In a World Without Bodywork...

It would be full of stress and chaos! Thanks to Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP.com) for this cute video.


And for you, do you really want to feel like a zombie, shuffling through existence? Life has so much more to offer!


Unwind your body tension and stress with a Craniosacral Therapy session, designed to work with your head, neck and spine. This light-touch therapy can do wonders with reducing pain and headaches.


If you are ready to kick your zombie to the curb, schedule a session with me, Kim. I hope to see you soon!

Valentine's Week appointment openings



It's Valentine's Week. Happy Valentine's to you all!


I have a couple of openings in my appointment schedule that I would like to fill. Are you ready to have an AMAZING session that helps you unwind, relax and rid you of your aches and pains? Great! Let's get you scheduled...

Waupaca Office

(located within Hope With Acupuncture, 1336 Michigan Street, Waupaca, WI)

* Tuesday, February 13th: 3pm-4pm only.

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Weyauwega Home Studio

(located at E5828 Hillside Drive, Weyauwega, WI)

* Wednesday, February 14th: 1pm-7pm
* Thursday, February 15th: 8am-10am and 1pm-7pm.
* Friday, February 16th: 8am-4pm.

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Relax, Revive, Renew and Re-charge with a customized session that includes the best of Massage Therapy, Reflexology and more!

To schedule your session at either location, please call/text me (Kim) 920-659-3805. I look forward to helping you relieve your stress and aches & pains this week!

Roll those Feet back to health!

OUCH...MY ACHING FEET!

Health Tip #4: Foot Rolling


Admit it...your feet take a beating each day! Whether it's from the walking, running, stair-climbing, shoes that fit/don't fit, high heels and exercise...we put our feet through their paces! No wonder they get sore, dry and stinky.


Relaxing the muscles and soft tissues in the feet can help relax the rest of your body, too! And you don't need to invest in a lot of equipment.


The very basic of foot rolling you can use a tennis ball or golf ball. Place near your favorite chair and roll while you watch your favorite show. You can also have one next to your bed to roll your feet before you get up or go to bed.

You can even make yourself a "frozen" foot roller by filling an empty 16-24 oz. bottle 1/2 to 3/4 full of water and put into the freezer. Once frozen, pull out and roll as needed. Then return to the freezer.

You can't "over-roll." Give it a try for a week and notice the difference!


But what if you need a bit more?
If you are lucky enough to live near a "Reflexology Walking Path" or even if you have a gravel path, you can give your feet a treatment with a barefoot walk. But go slowly at first, as your feet adjust to the acupressure of each stone into the soft tissues and how the bones in your feet and ankles adjust to help keep your balance.

 The walk a little painful on the joints? You can increase your flexibility with ankle rotations. My college roommate would pick up a dry washcloth with her toes. You could also try picking up marbles and dropping them in a container:

And after all that rolling and exercise, treat your feet to a relaxing footbath filled with warm water and Epsom salts or warm water and Apple Cider Vinegar:

Enjoy your day!


- Kim





Massage Therapist Care

You remember to come in for your sessions. But have you ever wondered if YOUR therapist receives Massage & Bodywork? The good ones do every so often. The great ones receive it regularly.


As we relax and receive, we "feel" how our therapist's hands and pressure work with our bodies. Softening and molding tight tissues, moving fluids, and allowing us to go inward and let go of our stress.


I see several therapists trained in different modalities: Massage Therapy, Thai Massage, Reiki, Healing Touch, Reflexology and Acupuncture, to name a few. I am always learning during my sessions, just how wonderful and diverse the natural health field is. Besides getting awesome sessions, I learn about my therapist and his/her work. This helps when I need to make referrals.


Today I was able to receive an Acupuncture treatment followed by a Massage Therapy session. I'm relaxing now with my heating pad before heading off to bed (after I finish this). After a good night's sleep of eight hours, I will be refreshed and ready to get back to work.


So when you go in for your session, don't be afraid to ask your therapist when was the last time he/she had some sort of bodywork session.


#massagetherapistcare

What is Reiki?



Reiki, in a nutshell, is an energy work therapy that sends positive energy into the body. This may be done for a variety of reasons: to heal, to relax, to remove pain, to de-stress, to bring the body into balance. Reiki promotes healing by activating the relaxation response, called the parasympathetic nervous system.


The practitioner may place their hands in a series of positions on or slightly above the body. This positive energy flows from the practitioner's hands into the body. The client may feel sensations of warmth or cooling on their skin, or nothing at all. Some clients fall into a deep sleep, others comment on feeling as relaxed as getting a massage. Some close their eyes and see colors. Everyone that receives a Reiki treatment has a different reaction. Each experience is unique to that individual.


Scientifically, Reiki has shown to decrease pain levels, speed healing, relax tension in the body and de-stress the mind. Reiki has been used worldwide in hospices and hospitals to bring comfort and relief to patients and their care givers.


Reiki energy work is not a religion, it is not a religious practice. It cannot be used to control others nor bring harm to another. It can only do good - it is positive energy that brings deep healing and relaxation. It accepts everyone, no matter what your belief system.


I have spent a decade studying Reiki. I started in 2005 and finally received my Karuna Master certification in 2015. In all the years of study, I have never come across anyone or any report saying that Reiki caused harm. It's name is Japanese, translating literally to "universal life energy." If we were living in a Star Wars movie, it would be called, "The Force," that which gives us life.



We are all energy, after all. Atoms clustered together to create cells, organs and body systems, held together by an energetic force. We call it "Life."


There are other energy work therapies similar to Reiki, like LaHoChi, Healing Touch or Therapeutic Touch and Quantum Energetics. All work to send positive energy to help us to relax, feel pain-free and heal physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.


If you are interested in receiving a Reiki treatment or would like more information, my website is
http://soothingsessionsbodywork.abmp.com


I want to thank Angie Webster, from Reiki Rays (reikirays.com) for helping me write this post.

When do I need to come in next for my: Massage, Reflexology, Reiki or CranioSacral session?

Regular therapy treatments are important to maintaining your good health. Clients always ask how often they should come in. Your therapist will be able to help you determine your healing schedule based upon your past therapy treatments, health history and any issues that happen between your appointments.


A rule of thumb is, if it is an acute injury/trauma, surgery recovery, lingering illness, constant headaches, etc., you may need to come in more frequently in order for your therapist to reduce pain and inflammation. Over time, the frequency of appointments will lessen. You may also be asked to do some "homework" in between your appointments.


However, if you are looking to decrease stress and daily aches and pains; you may need to come in less frequently. Depending upon your health situation, you may only need to come in for a maintenance treatment every 4-8 weeks to keep you in tip-top shape.

Don't let the warmer temps and summer sunshine distract you into neglecting your health!

If you would like to learn more about Massage Therapy, Reflexology, Reiki & CranioSacral Therapy, visit:

http://soothingsessionsbodywork.abmp.com
http://pinterest.com/ssbodywork
http://facebook.com/soothingsessionsweyauwega

B-R-E-A-T-H-E is my Healthy Day tip #2!

Have you been enjoying our first of my five TOP HEALTH TIPS? These tips are designed to help you feel your best between your Massage & Bodywork visits...and make your day more relaxed, too.


And now on to Tip #2: Breathing


How often have you had someone tell you "take a deep breath" or "just breathe through it"?
Breathing is one of our most basic bodily functions...you draw your first breath of air at your birth and then continue, almost unconsciously, for the rest of your life. But are you getting the proper amount of oxygen?
Oxygen plays a vital role in the biochemical activity called "metabolism." Without oxygen, our cells die, our bodies stop making necessary enzymes to "burn" food, to repair cells, to make new cells, etc.

When we are stressed or busy, we often don't breathe as deeply as we need. When we are relaxed (like when we sleep), we breathe in deeply.

Dr. Andrew Weil (drweil.com) has 3 breathing exercises that I have found helpful. My favorite is the 4-7-8 or "Relaxation" Exercise:

 

1. Sit up straight (you can also close your eyes, too, if you want).
2. Close your mouth and inhale deeply (into your belly) to the mental count of 4.
3. Hold your breath to the mental count of 7.
4. Open your mouth and exhale - making a "WHOOSHING" sound - to the count of 8.
5. This is considered ONE complete breath. Now REPEAT the cycle THREE more times.

I know, easy, right? Do this to help you fall asleep at night or whenever you are having a bad day or have something stressful happen. Check out Dr. Weil's site, practice his recommended breathing exercises and let us know how they are helping you!

And if you'd like to try a more advanced deep breathing technique, try the "alternate nostril" breath. That's right, you hold one nostril closed as you breath in. Alternate sides until you finish your Dr. Weil's breathing technique. NOTE: Because of the large amount air intake through the open nostril, the inside of your open nostril may have a burning sensation or you may feel a little dizzy. It's normal and will clear up when you finish and return to your normal breathing pattern.

All you need is a little practice. You can practice these techniques one, two or more times per day...especially when you are feeling stressed. This act of conscious breathing can clear your mind so you can focus on difficult situations. Now, my message to you is...

We're reaching the middle of my TOP 5 health tips.  Stay tuned for next week's tip!