Black Friday 2012

The election ad campaigns are finally over, which means the holiday season is officially upon us. Clients of mine from years past may be wondering if I'll be offering a Black Friday special as I have for the past two years. In the past couple years, my Black Friday special offer was limited to only my Facebook "fans." This year, EVERYONE is hearing about it, but those who HAVE "liked" my Facebook business page will have an added perk that I'll be sharing next week. "Like" my page so you too can enjoy the special treatment!

Here are this year's Black Friday offers:

**Buy 2 gift certificates, get 1 free

OR

**Buy a 60-minute massage gift certificate and get 30-minutes added on to it for free

In the first option, the 2 paid-for gift certificates will not expire, but the free gift certificate will expire May 31, 2013. In the second option, the full 90-minutes will expire May 31, 2013, but the paid-for 60-minute portion will not expire. For either option, this offer is limited to 3 gift certificates per purchasing person, meaning you can 'buy 2, get 1 free' OR buy 3 60-minute + 30-minute gift certificates only. 

Remember, you can "like" my Facebook page for extra special treatment not only for this Black Friday deal, but that's also where I post any same-day appointments that I'm trying to book and discount those appointments by $15!  

WHEN: 8am-12pm Friday, November 23, 2012

HOW: Call 503-318-9626 or email me at rachelsheardlmt AT gmail DOT com. I can take your card information over the phone, and either mail your gift certificates to you, or arrange a time for you to pick them up. If you choose to email me, I will need your card number, expiration date, zipcode and the 3 digit code on the back of your card. 

WHO: This offer is open to all current and past clients (and anyone you may forward this to).

By the way, do you know who my ideal clients are? I would MOST love for you to share the gift of massage with these people. Thanks! 

Experience=Skill?

Dusting off the ol' blog, and hope to touch back once in a while with refreshing topics. Today, I share with you two greatly varying experiences of receiving massage. I'd love to hear feedback from your own experiences. Please share your comments below, or back at my Facebook page.

Experience #1--My Own Personal Experience

Last week, I went to my school for my (free for alumni) monthly massage. My student therapist was Veronica. I must say, I was quite impressed! She was very receptive to everything I said I was needing that day--a little more therapeutic than just relaxation as I had just begun my P90X workouts. Veronica's pressure was great. She asked about what kind of pressure I liked in our intake, and checked in with me a little bit into the massage. I said it could be just a little deeper, and she adjusted her pressure perfectly. I also asked her about doing glute work, as every massage I'd had at the school in the past 6 months, no one had worked my glutes, and I didn't know if that was a new clinic rule or something. She said it was not, and was happy to work my glutes (they're big muscles, and one of my favorite areas to get worked on!). 

As the massage was nearing the end, she had worked on my right arm, then went to my left. I felt like my right arm, particularly my triceps, needed a little more work thanks to the workout I'd done that day. She spent more time with my left before going back to my right. As I was already face up, she wasn't quite sure how to work my triceps as much as they needed. I suggested that one way would be for me to flip over, and have my arm off the side of the table, also to get into the lats that way. She quickly thought to bring my arm so my hand reached my opposite shoulder, and that worked well without needing to flip back over to my stomach again. I was impressed too, that Veronica didn't seem at all intimidated to be getting such feedback from a licensed therapist--I remember as a student or even newly LMT that I was a bit intimidated by having other LMTs as my client. 

All in all, she did a fabulous job, and I was completely satisfied. I can easily say she has been the best student therapist I've had since I've been going back to the school for massages. She'll be in clinic at Anthem College in Beaverton for another 5-6 weeks, so I definitely recommend going to see her if you happen to live/work in that area. It's $25 for a one hour (think 55min or so) massage, cash only. Call 503-906-9045 and ask for an appointment with Veronica. Appointments are Mon-Thurs at 2:15, 3:30, and 4:45. I'm not sure if there's later appointments than that currently. And let her know I sent you--I'm sure she would love to hear that!

Experience #2--Client Feedback From Massage at Massage Envy

Also last week, one of my regular clients (who has been through massage school, but is not yet licensed) emailed me after receiving a massage from a gift certificate that was given to her. Here's what she had to say: 

"So a friend gave me a free massage for Massage Envy. I used it tonight...the whole time I was just thinking about how it wasn't done very well.  Not really well at all actually. The therapist I had has been a LMT for eight years. I'm not a massage therapist, yet, but I'm pretty sure I do better than that. And I'm really not trying to be mean or anything. I mean it wasn't horrible, just very different from yours. (which I love!) Missing a part here and there, not very smooth or flowing, didn't do any compression before pulling the sheet down, just different. I found it interesting and wanted to say Thank you! By far, you are the best massage therapist I've met and I really enjoy and appreciate you and your services. :)"

What a contrast in experience, right? Not all therapists are a good fit for every client, and some may have seen the therapist at Massage Envy and be perfectly happy with their experience, just the same as you may go see Veronica and think that I'm crazy too. We all have different needs, and as therapists, we all interpret our clients' wants/needs and have different ways to reach those goals. I definitely side more with making sure I understand your wants/needs prior to beginning the massage, and hope you'll also be honest with me during your time on the table and tell me what you need to have done differently if I'm not quite getting it right for you. As a client, you have only so much time on the table--however, if my schedule allows, I may suggest you take a little more time so I can really work out what needs attention/what brought you in--and I value your time and want to make it a good investment for you. 

Have you ever had a massage at a student clinic at one of the massage schools around town? What has your experience at a massage chain (Massage Envy, Elements, etc) been like? What is your "best massage ever" story? Worst?

A Dose of Inspiration: Recharge

Ahh...taking an uneventful vacation is so nice!

My husband had planned his vacation (paid, one of those perks of being an employee) for the second week in January. I was still undecided about whether I would also be taking that time off work. We didn't have any plans of doing anything special, he mostly was taking it ... to take it. 

As one of my very best regular clients was finishing his appointment with me, he was thinking of scheduling his next appointment within that week. As I explained my uncertainty of whether I would also be taking vacation, he urged me to do it, saying that the money (my vacations are not paid!) will always come, but you never get the time back to do things differently. That sold me. (And I'm so happy, the money did come, in the form of insurance payments I'd billed a few weeks prior.)

We still didn't do anything special--really. My husband went to 2 Blazer games and his regular bowling league. But for me...it was so nice to not have to go and be somewhere. Many of you probably know that I'm beginning to itch to shift my work schedule once our youngest is in school, so that we can all be at school/at work at the same time, and all be home together--at the same time. Yes, I enjoy the flexibility of my career, and it has been tremendously helpful in avoiding daycare expenses, but it still comes with a toll of its own, and I'm ready to pay THAT debt off! ;) 

So that vacation was a wonderful way for me to recharge my batteries. Looking back, I realized my husband took his last vacation in July--but I did not. My last vacation was in February of 2011 when he and I took our first cruise together--SO awesome! That trip included my weekend workshop training to be a Certified Injury Prevention Instructor, and as soon as we landed back on the west coast, we were jolted back into the middle of buying our house. The cruise was fabulous, but the vacation ended quite abruptly.

I feel restored. My theme for this year is "Embrace." I am ready to do just that.

Product & Service Spotlight: Aloe & Herb Bodywraps; & Scrub Cloths

Just before I started my vacation this month, a new client inquired about having bodywraps done. Not wanting to leave her stranded while I was on vacation, I was going to make an exception to see her, as she wanted to do the wraps in preparation for an upcoming trip. We did 3 of the Warm Linen Wraps before my vacation, then she purchased some of the Solution Gel and continued doing the wraps herself at home. Upon returning from my vacation, she went back to the Warm Linen Wraps. She decided to just take measurements at her first and last wrap with me, so I can't tell what her inch loss is up to this point, but it is noticeable, as well as smoothing of cellulite from the thighs. What struck me, was her comment that she feels much less fatigue, much more energy than before beginning the wraps, and that she would be continuing the wraps (package of 7) for that benefit alone, that the inch-loss was now just a perk to go along with that result.

Aloe & Herb Toxin Cleansing Body Wraps

Aloe and herbs surround you for 45 minutes during these warming, soothing, hydrating, and deeply relaxing body wraps. A great treatment for clients with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, MS, diabetes, gastric bypass, acne, and the list goes on. No shower needed after body wrap. 

It is your choice whether we take measurements before and after. If we do, I mark the places I get measurements on your body with an eye-liner pencil, to assure measuring the same place again after your wrap is finished. 

Inch-loss results are possible and best seen by clients who bathe with Aloe or Lavender Body Wash and with series of 7 or 12 wraps. Series discount pricing when booking and paying in advance. Following the wrap, the effect of the Aloe & Herbs stays in your body for 3 days. For each of those 3 days, try to drink a gallon of water (128oz) to help flush the toxins (Toxins stored in fat include but are not limited to ca ffeine, nicotine, medication by-products, food chemicals, environmental substances, etc.) from your body. Ideally, wraps should be done at 4 day intervals, to maintain the level of Aloe & Herbs effect in your body. 

You have three choices of wraps, and each is explained below.

Warm Linen Wrap

This is the most commonly done wrap using rolled linen cloths that have been soaked in the tea-like Aloe & Herb Solution. The linen cloths are wrapped on your body, and you will look like a mummy when we're finished. Wearing cotton underwear and bra will allow the aloe & herb solution to reach your skin for full body absorption and maximum toxin cleansing. 

After each half of your body is wrapped, you pull the warming suit (think rain-suit) over the wrapped parts to hold in the heat. Then you get cozy under a blanket on the massage table and enjoy 45 minutes of peace and quiet while the Aloe & Herbs penetrate through your pores. It's not uncommon to be chilled as the wraps are removed. $75

Warm Linen Wrap Series of 12 $750--SAVE $150=TWO FREE WRAPS!!

Warm Linen Wrap Series of 7 $450--SAVE $75=ONE FREE WRAP!

Solution Gel Wrap

The gel formula allows those sensitive to heat or with sunburns to enjoy the cleansing effects of the traditional body wrap. The gel is applied to the body and covered with plastic wrap.  Then you get cozy under a blanket on the massage table and enjoy 45 minutes of peace and quiet while the Aloe & Herbs penetrate through your pores. It's not uncommon to be chilled as the plastic wrap is removed.  $65

Express Wrap-n-Go

Solution Gel Wrap applied from elbows to knees, covered with plastic wrap. Then you redress, go about your day, and remove the plastic wrap yourself after 45-60 minutes. $35

Scrub Cloths

Speed the skin cell turnover process by buffing your skin more effectively than with a washcloth or loofah. Use prior to your bodywrap with the Aloe Bodywash or Lavender Spa Bath/Bodywash for maximum absorption power of the bodywrap.

Small $6, Large $9

A Dose of Inspiration: Holiday Magic

What a fantastic holiday season it's been. About 60 gift certificates for massages went out this season, including those from my Black Friday Special. Two of my clients shared some of their home baked goodies with me when they came for their massage. A couple clients padded their tip to me, as a special "holiday bonus." Another client brought me a Worry Doll wall hanging, soon to be gracing the wall in my massage room.

I am feeling the love!! I am thankful for all the gift certificate purchases. It means so much to me that my clients value my services so much that they want to share that experience with their family, friends, and coworkers. 

So. So. Good!! I only have a picture of one of the goodies shared, because the other ones disappeared before I even thought about taking a pic. Delicious!

When you see these Guatemalan Worry Dolls on the wall in my massage room, I welcome you to tell them all your concerns. May they help you relax and find even more enjoyment from your time on my table. 

PS--I still have lots and lots of the Lindt Lindor Truffle samples. They're sticking around a whole lot longer this year, since I vowed to keep MY hands off!! ;) They are SOOO good though, and come with a $1 off coupon too. 

Hope everyone enjoys this holiday season as much as I am! 

A Dose of Inspiration: Keep Moving

So you know this much about success: Make goals, break them down, and start checking steps off your to-do list, right? An important piece to keep in mind is to keep moving. You sit down, and it's SO much harder to get back up and work on the next step. Keep your head up, take deep belly breaths, focus. Remember why you're doing it, how much better you'll feel when you've finished it, what difference it will make in your life, who else will benefit from the end result with you. 

Keep moving.

And don't be reluctant to pat yourself on the back when you reach your goal. I am a big proponent of rewarding myself for a job well done. The reward doesn't have to be huge. I'm a bit like Pavlov's Dog when I'm at work--I've developed a tradition of allowing myself one piece of Dove dark chocolate after each massage I give. Keeps my sweet tooth in check. ;) 

I'm also about to get my next massage scheduled--after many hard hours working in our backyard this week, it's almost done, and I am SOO ready to rest and treat my body to some TLC. And I highly recommend you do the same! ;) 

Got the second stump out yesterday.

Hard to believe there used to be 2 trees growing in the middle of the yard, then 2 big holes from taking out the stumps, huh? Can't wait to make it grass instead of dirt now!!

Yes, I know I need more massages than just after lots of hard yardwork, but I also know how much more enjoyable it will be to know that I won't have to do more yardwork still, after I've gotten a massage. Once the grass seed is down & covered, I will relax. Ahhh....can't wait!

Stress-Buster Deal for Today Only

I found a gem in my inbox today, worthy of sharing! The link here has a LOT of info on it, but I think it'll be worth it. I've ordered my book, and once I read it, I'll keep it in the client waiting area at the massage studio for clients to thumb through or maybe borrow. Short and sweet from me--go check out that link!