MoonbeamsHoliday 2013

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Massage MultipliedBenefits of Massage Improve with FrequencyKarrie Osborn

Regularly scheduled massage has proven a powerful ally in health and wellness.

The part cannever be wellunless thewhole is well.-Plato

Office Hours and Contact

BY APPOINTMENT ONLYJudy Schornak, NCTBM, 248.933.6534Ann Schornak, CMT, 248.909.9039Shelley Larke, CMT, 248.933.6192Terri Caunt, RN, 248.214.4852www.moonbeam-massage.com

In this Issue

Massage MultipliedSoothe Your Skin's Winter AilmentsEasing Holiday Angst

What kind of massage client are you? Doyou make an appointment aftersomeone has given you a massage giftcertificate? Do you try to get in everynow and then for a stress-relievingtune-up? Or do you see your therapistreligiously--once a week, every threeweeks, once a month?

While getting a massage--regardless ofhow often--is incredibly beneficial toyour body and mind, getting frequentmassage treatments is even morepowerful as a healthcare ally.

"People who get massage regularlydemonstrate a reduction in pain andmuscular tension and an improvementin posture," says Anne Williams, author

of Spa Bodywork: A Guide for MassageTherapists (Lippincott Williams andWilkins, 2006).

"People regularly make a commitmentto fitness. People regularly make acommitment to changing their diet. Thedifference they'd experience if theyregularly made a commitment tomassage is mind-blowing," she says.

Stress KillerOne way in which frequent massage canimprove our quality of life is byalleviating stress. Experts say mostdisease is stress-related, and nothingages us faster--inside or out--than theeffects of stress. As stress-relateddiseases continue to claim more livesevery year, the increasingly deadly rolestress plays in modern-day life ispainfully clear.

Massage is a great way to take charge andreverse the situation. Mary Beth Braunand Stephanie Simonson, authors ofIntroduction to Massage Therapy(Lippincott Williams and Wilkins,2007), explain the benefits of massage

therapy in the simplest of terms:"Healing input influences healingoutput." They note that frequentmassage can reduce the accumulation ofstress and improve overall health. "Thebenefits of massage are cumulative," theywrite.

A consistent massage routine helps you manage stress before it causes illness.

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This being the case, it only makes sensethat those aches and pains you see yourmassage therapist for might disappearfaster, stay away longer, or even go awayaltogether with more frequent visits.Stress might never reach thosephysiologically detrimental levels wherethe immune system is suppressed or thenervous system is sent into an alarm stateif you are able to receive stress-relievingbodywork with some consistency. Notonly would your body benefit byregularly unleashing its aches and painsinstead of adapting to them, but yourmind would have time to wash away thestresses of a life lived in overdrive. Bothare critical pieces for living well.

Experts say the body and mind can learnto live more calmly, more efficiently,and more healthfully when frequentmassage shows the way. That makes for ahealthier whole, allowing us to continueto live life at its fullest, even as we dealwith each new stress or challenge.

Preventive MeasuresIn so many ways, massage is preventivehealth care. Yes, it can address injuries,scar tissue, and chronic pain, as well asprovide relief for cancer patients andreduce hospitalization for prematurebabies, among many other valuablebenefits (go to Massagetherapy.com formore information on the myriadbenefits of massage). But when thehealthy, and trying-to-be-healthy,among us seek out massage on a regularbasis, it helps us live a proactivelyhealthier life.

Since bodywork influences every systemin the body, there are enormouspossibilities created by increasing thefrequency in which you address thosesystems. It's best to discuss your sessiongoals with your massage therapist andtogether devise a plan of frequency thatmeets your needs, while taking intoaccount your therapist's best advice.

Body AwarenessAccording to Benny Vaughn, sportsmassage expert and owner of AthleticTherapy Center in Fort Worth, Texas,one of the benefits of consistent andregular massage therapy is betterflexibility. "This happens becauseregular and structured touch stimulusenhances the nervous system's sensoryand spatial processing capacity," he says.

"That is, the person becomes moreaware of their body's movement in spaceand becomes more aware of tightness orpain long before it reaches a criticalpoint of mechanical dysfunction."

Quite simply, frequent massage puts youmore in tune with your body. "Theconsistency of massage therapy over timecreates a cumulative stress reductioneffect," Vaughn says. "The personbecomes acutely aware of stress withintheir body long before it can createstress-driven damage."

He says the consistency of receivingregular massage therapy has the potentialto create a cumulative wellness effect."Ultimately when one feels good, ourwhole being follows suit on all otherlevels--i.e., decision-making is better,processing life events is better, andbeing happy is easier when you are notin pain or feeling 'heavy' or 'tight.'"

Williams says she's certain people's liveswould be changed if they could schedulemassage and bodywork more frequently."I encourage clients to commit togetting massage once a week for a monthand then evaluate the results they get,"she says. "I guarantee they will becomemassage enthusiasts for life."

Massage Can...--Alleviate low-back pain and increaserange of motion.--Create body self-awareness.--Improve muscle tone and stimulatetheir nerve supply.--Improve elasticity of skin andpromote skin rejuvenation.--Improve sleep and calm the mind.--Increase endorphin and seratoninproduction.--Reduce edema, as well as jointinflammation.--Release negative holding patternsfrom previous injuries.

Soothe Your Skin's Winter AilmentsKayla Fioravanti

Easing Holiday AngstFive Stress Busters for a Joyous Season

The drying effects of winter are uponus. Here are some at-home ideas to helpsoothe your skin through thischallenging season.

CleansePut away your foaming gels and soapsand stock up on creamy products.Cleansing creams, lotions, and milks aregreat winter choices, because they don'tcontain the harsh, oil-strippingdetergents found in most cleansing gels.

ToneShelve your astringents and switch to atoner. In the cold months, your skinneeds to be soothed and balanced, notdried out further.

MoisturizeChoose heavier creams than you wouldin summer months. You can even useyour heavy eye cream on your lips andface. If your skin itches, the dry air iscausing the moisture in the top layer ofyour skin to evaporate quickly. Slatherthose areas with extra moisture until you

feel relief, and never be afraid of usingpure oils on your skin--a bottle ofjojoba or olive oil is great to have onhand.

ExfoliateExfoliate twice a week to remove deadskin cells and help your skin absorb theextra moisture you are using. Becausecentral heating systems reduce theamount of sebum our skin secretes,contributing to dryness, exfoliation willfree this natural regulating agent. Use acream-based exfoliant with jojoba beads,so your body can soak up the rich oils.

HydrateFor a simple in-home hydrotherapytreatment, start your day with a steamyshower. Just as you are finishing, switchthe water to cold for about 15 secondsand then back to warm for 15 seconds.Repeat the process for two minutes.

Shower and Bathe with OilsDid you know you can apply body oil,lotion, or cream during your shower or

bath? The heat and steam help your skinto thoroughly absorb the moisture.

You enter the holiday season with thebest of intentions -- looking forward totime spent with family and friends,decorating, shopping, baking. But assoon as you pile holiday activities on topof an already busy life, you're likely tofind yourself relating more to EbineezerScrooge than Martha Stewart.

Consider these five suggestions to keepholiday stress at bay:

1. Determine a Shopping BudgetFor many, gift giving is an importantpart of the holidays, serving as a way toexpress love and appreciation for friendsand family. But when the credit cardbills arrive in January, you may discoveryou've extended your holiday stress wellinto the New Year. Plan your budget inadvance, determine what you can spend,and stick to the plan.

2. Create a Time BudgetMany will make a shopping budget, butwhat about making a time budget?Before accepting every invitation thisyear, decide ahead how many parties youcan and want to attend whilemaintaining your sanity. Make choicesabout your time commitments based onwhat you'd really like to do this year,rather than what you think you shoulddo or what you've always done. Don'tforget to leave time for yourself.

3. Set Food-Intake BoundariesYou'll likely be tempted to eat in excess,and don't be too hard on yourself if youdon't stick to your pre-holiday eatingstandards. But do decide ahead of timejust how much you'll deviate from youreating routine.

4. Stick to Your Exercise Regimen

Regular exercise is a powerful stressbuster. You'll feel better, sleep better,avoid weight gain, boost your immunesystem, and maintain a positive outlookabout yourself. While it may seem likean easy time concession to make, don'tgive in to the idea. Stick to exercise, andyou'll thank yourself for it.

5. Take Time to RestTake time from your schedule to honorthe cycles of the season. The holidays fallduring winter solstice -- the shortest dayof the year. Learn from nature, and getplenty of rest.

To keep the bodyin good health isa duty,otherwise weshall not be ableto keep ourmind strong andclear.-Buddha

Ann Schornak is pleased to announce that her schedule isnow much more available for you!Shelley Larke is arecent graduate of Carnegie Institute, graduating at the topof her class. Terri Caunt is a Kundalini Reiki Master andCrystal Reiki Master. She is the owner ofCrystal Angel Reiki Harmony LLC and is a registered nurse.Terri also assists you in your journey with Angel Readings.We are pleased that they have decided to join our team atMoonbeam Massage in Clarkston.

www.moonbeam-massage.com

ONLINE APPOINTMENT SCHEDULINGPURCHASE INSTANT GIFT CERTIFICATES FROM OURWEBSITE!

We also keep a massage schedule at Capuchin RetreatCenter in Washington, MI. For more information on theirretreats visit www.capretreat.org

********************************* $5 off your next massage * ******************************** or type $5 off in the commentsection of your on-line appointment.

Moonbeam Massage LLC

5885 S. Main St. Suite 2Clarkston, MI 48346