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Welcome to the Fall 2009 Newsletter of
Healing Hands Massage & Bodywork!

News: Prenatal Certificiations & Reiki Workshop

Hailey Knight and Rachel Hazelwood have obtained additional certification in prenatal massage. They have received 16 and 12 hours of continuing education respectively, and love to help mothers-to-be relax, de-stress, and feel great!

There are only a few seats left in our Reiki I workshop on Saturday, October 24th. The workshop runs from 10 AM till 4 PM with a lunch break. Cost is $150 and includes a Reiki manual and Reiki I Certificate. In this workshop, you will learn how to use the healing energy of Usui Reiki for yourself and loved ones. Clear blocks and experience a greater connection to your own healing power. Reiki heals on all levels, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. You will learn the history of Reiki, the chakra system, and you will receive a Reiki attunement. A Reiki II workshop will be offered in the Winter. Please contact Rachel Hazelwood, LMT, RM at 843-442-6691 or rachel@charlestonhealinghands.com.

Featured Service: Hot Stone Massage

Integrating the warmth of volcanic stone and the therapists’ intuitive hands, this unique experience will melt away your tensions. This massage combines the powerfully relaxing effects of heat with the skilled hands of a massage therapist. Hot Stone therapy has been around for centuries to bring about physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Native Americans, Europeans, and Chinese all have used hot stones to soothe injuries, and in body treatments for relaxation and well-being. In hot stone massage, smooth volcanic rocks are heated in a cooker and placed strategically along your body, on energy centers and pressure points. Their heat gently penetrates into the soft tissue layers, softening your muscles and relaxing your mind. The therapist further uses the stones and her hands to massage you, bringing about a sense of balance and deep, inner well-being.

Through October, add Hot Stones to your Massage for only $15.

Massage Etiquette: What Do You Do if You are Sick?

It seems that the cold and flu season has already arrived. If you are sick, we recommend that you reschedule your massage for when you are past being contagious. You will not be charged for rescheduling due to illness, but do please try to let us know as soon as possible!

Chair Massage: Fast & Affordable Back Pain Relief

Having Trouble Fitting in a Massage?

Targeting the sorest spots on your back, shoulders, and neck, chair massage can fit the bill when you just need some quick relief. At only $15 for 15 min or $30 for 30 min, it is quite affordable and still feels wonderful.

Scheduling times may be limited but are usually available during after-work hours. Please call 843-696-1342 to schedule.

Self Care Tip: Meditation for Insomniacs

Trouble Sleeping? Try meditation.

Researchers from Northwestern Memorial Hospital discovered that meditation (Kriya Yoga, in this case) helps break the cycle of hyperarousal that insomniacs typically suffer. The most interesting part: Meditating during the day, hours before bedtime, was more effective than in the evening.

It is probable that any kind of time-out from your day, where you relax and break the stress cycle, will help you sleep better at night.

(Source: 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, June 8, 2009)

Easy Clean & Green: All Natural Cleaning

The quest for a cleaner world begins at home! A few, cheap ingredients, such as vinegar and baking soda, make switching to 100% natural, safe cleaning alternatives much simpler than you think.

All you need to start are vinegar, baking soda, and three spray bottles. Purchasing big jugs of white vinegar and huge bags of baking soda at one of the superstores like Costco really saves money. Spray bottles are readily available at Wal-Mart and most home stores. A shaker of baking soda from the grocery store makes an easy-to-use, refillable scouring agent.

To boost antibacterial action, add essential oils. Many essential oils, such as tea tree and lavender, have powerful antimicrobial effects. Unlike commercial products, they do not appear to contribute to antibiotic-resistant superbugs such as MRSA (mer-sah). They smell wonderful and have many other benefits for you and your home. Tea tree is anti-fungal and anti-viral. Lavender is wonderfully relaxing and familiar. For sweet smelling cleaning products, you may also add the essential oils of orange, lemon, or peppermint.

Essential oils may be obtained locally from EarthFare or Whole Foods, or bought online from www.aromaland.com. Extend their life by keeping the little bottles in the fridge.


Natural Cleaning Recipes:


General disinfectant: Vinegar and water (optional: tea tree and lavender essential oils)
Vinegar is anti-bacterial and works well for most cleaning jobs in the kitchen or bath. For a general cleaner, mix 50/50 with water in a spray bottle, and add tea tree and/or lavender essential oils to boost its antibacterial power. Five drops of each oil per cup of vinegar/water mixture are effective. Add more if you prefer something stronger. This recipe does smell of vinegar, but the smell dissipates quickly.


Glass: Vinegar, (optional: lemon essential oil)
For streak-free cleaning of mirrors and windows, use straight vinegar in a spray bottle. It does not evaporate like ammonia-based products, so use it more sparingly. It may take slightly longer to wipe away until you get used to it. A few drops of lemon oil help it evaporate more quickly and give it a fresh scent. If it streaks, you have added too much lemon oil.


Wood & Furniture: Vinegar and Olive Oil (optional: orange essential oil)
In another spray bottle, mix one cup of vinegar with about one tablespoon extra virgin olive oil. Do not substitute different types of oil such as grapeseed, as that will actually leave your furniture too dry. To make your wood really shine, add 1-2 drops of orange oil. This recipe is even safe for high quality antiques. If you have dark wood furniture sitting in direct sunlight, skip the orange oil, as it has a mild photosensitive effect.


Tubs and Sinks: Baking Soda, (optional: peppermint essential oil)
Baking soda is as effective as commercial scouring products for soap scum, and actually keeps your tub cleaner for longer. If your tub is especially dirty, use the spray bottle you prepared for cleaning glass to spray the tub thoroughly with vinegar. Use straight vinegar on your rag or sponge, and sprinkle it and your tub with baking soda. The chemical reaction between them helps scrub scum and dirt away. Baking soda also safely cleans porcelain and makes stainless steel sinks shine. Mix in a few drops of peppermint oil in your shaker bottle to give it a sweet smell, and to deter ants in your kitchen.


The Toilet: Baking Soda, Vinegar, tea tree essential oil
For the toilet, add 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar to the water. Sprinkle baking soda around rim, and scour with a brush. For a strong disinfectant, add about 15 drops tea tree oil to the bowl before scouring.


Surfaces: Vinegar, water, tea tree essential oil
Use the above general disinfectant on surfaces, or use a bucket of warm water with 1 cup vinegar and 15 drops tea tree oil to the gallon to clean and disinfect the floor and remaining surfaces, such as the toilet seat.


Floors: Vinegar and Hot Water (optional: lemon, rosemary, or rosewood essential oils)
Add about one half cup of vinegar to a bucket of hot water to mop your floors. Do not ever substitute apple cider vinegar, as that will make the floors sticky. Add a few drops of lemon, rosemary, or rosewood essential oils to increase antibacterial action and to give your home a pleasant, clean scent. If your floors are laminate or hard wood, and your mopping leaves them very wet, dry them with a towel. Get a different mop that wrings out well, as these floors should not remain wet for long.


Carpet: Baking Soda (optional: lavender essential oil)
To freshen carpets, sprinkle with baking soda and leave it on for a few minutes before you vacuum. You may add a few drops of lavender or other essentials oil to the baking soda, put it in a plastic bag, and let it sit overnight. Use that powder on your carpets to make your entire home smell sweet.


Replacing just one of your commercial products with natural ingredients will improve your indoor air quality, help you avoid exposure to chemical toxins and vapors, save a few bucks, and will keep more chemicals out of our water supply and landfills. Give it a try! You might just be surprised at how good it feels to clean with green.

Of interesting note if you are concerned about not killing enough germs with natural methods: I have been using all natural, homemade cleaning products for over 5 years. In that length of time, I have been sick a lot less often, my allergies have greatly improved, and my house is a lot cleaner, because it is a lot more pleasant to clean. I have also saved hundreds of dollars. If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call or e-mail at 843-442-6691 or Rachel@charlestonhealinghands.com. For more natural every day solutions, I recommend the book Better Basics for the Home by Annie Berthold-Bond.

Thank you again for reading, and for your continued patronage! If you haven't been in in a while, drop me a line as I would love to hear about your latest adventures. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to write me at rachel@charlestonhealinghands.com or give me a call at 843-696-1342.
See you next time,

Sincerely Yours,

Rachel Hazelwood, Owner/Massage Therapist