Mindfulness and Massage

Many people associate getting a massage with emptying your mind to enjoy a total state of relaxation. Emptying one’s mind is not always as easy as it sounds, though, even when experiencing a relaxing massage.

Why is that?

Your mind simply isn’t designed to be empty. If you try to think about absolutely nothing, you are likely to experience all sorts of random thoughts that aren’t conducive to relaxation at all.

However if you practice mindfulness during your massage, you are likely to enjoy a much more therapeutic experience.

Continue reading Mindfulness and Massage →

Self-Care During Covid: 4 Easy Take-Aways

Remote work. Social distancing. Virtual learning for kids out of school. Things are pretty topsy-turvy and stressful right now. It makes it hard to even think about self-care. But even the CDC, aka the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says that “now is the best time to carve out some ‘me’ time” to help you cope with life during a pandemic.

Continue reading Self-Care During Covid: 4 Easy Take-Aways →

What is a Gua Sha Facial?

While the concept of the gua sha facial has blossomed in terms of popularity over the last couple of years, the tools at the heart of this practice have been at work for centuries.

Gua sha (pronounced “gwah shah”) is a treatment that uses a flat jade stone that is lightly grazed over your skin. It’s derived from traditional Chinese medicine. It is similar to acupuncture in that it’s rooted in the idea of promoting qi, the flow and balance of the body’s energy.

Some potential gua sha facial benefits include:

Continue reading What is a Gua Sha Facial? →

What is a Deep Tissue Massage?

Massage is an art form, and like any art form, there are different branches. Painting has its realists and cubists, poetry has sonnets, haikus and limericks and the massage world has Swedish, sports, maternity and deep tissue massage.

It’s one of the most popular and beneficial types of massage. In this blog post, we’ll explore how deep tissue massages work and how they can make you feel better.

Continue reading What is a Deep Tissue Massage? →

Sinus Relief and Five Other Health Benefits of Getting a Facial

When you picture yourself getting a facial, you might think of it as simply a luxury. Something indulgent, a treat for yourself when you have some extra spending money.

But there’s a practical side to getting a facial as well. It’s not simply about looking better but feeling better. Here are six health benefits you can realize from getting a facial.

Continue reading Sinus Relief and Five Other Health Benefits of Getting a Facial →

Summer Skin Care Safety Tips

After a long, grey winter, there’s nothing like stepping outside on a 70-degree day and feeling the sun on your face.

Then the weather warms up and the sun stops feeling as welcoming. Being outside gets to be hard on you and hard on your skin.

But it doesn’t have to feel that way. Here are a few summer skin care safety tips to help you keep your skin happy and healthy this year.

Continue reading Summer Skin Care Safety Tips →

Why a Couple’s Massage Makes a Great Valentine’s Day Gift

Valentine’s Day is almost here and you’re not sure what to get. You could go the traditional flowers/candy/jewelry/cologne route, but that’s been done before.

This year, why not give a gift that’s something you can both enjoy? We’re talking about the couple’s massage. Philadelphia residents who feel stuck on what to get this February 14 can read on to discover the benefits of scheduling a massage for you and your partner.

Continue reading Why a Couple’s Massage Makes a Great Valentine’s Day Gift →

How to Cope with Stress During the Holidays

It’s something we hear all the time when clients come in for a pre-holiday massage.

Us: All ready for the holidays?

Them: Ugh! I wish!

For a time of year that’s ostensibly about celebration and feelings of good will, the stretch between Thanksgiving and the New Year can feel awful demanding. We need to shop, cook, clean, travel, socialize and welcome guests, all while still handling day-to-day life.

Continue reading How to Cope with Stress During the Holidays →

Aromatherapy Benefits: How Plant Oils Can Help You Heal

The next time you walk out of an aromatherapy appointment feeling refreshed, take a moment to thank a man named Avicenna.

Avicenna was a Persian physician, astronomer and thinker whose 11th-century work, The Canon of Medicine, served as the standard medical text well into the 1600s. He’s also credited with developing the distillation methods used in modern aromatherapy.

But how did aromatherapy come about? We’ll answer that question below and discuss some aromatherapy benefits in the process.

Continue reading Aromatherapy Benefits: How Plant Oils Can Help You Heal →

What is a Swedish Massage?

We’ve written quite a bit on this blog about the benefits of a good massage, how it can alleviate back pain, lessen depression and anxiety, and help us recover from our workouts.

But not all massages are the same. There’s deep tissue massage, for example, for people who are experienced massage goers, and things like hot stone massage, where a masseuse uses intense heat to help release tension.

And then there’s Swedish massage, perhaps the most popular member of the massage family.

Continue reading What is a Swedish Massage? →