Happy fall to you all!
I know it’s been fall for a bit now, but with trees shedding leaves and the skies starting to change to that fall look, it now seems more like the season. The next few months bring an increase in activities for most of us.
Before it all gets started, take a minute to make a plan for your own self-care this season. Now, before you’re over-committed, think of one good thing you’ll do for yourself … each day, each week, each month. It can be as simple as focussing on your breathing for five minutes a day, or getting outside for ten minutes. Of course, we think you need to fit massage into your life on some sort of a regular schedule!
We hope you enjoy the season and find rest and peace in it. We’d also like to take this time to thank all of you for continuing to get your massages, acupuncture, spa services and Alexander technique sessions with us. We appreciate the faith you put in us, and we will continue to strive to provide you the best possible care anywhere!
Happy Thanksgiving!
We’re moving … across the hall!
On January 1, Harbor Health & Massage will be moving across the hall to Suite 240 (currently, the Eastern portion of Dr. Bade’s space). Lakeshore Pilates is adding new equipment and needed some space to expand so they will be taking over the massage room adjacent to their classroom.
As for us, we’re excited! We’ll still have three massage rooms, but they’ll all be through one door. We’ll also have our own bathroom and a staff kitchen. We’ll continue to work closely with the Lakeshore Pilates staff, but now we’ll need to walk across the hall to see them.
This move requires some coordination, so we’ll be closed on Saturday, January 2 (we’re always closed at 3 p.m. on New Year’s eve and closed on New Year’s Day) to allow us the weekend to move. We expect there will be some upheaval in our space the first week or two of January, so we hope you’ll “pardon our dust” as we settle in.
We hope you’ll stop in and tell us what you think. It’s as easy as turning left instead of right when you get to the top of the stairs!
Massage for cancer patients and caregivers
By Gracie VanDenBerg, NCTMB
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and all over the world survivors, family and friends of those who have been affected by breast cancer walked for the cure. It was a joy for me to share a short hike through the streets of downtown Grand Rapids with sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews and even two grandnieces to honor the memory of our mother and grandmother. Along the way, I was told by more than one person, “I’ll need a massage when this is done!”
Realizing that massage is beneficial for health, we can take that a step further and consider the potential benefits for cancer patients as well as their caregivers. Everyone knows the toll caring for a loved one who is fighting this disease takes on body, mind and soul. It can be beneficial to receive massage as part of your wellness routine. It is even more helpful at this difficult time of life. Take time to care for yourself; and the loved one that you are caring for will benefit as well.
A growing body of research shows that massage has health benefits for many people — including those battling breast cancer. Be aware that skilled touch is beneficial at nearly every stage of the cancer experience — from diagnosis through surgery to therapies to recovery to remission or end stages. The myth that massage is not good for oncology patients is simply not true. “Adaptive massage techniques and gentler non-invasive therapies can always be safely administered” (Gentle Hands) The act of touch itself is very restorative to someone who is suffering.
"In a Mayo Clinic study published in the August 2009 Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, breast cancer patients receiving massage therapy reported a reduction in fatigue, creating a general feeling of wellness and an improvement in sleep quality and their ability to think clearly.
A study at the Touch Research Institute showed that levels of “natural killer” cells and lymphocytes that help battle cancerous tumors increased among breast cancer patients who received a massage three times a week." (Massage In The News by the American Massage Therapy Association)
“Massage therapy can often help alleviate pain and fatigue, which can make a huge difference in the overall feeling of wellness for those overcoming breast cancer,” said Judy Stahl, national president of the American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA). “As a breast cancer survivor myself, I know the difference massage can make when going through such a difficult experience.”
So the next time you are walking for a cause, consider how many others cannot walk or function normally, or are caretakers for a loved one, and invest in their recovery by giving them the gift of massage. It really helps!
For information about breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877-GO-KOMEN.
Don’t forget gift certificates!
Thanksgiving is about two weeks away. And, if you’ve been listening to the radio or watching television, you know that Christmas is on the mind of the advertisers and those who pick the music. I’m not one to rush the season, so if you’re not ready to think about it, read no further! For those of you still with us, we just want you to remember what a great gift massage makes. You don’t have to think about size or color and most everyone enjoys it! Stop in for gift certificates for everyone on your list … or drop the hint to YOUR loved ones!
For those of you who prefer a package under the tree, be sure to check out our neck wraps, lumbar wraps and cozys for the hand or feet. Most of these items can be used hot or cold for therapy or just comfort. These cozys are the ones Oprah loved a few years back (I would guess she still does love them, she just hasn’t mentioned them in a while)!
Facebook and surveys
Just some reminders … you can still complete our survey on line and anonymously. Just go to http://survey.harborhealthandmassage.com or click on the link below. We want to hear what you think!
And if you haven’t fanned us on Facebook yet, we hope you will check us out. We send regular hints and tips for healthy living, some news about what’s going on here, and a special offer now and again. Check us out at www.facebook.com/harborhealth.
