First, take a walk. A simple, quick enjoyable walk even though it might be hot outside, can lift your spirits. If nothing else when you come back in your air-conditioning will feel ohhh so goood. Exercise keeps your body in shape but it also keeps you feeling good. Monday is the start of the work week. Plan in your busy schedule time to exercise. This will set the tone for the week and you will feel great. If you don’t think you have the energy, try for 5 minutes, if your endorphins haven’t kicked in and you feel energized, stop and try later. Find an exercise that makes you feel good. For me, it is Kalundula Yoga. After that session, I feel so good and connected it makes me want to work out more. They have different exercises to work different chakras. I did one for creativity and I have been avoiding writing but after this session without thinking about it, ideas came to me.

Spend some time with fun friends. Make a promise that you won’t complain about anything, you will just talk about the positives in your life and the things you are enjoying now. Show off a little, why did appreciating your strengths become a negative or undesired trait? And try really hard to talk about the good things your spouse is doing. Positive thinking really works.

Think of something funny, or tell a joke. Laughter can cause all kinds of beneficial reactions in your body.

Fido, or your loving pet, is there for more than you to walk and feed. Giving them some loving can be good for all. Don’t make this about have to but about want to. You will be surprised at the results.

Like many we have become addicted to 24 hour news, staying in constant contact. My suggestion, turn off the news, why do you need to know what’s going on every second on every day. I enjoy going to restaurants but it seems like most have TV on and most area on the news stations. Can we say, turn if off and let us have some quiet for awhile. And if you are enjoying a moment don’t answer your phone you know we still have a lovely service called voice mail.

Now, close your eyes, imagine you at your favorite place, take a deep breath in hold for 5 seconds and exhale for five seconds. Continue for as many minutes as you can.

We all need time to meditate, to take time to be one with the universe or with our God.

At Island Escape one of the most common statements client make is ” I don’t know why I didn’t take the time for me.” I have come to appreciate a relaxing, Swedish massage which I try about monthly. I just came back from a trip where I had a lavender dry brush scrub with massage. For a person who gets lots of massage, I can say it felt like one of the best massages I have ever had. I will be going to Albuquerque to get some fresh lavender so I can start offering this service at Island Escape located in Navarre.

I was excited to find a new product line on my last vacation.  Homeopathic remedies help common problems using powerful herbs and elements supplied by nature. The remedies are constructed from products that are natural and effective.  I like the company not only because products are organic and good quality but they have a strong “green” presence. They also have done, or used various studies to document products effectiveness.

Homeopathy has been practiced for over several hundred years and was originally developed by Dr. Hahnemann, of Germany and is the medicine often used in countries in Europe.  This type of medicine is unique it that it tries to go to the core of your problem and believe that  less is more and tries to help your body find balance.

One of the new products I am carrying is called Eczema Rescue. It is a homeopathic remedy used to ease eczema.  If you have itchy, red, dry or scaly skin you may want to check out this product. Eczema is a general term for a variety of chronic inflammatory conditions of the skin.  The mechanism behind the skin inflammation is an immune reaction that causes an increase in inflammatory cytokines.  Though this condition is generally not thought to be severe, if you have this you know the discomfort.

Another product is Ionic Colloidal Silver which is a purified trace mineral silver in a water based solution. Its use dates back to 1800’s when medical doctors used this to treat a variety of conditions before antibiotics were discovered.  Colloidal silver is a nontoxic to mammals and plants but is a powerful germicide.  Topically, it fights fungal infections such as athlete’s foot and can work well for staph infections, acne, and eczema.  Internally, it can help heal colds and flu, strep, bladder infections and many other internal infections.

Some of the other products in the line are: Arnica plus, for sore or bruised muscles; Hot Flash Rescue Spray; Cold Sore Rescue; and Sciatic Rescue; Joint Rescue Dietary Supplement that increases joint flexibility and comfort.

Stop by or give us a call at 850-936-0515 and ask about the special promotion for this new line.

Island Escape Massage and Day Spa in Navarre Florida

Have you been looking for a good alternative to your current soap?

Our featured product line this week is the Indigo wild all natural goat’s milk soap. This soap is hand crafted and all natural. It has goat’s milk as it’s primary ingredient which is good for your skin because it’s ph is similar to your own skin. They are infused with varying essential oils. They cold press the soap which produces glycerin, which brings moisture to your skin.

This 3 oz soap is normally $3 but the special until the end of March is buy 1 for $3, or 2 for $5. The soap scents include anise-lavender, cinnamon, citrus-mint, frankincense & myrrh, grapefruit, geranium, lemongrass – which is tangy and an astringent, oatmeal-lavender – which soothes inflamed oily skin and exfoliates flaky dry skin, poppy pumice which is a great exfoliator, rosemary-mint which is helpful to your sinuses, and ylang ylang which smells like a sweet, exotic flower.

We also have samples, come and pick out your favorite but hurry the special only lasts until the end of March.

A beautiful day to you all.  2011 is sure flying by.  Warm weather is waking up the world in Florida.  Shaking off the dust and the pounds of winter, getting the garden ready or perhaps getting back to yoga and the gym?

As a Spring offering for prosperity to my clients and friends, I will be offering a FREE Salt Foot Scrub with all massages given in this fine prosperous month of March.

Believing that despite the struggles we are asked to carry in our lives and or hold in our faith.  This is going to be a fantastic year.

Is Massage in Your Future???

Call and get your spot reserved! 850-936-0515

We offer Package deals of 3 or 5 Sessions.  Good for 6 months, priced to make good habits lasting habits…

A body cared for and loved is a thing of beauty.

Island Escape Massage and Spa, Inc.

If you are feeling anxiety or have panic attacks, try to breath slowly.  Learn to breathe diaphagmatically.  To do this you push your abdomen out when you inhale.  Let your neck and shoulders relax. By practicing frequently you can prevent or lessen stresses.

A little laughter goes a long way.  Here is my attempt to make you laugh.  Ever stop to think, and forget to start again.  Share with someone something special in your day that put a smile on your face or that will put one on theirs.

Do some light exercise.  Tell yourself, I will work for 5 minutes and if those endorphins have not kicked in, give yourself permission to call it a day.  I like to relax and go for a long walk, preferably with the temperature between 65-80.  Just get moving and do something fun.

Since stress takes a toll on your nervous and immune system, I like, if possible to take a good hot soak.  It can calm the nerves and relieve muscle tension and can soothe away your anxieties.    I like Epsom salts to help with muscle pain and I like to use essential oil of peppermint or wintergreen.

To relax the mind, try a few different essential oils to see what works for you.  I like the following:

A blend of 6 drops basil essential oil, 6 drops rosemary essential oil, and 6 drops chamomile essential oil.  Soak for 10-20 minutes.  Then wrap up in a warm robe and prepare for a good nights sleep.

Next article:  Can Massage help with Sciatic Pain?

Get support from friends, family and if needed possiblity a Therapist.  Remember you can get control of your life back.  Make your health and well being a priority.

We all intuitively know that when we get up and move we will feel better.  Increasing your activity level is also proven to reduce fatal risks of heart disease, helps control weight loss, and can reduce anxiety and depression. Well, what’s happening is that movement increases blood flow to a tight area and therefore can ease your pain. Often people start by trying some stretching.

First, try closing your eyes and taking some frequent, deep breaths, breathing in to a slow count of 5 – hold for count of 5 – then exhale for a count of 5  Do this 3 times. Next, try some gentle stretching.  Many people stretch incorrectly and aggravate their discomfort.   If you are doing a static stretch (stretching with your body at rest) it should be held between 10 seconds to a few minutes.  However, dynamic stretching (stretching while moving) should be held for less time, usually less than 3 seconds. Research now says is best to do static stretching after your muscles have been warmed up. After deciding which kind of stretch to do then consider the optimum length to stretch.  If you don’t stretch enough, nothing is accomplished  And, if you stretch too far you could end up hurting more than when you started.  Generally, you should bring the muscle to point of tension.  A solid exercise “burn” is OK.  Pain is not.

Any stretch is enhanced when you add resistance.  During deep tissue massage treatments, I show my clients how they can stretch or work tight muscles when I find painful areas or trigger points.  One of the best techniques here is called strain /counter-strain.  Basically, you want to engage a muscle that’s tight and then apply a counter-strain to the target muscles in the opposite direction.  I realize it’s challenging, especially when you’re in pain, but it’s well worth the eventual relief when you can locate and work out the source of that pain.  Simple stretches or maybe a yoga class might just do the trick.

Another option is to use analgesic pain relief product.  I’ve had some really good success with a product called Biofreeze.  Menthol in the product causes sensory receptors to be stimulated, blocking other pain sensations in a physiological process called “gating.”  The product is cooling, so this reduces skin temperature, lessens inflammation, and allows the body the ability to repair itself.  If you are looking to try this option, I carry the product as both a topical spray and cream application.

Massage therapists are always concerned about self-care, and I think we need to share this with others.  Try these simple suggestions for pain.  And if they are not effective enough, call a massage therapist in Navarre for a therapeutic massage.  Find a therapist who is a detective, who searches for areas where pain might be lurking.  At Island Escape Massage and Spa (now on Facebook at “Island Escape Navarre”), our goal is to locate tight, injured muscles and soothe out those knots.  Remember that where we feel pain is often not the source of that pain . . . but more about that in another article.

How do you beat the blues and stress? Just the thought of overhauling your emotions so you will feel better again seems like a huge task. You can choose to entertain yourself with movies or take that vacation you have been promising yourself.  And yet, the thought of expending your energy doing them just make you feel even more lethargic.  So, is there a way to relax without changing the scene and just be comfortable staying in place?  It might surprise you but there is.  Aromatherapy Massage is a natural stress buster that works wonders to mind and body and relaxation can come to you even without much effort.

The distinctiveness of aromatherapy from other types of massage therapy relies on the application of aromatic oils. These aromatic oils, also known as essential oils, primarily come from botanical properties. Aromatherapy, also called clinical aromatherapy and medical aromatherapy, is based on the belief that the sensations originating from our nostrils go directly to a particular part of the brain known as the limbic system which is related to emotion and memory. These aromatic oils are powerful stimuli which stir the limbic system and create positive feelings.  Aromatherapy is used by some professionals in treating emotion-related conditions. Aside from this, it is also known to be effective in pain management.

How is aromatherapy done? Basically it is any method which makes use of pleasant scents. Just laying comfortably in a quiet and still location and inhaling scented candles or fragrant-filled potpourri is relaxing. This mode of application is known as aerial diffusion. You can also try direct inhalation or topical application. What is even more interesting about aromatherapy is you can make your own oil. Want yours to be for relaxing, or for healing? Get your recipe from Navarre Massage and concoct your own formula of aromatherapy.  Bring your custom oil with you when you have our massage therapist provide you with the relaxing massage of your choice.

This is an article written by Cristi Enache. Read more on aromatherapy massage or discover the wonders of foot massage at Island Escape in Navarre.

Article Source: What is Aromatherapy Massage?

Are you stressed? Then I recommend a Navarre Deep Tissue Therapy or hot stone therapy session. I’ve had five massages in my lifetime, and I want more. But the best one I had was the hot stone session.

My very first experience with this type of treatment I had was a typical relaxation session, called the Swedish. I made the appointment with a friend, and the two of us went to the spa together. The therapist knew this was my first one, so she explained exactly what she would be doing. Although it was very relaxing, I did have some very tight muscles. She tried to work through the knots, and as you might imagine that deep pressure was a little uncomfortable. However, in the end, the entire session was very relaxing. I knew I wanted to come back for more massages in the future.

And I did. The second one I had was a deep tissue therapy, designed to actually work through those knotted muscles. I have some problems with my shoulders, and I often have knots that just won’t go away, so the licensed therapist recommended the deep tissue technique as a way to alleviate my pain and try to loosen the knots in my shoulders. The deep tissue technique often takes more time to do, and can sometimes be a bit painful, but when all was said and done, the muscles were much looser and I felt completely relaxed. I do recommend drinking lots of water to flush the toxins out of your body if you choose this type of therapy.

Although I was in a different city for the next one, I opted to get just a relaxing session, not the deep tissue one again. The third one I had was just the relaxing Swedish type again. These are well worth the money, and are the basics that most therapists give when you ask for a massage. They are designed to relax you and loosen your muscles.

My first hot stone therapy session was the fourth type of treatment I experienced. If I had to choose between the different types of treatments available today, the hot stone technique is the best one I’ve tried. The therapist began the session like any other, loosening my muscles and relaxing me. However, she added heated flat stones to the massage. She had dipped the stones in oil, too, so they slide easily over my skin. The stones provided an extra amount of heat which helped relax my muscles. It also seemed that she was able to get deeper into the tissue with the stones than she would have otherwise.

Needless to say, the next time I opted for a relaxing therapy session I definitely went for the hot stone massage, too. It was just as relaxing as the first. I would certainly recommend this type of treatment to anyone who wants to get a one. I will be requesting this specialty technique for every other one I get in the future.

Sara regularly writes for AML Stone Source, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry such products as hot stone massage kit and massage stones, as well as many other many other accessories for hot stone therapy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sara_Ryan

http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-You-Need-a-Massage?&id=4450494

During these tough economic times people are having to make tough financial choices. Have you been hurting and want to get a massage but didn’t think you could afford it. To help those clients who would benefit, Kathy at Island Escape is going to offer 3 ways to save on massage.

First, if you book your May appointment at least 1 week in advance, you will receive a $5 discount off the full cost of an integrative massage. For each additional massage you receive at Island Escape in May, you will save an additional $5 off for pre-booking. The cost for an hour integrative massage could go as low as $40/hr/massage.

Another way to save, I am offering you an additional 15 minutes for each of the following you do:

1) write a testimonial about your massage experience to be posted on my website at navarremassage.com

2) go to your browser, search for navarremassage.com, and select that you like the business, or

3) refer 3 new clients to Island Escape, be sure they use your name as a referral on the intake form. If you did all 3 things, you would have a free 45 minute massage (longer if you have more friends to refer) . Here is how you get something free just for sharing your massage experience, going on the internet, taking the time to write about your massage experience.

The third option will be if you want to try Thai Yoga Massage. This is a new technique I am offering with a special May price. Normally the technique lasts 75-90 minutes for a cost of $105.

For May, the cost to those who want to experience this new technique is only $75, a $30 savings.

Please call with any questions about this offer, or if you wish to schedule your next appointment.

Hope to see you soon.

Kathy Welshans, Island Escape Massage

Specialties: Deep Tissue Massage, Hot Stone Massage, Ashiatsu Oriental Bar, Reflexology, and now Thai Yoga!

Island Escape Massage and Spa, Inc
1900-D Hwy 87, Navarre FL
850 936 0515

Do you have constant, widespread pain. Do you feel stiff, achy, tired a lot of the time? You might have a condition called fibromyalgia syndrome (fms). FMS can affect your muscles, tendons, ligaments and even your joints. The most common symptoms seem to be widespread pain, tenderness in 11/18 points on the body, and sleep disturbances, and what is known as “fibro fog”, which is where your mind feels like its in a fog.

Do some of these symptoms sound familiar? If you go to a medical professional they will likely diagnose you with FMS. They usually do this by ruling out other conditions. Then they will check 18 points on the body for pain and tenderness. If you have tenderness or pain in 11/18, you might be given a diagnosis of FMS.

You might ask ,What are some holistic ways to manage my FMS? Massage therapy has been one of the top-rated ways to improve short and long term pain. You can try to get moving. Exercise, particularly in hot water, has been shown to be effective according to a study published in the Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. Yoga and tai chi have also been very effective for the physical and emotional effects of FMS.

So what can you do to feel better—THINK THRIVE

T -touch, try to get some form of bodywork at least once month, particularly effective is hot stone therapy or myofascial release

H- Herbs and Hormones,

R- Rest, Re-balance, Sleep

I- Immune response- most have a high rate of infections, particularly influenza

V- Vitamins and Nutrition

E – Exercise

There are many sources of information out to try to help you. One reference I like is a book called “Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome, A Survival Manual by Dr. Devlin Starlanyl

Don’t give up hope, there are ways to manage your pain—take care