A Few of My Favorite Things

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, I thought I would pass along a few of my favorite tools I use between getting my monthly massages. (Yup- Massage Therapists need regular massage too!)

* Hint, if you are not getting regular monthly massages, I encourage you to add this to your wellness reboot for 2025! You will be glad you did!

Now! On to the good stuff.

Keeping it Cool

These Releaf packs were a game changer for me. I absolutely love these weighted cool packs that stay cold for up to 2 hours. My friends with chronic pain swear by these and they come in so many different and fun patterns. As a bonus, I also found them to be a lovely breath of fresh air when dealing with menopausal hot flashes. These Releaf packs are a well made eco-conscious brand with a vegan filled bean blender from locally sourced materials. Lastly, I love to support women in small business! So many reasons to give Releaf packs a try!

On the Warmer Side

When ice is not what is feeling so nice, I turn to moist heat for muscle and pain relief.

Why moist heat, you ask? Moist heat can penetrate deeper into the muscle tissues, increasing blood flow more readily and providing more effective pain relief.

Two items I keep on hand for moist heat relief include a weighted neck wrap for neck and shoulder tension as well as headaches; and for arthritic hands and feet, weighted hand mits.

Adding a few easy neck stretches when wearing your neck wrap can go a long way to help sooth tension until your next massage.

 After a day of helping smooth out your knots these hand mits work magic to keep my hands happy and ready for the next bodywork adventure.

Breathe easier

Aromatherapy has many benefits and one of my favorite go-essential oil blends for sinus relief is Tei- Fu. It’s fresh and invigorating blend is a great alternative to eucalyptus and as a bonus, it is already diluted for direct skin application if needed. Just be sure to be mindful of avoiding sensitive areas when applying.

Keeping Our Largest Organ Hydrated

Did you know that our skin is the largest organ of the body? Its super important jobs include keeping our body safe from harmful things in the environment, regulating our body temperature and helping with production of vitamin D.

My favorite go -to skin hydrator both in the massage room and out is Jojoba. I have sung its praises in previous blogs, but it bears repeating because it has so many great benefits. I not only use it on my body by it is also gentle enough for the sensitive skin on my face.

Taking Wellness to the next level

These are all good things to have in our self-care toolbox, but I would be remiss if I didn’t also encourage you to add a monthly date for yourself to get a massage. It’s one of the best investments in self you can make. Why you ask? Because the benefits of regular massage can help you find better balance in your day-to-day living. Some of those benefits include increasing immunity, better sleep, less pain, better joint mobility and range of motion, better mood, stress relief, as well as increased self-awareness as you take the time to take a breath and reconnect with your mind and body. Investing in regular massage is investing in a better, more rested, less stressed you!