SASS bodywork & wellness

Get Fit for Spring

Autumn — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:52:11 +0000

Exercise Myths

Fiction Vs. Fact

Although old fitness fictions like “no pain, no gain” are fading fast, plenty of misconceptions still exist. Following are some of the most common myths, counteracted by the latest research.

FICTION: You will burn more fat if you exercise longer at a lower intensity.FACT: The most important focus in exercise and weight control is how many calories are burned during the activity. The faster you walk, step or run, the more calories you use per minute. However, high-intensity exercise may be more difficult to sustain.

FICTION: If you’re not going to work out hard and often, exercise is a waste of time.FACT: Any exercise is better than none. For example, regular walking or gardening for as little as an hour a week has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease.

FICTION: If you exercise long and hard enough, you will always get the results you want.FACT: In reality, genetics plays an important role in how people respond to exercise. Your development of strength, speed, and endurance may be very different from that of other people you know.

FICTION: The health and fitness benefits of mind-body exercise like t’ai chi and yoga are questionable.FACT: The benefits abound! T’ai Chi, for example, has been shown to help treat low-back pain and fibromyalgia. Improved flexibility, strength, and stress management are just some of the benefits.

FICTION: Home workouts are fine, but going to a gym is the best way to get fit.FACT: Some people find it easier to stick to a home-based fitness program. In spite of all the hype on trendy exercise programs and facilities, the best program for you is the one you will participate in consistently.

This information was provided by IDEA, www.ideafit.com.

Balancing Your Stress

Autumn — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:36:32 +0000

Why You React to Stressors the Way You Do Your reaction to a potentially stressful event is different from anyone else’s. How you react to stressors in your life includes such factors as:

Genetics. The genes that control the stress response keep most people on a fairly even keel, only occasionally priming the body for fight or flight. Overactive or underactive stress responses may stem from slight differences in these genes.
Life experiences. Strong stress reactions sometimes can be traced to early environmental factors. People who were exposed to extremely stressful events as children, such as neglect or abuse, tend to be particularly vulnerable to stress as adults.

You may have some friends who seem laid-back about almost everything and others who react strongly at the slightest stress. Most reactions to life stressors fall somewhere between those extremes.

Learning to React to Life Stressors in a Healthy Way Stressful events are a fact of life. And you may not be able to change your current situation.

But you can take steps to manage the impact these events have on you. You can learn to identify what stresses you out, how to take control of some stress-inducing circumstances, and how to take care of yourself physically and emotionally in the face of stressful situations.

Stress management strategies may include:

Exercise
Relaxation techniques
Fostering healthy friendships
Getting plenty of sleep
Professional counseling or psychotherapy

Beautiful Colors

Autumn — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:57:50 +0000

The Face of Winter

Autumn — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:40:51 +0000

Winterizing the Body It’s not just the face that suffers in the winter. Skin everywhere dries out, and gets that flaky look and uncomfortable winter itch. Hot baths — a delightful antidote to the chill — can further exacerbate dry skin. The solution? Add 10 drops of an aromatic essential oil to the bath to moisturize as you soak. (Lavender is particularly soothing to dry skin.) Then apply an emollient moisturizer — a product that feels particularly thick and creamy to the touch, like a body butter — geared for extra dry, rough, chapped, or cracked skin. Apply it immediately after drying off, when the skin can most readily absorb the lotion and restore its barrier. If dryness is still bothersome, indulge in a salt rub and full-body conditioning wrap to re-moisturize.

And don’t forget feet and hands. The feet, hidden by socks and boots all winter long, often go neglected this time of year and need attention, but the most obvious casualties of winter are the hands. Exposed to the elements and the subject of frequent hand-washing during the cold and flu season, hands can turn to rawhide just as holiday parties go into full swing — not an elegant look for holding onto a champagne flute. You can treat hands and feet to regular spa treatments to exfoliate dead skin cells, and paraffin treatments to replenish and moisturize.

Happy Holidays!

Autumn — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:42:46 +0000

May your days be filled with love & joy.
Many Blessings-
Autumn

Holiday Travel

Autumn — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:46:27 +0000

Perhaps that’s part of the thrill of it. It takes me some time to really decompress & RELAX HARDER. Seriously, I am a busy bee here in town- I always got something moving & shaking, whether it’s literally moving with salsa dancing or school, my toes are always dabbled in something. This is one main reason I take this time. Slowing down ALWAYS proves beneficial for me. I come out on the other size inspired in a fresh way, with new ideas & motivation. I am rested & grounded & often times quite peaceful. To get away from the busy city life, and connect with nature, is what really does it. Once I quit “doing things” I let nature take her effect. It doesn’t take much. The silence witnessing her is deafening, wherever I am. I really get to practice listening. Travel is like a deep exhale. And no one can live just by breathing in. The practice of slowing down is an art, something that I will practice for a long time coming. I am grateful to have this time to relax harder in the coming weeks. I look forward to a fresh new year. Happy Holidays everyone.

Thriving Holidays

Autumn — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:11:09 +0000

Thriving Holidays

Five Tips for the Natural Traveler

Planning a vacation or business trip? Consider packing a small kit of natural remedies before you go. Unfamiliar surroundings, unusual foods, and jet lag can make you vulnerable to viruses, stress, and gastrointestinal (GI) upset. Colorado Naturopathic Physician Michael Sutton suggests the following items:

1. Grapefruit Seed Extract This extract fights and prevents viruses and helps reduce symptoms of diarrhea and GI upset. It can even be used to decontaminate water (4-5 drops extract per quart of water). A few days before you leave, mix 4-5 drops with juice or water and drink it before bedtime, and continue for the duration of your trip. If you do catch a cold or flu, you can drink as much as 8-10 drops, 3-4 times a day.

2. Airborne Available in natural products stores, Airborne is an effervescent tablet containing herbs, antioxidants, vitamin C, and amino acids. It helps prevent and fight colds, as well as motion sickness, when traveling.

3. Melatonin To ease jet lag, Sutton suggests leaving your watch set for the time zone from which you’re departing. When your watch shows your normal bedtime, take 3-6mg of melatonin, then go to sleep to regulate yourself quickly and easily to the new time zone.

4. Bach Flower Rescue Remedy To calm nerves and reduce anxiety, place a few drops of this remedy under your tongue when you’re feeling anxious, or add 5-6 drops to your water bottle and drink throughout the day.

5. Water H2O is essential to healthy travel. Drink lots of water and avoid alcohol, as dehydration is a major cause of travel-related illness.

By packing a few natural remedies and paying attention to your body’s needs, you’ll be able to fully enjoy your trip.

Joyful Holidays

Autumn — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:13:46 +0000

With Grandma & the family

My grandma lives in this big house, the same house she’s lived in since my mama was a girl, with an incredible basement filled with all sorts of museum-like antiques!I dig around in there, and we stay up late chatting in each others rooms, and we eat breakfast & drink coffee in our pajamas. There’s only a few times that men-spouses are around, like my Papa Ben and my Uncle Mike- and while they are FABULOUS, we lavish in our generational- gal- slumber party! Often times, I get to hear cool stories Nana will tell about her time in the Navy, her favorite heroines (Amelia Earhart). We also definitely make sure we play Scattegories and poker. And most of all, we all laugh A LOT. We have a blast! It is this tradition that is most memorable and valuable to me- just that relaxing- down time with the family. I feel SO grateful to have the family I have. It makes all the difference in the world! It’s awesome to look forward to quality time with the family despite the full life I lead. This season, I encourage us all to take more quality moments with the family- whatever your family looks like- whether it’s the one you were born into or the one you’ve chosen. It has made a huge difference in the quality of my life and definitely makes for joyful holidays. Happy Turkey day everyone!

Benefits of Regular Massage

Autumn — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:46:02 +0000

The positive effects of regular massage can have far-reaching effects in many areas of your life.

At Home Massage therapy will also help families under stress create healthier households with clear-thinking and more relaxed moms and dads. Children are very sensitive and often pick up on tension in a household, parents who are taking care of themselves are more likely to be better caregivers and provide a sense of security to their kids. This goes for caregivers of aging parents and other family members.

At Work The health benefits of massage can help forestall illnesses and lost work time, especially when you may be asked to produce more with fewer resources. Decision-making skills will be better and your performance is likely to be improved with a clear focus and more energy.

A hint for the boss: Research shows employees exhibit less stress and improved performance when given twice-weekly, 15-minute massages in the office!

For Health Conditions Those with already existing health conditions can continue to reap benefits in the following ways. And proactively caring for health through massage may help reduce costly doctor visits and use of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Research shows:

- Massage can reduce sports-related soreness and improve circulation–good to know when you may be exercising more to reduce stress.

- Deep-tissue massage is effective in treating back pain, arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia patients receiving massage also have less pain, depression, anxiety, stiffness, fatigue, and sleep problems.

- Massage reduces symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

- Stroke patients show less anxiety and lower blood pressure with massage therapy.

- Massage is beneficial in reducing symptoms associated with arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, and premenstrual syndrome.

-Massage therapy is effective is reducing postsurgical pain.

- Oncology patients show less pain, fatigue, nausea, anxiety and depression following massage therapy.

- Alzheimer’s patients exhibit reduced pacing, irritability and restlessness after neck and shoulder massage.

- Labor pain. Massage during labor appears to reduce stress and anxiety, relax muscles and help block pain. Some medical professionals believe massage also reduces tearing, shortens labor, reduces the need for medication and shortens hospital stays.

- Preterm babies receiving massage therapy gain more weight and have shorter hospital stays than infants not receiving massage.

There is now a body of research to support the benefits listed above. But there’s no greater testimonial than the person who is a regular receiver of massage. The first-hand experience of bodywork clients largely echo the same sentiment: bodywork enhances quality of life, and the return on your investment is great.

While bodywork feels like a luxurious mini-vacation, and you should by all means enjoy it, there is an actual physical need for massage. Maintaining a regular massage schedule will help you operate at your peak level–whether it be at work, at home, or at play. Invest in yourself, and book a massage today.

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Natural Exploration

Autumn — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:47:16 +0000

This past weekend, my mom and I weeded the entrance walkway and put new mulch down to keep those weeds from growing back. It was totally manual labor. I had the hoe and the shovel and was turning the pre-existing mulch and soil, then pulling out the enormous amounts of Burmunda grass! I gotta tell ya’, after we put that fresh mulch down and stepped backed to view our work completed, it was awesome to see the difference a little freshening up can do. The garden entrance looks so much more inviting and welcoming now!
This experience reminded me of how a little freshening up, even just a bit, can go a long way. Over the years, I’ve freshened up bit by bit. I’ve tried on, discarded and added activities, routines and expressions. Each and every one, regardless of how long they lasted, added something to my life and has shown me who I am. When I first started dancing again, I learned so much about boundaries, growing a garden, I get to learn so much about patience, going back to school is teaching me about discipline and diligence and through my massage business, I’m learning so much about creation. Each and every one of these expressions will continue to reveal something new to me about myself and will continue to contribute to who I am. This life is nothing more than a big ol’ learning experience! I can look around and see a lesson in everything. So..why don’t you try something new on today, go a different route today and experience something different-just watch what is revealed.