Welcome to the Summer Newsletter of
Healing Hands Massage & Bodywork!

What's New at Healing Hands?

• In the News: We have a bio in July’s Natural Awakenings Magazine. Pick up one in our office and at many other local businesses devoted to natural health.

• We have a shower! Add a hot shower after your massage for $15, or it’s included with the 2 hour spa package. We will provide Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner, Dove body wash, a new comb, shower cap, washcloths, and towels. It’s not fancy, but the water pressure is amazing!

• Online Booking: Did you know? You can now book your massage online. With our full service website, you can also buy Gift Certificates and print them right from your computer. What’ll they think of next?

Special Offers

• $60 for 60 minute massages for new clients. Now is a perfect time to get your friends and loved ones in for a massage. Valid for a limited time on first time visits and Gift Certificates for new clients.

• Referral Bonus - Refer a Friend is back: You save $5, and they save $5. Can you combine this with the above offer? Absolutely. If you purchase a Gift Certificate, drop me a line so I will process it correctly. That makes it just $55 for a 60 Minute Massage Gift Certificate, and you get $5 off your next massage.

• Get More Massage, Save More Money - On-Going Specials:

Multi-Session Packages
Three 60 Minute Massages: $180
Three 75 Minute Massages: $210
Three 90 Minute Massages: $240

Featured Services

• Happy Feet - Because a good foot massage helps relax the entire body, this service makes a wonderful addition to any massage. It includes an exfoliating salt scrub with the invigorating essential oils of peppermint, rosemary, and lemongrass. Hot towel compresses warm and relax your feet, and our very own handmade foot creme softens and moisturizes during a wonderful foot massage.

15 minutes - introductory price: $20 (regularly $25)
30 minutes - introductory price: $30 (regularly $40)
30 minute stand-alone service: $45 (regularly $55)



• Mini-Spa - Think you are too busy for spa day? Think again! Receive the benefits of a spa day without having to schedule that entire day off. One hour of spa bliss includes:


  • 30 minute back and shoulder massage

  • Aromatherapy with high quality essential oils known for their therapeutic effects

  • Choose two:

o Happy Feet - our foot relaxation service as described above, including a foot scrub and massage.

o Hand Paraffin Spa Treatment - A relaxing, warm paraffin wax hand treatment and massage, softening for the skin and soothing for aching joints.

o Foot Paraffin Spa Treatment - Warm paraffin wax treatment for the feet to soften and moisturize dry, cracked skin, followed by foot massage.

o Scalp and Facial Massage - Highly beneficial for relieving sinus congestion and headaches, as well as releasing the stress many of us hold in our jaws. Includes rosemary essential oil for healthy, shiny hair.

60 minutes: $85

How to Get the Most out of your Massage

In an ideal world, everyone would have a massage at least once a week, if not once a day! I imagine that world peace would soon result. In the real world, we usually cannot get massage as often as we would like, so we need each one to count. A little forethought makes massage more enjoyable and extends its benefits a little further.

Don’t Rush.

You will be beter able to relax if getting to your massage was not stressful. Head out the door early if possible, and if necessary, let others know ahead of time that you will be going to an important appointment that day. If you do end up having to rush, consciously slow yourself down and take a few deep breaths after you arrive. The few moments this takes will not matter much to the massage, but it can matter greatly if you are still in rush mode during your massage.

Let Go.

As you are lying on the table, the stresses of the day swirling through your head, consciously let go of them. When you are here, there is nothing else you need to be doing: no phone calls to be made, or problems to work out. Remind yourself that for that hour, or however long you have, all you have to do is be. This is your time for self renewal. You need it and you deserve it.

Avoid Caffeine.

Massage should be a time out of your busy day, and caffeine can make it hard to relax. If you are able, forgo that last cup o’ joe or avoid caffeine altogether. If you must, have your caffeine early in the day, well before your massage.

Be well hydrated.

Though you probably already drink water after your massage, hydrating beforehand can make you feel even better. Imagine that your muscles are like clay. If the clay is dry, a lot of time and pressure is needed to soften it. If the clay is moist, it yields easily to firm, gentle pressure. Of course, make sure that you drink your water plenty of time in advance so that you do not need to take a bathroom break.

Tell your practitioner what ails you.

The key to a wonderful massage is communication. Massage therapists are great at sensing subtle body cues, but you know your body best. Before your session, make sure we understand your goals that day. If you have a sore shoulder, point it out before we begin. If you just want to relax, or if you want deep work, tell us. Do not wait until the massage is almost over to tell us that something is not quite right. Temperature, pressure, and pace are all adjustable. Help us make the whole experience wonderful.

Take your time.

If you can, plan your massage for a day when you have a little time afterwards to feel peaceful. Try not to go rushing off to strain those muscles that we just released, with yard work, sitting at the computer for five hours, or going back to another tense situation at work. If you are able to take just a little time, you will find that the feeling you get after your massage will last much longer, and your body will remain more relaxed until next time.

Self Care: Triggerpoints with a Tennis Ball

For an effective self-massage of painful spots on your back that you just cannot reach, try a tennis ball. You can do this while sitting on the couch or lying in bed. Simply put the tennis ball on the sore spot, and lean or lie into it. Put the ball in a sock to be able to move it more easily. Always be gentle with yourself, and be sure to avoid pressure on your spine. It can be very effective to move the ball all along the shoulder blades on each side, stopping at each sore spot, then finish with a brief stretch of the anterior chest.

Aromatherapy - Peppermint Essential Oil

Cooling to hot skin, soothing to tired muscles, and able to stop a migraine in its tracks, peppermint essential oil makes a great addition to your massage or your medicine cabinet. Used extensively as a food flavoring for its pleasant and distinctive taste, the essential oil itself is extremely powerful with a high menthol content.

Peppermint essential oil invigorates sore muscles and relieves fatigue, making it especially suitable for sports massage. It should be used sparingly, as a little goes a long way. Add a few drops to a footbath with Epsom or sea salts to rejuvenate weary feet. To cool down fast on a hot summer day, add one or two drops to a damp washcloth and hold it to your forehead or the back of your neck. Added to an oil diffuser, its pleasant, minty scent will stimulate greater mental clarity and energy.

Mint alleviates minor stomach complaints such as indigestion, although it is so relaxing to the digestive system that it can actually aggravate heartburn. Add one drop of peppermint essential oil to a glass of water or to an herbal tea and sip slowly to aid a stomachache. Add one drop to a tablespoon of vegetable oil and massage your abdomen in a clockwise direction to stimulate digestion.

Peppermint oil can help or even relieve migraines if you catch them early. At your first indication of a migraine, add one or two drops to a cold, damp washcloth and fold it in half so that the oil is on the inside. Lie down in a cool, dark room, and put the washcloth over your eyes, being very careful not to get any oil directly on or in your eyes. Lie there for five to ten minutes, while the oil makes your skin tingle pleasantly. The tingling will become a bit too much after a while, and when you cannot stand it any longer, wash your face with cool water, applying the peppermint washcloth to the back of your neck.

For tension headaches, add a drop of peppermint oil to vegetable oil, along with some lavender if you have it, and massage this oil into your temples and the back of your neck. The pleasant scent is good for both relaxation and invigoration, and the lavender combination is especially good for relieving headaches.

Because peppermint essential oil is so powerful, it should not be used in cases of epilepsy or heart disease, around children under three, or by pregnant or nursing women. Do not use it for an hour after administering homeopathic remedies, as it may antidote these remedies.

Where do you get essential oils? Add essential oils to your massage for only $15, and you will also receive a small bottle to take home with you. Local health food stores such as EarthFare carry a good selection. I obtain most of my essential oils from www.aromaland.com because of their consistently high quality. Enjoy!



That's it for this time, but I would love to hear from you! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to write me at rachel@charlestonhealinghands.com or call at 843-696-1342. I hope to see you soon!


Sincerely,

Rachel Hazelwood, Owner/Massage Therapist