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To Talk or Not to Talk...

11/12/2014

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That is the question some have about their massage session. In case you weren't aware, this is entirely up to you. You are the BOSS! Some like to talk and talk the whole session. Others may talk for a bit and then simmer down enjoying their blissful me time. Others are like "Don't talk to me and please don't be mad!" Any which way you like it, I will be happy to oblige. What's that old saying? Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't! Ok well this isn't an Almond Joy/Mounds commercial, as I am entirely against almond and coconut, but hopefully you are pickin' up what I'm puttin' down!

Non-talkers are often shocked that talkers actually talk during their session. Gasp! Say what? In a way, talking is very therapeutic. For some, talking is a way of relaxing. Come again? I know, this is contradictory, but hear me out.  There are many of us that hold so much in internally just trying to keep our shiznit together, all irons in the fire so to speak, that eventually we are going to hit our max. Sometimes when we hit our breaking point it's not pretty but it allows us to "puke" up all of that crud that has been weighing us down. Often times when we hit "max" it is accompanied by our body taking a total nose dive and you desperately seek out massage to gain back a sense of normalcy. Note: some people self-medicate, but super intelligent people crawl into the shop for some massage love!

As you know, I always ask when you come in for a massage, "How are you feeling today?" At times, a "puking" occurs and my office turns into a proverbial puke bucket followed by an apology and a bit of embarrassment. I simply keep it light and let you know that it's ok  being that I have an Associate's Degree in Psychology, no joke! The fact of the matter is I totally encourage this. What Lindsey? You want people coming into your office and throwing up all their B.S.? You betcha...healing is healing people! If it helps, "Let it go, let it go!" I will spare you the lyrics form the move Frozen, but if you're interested, watching this movie one time will forever burn said lyrics into your brain for all eternity and possibly the next one as well. Back to the matter at hand, being human is a tough gig. If it was easy, everyone would do it! We now see how talking can be very therapeutic. From this one could draw the conclusion that talking during your massage session is healing x 2 or healing on 'roids man! In the end your session is exactly that, YOUR SESSION! Do with it as you please!
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Can you feel it...

11/2/2014

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Can you feel it? I know I sure can... The holidays are sneaking up on us! I know, don't shoot the messenger! During this hectic time, it is extremely important to take care of yourself FIRST! Let's just say I speak from experience. All of the extra cooking, traveling, and enduring "those" family members that are perhaps a bit tough to deal with, is enough stress to suck all of the joy, fun, and love out of this beautiful season. No bueno!

Signs and symptoms of said "suckage" may include, but are not limited to: the Bah Humbug spirit, the desire to hide out until the holidays are over, sleepless nights thanks to your forever growing to-do list, bouts of crying and/or angry outbursts, the sudden urge to plow your car through some lawn decorations, etc. You get the picture! This is NOT who you are and to ensure this is not who you BECOME consider giving yourself the Gift of 10! You deserve it! Give yourself the gift of 10 minutes each day that are solely yours, just for you.


Gift of 10 Examples:
~Tea Time. Get up before the rest of the house for a cup of tea/coffee/hot cocoa.
~Meditate. Meditate for a quick 10 mins. Simply sit or lie comfortable and focus on your breath. That's it. Simple. Be sure to set a timer so you can truly let go, relax, and just be with you.
~Stretch. Slow and steady wins the race. Take time to tune into your body. You don't have to get all fancy here folks. Think back to the stretches you performed in P.E. class.
~Get lost in a book. Read a book for enjoyment, whatever the subject may be. This is also a form of mediation. Who knew?
~Soak it up. Hop in the tub and chill. Possibly while reading a book. I never said you couldn't multitask! Fancy it up with "goodies" from the cupboard. (Did anyone else just realize that cupboard should be spelled completely different?) Anywho, throw in some yummy spices like ginger, cinnamon, clove, honey, vanilla, star anise, cardamom, etc. Have fun with it! OWN IT!

Whatever you choose, be sure to schedule it in as often as you can. I know, I know...commitment is such a daunting task, EXCEPT when you commit to yourself. At least, that's how it should be. Of course be sure you have your massage appointments scheduled.

A wonderfully beneficial schedule my clients and I have discovered together is as follows: this week you receive your usual 60 min massage. In two weeks, you come in for a quick 30 min massage to focus solely on those pesky areas that wig out on you first, like neck and shoulders. Then you are back in, in two weeks for your 60 min massage. Rinse and repeat! Man am I windy. Someday I will discover how to condense. Until that time please enjoy my lengthy newsletters! I hope to see you all this month, repeatedly! Lots of love and happiness sent your way!

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TOO MUCH BUSY...

9/5/2014

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Busy-ness is the trend these days. People carry over-packed schedules like winning trophies. “I’m SO busy at work!” “How do you have time to do that? I’m too busy to read/watch TV/exercise/do anything fun.” “I can’t get monthly massages I have too much to DO!”

Too much “busy” could be making you tired, sick, and probably cranky.


When do you relax? RELAX. “Relaxation” is a word we hear often, but don’t know always know what it means. Here, I’ve compiled some options for you.

re·lax  verb \ri-ˈlaks\

1: the state of being free from tension or anxiety.
2: a way to rest and enjoy yourself
3: recreation or rest, especially after a period of work.
4: the loss of tension in a part of the body, especially in a muscle when it ceases to contract.
5: something that you do to stop feeling nervous, worried, etc.

More importantly, what does relaxation mean to you?
If you’re not a “hot bath and good book” kind of person, you probably cringe at Calgon commercials and spa photos of people with stones piled on their backs. But here’s the beauty: You can make your own definition of relaxation.

It’s your job to figure out what you enjoy doing, what makes you smile, and what makes you feel like you are a hundred miles from work or home jobs?

Then, make time for that.
You have a schedule. Write in special time for a hobby, a nap, massage, your favorite show, a weekend getaway, a new class, ANY thing you enjoy can be relaxing.

Need someone to give you a reason? Want permission? No you don't!
You are an adult. You no longer need a reason, nor must you wait for permission. Remember when you were little and all you wanted was to be an adult so you could have dessert for breakfast? News flash, you have made it. Start living the life your inner child dreamed, hoped, and fought for. Indulge yourself a little. Here are some ideas:
  • Spend part of the day alone.
  • Spend part of the day with your family, doing ONLY fun stuff.
  • Meditate.
  • Devote time to your hobby.
  • Sleep in. Or get up extra early. Whichever excites you!
  • Arrange for take-out or pre-cooked meals all day.
  • Schedule a massage! Just click here!
  • If you’ve always wanted a day to “not leave the house” today’s the day! Wake when you wish, eat when you’re hungry, stay in your jammies and read a book.

Taking care of you is important. And, self-care puts you in a better frame of mind to take care of the people who depend on you. So find the thing that mellows you out, and make it happen
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4 unconventional ways to celebrate Valentine's Day 

2/7/2014

 
It's February! We made it through the holidays just to get inundated with notions of chocolate, flowers, bling, and extravagant weekends in wine country to 'reconnect with the one you love'.

But what if we pass on the chocolate and Ziggy cards and approach the day (or the whole month!) with a focus on connecting with the people we care about. Not just your significant other, but your best friend that you never have a chance to talk to for more than 4 minutes before a baby demands attention. Or maybe your favorite uncle who was always quick with a lousy joke and equally fast in sneaking you a cookie when your mom wasn't looking.

Share some time with someone. Make a pedicure date with your best friend. If you can each bring along your favorite mom, aunt, extremely sweet older neighbor who watches out for your kids, even better.

If you can't set aside that much time with everyone's busy schedules, drop off a piece of cake from your favorite bakery. Or keep it crazy cost effective and have your kid finger-paint a very special valentine for their teacher.

Appreciate someone. Look your favorite dry cleaner/butcher/school bus driver right in the eye and say, "Thank you. I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you do for me. You make my life easier."

Drop an email to your kid's basketball coach and say, "Thank you. My kid loves playing basketball, and I really appreciate that you give your time to make that possible."

Massage someone. I know, this sounds weird, huh? I'm a massage therapist and I'm telling you to Do It Yourself. But massage doesn't have to be an hour long ordeal with fancy oils and a complicated routine.

Watch a video and treat your partner to a hand or foot massage. Grab this amazing book, A Modern Day Guide to Massage for Children, and learn how to massage your favorite little buddy.

Give the gift of massage. You can pick up a gift certificate right here http://bit.ly/1fPOZJM.

Bonus: Connect with YOU. Not everyone schedules regular massage, and that's okay. But if it's been awhile, maybe it's time to practice a little self-care and get yourself a massage, too. The best gift you can give the people you love is a happy, healthy you.

New Year, NEW YOU?!

1/8/2014

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The New Year is somewhat of a clean slate. We start a new calendar, make resolutions, pop champagne, and a few days later, jump into a January of slightly elongating days with a fresh hope that this year we can begin again, and do it all better.

But wherever you go, there you are. Flipping a page on the calendar isn't going to dramatically alter our day-to-day habits. For the average person change happens incrementally, just a little at a time, with baby steps.

Here are some ideas, just a few little changes you can make to improve your health, life, and happiness over the next year.

Use your tools

You've probably got a computer and a smart phone. And I bet you spend plenty of time using them. But are you using them well?

A great grocery list app can reduce the number of trips you make to the store, and the amount of cash you spend on groceries. Mint is a fantastic money app to keep track of your cash, create (and stick to) a budget, and plan for the future. TripIt can keep your travel plans organized and makes it easy to share that info with the people who need to know. Doodle can help you easily schedule group meetings (or just dinner with friends). If you're balancing a family with multiple schedules, use Cozi to get everyone to the right place at the right time.

Taking full advantage of the technology at hand can actually simplify your life.

Say NO!

You've heard this before, no doubt. But this year actually do that. Your time and energy are valuable commodities, spend them carefully. If you have trouble saying no, practice it. Really. It helps to be prepared with a reply that is kind, but still conveys a firm, "No." You can find some ideas here.

Schedule regular massage
(you had to know that was coming)

Massage is known to reduce stress, alleviate pain, and enhance the quality of sleep. All good things. If you think you can't spare the time or funds for massage, consider this: what is it worth to give your family, friends, and coworkers a happier, more productive YOU? (A LOT. It's worth a lot.) Regular can mean weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Whatever works for you is just fine, but stick to it. After you get a massage, I'll always ask if you want to schedule your next appointment. Do it! You can call/text me now at 217-317-3426 or schedule online here www.escape-massage.com to get started.
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    Lindsey Tucker, MT

    I began my Massage Therapy career in 2010,  bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to save the world one body at a time. I enjoy helping my clients at my little slice of Heaven known as Escape Massage Therapy in Mattoon, IL.
    My goal is to help my clients Escape Pain, Escape Stress, Escape Life, or any combination of the above. After all, isn't multitasking the best use of one's time?
    Schedule your appointment TODAY!

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