand the natural progression of age better and longer.

5. Massage Supports Better Immune Systems
Our immune systems can become strengthened. Blood can become stagnant, which we call knots. It’s really congestion of any certain place of muscles. Moving blood will help to get rid of garbage blood, through designated drainage areas.

6. Massage is Custom Designed for YOUR Health Needs
I want my clients to feel better. We all live with this underlying pain and we think it’s normal, but it’s not. Regular massage restores the body to balance. I listen to my clients’ needs when they come in and then as I work on them, I also adjust to what their body tells me. The goal is for my clients to feel at ease, lighter, taller, and more like the best version of themselves.

I think we all should be concerned with our health. It’s probably not the most popular thing to do right now because we’re so busy working or running from here to there. A regular self-care routine in our lives is very beneficial. It includes massage, of course, but also exercise, a healthful diet, and even keeping our thoughts positive.

If you have questions on the benefits of massage or how massage therapy can benefit your individual needs, contact us, today!

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4 Helpful Hints to Winning Over Your Quality Time Lover

It should not come as a surprise that relationships flourish when the needs of both partners are met equally. A problem arises when couples attempt to meet their significant others in the middle but fall short of their mark because well-intentioned efforts go unnoticed. If you and your partner have not taken Gary Chapman’s 5 Love Languages quiz, you may think you are showing your love for you S.O. in all the rights ways only to find they are left unfulfilled because your attempts, while appreciated, aren’t saying “I love you” in juuust the right way.

For someone who prefers love to be communicated through Quality Time, snagging their favorite gum at the checkout line or taking out the trash isn’t a direct route to their heartstrings. What is, you ask? Giving them your undivided attention is what they need most to feel loved and secure in your relationship. Here are a couple of suggestions to make sure your time and efforts are on the right track.

Four Helpful Hints to Winning Over Your Quality Time Lover

1. Hold their eyes while you are talking.
I’m not talking about the cartoons when goofy hearts bubble up from the characters’ fluttering eyes. Quality Time lovers appreciate when you keep eye contact with them. It shows you are paying attention.

2. Resist the urge to interrupt them when they are speaking.
Often we do not realize that when we interrupt someone mid-sentence the other person may perceive it as us saying, “my thoughts are more important than yours”. Ouch.

3. Ask thoughtful questions.
If your partner is not feeling well, ask about their physical and emotional pain. Maybe they are missing an important meeting or a long-anticipated party because of an illness. As terrible as they physically feel, they may also be a little blue. Give them the opportunity to talk it out.

4. Make your time together count.
Your quality time lover is not looking for you to spend gobs of time together out of obligation or simple proximity, they want your time together to be intentional and meaningful. Schedule regular date nights. If going out to try a new restaurant every week isn’t in the cards, plan to sip wine or whiskey by a cozy fire to talk about your day instead.

The good news about being partnered up with a quality time person is that all they really want is you. They want your focused attention to talk about things that matter to the two of you. They value snuggling under a blanket watching a favorite movie or playing board games, or mapping out a garden, or going on a hike. They want a distraction-free time to share your lives together.

As you are checking in with your partner on their physical, mental, and emotional well being, it is a good idea to take your own self-assessment. Your significant other is meant to be your safe place where you can let your guard down. As the two of you are thoughtfully engaged in conversation, make it a point to intentionally listen to your own body to see what you may need. It is incredibly hard to pour out love for others when your own wellspring is neglected. Remember to care for yourself and nourish your needs or ask your S.O. to help you.

For more ideas on how to win over your quality time lover, contact us!

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10 Mindful Gifts to Give This Holiday Season

Giving a gift, handmade present wrapped in paper.

It’s the holidays, hon. What to get the people on our list is top of mind, these days. When we aren’t sure what you get, we often head straight for our smart devices to search for a list of popular ideas for fill in the blank. The trick is finding something suitable and meaningful for our special people. The searches are a great starting point for some, but where do you go when you want to give a gift that will have a true meaning or a lasting impact on the recipient?

You’re in luck, we did the legwork for you and came up with a dynamite list of 10 mindful gifts to give this holiday season.

1. Essential Oils Basket
This gift can be custom designed to meet the needs of each individual. Find a diffuser then think of a theme. Does the recipient need aromatherapy to help them relax or feel energized? Choose essential oils that are right for the individual and design a beautiful basket for their enjoyment. We’ve got loads to say about the benefits of essential oils and their uses so contact us if you need help choosing the perfect combination.

2. Gift of a Self-Care Experience
Many people put their head down and work. They view self care as a luxury rather than an essential to healthy living. You can put their mind at ease, in more ways than one, by giving them an opportunity to rest, relax, and feel the benefits of self care. Ideas include a gift certificate to yoga classes, a massage, or a day a their favorite spa.

3. Daily Dose of Inspiration
Who couldn’t use a little inspiration on a daily basis? Find a calendar with daily inspirational quotes, frame a life verse, or give them a journal to capture their daily thoughts and ideas.

4. Subscription for a Meal Delivery Plan
Food is a bridge to someone’s heart. Whether it’s for an overworked parent, a recent grad trying to make it on their own, a recent widower, or busy colleague, food comforts. Why not give a gift to help their night a little easier, at least once a month. Places like Blue Apron, Hello Fresh, and Home Chef make this idea more manageable and convenient for everyone.

5. Wine or Beer of the Month
Let’s face it, people like booze. Think about it, if you like alcohol, have you ever been disappointed when someone gave you a new wine to try or a beer packed with flavor and hops? It’s hard to go wrong when you send someone a gift like this. For those skeptics worried about giving alcohol, remember, wine and beer enthusiasts enjoy the taste and some like to figure out flavors using guides. Hint, hint, another gift idea.

6. Artwork
Art is exquisite and is enjoyed by many. If you are looking for a unique gift, search for a local artist and find a painting that’s just right for your special someone.

7. Family Fun Night
Whether you purchase a pack of movie tickets, seats for a theatre production, or assemble a basket filled with your favorite board game classics, families will appreciate the time together to share in laughter and merriment throughout the year.  

8. Charitable Donation
It’s very popular to make donations in someone’s name as a gift option. We suggest you figure out what organization your special person likes the most and make a donation there in their honor. Then you have the opportunity to give a gift to more than just one person.

9. A Book of Homemade Vouchers
What do you give someone who has everything? Perhaps a helping hand is what they need most. Here’s an opportunity to creatively make a coupon book that can be cashed in for things like, shoveling snow, free babysitting, an afternoon tea, a night off from cooking and cleaning up dishes, etc. Use your creativity on this one!

10. A Framed Snapshot in Time
In this digital age, may of our photos remain in a cloud, on a phone, or stored on a hard drive. Print them out. Find a photo that captures a precious moment in time and share it. Let the person receiving the photo enjoy the memory each time they sit at their desk, walk down their hallway, or lounge on their favorite chair.   

Miracles Massage is running a #CyberWeek special, which ends tomorrow, November 30. Click here to learn more and purchase online.

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Holiday Self-Care: Giving Thanks For You

Give thanks.

Oh, the holidays! The air is crisp and smells of pumpkin, cinnamon, or peppermint greet us in the most unexpected places. Stores begin to transition before our eyes into beautiful shades of red and green with twinkling lights galore. It leaves us with a feeling of warmth, happiness, and sometimes, if we are not mindful, panic.  

The season of extra giving, spending, prepping, baking, wrapping, and indulging can lead to feeling overwhelmed, if you aren’t careful. Are you ready? Really ready? That is to say, in your already full life of work, housekeeping, taxi driving, activity attending, meal planning, caregiving, etc. are you mentally prepared for the extra work that comes with the holidays?

As grownups, we realize that the grand puppet master of the holiday extravaganza that our family enjoys is, often, us. Our normal lives require a great balancing act as projects pile up, calendars are packed with activities and inboxes remind us of upcoming or (gulp) overdue tasks. In everyday life, adding one or two more items to our to-do list could cause a little healthy stress. However, when we add in the sprinkle of holiday prep, and expectations, panic and overwhelm just might be sitting behind door number two, if we aren’t mentally prepared.

Here’s a list of Self-Care Dos and Don’ts This Holiday Season you must remember. Your mindset depends on it!

Don’t:
1. Skip meals or go on a junk food only diet – as tempting as it may be to swing by the drive-thru a few times a week, or to ignore your growling stomach, remember to nourish yourself with a healthful diet so you don’t end up getting sick.
2. Forgo the gym– when you are racing the clock, regular exercise is often the first thing to go. Remember when you work out, those happy serotonin endorphins release, giving you energy and making your outlook on life a little brighter.
3. Ditch your pals – when we can’t see past our own busyness, we may say no to a lunch invitation, a happy hour, or a gabfest. Remember, your pals know you best and make your heart light. They also may be able to offer advice or strategies for tackling the stressors you face.

Do:
1. Find time for yourself– although it may sound like a luxury you cannot afford, taking time to nourish your mind and body will help you to be more productive. In your over-packed schedule, carve out time to do something just for you and make it sacred. You work hard and deserve it!
2. Take a break– when we are overly stressed, our skills are not sharp, our focus is not clear, and our efforts are often counterproductive. Pay attention to the warning signs your body gives you. Take time for breaks to gain clarity and focus. There is a reason you are stressed. You do a lot, you don’t need to earn breaks, but you should thank yourself once in a while.
3. Breathe– simple breathing exercises make a huge impact on our psyche. You can do it anywhere at any time. It’s a guaranteed calming device.

For some, the idea of self-care seems indulgent. It’s a reward only to be cashed in on if they have made sacrifices, completed their list of to-do items, and the calendar says there is an opening. We say that’s crazy talk! Find something to help you care for yourself. There’s only one of you so be thankful to yourself for all that you accomplish daily. Take a walk, schedule a massage, do something wacky and fun. If you don’t, you risk falling victim to the dreaded holiday overwhelm instead of holiday joy.

We have an idea for you: opt-in to our #CyberWeek deal, which starts on Thanksgiving morning and ends at midnight on November 30.

 

 

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It’s Time to Celebrate

It’s our anniversary and it’s time to celebrate! The doors of Miracles Massage opened six short months ago. Time truly flies when you treat so many fantastic clients. It’s been our pleasure to help an incredible collection of people find relaxation, comfort, and peace as we, together, work through sore muscles, kinks, pains, and frustrations.

We believe that massage is therapeutic and an integral part of a healthy lifestyle, especially when partnered with essential oils. We value taking the time to know each client personally so we are better able to customize each massage session to fit individual needs.

Thank you for your friendship, loyalty, and encouragement during this time!

No matter the culture or tradition, people have the same universal experiences of love, joy, success, sacrifice, pain, overwhelm, and determination. For this reason, we all celebrate the good in our lives in similar ways. Miracles Massage is thrilled to celebrate our six month anniversary.

Did you know it is important to acknowledge and honor the significant moments in our lives because it helps to keep you motivated toward your goals? It’s true so we encourage you to celebrate your milestones, too.

People celebrate for all kinds of reasons, primarily for happy occasions like marriages, the birth of a child, professional or personal victories and milestones. Why? Because it helps to provide us with

(1) a sense of community,
(2) a sense meaning,
(3) fond memories, and
(4) fun and excitement in our lives.

Celebrating helps to bond with family, friends, and coworkers enabling us to connect on a deeper level. It’s a time when people can let their hair down, cut loose, and let go of the demands of everyday life.

Whatever the occasion, come celebrate with us. You deserve it. We will help you to feel your best so schedule your customized massage today!

It is incredible to think of the many wonderful and inspirational people who have come into our lives. We are grateful for each of you. Here’s looking forward to at least the next six months with you!

Namaste.

 

 

 

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Attention: Everyday maintenance is not “me-time!”

Are you a parent? Can you remember back to the days where you enjoyed loads of free time, also known as “me-time?” Ah….the good ol’ days. (Don’t get me wrong — I love kids!)

But why is it that once we become parents, activities that used to be considered maintenance are now considered “me-time?” Activities like using the restroom — alone. Going to the hair salon. Cutting the lawn. Roaming the grocery store aisles, kidless.

Newsflash: These aren’t me-time!

Thankfully, there’s an antidote to me-time being swallowed by maintenance-time. It’s called self-care and it isn’t optional!

Imagine having a regularly scheduled appointment where someone massages all your cares — and hamstring knots — away. “What spilled milk? Whose toy? Stop fighting. I’m pooping.” gets replaced with the sound of silence (and your occasion moan as those knots meet their match on the massage table).

How would a regular massage positively impact the rest of your life? Are you ready to embrace some real me-time? We’re waiting for you.

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Massage: The Unsung Superhero of a Healthy Lifestyle

You’re feeling stressed, strung out, and out-of-sorts. First, you examine your diet. Cheeseburgers, fries, and shakes aren’t helping you keep your pledge to eat healthier. Next, you catalog your physical activity, which shows you moving at the speed of a turtle from your bed to work and back to your couch. With great intention, you mindfully pre-plan your meals and schedule time for 30-minutes of daily activity.

These improvements help you feel less sluggish, improve your sleep, and reduce your stress. Hurray! Life’s pretty good.

But life could be great.

You’ve forgotten about massage, the superhero of a healthy lifestyle. Some folks “treat” themselves occasionally for a massage, which is better than never having one at all. But we’re talking about regular massage as a tool to reduce stress, improve circulation, increase energy, and help you to relax. Regular massage also improves the immune system and increases joy.

Honestly, regular massage is not only an unsung hero of a healthy lifestyle, it’s a superhero! Consider this: if your dietary and exercise routines were Super(wo)man, your massage therapist would be Bat(wo)man, the coolest of the cool. She uses gadgets like aromatherapy, hot stones, and warm oil. She can work you over, all without flying and she has no issues with kryptonite. Swoon.

Better send up a Bat Signal and schedule that massage right now!

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Are you guilty of self-neglect?

According to a 2013 Pew Research Study, men spend about five hours more in leisure than women do. Included in men’s leisure activities are watching television, playing games or sports, and other activities.

Source: AdobeStock

In America, we tend to think of leisure as a luxury. We put off having fun until the work is finished (thanks for that, Puritans). This delay in rest and relaxation is one factor causing U.S. women to feel more stressed than men. (And this even when men work, on average, at their paid jobs 10 hours more a week.)

Emotional well-being is intertwined with physical well-being. When you postpone rejuvenation, your proverbial well runs dry, leaving you operating on fumes and caffeine. Tempers may flare. You feel out-of-sorts.

We’ve become focused on doing life rather than living it.

Here’s the great news: you can choose to make a change. Right this minute. Decide to schedule time for you to rejuvenate your body and spirit. Make a list of activities you enjoy. Pick one to commit to doing this week. Next week, do the same. Make this commitment non-negotiable.

Having a hard time coming up with ways to relax? Here are a few ideas to get your wheels turning:

  • Take a walk or hike
  • Read a book for pleasure
  • Get a pedicure and/or manicure
  • Go to a museum
  • Visit an art gallery
  • Dance (in your kitchen or at a club)
  • Listen to live music
  • Color
  • Paint
  • Meditate
  • See a movie
  • See a play
  • Scrapbook
  • Crafts, like knitting or crocheting
  • Take a class, like improve or pottery
  • Bake
  • Get a massage

You may be saying to yourself, “I don’t have time for frivolity. My family needs me.” Feelings of selfishness may arise. Here’s the deal: feeling selfish because you’re nurturing yourself is caused by unearned guilt. We may believe that doing for others should always come first. It’s important to recognize this belief and challenge it. Tell yourself, “I feel guilt, but I can see that it’s unearned. So I’m going to do something for myself. Life is about me, too.”

Schedule a massage today!