Stay Hydrated!!

We're finally beginning to get some summer weather--yay! It's always important to keep your body hydrated, but as we start seeing more sun and higher temperatures, plus increased physical activity that usually goes along with summer, it becomes even more important that our bodies have the right amount of fluids coming in.

Two common misconceptions there: right amount and fluid. What defines each?

Let's start with fluids and then move to find out how much you should be drinking.

Fluids that hydrate your body are NOT: coffee--whether regular or decaf, or soda--whether regular or diet, caffeinated or caffeine-free. Some better choices might be juices or milk, but the best choice, and what you should focus on drinking the most of, is good old h2o. Water. This isn't new news, but I still get clients that drink mostly coffee and/or soda throughout the day. Coffee and soda are actually fluids that dehydrate your body. So while you might think, "Well, I drink something all day," you're not actually hydrating your body and may be making it harder for your body to perform its functions. Switching to water can make a huge difference in the way your body functions.

Now, how much water should you be drinking? There's several ways to quote how much water a person should drink. Some say 8-8oz. glasses a day, for a total of 64oz. Some say a glass of water for every hour you're awake. Some say, and what I feel is the best way to drink as much water as YOUR body needs, is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day. Don't panic--what that really means, is if you weigh, say, 150 pounds, then you would drink 75 ounces of water. If you weigh 125 pounds, you would drink roughly 62 ounces of water. If you weigh 200 pounds, you would drink 100 ounces of water. You get the idea. 

Now, you might be wondering how you will ever drink all that water in one day. First of all, you shouldn't wait until you're thirsty before reaching for something to drink. You may already be dehydrated at that point, and will likely be reaching for something with flavor, something less likely to actually hydrate you. If you don't drink very much water on a regular basis, give yourself the best shot, and don't expect to drink your quoted amount right away. Just work on increasing your intake. You may need to experiment what temperature of water is your favorite to drink. Some people will only drink ice cold water, some like it from the fridge, some like it at room temperate, some like it somewhere in between. You might also need to experiment with different water-holders. Do you like drinking from a cup, glass, straw, a wide- or narrow-neck bottle? Carry water, in whichever means you prefer, with you wherever you go, and drink from it often. 

By staying hydrated, your muscles will be less likely to become sore, your body can excrete waste products more efficiently, by means of sweat, clearer urine, and regular bowel movements. You'll have better circulation, your skin won't be as dry and may clear up if you're prone to blemishes. 

Cheers--to a fun-filled, beautiful summer ahead, and your increased hydration to boot!

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!

Honorable Mentions...

In my last post, I shared 10 "favorite" things about my clients. It didn't take me long to realize I left off a few other very favorite things. 

I love:

• When clients really, truly breathe with the massage. Not sure if you do this, or what I'm even talking about? What I mean is breathing in on lighter pressure, and exhaling through deeper pressure, such as when working on a tight spot on the back. Breathing in this way helps your body accept the massage more thoroughly. Visualizing the tension leaving your body as you exhale can be very effective, and speeds the results you may be after. It also shows that you are present in the moment of receiving massage, not frantically concerned about how your to-do list is multiplying while you're getting your massage. And the truth to that is that you will be much more productive after getting a massage anyway.
• When clients give me feedback during their session. SO helpful! I love knowing which spot or pressure amount is just exactly what you want. Again, another way to reach your results faster. Although, I do understand if you just want to zonk out during your massage too...just bear in mind, your consciousness can be helpful if there's a particular area of focus you want or need attention on improving.
• When clients post testimonials online. So many of my new clients find me online, especially on Google, and having reviews on there makes a big difference. Some of these new clients specifically mention how they liked what people have said about my work when calling to make that first appointment. I try to market myself in many ways, but this is one area that I can't do myself, and is so helpful to have. If you have a few minutes to spare, think about what YOU might say in a review for me/my work. Also check out my client loyalty program and see how I show you my appreciation. Then, post your review online to  Google, MerchantCircle, Yahoo, Decidio, Superpages, Yellow Pages, Insider Pages, Bing, Yelp, Angie‘s List, or any other place you find my business listed.

Thank you, to all my clients. You're the best!

What I LOVE About My Clients

Consider this your official shout-out. There are so many things I love about my clients, I couldn't keep it in any longer--it's time to tell the world!


I love:

• When you refer your friends, family and co-workers to me. That tells me you trust me and want your loved ones to experience for themselves the impact massage can make on their lives.
• When you rate your overall health as "Excellent" on my intake form. That tells me that you truly care about your body, and makes it less likely that you'll expect a miracle to happen in 60 minutes or less.
• When you schedule your next appointment before leaving. Not only does that tell me you enjoyed your massage, but that you don't want 6 months to pass like the blink of an eye before you set foot in my office again.
• When you keep your appointments! I'm sure lots of times when an appointment needs to be rescheduled, it's not my fault, but there's times when I can't help but wonder. Keeping your appointments keeps my confidence intact.
• When you tell me how much you've been looking forward to getting your massage when you come in. I'm so glad to be a part of making your life better.
• When you follow me on Twitter. This is especially helpful for those clients who don't book their appointments in advance, and really rely on calling to get an appointment TODAY, since that's pretty much all I post on Twitter.
• When you "Like" my business page on Facebook.
• When you "Like" my new website. By the way, there's "like" buttons on all the pages. :) Word of mouth is the best way I get new clients, and this is a really easy way for you to tell all your friends about me. Look at the Client Loyalty Program page for more reasons why you should do this.
• When you compliment my new room design. It's wonderful to have my massage room all to myself, and I'm so glad it's done now.
• How you think of me and keep me involved in your life. It's nice to know you think of me other than when you're hurting. :)

Thank you, to all my clients. You're the best!

Do you suffer from headaches and/or neck pain?

A few weeks ago, I participated in a webinar put on by Dr. Ben Benjamin (yes, that's his name!), who has been practicing massage for over 40 years and is a leader within the massage field.


Dr. Benjamin shared the 3 main causes of neck pain: injuries to the neck ligaments, loss of range of motion (ROM), and chronic accumulation of muscle tension. Did you know there are 18 ligaments in the neck that can cause referral pain throughout the entire upper body? Did you know our range of motion naturally decreases as we age? Did you know the "normal" number of headaches per year is just 3-4? 


Chronic tension in the face, jaw and occipital area (the back, lower portion of the skull) can cause tension headaches, and clenching your teeth can actually increase the tension in your neck also. 


The good news is that massage is very effective at decreasing the frequency and intensity of headaches and neck pain. Treatments may take as long as 3-4 months or longer if the issue has been present for a long time, or as few as 6-8 sessions if the issue has only been bothering you for a couple months. The even better news is that you can speed the process towards living a more pain-free and headache-free life by doing some self-care between massage appointments.


I highly recommend you watch Dr. Ben Benjamin's video on neck stretches and practice this routine at least once a day. I've done these stretches before bed, and when I woke up, my neck still felt fabulous, not stiff at all. I've also done the stretches first thing in the morning when I wake up, and it helps loosen my neck for the day, particularly if I'd forgotten to stretch the night before.

Meet Robo-ssage

Check this out! For a mere $6,799, you too can enjoy yourself a robotic massage. 


My initial thoughts are:
**Hmm...looks enjoyable...probably better than the massage chair experience I had when I got my pedicure last week, minus the pedicure.
**What about the front of the body?
**There's no stretching involved.
**Doesn't look suitable for larger body types.
**Are buyers really going to see $6,799 worth of value from this thing before it starts collecting dust and holding laundry? 
**Buyers miss out on one major factor that drives my clients to get a massage from me: HUMAN TOUCH. There's no substitute for it, including this.
**Comparable to paying $6,799 for a CD that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home, versus spending $60 every so often to go to the actual concert. 


If you'd like, just pay me $6,799 and I'll be happy to give you a massage every day for 113 days. I'd be thrilled to take part in a study comparing the use of this fake massager every day, versus a real massage every day for the same amount of time and cost. Sure, some might argue that after 113 days, the value in the chair goes on, but I contend it to be gathering dust by then. And those receiving real massage would be flying high on cloud 9. 


What do YOU think?

Upcoming Improvements

Wow, a lot has been going on lately! A few of my clients already know that I've been plugging away at a whole new website. The good news is, it's almost ready to launch. The bad news is, I think it needs to wait a little longer to launch until my other improvements are ready to go also.


What does that mean? A LOT.


I'm nearly caught in limbo now. My next moves are dependent upon some incoming dollars I am expecting. Once I see some green, there will be a new logo, a new slogan, and a flux of new marketing: business cards, signs, magnets, postcards, the whole shabang.


And let's not forget some of the best news! Jeana, the therapist I've been sharing my massage room with at Heidi's Too, will be moving her business elsewhere in just over a week. The fantastic part is I will now have my room all to myself! Clients coming in for treatments in the next few weeks will be seeing lots of these changes gradually take place. I will be painting the room and refurnishing it with only myself and my clients in mind. It will be gorgeous when I'm done, I can hardly wait!