Cupping Massage

Posted on by shawnmarielmt

I’m very happy to now be offering Cupping Massage as a part of my approach to myofascial release and deep tissue massage sessions! This technique is the practice of applying cups to the skin. The cups create a vacuum, and as a result, the tissues lying underneath the cup are drawn up by the suction.

The goal is to help relieve tension and adhesions in the fascia and muscular tissue by the inverse process usually provided by massage. Instead of manually pushing the tissue down and stretching it, we pull the tissue up via the cup and stretch it. This gives us a unique approach to treating long standing tension, scar tissue and other issues that limit full function.

Cups can be left stationary and also glide on the skin. My technique is to combine the placement and movement of the cups to help assist in deep muscular release that myofascial release and other neuromuscular techniques provide within the same session.

Cupping does leave behind visible marks as a result of drawing blood and lymph fluid to the surface. These marks will vary depending on how taught the tissue underneath it is and how long the cup is left in place. These “cupping kisses” can last anywhere from 48 hours to 10 days.

Please contact me for more information about how cupping can help you regain range of motion and relieve tension!

Season’s Greetings!

Posted on by shawnmarielmt

The Sun is soon to return longer in each day! Time to celebrate!! And so, wanting to wish you a wonderful Holiday Season and much cheer and goodwill, I bring to you opportunities to bring the benefits of massage with you into the New Year for yourself and for your loved ones!

I am announcing another location you can buy Gift Certificates! At your convenience, please feel free to stop on down to Mother Earth Natural Foods here in Geneva, at 441 Exchange Street, anytime during operation hours (Monday-Thursday 9:30am-5:30pm, Friday 9:30am-6pm & Saturday 10 am-3pm). You’ll find upon asking that Gift Certificates are available behind the register counter and will be available to purchase by cash or check. I will only be able to charge debit or credit cards here in the office or over the phone.

Mother Earth Natural Foods is a wonderful health food & vitamin store that I have been working with since I’ve been working as an LMT here in Geneva starting in 2006. I have been a customer of theirs since I was a teen. Can’t say enough about how much I love them!

This Holiday Season I am also listing packages available through Dec 31st, 2014. Packages are perfect for those who need some concentrated amounts of TLC and/or are recovering from a particular strain/injury. Receiving the benefits of bodywork sessions scheduled closely together can make a big difference! There is a savings per package and it gradually increases per the quantity of sessions in each. **

3- One Hour Massage Sessions ~ $165
(a savings of $15!)

6- One Hour Massage Sessions ~ $315
(a savings of $45!)

9- One Hour Massage Sessions ~ $540
!! 10th Massage free !! (a savings of $60!)

Have a wonderful season of celebration, and many wishes of a happy and healthy New Year!!

** Please note:
The modality of techniques used in each package can be your choice, but the time frames and quantities stay the same. These packages are to be used by an individual or couple, and cannot be broken up into separate Gift Certificates for multiple people. All packages must be used within a year of purchase date.

It’s been a ‘lil while…hasn’t it? ;)

Posted on by shawnmarielmt

Greetings all!! It’s been quite some time since I’ve had the chance to update my doings and goings on about my practice.  I’ve been steadily busy and this spring has also brought about moving my family into Geneva.  Being a part of the community that has supported me the last 5.5 years is a wonderful feeling and I’m excited to see where the possibilities take us!

Over this past winter I have focused on my CranioSacral Therapy training and am now practicing this modality on a regular basis.  I have been working with The Upledger Institute and greatly look forward to my continued studies.  I will be writing a full description of this work in the near future, so please keep a look out!

As always, I’m happy to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact me and come by the office!

New Spring, New Leaf…

Posted on by shawnmarielmt

There is something that must be said for the feeling that comes with the fresh wind, cool rain and even the smallest green poking through the yet still cold ground every Spring.  New life emerges, a new cycle has started.  Each year we see these signs but do we ever really take them to heart?  Just like a Crocus blooming first each year, we have our own small shoots reaching to emerge from their slumber and bask in the sun.  Are you reaching for that sunlight?

I have been reminded of the need to continuously reach, push forth into the sun and yearn for new growth.  The need to reach is especially prevalent when we’ve become comfortable in our habits.  Sometimes our habits are productive and supportive of the life we want to lead. Other times it seems we’ve become stagnant in our ways.

Spring is a wonderful time to reevaluate our goals and how we’re reaching for them.  Do you need to brush off the cold winter dirt and get moving…?? 😉  Feel comfort that you are not alone and that we all need to refocus periodically.

With an unbiased and compassionate look at our true condition, we can be truly humble and honest with ourselves.  Limits of what we want and where we want to be are only perceived if we allow them to cut off our vision.  As the thinker thinks, the prover proves.  What do you think and what do you really want to prove?  This is a reminder to point out that if we only want to see our excuses for not reaching our goals yet, that is all we will see.  Look for the ways that you can reach those goals.  Envision yourself having already reached them, you’ll be surprised how the solution will flow easily when given the space to be manifested.  The inspiration to get up and get going is catchy and it leaves it a beautiful grin on your face. 🙂

So let’s get going!!

To a new Spring and another opportunity to change gracefully!

I’ve Got That Lotion Notion…

Posted on by shawnmarielmt

One subject not always brought up in my office is what kind of products I use while giving a massage.  This is a very legitimate question for a few reasons.  It’s important to know what’s being used on our skin!  It’s the biggest sensing organ of the body and first signs of dis-ease or illness are often seen and felt here, especially if you happen to have sensitive skin!  So some key questions to always ask are; what’s in it?  Where did it come from?  Is it petroleum based?  Just how natural is it???  You get the idea…

What this all boils down to is the INGREDIENTS.   My rule of thumb has always been, if I can’t pronounce it, forget it.  I’ve gone a step beyond this rule however, and now:  If I can’t make it, forget it.

I have always loved learning how to make things for myself.  It’s a large part of who I am.  And when it comes to my Massage Practice, there are no exceptions.  So this fall I started making my own lotion and let me tell you,  I AM IN LOVE!!  🙂   I’ve been making my own oil blends since I started working in this field.  I have always used cold pressed Grapeseed oil with essential oil blends.  This summer I turned to Jojoba Oil as it enriches the skin while protecting it.  I wanted to take this a step further and so started looking for lotion recipes.   While making my salves (for dry skin conditions), I used organic beeswax to seal in the shea butter and Jojoba oil’s wonderful moisturizing qualities.  Sure enough beeswax is the most natural emollient you can use, and so my experimenting began.

My lotion is made of; Aloe Vera (inner fillet), Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Beeswax and Apricot Kernel Oil.  It is rich in texture and soaks into the skin leaving it feeling smooth and refreshed.  I LOVE using it for massages as it does not soak into the skin immediately, but allows the oils to penetrate the skin slowly and is then sealed in by the beeswax.  I have made a number of essential oil blends to compliment certain skin needs.  Such as Calendula  & Arnica to help heal broken and chapped skin and Carrot Seed & Jasmine to promote elasticity.  I’ll be making more specific blends as I am presented with more of my client’s needs, besides making blends purely for aromatherapy uses.

I have made this available to my clients!!  I will be keeping a small supply at the office for sale, and should you like to preorder I am more than happy to oblige. 🙂  I am very excited to see how the future develops!

If any of you fine folks are interested, I am wanting to find out how many would be interested in taking a class to learn how to make this lotion on your own.  The process is very easy, and all ingredients are easy to obtain.  Please contact me with any questions, if I receive enough of a response, I do hope to hold the first class in the beginning of the new year!  WOOHOO LOTION!!

The Day of Love ~ EVERYDAY! <3

Posted on by shawnmarielmt

All right, we’re gonna get a little mushy now…..  🙂

This time of year brings out the best in many people.  Roses and sweets are all typical reminders of this lovely day known as Valentine’s Day.  We are bombarded with ideas of how to show our love and affection, so that no one will ever be able to forget how we feel about them.

How is it that we only have so much focus on love just once a year?  What about the other 364 days of the year?  How often are we reminded that to show love outward, we must show love inward first?  Our own hearts and how we look at ourselves is a true reflection of the love we are able to give and show others.  If we demand so much of ourselves, how then do the people around us feel about what we are reflecting to them?  Do we demand love?  Do we love on the condition of demands being met first?   How do people see your love everyday?

When we cease to take the time to care for ourselves, and allow our hearts to become heavy with worry, we are no longer able to see clearly, both inside and out.  It can be heard in our voices and seen on our face.  Remembering to be patient with ourselves first,  gives us a better opportunity to be patient with others later on.  I am constantly being reminded of my need to slow down, remember that I am a simple human being, and that I can take time to show myself love and care just as much as I show and give it freely to my friends and family.

When I remember to be patient, calm in heart and mind, the effect is felt where ever I go!  My children even slow down, and we can take our time to communicate and hear one another clearly.  It’s amazing the changes you will see, when you slow down first, show yourself love and patience (as no one has it all together every minute of the day!) and then in turn interact with the people around you!  Speaking calmly with that Sales Rep on the phone just might go a bit smoother, when you remember to be calm and keep your voice light and sing song like.  You might think I’m crazy, but I’m tellin’ ya it works!!

Take time this Valentine’s Day to remind yourself of the many ways love is shown to all.  Through the small gestures and little sweetly said words that hang to the heart and keep it afloat later on when times get a little rough.  When we take time to care for ourselves, we are better able to take care of the others we love around us.

Take some time to show yourself some love this Valentine’s Day and EVERYDAY!!  Call the office for an appointment, or send me an email at shawnmarielmt(at)gmail.com !  Gift Certificates are always available both at my office and at Mother Earth Natural Foods, 440 Exchange St., Geneva NY.   I can now also send an online billing invoice via  Google Checkout and give you the option of your choice of payment!  Share the love!!

New Year Evolutions….

Posted on by shawnmarielmt

*Woosh!!*

Did you hear that? That was the sound of my month of December flying “buh bye” and here I am in the foundling days of January without a clue as to where the rest of my last year went off to.  I’m sure this is a typical sentiment for many of us, as the build up for the last days of the year are so big that the first waking mornings of the new year are met with a bit of confusion (or at least a bit of that feeling of “where did the time go?!”).

So it’s a new year,  which brings us to that lovely notion of Resolutions for our Year Anew.  I have recently been reminded that this may be one of the silliest things that we do to our selves, depending on how we approach our goals.  I’m going to include an email I received from a wonderful friend, so that you too may enjoy the blessing of evolution in your new year.

May we all re-learn to go easy on ourselves, and treat one another with the same care we all deserve.  Persevere with the knowledge that you DO make a difference, and every little bit counts…  And remember to treat yourself right and come in to the office for a healing massage!  🙂

THOSE NEW YEAR EVOLUTIONS AND MORE!

John La Valle

I WROTE MOST OF this a few years ago at this time and have decided to rewrite it, add a little here and there because of its popularity.

WHAT IS IT THAT has people “make” New Year Resolutions and then “break” them? We have a local pub here that has a “Break Your New Year’s Resolutions Early – Why Wait?” party on December 30 each year. It kind of adds something to the ritual.

THE WORD *RESOLUTION* itself is a nominalization, a verb formed into a noun. It comes from the word “resolve”, which means to solve, again!! And so many people get into a pattern of re-solving old problems and then not re-solving them because they then turn the process into an event, a static event. How about EVOLUTIONS?!! Evolving continuously, doing new things, get a new look, a new walk, a new talk, a new anything!!

INSTEAD OF MAKING “Resolutions”, how about setting up new directions in which you want to be going this coming year, both personally and professionally? Take some goals, activities, behaviors that you want to be doing, and see yourself doing those in your future, just starting in the next few moments. If you’re going to put those pictures into your future, be sure they’re of behaviors – YOURS – that’s you doing them, dissociate so you can see yourself doing them, then associate so you’ll know what you’ll be seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, tasting. Then dissociate, see yourself doing them!! It’s in your language, too.

REMEMBER, IT’S ONE THING to have goals that are outside of yourself, like that red *Testosterosa*, but without the behaviors, you may not know how to go about getting one, or even earning the money to get one. Remember to keep YOUR goals behavior-driven. That material thing is just the outcome of the outcome, it’s the reward for doing certain behaviors!!

Winter Skin Blues….

Posted on by shawnmarielmt

As the season changes yet again in the next few weeks, so will your skin.  Your skin is the first thing to come into contact with the weather around you (assuming you haven’t used the nose warmer your Grandmother made you last Christmas) and will undoubtedly show the effects of the season.  It’s pretty obvious in the summer when we all have to be aware of our time in the sun, but what about our time in the wind and cold?  What about the time in our homes and the dry air?   It’s no coincidence that our skin dries out and becomes cracked or chapped in the winter time.  So what do you do about it?

There are certain oils that have wonderful effects on your skin.   Grapeseed oil is a wonderful simple oil that greatly nourishes the skin and doesn’t leave it feeling very greasy.  It’s anti-oxident properties are hailed to help fight free radicals in the skin, helping you maintain a young and natural glow.  It is a wonderful carrier oil and is the first oil of choice in my office.  I can mix any blend of essential oils with it and change the focus of it’s desired effects.  Adding Tea Tree essential oil will create a more astringent effect helping fight any acne or other bacterial skin issues, while adding Geranium essential oil will facilitate a more healing effect and aid in faster skin repair.  The options are limitless!   Other oils can be added to your carrier oil, to make a blend incorporating many benefits.

Jojoba Oil is a wonderful oil to add to any skincare lotion or oil.  It mimics human sebum and so aids in skin repair in ways most other oils can’t.  It also naturally fights bacteria and fungus and so it can be added with the purpose of adding extra immune protection.

Sweet Almond Oil is high in protein, other vitamins and minerals.  It’s excellent for all skin types and conditions the skin, keeping it supple and soft.  It has a sweet subtle smell that mixes well with other essential oils.  It’s also one of my favorites for lip butter!

Apricot Kernel Oil is rich in fatty acids and helps keep the skin full of moisture and relieves the effects of Eczema and Psoriasis.  It’s texture is similar to Sweet Almond oil and so blends very nicely to compliment any skin care lotion or oil blend.

Jason Organics also makes a fragrance free lotion (and other products) that you can add any essential oils to, creating a blend that is truly all your own.  These can be found at most Health Food Stores, such as our local Mother Earth Natural Foods or in the organic section of your local grocery store (Go Wegmans!).   Essential oils can help in keeping the skin soft, moisturized and help in the healing of other conditions.  A great list of them and their related suggestions of use can be found here at Nature’s Gift website.  When blending lotions with other oils and essential oils, always have a separate container to accommodate your blend and start with small measurements.  Lotions will thin out when adding other oils and need to be shaken well to ensure a good consistency.   Keeping your old pump bottles comes in handy for these projects!   Adding just a few teaspoons of oil to a cup of lotion is a good start.  Essential oils are best blended first in a small glass bowl (to avoid any mistakes or adding too much of something i.e. stink bombs!),  then added to the lotion/oil.   Again, shake well to mix your blend completely.  Do your best to use lotions that are originally scent free, basic in nature and ingredients.  Avoid petroleum based products whenever you can!

Remember to apply lotion or oil in the evening before bed, as this can be the best time to allow the properties within your skin care to go to work for you.  If you have particularly cracked or chapped hands or feet, applying a generous amount of lotion or oil and then adding a layer of cotton socks or gloves can greatly help your skin heal faster and lock in the moisture (and also protect you and your bed from waking up a mess!).

I hope this has helped some of you, and I’m always making new balms, salves and lip butter so please feel free to ask for any recipes!  Stay warm and keep your skin soft!

Massage your feet to help ward of those seasonal colds…

Posted on by shawnmarielmt

One thing most folks can’t say no to is a good foot massage.  Considering that there is a rough average of 15,000 nerve endings in each foot, it’s no wonder we turn into butter and melt.  This can be used to your advantage, in all seasons and for any particular reason, other than just wanting to relax and “take a load off”.   The use of Essential Oils and Reflexology is a great example of this.

In Reflexology the feet and hands are used as maps to the rest of the body, each place and space responding to another part or organ.  When pairing your area of massage with certain essential oils, you can have a profound effect as your whole body responds.    I have also found this to be the best way to get any “grumpies” under control when tending to the sick.  (Can you tell I’ve recently been caring for sick children? 🙂 )

Here is a great reflexology map for the feet.   We had a seasonal cold sweep through our home which included runny noses, coughing and sore throats.   My favorite essential oil for these symptoms is Eucalyptus.  *Always properly dilute essential oils with a carrier oil, such as Grapeseed, Almond or Jojoba.  Unscented lotion will do very well here also.  You can mix them in your hand or better yet (for proportions sake) mix the oils in a small glass bowl or jar that can be sealed and used again later.  For a tablespoon of carrier oil you can add 2-4 drops of Eucalyptus essential oil.  Starting out with fewer drops makes it easier to add as you need to without over doing it right off the bat.  A little goes a long way!

Finding the middle of the upper sole, right amongst the meta-tarsals (those long bones extending from your toes towards your ankles) is where you’ll locate the Reflexology Point for lungs.   Focusing on these points while massaging the feet will help direct the Eucalyptus to where it can help the most.

By nature, Eucalyptus is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antispasmodic, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial.   It is a perfect oil for the symptoms of seasonal cold and flu.  You can also massage this oil into the back of the neck or on the chest for added relief from congestion and sinus pressure.  *Smaller children (6 and younger) should never have essential oils applied directly to the skin.  They should be ALWAYS diluted in a carrier oil and rubbed only into the feet.   If there is any concern of a skin reaction, apply only a small amount first and keep watch for any redness or other reactions.

If any of you question how quickly essential oils may work; penetrating the skin and affecting the body, I suggest cutting a garlic clove in half and rubbing it on the bottom of your foot.  (Garlic is also a great raw remedy for the symptoms of cold and flu!)  Within the next 15 minutes you will find that your breath will smell like garlic (and not from licking your fingers)!  Just as your body responds to massage, your body responds to everything it comes into contact with.  Your skin is a living organ!  Using essential oils in your daily life is a great way to help boost your own strengths and get over that cold or flu faster.

Here is a great link for more Eucalyptus essential oil information!  You can also check out my links to find the best essential oils for your needs!   Happy massaging!

Top Ten Reasons To Get A Massage

Posted on by shawnmarielmt
woman getting stone therapy

This article was found at the following link…  🙂

http://www.spabeautyed.com/career-center/top-massage-reasons/

Receiving a massage is a great way to pamper yourself. No trip to the spa would be complete without visiting a Massage Therapist . In addition, massage can be a pathway to improved health and well-being.

Did you know that Hippocrates, the father of medicine, was also a massage therapist? He used massage to treat sprains, dislocations and constipation, writing in 380 BC, “A physician must be experienced in many things but assuredly also in rubbing.” Today’s massage therapists are trained in a broad range of techniques to help clients overcome illness and injury while helping increase vigor and vitality.

Here are the top ten reasons people seek Massage Therapy.

10. Stimulate and detoxify the body.

The lymph system is the body’s natural defense system against toxins and impurities.  Massage Therapy stimulates the flow of toxic waste from muscles, organs and tissues for improved health and digestion.

9. Relax muscle tension and improve mobility and flexibility.

Massage stimulates blood circulation, increasing oxygen and nutrient flow to connective tissue and muscles, easing tension and muscle knots while soothing and lubricating overworked joints for increased flexibility.

8. Recover from injury more quickly.

Massage breaks up scar tissue, giving tissue and bones improved movement. The International Journal of Neuroscience points out that among other traumas improved by massage, research shows massage therapy improves functional abilities, range of motion and muscle strength in patients suffering from spinal cord injuries.

7. Improve posture.

Massage can improve body posture by helping train muscles to be in the right position, improving their ability to support the bone structure of the body.

6. Prevent injury and illness.

Tense muscles pull and tighten the body, restrict circulation and pull the body out of alignment. Unattended, this can lead to a host of problems. Regular massage relaxes the body and can prevent many chronic conditions from taking hold.

5. Enhance and maintain good health.

Massage is to the human body what a tune-up is to a car. The International Journal of Neuroscience mentions that massage helps reduce heart rate and lower blood pressure. In addition, massage helps boost the immune system by increasing the production of the body’s natural killer cells, especially for those with challenges such as HIV.

4. Increase attitude and alertness.

Massage improves attitude. It gets things flowing in the brain by stimulating brain-wave activity and helping increase alertness.

3. Relieve pain.

Massage helps block nervous system pain receptors and increase blood flow to the muscles. It can reduce the pain of arthritis as it relieves and increases joint mobility, taking pressure off painful joints. Trained massage therapists can help ease the pain of migraines, childbirth and cancer. The Journal of Clinical Rheumatology points out that a massage can also ease the pain of fibromyalgia.

2. Reduce stress.

Massage calms the body and helps relax the mind, in turn helping reduce stress by lowering the body’s cortisol levels, a prime ingredient in stress. Considering that stress is responsible for most illness, alleviating stress can make a major difference in overall health and attitude.

And the number one reason to get a massage?

1. It feels wonderful!

As anyone who has had a massage can attest, afterwards you feel wonderfully relaxed with a smile on your face. In addition to all of its other health benefits, massage stimulates the body to secrete endorphins, the hormones responsible for creating the elation often referred to as the “runner’s high.”

If you’ve never experienced a professional massage, now is the time to try it out – it will only take one visit to discover why massage is so popular and massage therapists are in such high demand!