| Monthly Feature: Humor Opens Windows to Self-Discovery March 2010 |
Originally published in ASCP's Skin Deep, April/May 2006. Copyright 2006. Associated Skin Care Professionals. All rights reserved.
We could all use more humor in our lives. Having a sense of humor doesn't mean laughing and being cheerful all the time. It means seeing the illusory nature of things -- and seeing how, in this illusory life, we are always bumping into the very things we meticulously try to avoid.
Humor allows us to see that ultimately things don't make sense. The only thing that truly makes sense is letting go of anything we continue to hold on to. Our ego-mind and emotions are a dramatic illusion. Of course, we all feel that they're real: my drama, your drama, our confrontations. We create these elaborate scenarios and then react to them. But there is nothing really happening outside of our mind! This is karma's cosmic joke. You can laugh about the irony of this, or you can stick with your scenario. It's your choice.
We need to bring a sense of humor to all aspects of our lives -- even to positive aspects such as well-being, harmony, and peace. When we take these things too seriously, joy becomes pain, peace becomes annoying, and harmony becomes contrived. To have genuine harmony, peace, and joy, we need to cut through seriousness with a sense of humor.
Humor is difficult to describe in words. It arises in our heart and a smile appears or laughter comes out of our mouth. It brings a new vision and perspective to everything. And it can also be a great friend -- at times our only friend. In especially difficult times, when we're deserted by everyone else, we still have our sense of humor. We don't have to take this short life -- with its fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, lovers, children, jobs, and money -- so seriously. In fact, it's funny to be so serious. Especially knowing that ultimately we will have to drop all of it and leave this life, as in the Tibetan saying, "like a hair pulled from butter." The brief time that we have in this world would be well spent trying to wake up from this seriousness.
Is Seriousness All that Useful?
There is a lot we could accomplish in this brief human life. We could actually realize the nature of reality and the truth of phenomena -- including ourselves. How ridiculous is it then to be so serious about carrying a briefcase, driving a BMW, or talking on the cell phone to our friends? At some point, we have to say, "OK, that's enough." This doesn't mean ignoring our mind and emotions, or not addressing or discussing things. It means simply asking ourselves whether seriousness is all that useful.
When we wake up in the morning, thoughts and feelings naturally arise. It's up to us how seriously we take them. This is not to say we should never be serious or responsible. It just means that we may need some perspective and a more positive attitude.
A positive attitude doesn't mean just thinking good thoughts. It means not getting caught up in the seriousness of everything we do, hear, see, feel, and relate with. I myself am very tired of being so serious -- exhausted, actually. But it doesn't help to just give up on the things we're so serious about. That doesn't really serve the purpose.
When you find yourself stuck in seriousness -- even if it's your karma to be a serious person -- you can just pop out of it. This is quite a profound practice.
The Sense of Humor Practice
Like an old man watching children at play, we need to see through our own seriousness. No matter how seriously the children go about their games, the old man is amused and never for a moment takes them to be real. We can watch our thoughts and emotions in the same way. Without taking them so seriously we can see them as children at play and give them lots of space.
| What's New? |
We've Moved!
Come visit me at my new massage spa! I am located at
New Website
The website has been updated so be sure to take a look! www.relaxwithmassage.info
Times, They are a-Changin'
Relax with Massage is undergoing some major changes lately. In addition to relocating, we will also be boasting a new name and logo. These features will be coming soon, along with some other great things so be on the lookout!
Gift Certificates
Gift certificates are the perfect way to say I Love You to someone special for any special occasion. You can purchase gift certificates online or over the phone, as well as in person. You can purchase them in any denomination.
Facebook
What better way to keep up to date on all these exciting changes than to become my fan on Facebook? Read information articles that are relative to our busy daily lives and receive exclusive discounts and specials for Facebook fans only. Hope to see you there! Simply search for Relax With Massage.
| Quote of the Month |
A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book. ~Irish Proverb
| March Special and Discounts |
90 minute Swedish massage $75
Yoga Found to Affect Inflammation
Many massage therapists practice yoga; and, as both are holistic health-care practices dating back many thousands of years, massage and yoga are complementary aspects of a health-care regimen.
New research shows yoga reduces cytokine levels known to promote inflammation.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that women who routinely practiced yoga had lower amounts of the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in their blood.
The women also showed smaller increases in IL-6 after stressful experiences than did women who were the same age and weight but who were not yoga practitioners.
IL-6 is an important part of the body's inflammatory response and has been implicated in heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes, interesting to confirm these effects and better understand the action of antioxidants on stress in further studies with a larger number of volunteers and a longer duration".
arthritis and a host of other age-related debilitating diseases. Reducing inflammation may provide substantial short- and long-term health benefits, the researchers suggest.
The study is published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine
Ron Glaser, a co-author and a professor of molecular virology, immunology and medical genetics, said that the study has some fairly clear implications for health.
"We know that inflammation plays a major role in many diseases. Yoga appears to be a simple and enjoyable way to add an intervention that might reduce risks for developing heart disease, diabetes and other age-related diseases" he said.
"This is an easy thing people can do to help reduce their risks of illness."
What's New?
Now accepting credit and debit cards
Now you don't have to worry about swinging through the bank to grab cash, or getting nervous when you realize you are out of checks. I can now accept Visa and Mastercard and debit cards carrying those logos. Unfortunately, other cards such as Discover or American Express are still not accepted. And there is never an additional fee for using your card.
Additional services offered
In addition to the services listed on the Service Menu, I also do sports massage, Shiatsu, Reflexology, and acupressure. Prices vary so be sure to ask about my extended menu.
Referral Program
Ask about my new referral cards. They allow you to give a
Gift Certificates
Gift certificates are the perfect way to say I Love You to someone special for Valentine's Day. They are also perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, or just because! You can purchase gift certificates online or over the phone, as well as in person. You can purchase them in any denomination and you can even create a spa package including nails, skin care, and more!
Facebook and Myspace
I'm now on Facebook and Myspace under Relax with Massage. Be sure to stop by and add me as a friend, or become my fan for updates, informational articles, and exclusive discounts and specials.
Quote of the Month
Specials/Discounts
60 minute hot stone treatment $70
Schedule your appointment today to experience the ultimate relaxation of hot stones for $10 off the regular price!
Contact Information
at A Timeless Age
555 Fourth Street, #2
Clovis, CA 93612
(559) 916-0754
www.relaxwithmassage.info
mvsmassage@gmail.com
Ending Stress in the New Year
By Elizabeth Scott
We all experience stress, and for some, the levels of stress in our lives can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to declutter and simplify your lifestyle and eliminate some of your stress before it even happens. If you're ready for a less stressed existence, try taking some of these steps now to reduce clutter in your lifestyle for months or years to come.
Rid yourself of solicitations
Many of us get stressed by paper clutter, the pile of papers that come into our homes in the form of bills, school papers, junk mail and more. Many people feel so overwhelmed by the massive influx of paper that they lose bills and other important papers in the sea of written material. You can save trees and your sanity by writing to the appropriate organizations to eliminate junk mail, and find an efficient system to organize the remaining papers that are relevant to your life, eliminating the need to ever search again through piles for what you need.
Sign up for classes
If you'd like to get more fun into your life, or find a regular form of exercise to relieve stress and get into better physical condition, it's a great idea to sign yourself up for a class. This way, you have it in your schedule, and there will be people waiting for you to encourage you along each time. This can be great for your motivation. While bringing something new to your schedule may make you more busy, it can add to your quality of life, which will cut down on the stress.
Pay automatically
If you find yourself paying bills late even when you have the money in your account, simply because you're so busy you forget to pay them (or even if you pay your bills on time, but you don't like the hassle), you can save yourself time and postage money by signing up for automatic payments on many of your bills. Having the money withdrawn automatically from your account can virtually eliminate the need to sit down and write all the checks, anad you'll be guaranteed that your bills will be paid on time. It takes a few minutes of set up, and you save yourself significant amounts of hassle each month.
Make a financial plan
A large porportion of the popluation experiences financial stress on a regular basis. Many people are in deep debt and don't know how to get in the black; others live paycheck to paycheck and have no savings in case of a disaster; others don't know where they stand, and are concerned about it. If you're one who is stressed about money, now is the time to change that. Making a budget, a plan to get out of debt, and a plan to save for your future can help you sleep better at night from now on, and can put you in a much better place in the future. If you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of putting this all together by yourself, go to a financial advisor, it will be well worth it in the long run.
Make appointments now for the rest of the year
One thing you can do to take care of yourself and your family now is to make all of your regular appointments for the next year now. Regular check-ups at the dentist, physicals at the doctors, and even tune-ups for your car need to be done once or twice a year. If you make all appointments of this type now, you won't have to think about fitting them into your schedule for at least a year, and you can put it out of your mind.
Automate your diet
Some leading dieticians advice a new practice that can also save you stress in the mroning: Eat the same thing everyday for breakfast and lunch. If you stick with healthy staples that provide plenty of nutrients, you can simplify your grocery shopping and your monring routine, and quite possibly lose weight while eliminating the need to even think about what you're going to eat for any meal except dinner. And if you stick to some simple and healthy staples, you can eliminate even more stress from your lifestyle. ~
Corporate Massage Program
Would you like to see an increase in employee productivity? Would you like to see a decrease in employee absenteeism? Are your employees under a lot of stress? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then your company needs me!
In numerous publications, including Prevention Magazine (Dec. 1990), massage is referred to as a proven technique for the reduction of both physical and mental stress. That is why I am offering an on-site corporate massage program. My program provides on-site chair massage for stress management in the workplace. It helps build positive morale which translates to a happier, healthier and more productive workforce. More and more companies are realizing that on-site chair massage is not just a perk, but an essential and cost-effective way to increase employee morale and productivity.
How it works
You provide me with a private space large enough to accommodate a small massage chair. This can be a break room that is made off limits to traffic while I am at your company. It can be a conference room or empty office. I am flexible, but it should be an area that offers peace and quiet.
I arrive at your company prepared to give chair massages to all of your employees who desire to receive one.You provide your employees with adequate time to receive their massage. Typically, this is 10 to 15 minutes per employee. Plus the travel time to and from the employee's work station.
Benefits of Chair Massage
Relieves stress, tension, and headaches Boosts morale, which increases productivity
Reduces absenteeism, which lowers health care costs
Decreases RSS (Repetitive Stress Syndrome) such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Tendonitis.
Quote of the Month
If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit of fun and relaxation, he would go mad or become unstable without knowing it. Herodotus (484 BC - 430 BC), The Histories of Herodotus
Specials/Discounts
Contact Information
Misty Van Staaveren, CMT
at A Timeless Age
555 Fourth Street, #2
Clovis, CA 93612
(559) 916-0754
www.relaxwithmassage.info
mvsmassage@gmail.com
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Good Tidings for 2010!
What an exciting time December has been! So many new beginnings to start 2010 off with! First, I have had the pleasure of relocating my massage studio to a very quaint and charming day spa in the heart of Old Town Clovis. For those of you who have already stopped in to visit, thank you! I appreciate your support. If you haven't yet, be sure you do! I have also created a new website to go with the new studio. Now you can not only view this newsletter there, but you can also do online appointment scheduling and you can order printable gift certificates on there too! I'm still working out all the bugs and looking for new ideas to make things easier on you, the client, so if you have any suggestions, please let me know!
Chair Events
I'm also looking into doing some more chair massage events, so if you're looking for a fun alternative for a party entertainer, consider having a chair massage set up. It's fun and affordable and your guests will be sure to love it! Also, keep an eye out for more free chair events in the spa. These are fun. You will get a free ten minute chair massage, refreshments, and discounts off your next massage! I know there will be one coming up sometime in January so keep watch for it!
Informational Article of the Month
More & more businesses are offering massage therapy as an employee benefit
By Pete Reinwald
Boeing features an “Industrial Athlete Program” that offers massage to help improve employees’ physical & mental resilience.
EDIE BAUER offers massage as part of a wellness program that includes mammograms, a wellness room and a personal trainer at the company’s on-site gym. And Google has its own “Massage Program Manager,” who boasts on a YouTube video that the company has “massage going in multiple massage rooms eight hours a day, five days a week.”
Massage has not only gone mainstream—it’s gone corporate.
Companies big and small have discovered the benefits of wellness in the workplace, and they’re using massage as a way to attract and keep employees, while also keeping them productive.
Growing Need
No data are available on the number or percentage of companies that offer massage therapy as a benefit. Some industry experts, however, say they think the numbers are growing, and massage therapists from coast to coast are seizing the opportunities.
“It has been looked upon in a much more favorable way,” says Burt Abrams of B.J. Abrams & Associates, an executive recruiting firm in suburban Chicago. “Only in the last five, seven, eight years has massage started to get some notice.”
Abrams has offered his employees chair massage over the past several years. “It is a benefit for stress relief, and it feels good,” he says. “It is a benefit that doesn’t cost a whole lot of money, and it gets a lot of good will from your employees.”
Research on corporate massage is so scarce that massage practices and therapists widely rely on a 1992 article in the Financial Times to trumpet the benefits that companies can reap by offering massage therapy to employees. The article claims a company based in Ontario, Canada, reported a 25 percent decrease in time off for work-related injuries, and a $200,000 decrease in compensation claims after it implemented a massage therapy program.
John Hasmonek can relate. Hasmonek is a certified public accountant and partner at Ronald J. Borden & Company, a Chicago-based accounting firm that offers employees monthly on-site massage therapy. The company began offering the benefit about a decade ago in response to extremely long work hours during certain parts of the year, especially tax time.
“Our people get tired,” explains Hasmonek. “So, we decided to offer them a massage in the office once a month in order to give them a little break to see if it would increase their energy levels. And it has. It has increased their morale even more than we anticipated.
People really look forward to that monthly massage.” Debbie Jordan, an administrative assistant at the firm, speaks highly of the program. “We brag about it,” she says. “I’ll go to the health club, and I’ll tell people that the massage people are coming Monday. They can’t believe it. They’re very jealous. They say ‘that’s a nice perk you have from your employer.’”
The Colorado Health Institute in Denver began discussing a wellness plan to combat employee stress and heavy workloads about two years ago. The organization implemented on-site massage as part of a program that included yoga and “two o’clock walks” involving voluntary 20-minute walks on and around the organization’s grounds.
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