Tag Archive for: health

The Power of Express Treatments

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In today’s fast-paced world, finding time for self-care can often feel like a luxury we can’t afford. Between work, family, and other commitments, it’s easy to neglect our well-being in favor of checking off our endless to-do lists. However, prioritizing self-care, even in small doses, is essential for maintaining our physical, mental, and emotional health. This is where the 30-minute massage comes in—a powerful yet often overlooked tool for relaxation and rejuvenation.

The Misconception of Hour-Long Massages

Many people believe that a massage must be an hour long to be effective. While longer sessions certainly have their benefits, the truth is that even a short 30-minute massage can provide significant relief from tension, stress, and muscle pain. In fact, for those with busy schedules or limited time, a shorter session can be just as beneficial—if not more so—than a longer one.

Benefits of 30-Minute Massages
Time-Efficiency:

With just 30 minutes, you can experience the therapeutic benefits of massage without sacrificing too much of your precious time. It’s the perfect solution for busy individuals who need a quick pick-me-up during their hectic day.

Targeted Relief:

Shorter massage sessions can be focused on specific areas of tension or discomfort, such as the neck, shoulders, or back. Whether you’re dealing with tight muscles from sitting at a desk all day or soreness from an intense workout, a 30-minute massage can provide targeted relief where you need it most.

Stress Reduction:

Massage has been shown to lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, while increasing the production of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators. Even just 30 minutes of massage therapy can help promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and improve overall well-being.

Improved Circulation:

Massage helps to stimulate blood flow and lymphatic circulation, which can aid in the removal of toxins from the body and promote healing. A 30-minute massage can provide a quick boost to circulation, leaving you feeling refreshed and revitalized.

Enhanced Flexibility and Range of Motion:

Regular massage therapy can help improve flexibility and range of motion by loosening tight muscles and breaking up adhesions. Even a brief 30-minute session can help increase joint mobility and reduce the risk of injury.

Making Time for Self-Care

Incorporating regular massage sessions, even if they’re just 30 minutes long, into your self-care routine can have a profound impact on your overall health and well-being. Whether you book a session during your lunch break or squeeze it in before or after work, taking the time to prioritize your self-care is essential for maintaining balance and harmony in your life.

The idea that a massage must be an hour long to be effective is simply a myth. Shorter sessions, such as 30-minute massages, offer numerous benefits and can be just as therapeutic as longer treatments. Whether you’re looking to relieve stress, ease muscle tension, or simply indulge in some much-needed relaxation, a 30-minute massage can provide the perfect solution. So why wait? Treat yourself to a quick massage break and experience the rejuvenating effects for yourself!

Are you ready to book your next massage?

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Bump & Bliss: Nurturing Your Pregnancy with Massage Therapy

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Pregnancy is a beautiful and transformative experience, but it can also come with its fair share of physical discomforts and emotional stressors. One effective way to alleviate these discomforts and promote overall well-being during pregnancy is through regular massages. Prenatal massages are specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of expectant mothers. In this blog post, we’ll explore five compelling reasons why getting a massage during pregnancy can be a wonderful decision for both your physical and emotional health.

1. Pain Relief

As your body undergoes the incredible changes associated with pregnancy, you may experience various aches and pains. These can range from backaches and headaches to swollen ankles and sciatic nerve pain. Prenatal massages, performed by trained therapists, can help alleviate these discomforts by targeting specific areas of tension. By focusing on the muscles and joints that bear the most weight and strain, a prenatal massage can provide much-needed relief and help you better cope with the physical demands of pregnancy.

2. Stress Reduction

Pregnancy often comes with a myriad of emotions and stressors, from concerns about childbirth to changes in your daily routine and hormones wreaking havoc on your mood. Regular massages can significantly reduce stress levels by promoting the release of endorphins, which are natural mood enhancers. The gentle touch of a skilled massage therapist can also induce relaxation, calm your nervous system, and reduce anxiety, allowing you to better enjoy this special time in your life.

3. Improved Sleep Quality

Many expectant mothers struggle with sleep disturbances during pregnancy. Hormonal fluctuations, physical discomfort, and the constant anticipation of the baby’s arrival can make it challenging to get a good night’s rest. Prenatal massages can help promote better sleep by reducing muscle tension and discomfort, enhancing circulation, and calming your mind. Improved sleep quality is essential for your overall health and well-being during pregnancy.

4. Enhanced Circulation

During pregnancy, your body’s blood volume increases to support the growing fetus. This can lead to swelling in your extremities and increased pressure on your blood vessels. Prenatal massages can help improve circulation by gently stimulating blood flow, reducing swelling, and relieving pressure on key areas like the lower back and legs. Enhanced circulation can also help transport essential nutrients and oxygen to both you and your baby, promoting a healthier pregnancy.

5. Connection with Your Body and Baby

Pregnancy is a time of immense change and transformation, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually as well. Getting regular massages during this period allows you to connect with your body and your growing baby on a deeper level. The quiet and serene environment of a massage room, combined with the soothing touch of a therapist, can help you tune into your body’s needs and create a sense of mindfulness. It’s also an opportunity to bond with your baby by focusing on the present moment and nurturing yourself, which can contribute to a positive pregnancy experience.

Prenatal massages offer numerous benefits that can enhance your overall well-being during pregnancy. From pain relief and stress reduction to improved sleep quality, enhanced circulation, and a deeper connection with your body and baby, the advantages are clear. However, it’s crucial to ensure that you choose a qualified and experienced massage therapist who specializes in prenatal massage to ensure your safety and comfort throughout the process. With the right care and expertise, prenatal massages can be a valuable tool in promoting a healthy and positive pregnancy experience.

Ready to book your next pregnancy massage? CLICK HERE

Looking at Life Through The Shit Tube

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The other morning, I woke up looking at life through the Shit Tube. Allow me to explain…

I woke up, and it was cold “Winter is the worst”
Next up, breakfast “Ugh. Oatmeal again. Why is being healthy boring?”
Then, I attempted to get ready for work while wrangling a toddler. “Why can’t you just sit still so I can get you dressed and ready to go.”
When finally get in the car we are faced with traffic and road works on every street. “Who was the genius that thought doing all these road works at the same time was a great idea?”

When I finally got to work, I was fuming – nay seething with rage. It was 9am and I was in a foul mood.

And that’s when I realized.

I was looking at life through the Shit Tube. I was zoning in on all the mildly inconvenient and annoying things about my day rather than expanding my view and focusing on the positive.

Now this was a concept that was first introduced to me by my amazing business coach Elicia, so I cannot take all the credit for this description of the way we can look at life. It was one of the many business lessons I learned that can transfer to everyday life.

If we are always looking at life through a single lens and focused in on the negative, then everything will seem, well quite frankly – Shit.

If we remove the Shit Tube, and instead look at the world through eyes of Love, then life just might seem a bit different.
Instead of cold morning being the worst, I am grateful for warm clothes to keep me cozy.
Instead of despising oatmeal, I am grateful for nourishing food to fuel my body.
Instead of stressing of getting out the door, I am grateful for a healthy family.
Instead of road raging, I am grateful for the ability to travel.

With eyes of Love, I can see the positive. I can be thankful for the things that I have in my life.

When life gets you down, or feels monotonous or like you’re in a rut or if everything seems Shit, stop looking at life through the Shit Tube and put on your Love Glasses. I promise life will be a lot easier.

Belly Birth – Remy’s Birth Story

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I am a proud belly birther.

When I was preparing for my birth, a cesarean was the absolute last thing I wanted to do.

However, as the day of Remy’s birth drew near, and I thought more and more about our options, I decided that if a cesarean was needed then I would go with the flow.

As it turned out, we had a cesarean. I told the doctors as they were getting the paperwork ready for the operation that I wanted it to be called a “surprise cesarean” rather than an emergency cesarean because, there was no emergency or life-threatening factors attached to the cesarean. The simple fact was my waters had broken hours ago and risk of infection was increasing, Remy was stuck, I was at 6cm and we were all exhausted and wanted him here already.

I was wheeled up the theatre, dosed up on drugs and waited for my baby to be born.

I had my favorite artist playing over the stereo, and I tuned into the music as the doctors did their thing.

I heard Remy’s cry and I teared up. He was finally here, and it was over. Nine months of waiting all brought down to a single moment. They bundled him up and handed him to us to hold while I was stitched up.

My baby was in my arms and that is all I needed. How he got here did not matter.

Having a cesarean is not an event it’s a journey. It is major surgery and takes time to recovery, physically and emotionally. There are days where I feel tenderness and pain around the scar. And there are days where I look at myself in the mirror and feel disgusted by my body. And then, there are days where I have freedom of movement and am proud of myself and my strength and my ability to birth my baby.

If you were to look at me nurturing, feeding, playing with, and loving my baby, you would never know the birth journey we had.  You would only see and happy mum and a thriving bub.

Be proud and stand strong, my fellow belly birthers . You are warrior women!

Welcoming Olivia – A Birth Story

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Pregnancy Massage Practitioner Clare Houston, shares the story of birthing her second daughter, Olivia.

It is hard for me to believe but darling daughter #2 is turning 5 in two weeks. Olivia is strong-willed and passionate, and I cannot believe she will be in prep next year. With that in mind, I thought I would share Olivia’s birth story. Every birth story is unique, and I hope my story can help some other women who may be experiencing a similar situation.

I was desperate to have this baby to be out and, in the world. The pregnancy itself was good, the only “problem” was that she was tracking big. But with having a toddler who climbed all over me all day, pelvic instability which made moving in bed or even walking very hard, but I had done this once before so I could do it again.  I wanted her out as soon as possible. I was still overdue though when contractions started.

Eventually the hospital set a date to be induced, I was relieved to say the least. I was even starting to show signs of labour, which was great, it meant my body was doing what it was designed to do. This fact even helped me while talking to the insurance company about a recent bingle. While I was talking to them over the phone, I mentioned I was having a contraction and we didn’t pay a cent!

The day before the induction, at about 2am I felt the strongest pains I had felt yet and knew that this was the day. My partner Macgregor helped me to attach the TENS machine at home and we called the hospital. The contractions were about 3 mins apart. They suggested we come in.

We knew from attending our childbirth preparation class that the transition to hospital can slow contractions. Macgregor and I were confident that the contractions would return soon. The midwives set me up in the birth suite and of course, my contractions slowed. Half an hour later the midwives came back in and told me I wasn’t in labour and should go home.

I was livid! I trusted my body and knew the contractions would return.  For one of the few times in my life I stood my ground and said I would be coming back in 24 hours anyway.  I said “I am not leaving, can you break my waters and see what happens.” I was all but crying to get them to agree. I was planning to sit in the waiting room all day if need be. I couldn’t go home and stress dearest darling daughter #1 (she can be a worry wart) and mother-in-law had come in at 3am to look after her. And did I mention I was so done with this pregnancy!

So finally, after a staff change, they agreed and put in the cannula and attached the monitors, all “just in case”, then they broke my waters. The contractions did start to pick up again. I spent a lot of time on the Swiss ball, trying to find comfort in the waves.

I hit the point where I knew I needed to push, and it was about then they decided my contractions were not regular enough and they would start the drip to help them along. I was concerned about using the drip because during my previous birth I felt it was too intense and I had no chance to rest or catch my breath between contractions. But I was at the point where I wanted this baby out and knew I had to let go. In what felt like five minutes, Olivia was earthside and in my arms.

Because the midwives worked with me during the pushing stage, I was able to come away without tearing or any major issues. The midwives left me and Mac alone for a while to get acquainted with our little girl.

We were overjoyed and I was proud of myself for standing up and telling the midwifes and doctors what I wanted during the birth.

I hope that my birth story helps you to stand up and speak up for your needs in the delivery room. In the clinic, I hear so many stories where families did not have the birth they envisioned because they felt disempowered and unable to speak up for their needs.  And while I didn’t like giving birth and it was uncomfortable and painful, I know I did the best job I could, and you will too.