Nervous about trying massage, or not sure what to do when you're on the table?  I found this article in Massage & Bodywork by Laurie Chance Smith, which has some helpful hints for your massage session.  Click the link to take a look - 
Massage Etiquette

What is the best time of day for your massage?  It depends on what you hope to accomplish.  Some massage aficionados prefer morning appointments that energize them, help them think clearly, or ease pain, helping them be their best for demanding jobs and other responsibilities. Others discover an evening massage dissolves the day's stress or helps them to sleep more soundly.

Your massage can be performed in a way that suits your needs.  Different massage techniques, temperatures and aromatherapy scents make this possible.  Ask for more vigorous types of massage, energizing acupressure points, cool stones or uplifting aromatherapy when you're looking to begin your day feeling your best.  In the evening, slow strokes, meditative aromatherapy and warmth (stones, hot blankets, etc) are best.  

I offer a wide variety of times to accommodate your preferences, starting as early as 7am on weekdays; evening appointments are also available.  Click here to book your massage online, or call 917. 596. 9535 for your customized massage.

Many of my clients suffer from sinus pain, which is caused by viruses, or allergies to dust, dander, mold, household and cosmetic chemicals.  Further aggravation is at this time of year when we are indoors and the air is dry from how we heat our homes.  While you do what you can to avoid these triggers, a few key acupressure points, along with some other helpful tips, can ease the pain when it occurs.

Acupressure Points for Sinus Pain
Apply firm pressure and hold each for 3 - 4 minutes with fingers at a 90 degree angle in relation to the face or head;
1. each side of the nostrils 
2.  the indentation at the inner eye next to where the bridge of the nose meets the eyebrows. 
3.  the area below the center of the nose above the lip
4.  Apply firm pressure at the center of the back of the head in the large hollow right under the base of the skull. 

Other helpful tips
1.  Use an ice pack (or make one wrapping an ice cube in a damp washcloth) and apply to painful areas and the acupressure points listed above.
2.  Try a neti pot, sold in drug stores or online.  It irrigates the tissues.
3.  Drink adequate water throughout your day.  Generally, I aim for half my body weight in ounces.
4.  Steam - boil water in a pot, turn off the flame, add some rosemary leaves or a few drops of organic eucalyptus or tea tree essential oil.  Then put a towel over your head, and put your face over the pot to breathe in the steam for several minutes.  Do not get too close to the water, as you want to avoid burns or feeling suffocated.
5.  Essential oil inhalations - besides the steam method listed above, I always found it helpful to set up a crock pot in a place I spend a few hours, adding a few drops of the organic essential oils (eucalyptus, tea tree, or rosemary).  It works best in a smaller room.  Mine is in my bedroom or office.   The essential oil permeates the air, allowing you to breathe it in and receive the benefits over several hours, helping the sinus passages clear.
6.  See your doctor for pain that lasts more than 5 days and/or you have green or yellow thick mucus, as this may be a sign of infection.

Clients enjoy the Sinus Relief Massage that I offer because it features techniques that soothe sinus pain, and it feels great.  This massage can be done as part of your full body massage, or the whole hour can be spent on the face, neck and head, or as a 15 minute add-on to any massage or facial.  Appointments can be booked online by clicking here or by calling me at 917. 596. 9535.

Delivering a baby is no easy feat, and may have left you feeling exhausted, sore, or emotionally stressed. 

You'll need to recover your energy, relieve muscle soreness and strain from the birthing process, and manage stress.  Post-partum massage, performed by a licensed massage therapist trained in this specialty, contributes to efficient recovery, including structural and abdominal restoration, healing from Cesarean birth, and relief of muscle strain from labor and childcare activities.  

I've designed the Post-Natal Re-Alignment Massage to address the common complaints of the new Mom.  This massage uses any combination of warm stones, gentle Swedish, deep tissue and/or reflexology to reduce muscle strain, correct postural imbalances, relieve constipation and hemorrhoids or bladder disorders, enhance lymphatic drainage for efficient removal of excess fluids and wastes, relieve stress, and generally get reacquainted with your pre-pregnancy body.  If you're medically cleared, I can also work on softening Cesarean scars.

If you've had a Cesarean birth or maternal complications, you can have still have post-natal massage with your doctor or midwife's approval, and only with someone trained to handle this situation.  However, there can be no massage of the legs or abdominal area until you're medically cleared, usually 6 weeks post-partum.  

The Post-Natal Re-Alignment Massage can be done in the normal massage position, with specially-designed bolsters for nursing mothers lying face down, or using the prenatal side-lying position for those with newer Cesarean scars or other discomfort lying face down.  The massage is longer (75 minutes) which accommodates the need to address the pervasive soreness, areas of specific concern (scars, pain, constipation, etc) as well as the nurturing you need and deserve.  

You are certainly welcome to bring your baby with you to the Calm Studio, but I encourage you to leave your child with a sitter so that you can have the uninterrupted care you need to be your best when you return home.  If you decide to bring your baby, just contact me at 917-596-9535 or info@calm-massage.com so I can have the appropriate items ready for the baby's comfort.

For some of you, this has not been a joyous time for any number of reasons.  You may be dealing with stillbirth, adoption, or other loss; depression, guilt or other confusing emotions.  When making your appointment, please let me know, so I may provide you with the support you require.  No matter what, your situation is always held in confidence, and I am here for you.

"Candela" - Italian, meaning "candle".

My trip to Sicily this past Fall included many beautiful, yet haunting medieval churches, where glowing candles were lit, providing a meditative focus for prayer and reflection.  These quiet moments inspired "Candela", my newest and most popular massage treatment featuring a candle - mesmerizing glow, an intoxicating fragrance... and a specially-designed all-natural soy candle that transforms into a silky massage oil that is applied warm to your skin in this unique massage treatment.

Choose from Sandalwood, Exotic Floral, Vanilla or Mediterranean Citrus fragrances.  It will leave it your mind and body relaxed, skin lustrous and silky smooth, and delicately scented.  The treatment concludes with a warm body wrap to seal in the moisturizing effects while you enjoy a soothing scalp massage.  The candle is yours to keep for continued relaxation and meditation at home.  

Candela is a lovely gift for yourself or that special lady in your life.  Gift certificates are available online, 24 hours a day (click here).  Beautifully wrapped versions of the gift certificate are available for pick up by calling 917. 596. 9535.

The months are passing quickly, and your baby is growing.  It's not easy walking around with your baby bump all day.  Husbands and partners are always asking how they can help, so here's a small way.  Its called the Baby Lift, which I learned from massage therapist Carole Osborne-Sheets during my prenatal massage certification.  Its simple to do!  Here's the instructions;

• Stand behind the pregnant woman, with your knees bent, and reach around her torso.
  
• Use soft, relaxed hands to gently support under her abdomen just above the pubic bone.
  
• Slowly straighten your knees to gently lift the abdomen several inches upward; hold this potion for 30 seconds to a minute.
  
• Gradually bend your knees again, and let the weight of the abdomen return slowly and completely to her.
  

This is a great exercise not only to give you some relief, but also to give your husband or partner a better idea of how it feels on your body.  The benefit for you is improved femoral circulation, which helps with swollen legs, and reduced strain on spinal muscles and uterine ligaments.  Share the load for awhile!

Many clients love the results of a deep tissue massage, however, some clients find this to be uncomfortable.  One of the best ways to overcome this is to add hot stones to your massage.  Hot stone massage, also called "warm stone massage" or just "stone massage" involves the use of smooth, black basalt stones found in the rivers of the Southwest and Mexico, heated to a temperature of 140 degrees in a water bath.  The stones are then rubbed over the muscles with oil.  

Most spas use the stones for a relaxing Swedish massage.  Although this is relaxing, I found them to also be useful for deeper massage when I use them to loosen muscles on the surface, then apply deep tissue techniques with my hands, then use the warm stones to go deeper into stubborn tight spots.  The warmed stones relax the muscle tissue and stimulate blood flow so that receiving deeper work feels more comfortable.  

The technique I use is available in a 60 or 75 minute version, or a 15 minute Back & Neck add-on to any facial or massage.  Appointments can be made online by clicking here.

Growing herbs in your garden?  Choose your favorites to make a beautifying herbal massage oil to soften your skin, ease muscle soreness and relax your mind.  You’ll need;

• A bunch of your favorite herb or herb blend (I’m using the lemon verbena and peppermint that Farmer Tony grew organically for me this year).  Try lavender for relaxation and acne, rosemary for achy joints, peppermint for menstrual bloating, cramps, headache or fatigue, basil for respiratory ailments and energizing.
  
• A cold pressed oil without much scent.  I recommend jojoba, apricot kernel, almond or grapeseed oil.  Olive oil's scent is too heavy.  You’ll need enough oil to cover the amount of herbs your collect plus one inch.
• A non-reactive pot, preferably glass, but stainless steel, enamel and cast iron are fine.  Do not use aluminum, copper. or non-stick coated pots.  Double boilers work well.
• Pure vitamin E oil.  Watch the ingredients, as some have other ingredients mixed in.
• Sterilized glass jar with cap (run it through the dishwasher on hot/sterilize setting) and a peel and stick label.  Colored jars are the best (cobalt blue or amber), as they keep sunlight out. 

Here's the procedure;

1. Shake off herbs from the garden, or rinse if really dirty.  Let the bunch you want to use sit overnight in a warm, dry place so it will lose some of its water content.  Too much moisture left in the herbs can cause a moldy finished product. 
2. Fill your pot with as much herb as you want to infuse.  
3. Cover the herb with oil and add one more inch of oil. 
4. A double boiler is convenient, but if you don't have one, put the pot in a bigger pot that has water in it. The oil should heat slowly over low heat for three hours. Do not overheat because too intense heat will destroy the volatile oils you are trying to collect. Alternately, you can do this in a crockpot on the lowest setting.  I did mine in the oven on the lowest setting, in a covered glass casserole dish, 200 degrees for 3 hours.

5.  Add a 1/2 teaspoon of pure vitamin E oil per pint of infused oil as a preservative.
6.  Strain oil into your jar with cheesecloth, cap tightly, label, and store in a cool, dark place.

Massage in this lovely herbal concoction whenever you like.  Keeps for about 6 weeks.

As a massage therapist, every summer, I see an increase in the number of clients with a condition called plantar fasciitis.  This is medical term for an inflammation of the tendons and ligaments at the bottom of your foot, characterized by a sharp pain at the front of the heel that usually feels worse in the morning getting out of bed.

The reason why I see this more in the summer is because of the change in footwear - more flip flops and sandals, less structured shoes.  However, this condition can be caused by anything that puts strain on your feet at any time, including athletics (especially runners), ill-fitting shoes or worn soles, pregnancy, or even being overweight.  Prevent pain with proper footwear, making sure you have arch support and a heel between 3/4"  and 1 1/2".

Medical treatment options include NSAIDS to reduce inflammation and decrease pain; specific stretches and massage; shoe inserts (orthotics); and in severe cases, night splints, casts or surgery.

The One Hour Classic Massage can help; I will use techniques to relax and lengthen your calf muscles, the tendon from your heel to the calf, and the muscles and connective tissue at the bottom of the foot, as well as muscles in the hips and thighs, which get tight from long hours of sitting at the computer or driving.  These deep tissue massage techniques help to create better posture, which affects movement, to put less strain on the feet.  Many clients see improvement in 3 to 4 weekly one hour massage sessions.

Here's some things to try at home;
1.  Calf stretch - Sit with one foot placed over the opposite knee.  Flex your ankle, then use your hand to pull your toes gently toward the shin to increase the stretch of the calf.  Repeat several times slowly until you feel the calf relaxing.

2.  Self massage of bottom of foot - roll your foot over a golf ball or similarly sized ball.

3.  RICE - A sports injury term used in massage therapy that stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate.  You can use ice to massage the painful area of the foot.  Fill several paper cups with water and freeze.  When frozen, peel back the paper and massage the bottom of the foot with the ice.

Acupressure is a technique derived from acupuncture that is often used in massage.  No needles are used, just firm, sustained pressure on specific points to achieve a desired effect.  One of the effects is appetite control.

Here are some appetite controlling acupressure points used in professional massage that you can use at home.  Find the points and apply pressure (not to cause pain) for 2 minutes.

1.  Appetite Control Point - locate the small piece of flesh that protrudes from the inside of the ear, above the earlobe.  Hold between finger and thumb for 2 minutes.

2.  Earlobe - beneath earlobe where the ear is connected to the jaw.

3.  Shin - place 4 fingers right below kneecap.  The point is on the outer part of the shin level with the last finger.

4.  Upper Lip - Locate the point in the center between the end of your nose and beginning of your upper lip.

Try these before eating.  Note:  if pregnant, don't use the Shin Point,