Solstead Blessings

I entered the labyrinth not quite dressed for the Iowa weather this April. The wind made the windmill hum. I expressed gratitude for the time and space and the impending journey. I stepped into the labyrinth just as a bird rustled, called and then flew from the bordering pines. The path felt comfortable and familiar as the wind whipped around me. As I entered the center, I opened to the Divine. A bright, white light floated down around me. I no longer felt the wind or the cold. I could hear her presence around me but the chill was gone as the Divine light warmed all of my existence. I bowed to her and gave thanks as I breathed in the energy of the center.  As I turned to exit, I felt wet, hard flakes hitting my face. I opened my eyes to see that I was surrounded by a beautiful mass of swirling snow. I smiled and my heart rejoiced and was warmed by the beauty of the day. I am grateful.

Expansion

The Hubble Telescope has gifted us many images of our Universe and beyond. These images show birth, change and endless expansion in breathtaking fashion. The Universe continues to expand at a quickening pace into infinity. As human beings, we too are meant to expand and to be a mirror image of this beauty. Love fuels expansion. We are born with Love and fear is what we learn.

Imagine a life fueled by the Greek version of Love. Agape is a selfless love that is passionately committed to the well-being of another. In true Greek style the definition is universal, unchanging and unconditional love for all people. Agape is the ultimate law. It is the power to rise above all else, to empower passion & friendship and to create a loving environment.

Love opens the door to expansion, fosters an environment for growth, discovery & awe. Fear causes one’s energy to collapse, inhibiting growth & joy. Deepak Chopra talks of where to begin this process by saying, “Relaxation is the prerequisite for that inner expansion that allows a person to express their source of inspiration and joy within”

At Hands in Harmony, we strive for a business environment for staff & clients that is embedded with the energy of Agape. Agape creates an environment that fosters self love, self care & self discovery. This allows for healing, growth & development in all aspects of health; physical, mental, emotional & spiritual.

Experience Agape by putting yourself & your loved ones in the hands of one of our loving therapists. Whether you choose Energywork, Lightwork or Deep Tissue, the feeling of Agape will seep deep into your pores leaving you with a prevailing sense of peace & calm. Begin or jumpstart your expansion journey in our caring environment and become the change you wish to see in the World. You are beautiful.

Namaste

My kids were fighting the other day like typical siblings being ages 7 & 9. Some days more than others, they seem to be adept at pushing each others buttons. Everything becomes a battle, the bickering, the poking, until someone gets pushed past their limits and then tears. None of us remembers what the final straw was. We couldn’t tell you what started the whole thing but here we find ourselves in the midst of a storm.

I entered the room and quieted them down. I demanded that they stand face to face with each other, real close. Neither would look the other in the eye. I asked them to raise their right hand, their giving hand, take a deep breath and place it on the heart of the other. “Take another deep breath”, I said. There was a little fussing and an awkward, uncomfortable silence. Eye contact was made. Smiles hinted. And then they broke out in the giggles! They shared a joyous hug, the storm was gone and they ran off laughing and planning their next adventure.

In almost every language there can be found a phrase for what my children shared in that moment, for what happened when they recognized each other, honored each other and then celebrated the space between. Namaste means “I greet you where you and I are one”. Other meanings include happiness at the other, a return of deep respect, unity and equality.

The future can be seen in this moment in time shared between two small children. When things seem most divisive, heated and insurmountable may we choose to honor the divine within all humankind.

Let Your Light Shine

We are co-creators of our own reality consciously choosing our impact on the world. Each day we wake up, access our internal and external surroundings and head off into the world. Our minds fill with events of yesterday and today and thoughts of what today might be like. We can choose to relive a tragic event or share gossip over morning coffee. Each time we indulge in the spreading of fear, anxiety and stress, we contribute to the energies around us. Negativity can spread like a virus.

What if we make a conscious decision to change our frequency, our vibration and the ripples that we send out into the world.  Happiness and gratitude can be spread just as easy (and in my opinion easier) as we would much rather share in the delight of a happy story than one with a tragic ending. Apply this logic to everyday living. Many a Mom used to say “Don’t cry over spilled milk”. What a wonderful approach to all events in life that aren’t what we expected. Do overzealous expectations just lead to disappointment anyways?  Perhaps allowing expectations to fall away like a protective sheath that is no longer necessary will allow us to fully embrace life in all its glory.

We can manifest happiness in our lives by being grateful for all of life’s experiences, magnifying and multiplying our own personal happiness. When we can see the miracles in everything from the delicious aroma of the first cup of coffee, the way the sunlight streams through the morning clouds and the way the kids turn and smile at you as they head off to school life blossoms in all its glory! Suddenly there is no room for negativity or gossip because the true nature of your life shines so bright it illuminates all those around you.

Faith

There are many changes happening around us.  We are inundated with stories of manmade and natural disasters. Change is inevitable like the changing of the seasons, the ebb & flow of the tides and the phases of the moon. There are two ways to approach change. You can choose obstructionism & reactionism or you can choose to hold on to your core & your faith and ride the wave. Choose fear or choose Love.

Choosing fear and angst about what is happening next keeps you frozen in time unable to live life to its fullest potential. Fear prevents us from being present and enjoying daily life. It also prevents us from planning for the future. How can manifestation truly happen if focus is on what has gone wrong or what is going wrong? Every difficulty or challenge is a trial of our faith.

Freedom is at our fingertips. Gratitude is the key. Being thankful for the beauty around us, in the simplicity of daily life and the complexity of all creation builds the frequency of Love eliminating fear from our lives. Being grateful for every experience allows us to find valuable lessons to be learned from each interaction.

How do you handle the seemingly unexpected? What can Mother Earth teach us about daily life? Mother Earth has withstood millions of years of change, monumental change with continental shifts, moving mountains & oceans, life and death. And yet, a new day dawns, the clouds part, the sun rises again and everything is ok. We may not know exactly what ok looks like, but we can be assured that everything will be ok. The future will be more beautiful than we can imagine! That is truly faith at its core.

Finding Balance Thru Massage Therapy

Finding Balance Thru Massage Therapy

Life is about balance. In a high-tech age, we as struggle to maintain a healthy balance in our daily lives. Technology offers us more and more ways to unwind and to entertain with streaming movies, video, interactive games. It also keeps us tethered with a constant barrage of phone calls, text messages & emails alerting us with beeps, jingles and buzzing. What effect does this technology onslaught have on who we are and who we will become as a human race? People are walking around fatigued and not realizing their full potential. We are stressed out, frustrated, anxious and our bodies are trying to send us a message! We must find ways to connect, balance and fuel ourselves to survive in a world seemingly based around technology.

In early 2010, a group of neuroscientists ventured into the Glen Canyon Recreational Area in Utah. They wanted to understand how the heavy use of digital devices and other technology changes how we think and behave and how a retreat may reverse those effects. Cell phones and technology would not work in the heart of the canyon. They would be several days out of the reach of all technology. What they discovered confirmed what we are all feeling. It was on average, three days before they stopped anticipating the next email, text or other message on their electronic devices. They wondered what effect this is having on the brain and our interactions with each other. And more important still, our ability to quiet the mind enough to hear ourselves and to experience our daydreams, all those creative insights that lead to innovation, life changing decisions and new advancements!

In a 2008 University of Michigan study, Stephen & Rachel Kaplan examined the effects of urban on the brain. The researchers outfitted graduate students with GPS technology and then sent them out either into the city streets of Ann Arbor or into a local arboretum. Upon returning, the participants were subjected to a series of psychological and analytical tests. The students who were allowed to walk in nature performed 20% better than those confined to the busy city streets.  Not only that but the urban walkers were in a really bad mood! Interestingly enough, the results were the same or similar when participants were allowed to view images of pristine natural settings versus images of urban environments that many of us live, work and play in.

Many of you know Richard Louv‘s first book, Last Child In the Woods. (idea:  Ask staff if they have a copy that you could hold up to show) In his most recent work, The Nature Principle, he writes about calm, peace and patience as the antidotes for the 21st Century mindset of “always doing.”

By broadening our perspective to appreciate the nature around us, we get an infusion of what Louv calls “vitamin N” - nature. Louv strongly urges personal responsibility for reconnecting to nature, each other and ultimately ourselves.

What does it really mean to connect to nature? To each other? To ourselves? When we are truly connected to the flow around us we feel a sense of peace and calm. Decisions seem to come more easily & life is filled with gratitude. This connection may seem elusive and yet the signs of energy and movement are all around us. We must learn to quiet the mind amongst the frantic schedules and ever present technology so that we can listen and feel. A great illustration of energy and movement is the wind.

Can you see the wind? How do you know it is the wind? You feel her presence, you see the rustle of the leaves as she moves past, you feel her as she brushes up against your cheek and twists thru your hair, you hear her dancing in the chimes. You can not see the wind but you know she is there. All your senses confirm her existence.

In Ancient Traditions, it is believed that we are all connected by an invisible force called life force energy. Chi (chinese) or Ki (Japanese) or Prana (Sanskrit) is the life force or energy that runs through all living things and connects all living things together. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that this energy runs through energy channels called meridians. When cultivated, these energies can be used for healing.  The belief that people are part of an energy force that can be manipulated for greater health and well being is an age old idea. Once thought outdated, this approach to healing is experiencing a renaissance in modern health care.

Massage therapists, acupuncturists and yoga instructors (among others) are currently on the leading edge of this renaissance. In traditional Chinese medicine, practitioners look at the entire body and all the systems to fully understand the health or “dis-ease” of the patient. In contrast, modern medicine has become determined to treat one symptom at a time.  Is it any wonder that our health care costs as a nation have skyrocketed, prescription medications are being taken at an alarming rate, and afflictions such as fibromyalgia, diabetes and obesity are on the rise? By looking at the entire human being as a whole organism, our goal is to reach and maintain optimum health. For optimal health, we need balance & harmony in each of the four levels of our existence. These four areas of health are physical, emotional, mental & spiritual also referred to as PEMS.  Within Massage Therapy, there are modalities to treat or focus on each of these areas of health.  

Massage therapy for what ails your physical body is the most well known use of massage. We have all overdone it in the backyard, in the gym or at work. In a 2011 American Massage Therapy Association study, 90% of respondents believe massage therapy is effective in reducing pain.

There are many styles of massage therapy to treat muscular pain and dysfunction. A Swedish/Deep Tissue combination is what most clients are familiar with when they receive a massage from a qualified massage therapist. Other modalities that are beneficial for muscular pain are Ashiatsu, Orthopedic and Neuromuscular.

Ashiatsu is a combination of styles originating in Eastern Asia. Originally, it was done with the client on the floor and the therapist utilizing a rope for stability as they moved over and around the client. Today, Ashiatsu is performed with the therapist standing on the massage table or a stool next to the table and using a bar system for support. Ashiatsu utilizes the broad surface of the foot and the weight of the practitioner’s leg for maximum effectiveness.

Orthopedic Massage includes a specific protocol for accessing the client’s injury, developing a treatment protocol as well as a post-treatment regimen that the client subscribes to between treatments. Orthopedic massage is best known for balancing out opposing muscle groups to alleviate the pain cycle and utilizing the long bones of the arms and legs to massage the joints from the inside out.

Neuromuscular Therapy, locally known as Specifics, is well known by physicians and clients to treat muscular pain. The practitioner asks a series of questions of the client such as when did the pain start, was it a specific injury or movement of the body, is the pain repeatable in movement and does the pain refer to other parts of the body. Through these questions and superior palpation skills, the therapist can determine which muscle or muscles are involved and then treat those with the appropriate massage techniques.

We have talked about utilizing massage therapy in the treatment of physical pain and dysfunction. Massage therapy can also be used to open up the energy channels best known in Traditional Chinese Medicine as Meridians.

This energy system can be best compared to the electrical system in our homes. Your home has a circuit breaker box that gets energy from an outside source. The energy follows an electrical wiring system into the rest of your home to the switches, outlets and appliances. In the body, when our energy is not flowing efficiently, it can lead to dysfunction and disease.

Within this energy system is the Chakra system. I compare them to the junction boxes in our home’s electrical system. There are seven major chakras governing the energetic body that influence the emotional and physical health and wellness.  Each Chakra is found at a juncture of nerves and or a major organ within the anatomy.

The Crown Chakra sits atop our head and governs our energetic connection to the Universe, God or Source. The crown chakra is signified by the color white. To connect with the energy of this chakra; meditation or prayer.

The Third Eye Chakra sits just above the eyebrows in the center of the forehead. This Chakra is signified by the color purple. To connect with the energy of this chakra; meditation or prayer. Modern anatomists believe that the master gland also known as the pituitary gland is the third eye.

The Throat Chakra lies in the throat and signifies our avenue of expression or emotional pathway. Think of the old adage, “all choked up”. The throat chakra is signified by the color blue. To open up your throat chakra; laughter, singing and speaking one’s truth.

Our Heart Chakra governs unconditional love and unconditional forgiveness of ourselves and others. The heart chakra is signified by the colors green or pink. To connect with your heart chakra self love and forgiveness comes above all else. Be grateful for all life has given you.

The Solar Plexus Chakra governs our personal power and control. Think of that nervous feeling you get before a speech. Hits you right in the tummy! The solar plexus is signified by the color yellow. To open the solar plexus, claim your personal power! Be proud of who you are, confident in your life’s journey.

The Sacral Chakra governs the lower digestive organs, sexual organs, creative juices and ambition. Signified by the color red. To connect with your sacral chakra be creative, play and or do a storyboard, a pictoral plan for the upcoming year.

And our Root Chakra governs our connection to Mother Earth, keeping us grounded. It is signified by the color brown. Connect with your root chakra by going barefoot in the garden, walking in the woods, staring at the stars and or following the cycles of the moon.

Shiatsu, Thai Massage and Reiki can open up blockages in the energy channels of the body.

Shiatsu is based in TCM and utilizes finger and palm pressure along the meridians to open the energy channels for optimum health.  Shiatsu helps to open the meridians as well as loosen tight muscles and relax & balance the body.

Traditional Thai Massage originated in Thailand and utilizes deep stretching and deep tissue compressions along the meridians. This work is generally performed on a mat or cushion on the floor with the client wearing comfortable, athletic style clothing. It is good for opening up the joints, lengthening the muscles, energizing the energy channels and for relaxation too.

Reiki is a Japanese form of energy work that promotes healing. It is a gentle “laying on of hands” that is based on the idea of life force energy and its connection to optimum health.  Reiki treats all areas of the body including physical, emotional, mental and spiritual leading to an overwhelming sense of peace and calm. Reiki is very useful in opening up and balancing the energy of the Chakras.

Shiatsu, Thai and Reiki can all open up the energy channels of the body to create a sense of balance. Reiki overlaps into the realm of emotional and spiritual well being. Other modalities that fulfill the needs of the emotional and spiritual well being are craniosacral therapy, somatoemotional release and integrated energy technique. These modalities are based on the foundational belief that our muscles have memory. They hold positive and negative memories related to our injuries and experiences. The negative energies and memories become embedded in the tissue causing chronic pain, injury and fatigue. The negative energies then attract further injury, pain and dis-ease until they can be released from the tissue.

Craniosacral Therapy was studied at the University of Michigan in the 1970’s by Dr John Upledger and a team of neuroscientists. They were interested in studying the cerebrospinal fluid, its flow up the dural tube and its effects on the body. Craniosacral Therapy utilizes pressure of 5 grams or less, equal to the weight of a nickel lying on your skin. Dr Upledger describes it as a conversation between the practitioner and the client’s “inner physician”. (quote marks with fingers if you want.)  Craniosacral is utilized to treat migraine headaches, TMJ, and for pre and post surgical applications. Craniosacral Therapy is safe for all ages including newborns and small children. Craniosacral is used to treat children with conditions such as autism, ADD/ADHD  and cerebral palsy.

SomatoEmotional Release or SER works to release encapsulated energy from the tissues. The body knows that the smoothest path of release is to return the body to the original position of injury. The client will subconsciously return to this position so that the energy can be released and the body can continue on its path of healing. SER results in the alleviation of physical and emotional symptoms related to injury or trauma.

Integrated Energy Technique uses specific trigger points throughout the body to release negative, low frequency emotions and imprint the positive, high frequency emotions. IET sessions are as long as 90 minutes and are very impactful in discovering and releasing childhood traumas, emotional injuries and embedded negative programing. Clients feel lighter physically and emotionally and feel completely supported throughout the session and afterward. The motto of IET is to “heal the world one heart at a time”.


“These valuable modalities come under the umbrella of massage therapy.  This is just a sampling of the hundreds of modalities practiced by massage therapists around the world.”

Where do you go to find quiet?
Where do you go to find the stillness of the Universe? When do we allow ourselves time to relax and unwind? Recapturing the silence within is essential in regaining the mind/body connection.
Massage is one of the few things in this world that truly nourishes both body & soul and requires nothing but a willingness to give & receive.

A life out of balance will catch up with us eventually, and everyone is out of balance. We do generate illness and wellness in our lives. Medical science now knows that the immune system and the nervous system are inexorably linked. When you experience anger, sadness or fear all your cells feel these emotions, neuropeptides guarantee it. So when you experience stress your entire system is affected.

Massage strips away the stressors of the outer world and puts you in touch with who you really are and helps direct you back toward balance. A regularly scheduled massage allows you to reset your system and train your mind & body to return to that sense of balance with greater ease. Massage is not just a luxury but essential in maintaining health of the mind, body & soul.


I’ve shared with you today, many modalities of massage, bodywork & energywork to choose from to help you regain your sense of peace & calm. Massage therapy combined with a healthy diet, regular exercise and a good, solid dose of Mother Nature will enable you to live life as yourself unaffected by the stressors of modern daily life.

Find yourself today, get a massage!

KCRG A List Claiming Hands In Harmony

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