Browsing all entries from January, 2012

Living with Metta – Loving Kindness

I wanted to share some a beautiful meditation that I received in an email from my friend Leah. Leah is also a massage therapist and she is one of the few therapists that I actually allow to work on me. Leah has also introduced me to the concept of “Metta.”

Metta in its simplest definition means “loving-kindness.” At a deeper level, it is an attitude of goodwill and compassion towards yourself and others. Leah learned about metta through her Thai Massage trainings and subsequent research on meditation for stress relief.

This is the meditation that Leah shared with me. And now, I wanted to take a moment to share it with you. It is one of the meditations that I use to begin and end my day. I find that it is a great way to have patience and compassion to approach day-to-day situations.

Replace the “you” with “I” to bring peace to yourself first before you can send it to others. Take two full breaths between each line and repeat if desired.

Metta Meditation

May you be Happy
May you be Healthy
May you be Peaceful
May you be Safe

With Metta,

Fred

January 23, 2012 in Emotional Healing, featured, Wellness by empoweringwellness

Learning to Tango

I was walking with my wife and our dogs the other day when we passed the local fire station. There was a young firefighter / EMT outside and when she saw us with our dogs, she called out to us, “Come on over! We have dog biscuits.”

Our dogs love walking near the local fire station. The crews who work there are all very dog friendly, and rarely a visit goes by without our dogs getting some sort of treat. The other day was no different.

As we continued our walk, I mentioned to my wife that “if I had it to do over all again, I would seriously consider becoming a firefighter / EMT.” My wife asked me why, and I said something about how I thought it was a really cool profession and that they get to drive really big, cool trucks!

After we returned home, I tweeted the following from my Twitter account, “So, if you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently? I, for one, would become a fireman / EMT! What about you?”

I received some very interesting answers. My friend Kat replied that she would have loved to have studied abroad when she had the chance. Another person replied that they wish they had become a physical therapist. And yet another said that she wished that she had continued to dance and that she would love to learn to tango.

The tango remark reminded me of one of my favorite film scenes. You know the scene. It is from “Scent of a Woman,” where Al Pacino gives an impromptu tango lesson to Gabrielle Anwar. He asks her why she hasn’t learned to tango and she replies that she is afraid. Afraid of what, Pacino asks? And she replies that she is afraid to make a mistake. Pacino says, “There are no mistakes in the tango.”

There are no mistakes in the tango. I really love that. I think what he means is that when you submit to the seductive power of the tango, you become swept away by it. That seductive power overcomes fear. And when you overcome fear, you are not afraid of making mistakes. As Pacino says, “When you make a mistake in the tango, you get tangled up, and then you tango on!”

Fear of making a mistake is what holds most of us back. It keeps us tongue-tied when we try to learn a foreign language. It prevents us from trying something new or different. It holds us back from reaching our true calling. Fear of making mistakes sabotages our happiness.

My friend Lissa Rankin said to me that I could still become a firefighter if I wanted. She even suggested that the volunteer department in her town would welcome me with open arms, and that they also held the best BBQ party every summer! Now, I love BBQ a lot and it’s quite an incentive, but I do think I am pretty happy with my life right now. When I walked away from the corporate world 8 years ago to become a massage therapist and coach, I knew that I would make mistakes. But instead of fearing mistakes, I actually embraced them. Just like in Pacino’s tango, I knew that those mistakes would become part of my dance and that I would eventually glide through them. I would, as Pacino said, “just tango on!”

I’m very happy with all of the twists and turns my life has taken. I’m grateful for the incredible friends who grace my life every day. I know that on the long and meandering road called life, that I have “gone a long way out of the way, in order to come back a short distance correctly.”

But, I wouldn’t mind driving one of those cool fire trucks one day! And most of all, I really would love to learn to tango. So, I know I will. Someday, very soon.

I hope you enjoy this scene from Scent of a Woman as much as I do! And when you get tangled up in life, just tango on!

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January 16, 2012 in Wellness by empoweringwellness

A Walking Workout

Having Fun, While Burning More Calories!

Imagine the lone hiker, backpack laden with sleeping bag and bedroll, wielding a well-worn walking stick as she climbs the side of a snow-covered mountain. For centuries, trekkers have used walking sticks, partly as a defense against attacking wildlife, partly to aid in balance, and partly as support on long, arduous climbs. But in recent years, many hikers have replaced the single wooden walking stick with hiking poles.

Held in both hands and used to distribute weight more evenly through the four limbs, wilderness hikers have found poles invaluable for safety, efficiency, and comfort on long hikes. What wilderness hikers have known for some time now is that walking poles are a great way to relieve pressure on knees, ankles, and the back. They encourage better posture and provide a total body workout by engaging the upper body.

Now, hiking poles are showing up in urban areas as fitness walkers discover the benefits they provide. Nordic walking–similar in technique to cross- country skiing–is a great way to get a whole body workout, increase oxygen consumption, and burn more calories than regular walking or even speed walking. This total body workout burns 40 percent more calories and consumes 25 percent more oxygen. Poles can be purchased at most outdoor sporting stores, along with rubber tips for use on paved paths.

Technique
Adjust your poles to approximately 70 percent of your height and loosely secure the straps around your wrists. Hold the poles at an angle behind you so they propel you forward with a slight bend at the elbow. Use an opposite hand-and-heel motion as you walk–right heel strikes as left pole tip contacts the ground. And you’re on your way! Don’t be shy with your poles. Remember: You’re burning 40 percent more calories.

A Guide to Health for 50-something women

This is the fifth in a series of 6 articles on women’s health. In this article I focus on the “fabulous 50′s!”

The fifties – time for initiation into menopause

Menopause is a time in a woman’s life that can be a period of deepening wisdom and inner reflection. Medically, menopause means the ceasing of menstruation. Hormone levels begin to change and the adrenal glands become the primary source of hormonal support.

Some tips to stay healthy in your 50′s

- Increase essential fatty acids such as fish oil and vitamin E

- Take supplements that nourish and support the endocrine glands

- Make sure your diet includes vitamin C, vitamin B5 (best taken in a B-complex formula) and magnesium

Essential Oil Blend for Female Hormonal Balance

- 2 drops of Clary Sage

- 1 drop of Geranium

- 1 drop Ylang Ylang

This is a good blend for menopause discomfort, hot flashes, PMS and general female hormone balance. Clary sage releases dopamine in the brain, and some people experience a joyous almost euphoric response. It balances estrogen and helps balance the central nervous system. Geranium gently stimulates the adrenals, which play an integral part during menopause and hormone fluctuations.

Combine the oils and apply daily to the soles of the feet or to the abdomen.

January 10, 2012 in Aroma Touch Therapy, Energy Work, Essential Oils, Massage Therapy, Wellness, Women's Health by empoweringwellness

Complementary and alternative medicine – some basics

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to healing modalities that don’t fall into conventional Western medical philosophy, including bodywork, acupuncture, herbology, homeopathy and mind/body techniques. CAM is becoming a more familiar term as approximately 125 million Americans suffering from chronic illness — arthritis, back pain, hypertension, and depression — look for solutions that conventional medicine can’t provide.

“Complementary” modalities are used together with conventional medicine, such as utilizing aromatherapy to lessen a patient’s discomfort following surgery. “Alternative” modalities are used in place of conventional medicine, such as using herbs to treat stomach upset rather than taking pharmaceuticals. And the merging of alternative and conventional medicine is referred to as “integrative medicine,” connoting the idea of combining the best of both healing philosophies.

CAM is continually gaining the respect of the Western medical system, as indicated by the nearly 100 medical schools now offering courses in alternative therapies. The University of Arizona is an exceptional model of such a school, offering the nation’s only postgraduate, two-year Program in Integrative Medicine (PIM). Founded in 1994, PIM is designed to teach small groups of physicians how to integrate holistic modalities into their practices. These doctors are committed to a fundamental redesign of medical education including such principles as:

- Appropriate use of conventional and alternative methods to facilitate the body’s innate healing response

- Consideration of all factors that influence health, including mind, spirit, and community

- A philosophy that neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative medicine uncritically

For more information and research about CAM, visit the nonprofit Alternative Medicine Foundation.

January 4, 2012 in Massage Therapy, Wellness, Women's Health by empoweringwellness

Lymphatic Drainage – A Natural Immune System Boost

Lymphatic Drainage Massage Helps Fight Infection.

Does your immune system work overtime? If so, you might want to give it a boost by seeing a massage therapist or bodyworker trained in lymphatic drainage therapy. This technique can boost your immunity by increasing the production of antibodies, stimulating circulation, moving congestion out of the body, and reducing swelling, especially after surgery.

The lymphatic system supports our body’s immune function and involves several organs, glands, and tissues, hundreds of lymph nodes, and a network of vessels. A clear lymph fluid flows through these vessels and carries the metabolic waste (bacteria, dead cells, fats, fluids, proteins, and viruses) to the lymph nodes, where it is filtered. These nodes often swell when we are sick.

The lymphatic drainage techniques used by massage therapists and bodyworkers gently stimulate lymph nodes, help correct swelling and stagnation in those nodes, reduce local fluid retention, boost the overall immune system, and provide relaxation. As an essential tool in the treatment of lymphedema (excess lymphatic fluid), this therapy is often applied postoperatively and can be especially beneficial for breast cancer patients.

Administering this treatment requires advanced training and is performed with gentle, massage-like strokes. There should be no discomfort involved, in fact, you may feel you are hardly being worked on at all.

Aftercare
After your lymphatic drainage treatment, it’s possible you could feel some mild, flu-like symptoms, depending on how much strain your body has been under prior to treatment. This strain may be due to environmental pollutants, medication, and diet. Most people leave a session simply feeling relaxed, but if you don’t feel at the top of your game, drink plenty of water, limit your salt intake, and stay physically active.

Lymphatic drainage is one way to give your wellness a boost in a busy world that makes many demands on your immune system.

I incorporate lymphatic drainage into most of my massage therapy sessions with my clients. Help boost your immune system and schedule a session with me today!

January 3, 2012 in Body image, Massage Therapy by empoweringwellness

Massage Therapy for Teenagers

Bodywork Can Ease Adolescent Angst

While teens may be less likely than their parents to go to a massage therapist, there are plenty of reasons why this age group should be encouraged to give it a try. The benefits of massage are well documented, among them relief of muscle tension, lowered stress hormones, increased sense of relaxation, improved immune function, and even a heightened ability to concentrate, according to studies conducted by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine. But for teenagers, there’s an additional payback.

The teenage body is in the midst of transformation — exponential growth and development in a rapid period of time. On the physical side, teens may be at increased risk for aches, pains, and injury. Many teens strain their bodies with competitive sports, get erratic sleep, and consume a less-than-optimal diet. Massage can help muscles recover from overuse, and help balance the body and maintain that stability.

Perhaps even more crucial, teen massage can help improve body image and sleep patterns, and contribute to decreased depression, anxiety, and stress. This keeps a teen connected to her body, even as it morphs in confounding ways. “Many teens are self-conscious, and not happy with their bodies,” says Eeris Kallil, massage therapist and shiatsu instructor at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy, in Colorado. “Massage can help teens stay grounded.” Bodywork has also been reported to help mediate eating disorders, a growing concern among teens.

Another potential plus: A beneficial, therapeutic relationship can develop between bodyworkers and teenagers during the years when adolescents need adult confidantes, but keep parents at a distance. The practitioner can become a supportive, trusted adult in a teen’s life. And the session itself, according to Kallil, can be a way to deal with all the physical and emotional turmoil of this tender age.

Book a session with me today using my online scheduling system.

Save $10 to $20 off your first session!

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