As the days are getting brighter, and especially with the slow-down of our first long-weekend of the year, let's try something a little different. Here is a gentle guide to your own listening-to-your-body meditation. Anything going on in your life can be felt in different areas of your body. As someone who works on people's physical bodies for a living, I can tell you this... only YOU can Heal Yourself. I am only here to help. And with this in mind, humour me. JUST READ the following exercise just for a couple minutes and let me know how you feel.
I'd love to hear your feedback, so please leave  comment below. 

Okay, let's first admit it: you need a massage.  You needed it yesterday. Badly. But you can't justify taking the time off work to go get it. Even though you know it will make everything better:
- You feel lighter and less stressed,
- You're more focused for work, and beyond that, 
- You're nicer at the office, at home, for your special someone, or your kids,
- And best,  you just feel like yourself again.

Your boss knows this, too. He could definitely use one too, and benefit from the same advantages (see list above). So why do you feel bad asking for time off to treat yourself to massage therapy and real, actual healing? Is your body in pain? Do you crack your neck just for relief? Can you feel the tension when you roll your shoulders back right now?
​
We make special arrangements for emergencies, surgeries, specialists, and even the dentist. Massage therapists should be no different! In fact, we do the best job of keeping the others away (other than maybe dentists. Unless you feel spontaneously compelled to floss more after being super relaxed).

So this is what you say to your boss when you're dedicated to keeping your massage appointment:
"Hey John, I need to get off early on Tuesday because I have an appointment with a specialist. They're almost impossible to book, so I'm glad I was finally able to get in. They say I need to see them every month to keep on top of things. And I need to keep this appointment or else I won't be able to book them again for way too long, and I'd hate the the situation to get worse and I'd have to miss more work." If they ask what's the issue, just tell them: "It's a sensitive personal matter and I'd rather keep it between myself and my health professional. But I promise I'll be better after my appointment and I'll be ready to return on Wednesday, bright, shiny as new, and ready to go."
*** Remember to personalize this message and practice out loud! Feel the emotions behind what you're saying and you're a shoe-in.

 Let's face it. Winter is here. The end of January into February is the height or our brr-chilly winters. We usually think of a White Christmas and snow falling on New Year's eve and think, "That's it! Great winter everybody!" but once the new year rolls around, the true beauty of winter shows up. 
That being said, life must go on. We can do our darndest and run away to a sunny destination for a while to stave off those winter blues, but sometimes we can't. And that's the truth.
But there is always a bright side. If life must go on, we shall too. Do things that you love anyways. 
Sometimes, it feels a drag to leave the house to go and relax, so that's why I love offering traveling, in-home treatments. Massage Therapy, Reflexology, and Reiki are all available.

How can I have a Massage at home if I don't have a massage table?
Let us take care of that for you. We'll bring the table,  the receipts, and even the music. 
What we need from you:
- Some space, just enough to walk around the table. About least 9 feet by 6 feet. Somewhere where you could lay down a yoga mat and spread out your arms comfortably. I've set up in bedrooms, living rooms, basements, and in one case, a den and hallway. Whatever works for you.
- 1 or 2 pillows
- A small blanket for your comfort
- Your own music, if you prefer

​Who can benefit from in-home Massage Therapy?
Anyone, but especially people who cannot leave home for any number of reasons:
- Elder clients with decreased mobility
- Patients of recent surgeries, injuries, stroke, or multiple sclerosis
- New mommies, who need to be close to their babies
- Whole families. Moms and dads often take turns watching kids while receiving treatments. Kids are more open to trying as well when they see how relaxed mom and dad are.
- Kids need massage therapy too! We often think kids have no stress, so why should they have the privilege of getting massage therapy? Children are growing, moving, exercising and using their bodies as much as adults, if not more. Because of the amount of physical activity most kids undertake, their bodies consistently present with increased muscle bulk, tender points, or even trigger points, as well. Insurance companies are starting to understand this too. More and more have family coverage as an option for extended health plans.

How do we set it up?
​Click below to email or call and we will set up your in-home appointment as son as possible!
[REQUEST BY EMAIL]  |  [CALL NOW]

I can't wait to see you relaxed at home! ​​

I get it. When we're driving, we have a heightened need for protection. On the scientific level, it's something that happens in the brain (the amygdala) that causes us to react very quickly when we feel like we're being threatened. It's a primal instinct, unless you can use the fore-part (which is a lot slower, mind you)of your brain that is connected with logic and reason before pure reaction.
Anyways,  in a particular incident, someone felt threatened by my driving when I needed to switch lanes in order not to exit the highway. I switched in front of him, but needed to slow down as to not drive into the car ahead, then switched to the next lane as soon as the way was clear.  A good 3 or 4 minutes pass of him following me, he proceeded to drive next to me only to flip me off and mouth *F#CK YOU* through the glass.  Then cut me off in turn and slammed the brake as I followed.
Right then and there, I was reminded of this great story that goes back about 2,500 years....

The Buddha was visiting a small Indian village, and people spontaneously gathered around to hear him speak. Among the listeners was a young man.  While listening to Buddha, he lost track of time and forgot about the work that was waiting for him on his father’s farm. The son’s father went looking for him. When found him, he went up to the Buddha and started screaming and scolding him. He accused Buddha of teaching children to walk away from their responsibilities.
             Buddha smiled and said: “When I come to your house with a gift and you accept the gift, then who does the gift
             belong to?”
             “To me, of course,” replied the father, caught slightly off guard.
             “And if you would refuse the gift, then who would it belong to?” The man, irritated about this strange question,
             replied: “To you of course, but what does this have to do with anything?”
             Then Buddha said:  “Your gift to me in this moment is anger and I refuse the gift. So the anger stays with you.”

I found myself in the car having this conversation with myself:
"I'm sorry, Sir, but I cannot accept your gift, despite how generous you may be in giving it. In exchange I'll give you peace..."
He pulls away, to begin his exit and waits for me to pull up again, 2 lanes over this time. Surely, he would expect that I'd be as enraged as he was.
I offer him a peace sign.
He refused... so it stayed mine. 

Kindness and love is the only sweet response that's needed, not revenge.

This one's for you. Stay peaceful out there! Namaste.

AS it starts, I've always been super positive.

"Sunny on the inside" had become one of my favourite expressions because it had to do with feeling in control of my own perspective, regardless of how others would normally interpret a "negative" situation. In my opinion, there is no such thing as a qualitative "negative". That meaning, only numbers, or integers could have a "-" symbol signifying that a quantity is less than the value of 1.
In the same breadth, a state,  a situation, an event, an emotion, or anything that happens just IS. It is neither positive, no negative. That is solely in the eyes of the beholder.

To give you an example, growing up, my family and I used to go on many family trips and vacations. Long drives to camping was a regular norm. We had many things happen on these trips. But for some reason, at the end of it, we would compare our experiences. My sister always tended to have a tragic catastrophe. I'll give it to her, getting car-sick, scratched by a cat, chased by a family of black flies, and attacked by a fish (ok, I'll admit the last is a bit of an exaggeration -- it simply fell in the boat and flopped around a bunch), then I'd call it a crappy experience as well. And for her, there was always something to complain about.

But I didn't. I always chose to experience the best of all things. The long drive, though not always the most comfortable, was very relaxing and scenic. We stopped often --though I couldn't wait to the final destination -- so we could stretch our legs, or try something new.  Bug bites came with the territory  of camping! I was ready for it.... and they were ready for me, no matter how many times I applied my repellent. We always had more than enough food to eat, and there was more than enough to see and do. And mine was always a pleasant, happy, positive experience with lots of fond memories.
It was just the difference between my sister and I to recognize "perspective" from a very young age. (Now, please mind you, she is not always negative, nor is she a negative person; simply for the example to display. And it was many years ago. Things  change.)

So, as is it goes, my words of advice to you are to take things as they are - neither positive, nor negative. It just is. Then that way, when something comes as a negative perspective, you can also say... "Hey. it could be worse."

Stay sunny.