Many people don’t take vacations often enough. A lot of people don’t even take annual vacations! And now with increasing frequency, when we do take vacations, we often bring work along with us, keeping ourselves essentially still in the work mindset we’re trying to escape. This isn’t a good thing at all, especially when there are …
Author Archives: Sarah Gaudette
Boost your mood with aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the application of essential oils through baths, spa treatments, facials or massage. Essential oils are distilled from plants — such as lavender, eucalyptus and peppermint — which give the oils their fragrances and therapeutic qualities. Research on the sense of smell has shown that scent is perceived by the part of the brain …
Massage relaxes, promotes healing
Revered through the ages Throughout human history, massage was used for everything from stiff, painful muscles to chronic disease. In China, medical texts refer to it as early as 3000 B.C. Today massage therapy is being used by a wide range of people as a pain reliever, antidote to stress, and enhancer of athletic performance. …
Breaking the Stress Chain
Negative feelings are usually the result of negative thoughts. The more negative thoughts you have, the more the negative feelings follow and before you know it, your stress level begins to soar. This usually happens until something severs the chain. It could be a simple event like suddenly hearing a piece of music or stepping …
Relief for Achy Hands and Feet
Do your hands and/or feet ache after a long day? Well I can relate. Being a massage therapist my hands sometimes get a beating and then my feet sometimes ache after standing all day long. When I come home I want relief fast. This is what I do: 1. First I want to decrease the …
Fight Cold Season
It’s winter…which means Cold Season for many people. So it’s that time of year again when you could deplete your B – vitamins and end up with mouth and tongue sores. Not fun and there are simple ways to avoid developing them. It’s easy to deplete your B – vitamins by eating processed/refined foods. If …
Increase trust and closeness
If you haven’t yet learned how to give your sweetie a therapeutic massage, February is the perfect time. Receiving massage from your partner can yield all the benefits you expect like reduced stress, decreased achiness and improved sleep. But it can also do wonders for your relationship. It’s a way to get away from interruptions, have a chance to listen …
Taking charge
Many people feel victimized by stress. But relaxation can reverse the ill effects of stress by helping you learn to respond differently. The key is to practice relaxing regularly. If you take time during your workday for a 15-minute massage, a lunchtime yoga class, or simply breathing slowly and deeply for several minutes, you’ll let go of stress buildup and start to relax. …
Relaxation impacts heart health
February is heart month A range of techniques including massage, relaxing music, guided relaxation and yoga have shown promising results in lowering blood pressure and heart rate — factors that have a positive effect on heart health. Recent research indicates that relaxation techniques can reduce strain on the heart. One study from Duke University followed …
Deep Breathing for Health
Practicing deep breathing every day is another way to keep both mind and body healthy and relaxed. The cells of the body, from the brain to the muscle tissues, depend on oxygen to function well. Here is a simple exercise to try. Inhale quietly through your nose to the count of four, then hold your …