Wellness
Resolve to Achieve Your Healthy Goals for 2016!
Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind and Spirit
New Year’s Resolutions – The tradition of New Year’s resolutions can include the promise of self-improvement or doing more to help others.
According to the Statistic Brain Research Institute, listed among the top 10 Resolutions in 2015 were –
#1 – Lose Weight. #5 – Stay Fit and Healthy. #7 – Stop Smoking
All 3 Can be Helped Through Reiki, Meditation and Hypnosis! The 2015 Holiday Season has come to a close and now it’s time to get back on track with healthy eating, exercise, and other positive, healthy goals.For the full list of ‘Top 10 Resolutions in 2015’ – Statistic Brain Research Institute
A Google Consumer Survey found the top 2 Resolutions for 2016 were –
#1 – Enjoy Life to the Fullest #2 – Enjoy a Healthier Lifestyle.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said – “The 1st Wealth is Health.” Enjoying greater levels of health and well-being allows you to more easily Enjoy Life to the Fullest. And, resolving to make positive changes towards a healthier lifestyle allows you to be Healthier and Enjoy Life to the Fullest for a Lifetime!
If YOU Want to Make Positive, Healthy Changes in 2016, Consider Reiki, Meditation and Hypnosis to Help You Successfully Achieve This Year’s ‘New Year’s Resolutions.’ Reiki, Meditation and Hypnosis are natural ways to reduce stress, relax the mind and body, and improve focus. These techniques added to other comprehensive, evidence-based programs for healthy eating, weight reduction, exercise, and strength training provide a more collaborative approach to improving your success rate.
Transformation Through Grief: January Dates
Gift Certificate Sale at Saltwater Massage Studio
This Thursday night 12/17, Saltwater Massage Studio will be having our final gift certificate sale of the Holiday season. Stop by our Open House during Men’s Night from 6 – 9pm. We will be offering:
- 10% off all Gift Certificates
- $10 mini massages by Heather (free with a gift certificate purchase!)
- Yummy appetizers by Sheila Jarnes, personal chef
We also have a brand new collection of gifts in our boutique to make you happier, healthier and more at ease! Come say hello – all are welcome.
Can’t make it on Thursday but need a gift? We’ll be open for gifts daily the week of Christmas:
Sunday 12/20 12pm – 3pm
Monday 12/21 – Wednesday 12/23 4pm – 7pm
Christmas Eve: 10am – 2pm
Gift Certificates can also be purchased online or just call us at (978)390-7600 and we’ll help you out! For more info: saltwatermassage.com
De-Stress During the Holiday Season … and Beyond
Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind and Spirit
Got Stress??
You are not alone. And the Holiday Season can be an especially stressful time for many with added financial strain, grief and sadness over those we have loved and lost, and overwhelming, over-commitments.
According to the 2014 annual Stress in America™ survey by the American Psychological Association (APA) the Top 4 sources of stress are –
Money, Work, Family Responsibilities, and Health Concerns.
The APA study also found –
- 72% of Americans reported feeling stressed about money at least some of the time during the past month.
- 22% said that they experienced extreme stress about money during the past month
- Parents, younger generations and lower-income households (less than $50,000.00 annual income) have higher stress than others overall
- Some people are putting their health care needs on hold because of financial concerns.
- Stress about money impacts relationships
- 22% say they are not doing enough to manage their stress.
- American stress levels have been trending down since the annual survey first began in 2007, but still “higher than healthy levels.”
Here’s Some Good News –
- Americans who have some emotional support report lower stress levels
- Help is Available!
If you are experiencing negative stress in your life, or feel overwhelmed by stress seek help! Talk to your doctor. Ask about professional counseling. Look into resources in the community. Talk to family and friends for emotional support.
Remember – You are not alone! Stress is a normal and unavoidable part of life. Some stress is even considered positive, such as the stress that motivates us to accomplish a task. But too much negative stress can negatively affect your emotional and physical health and wellbeing. Especially when it occurs on a daily basis.
Stress Response – The response to stress can be physical and emotional tension, pain, lowered immune response, and inflammation. Chronic stress can lead to chronic disease including high blood pressure, endocrine, metabolic, autoimmune, and mental health disorders.
RELAX and DE-STRESS – The opposite of the stress response is the relaxation response. Methods to relax and de-stress include: acupuncture, art therapy, deep breathing, exercise, hypnosis, laughter/humor, massage, mindfulness, meditation, music and dance, reading, reiki, tai chi, and yoga. Consider incorporating complementary and integrative therapies into your ‘wellness care plan.’ Learn techniques that you can incorporate daily for ‘best results.’
REMEMBER to BREATHE. When stressed, people often breathe more shallow or even hold their breath. Breathing relaxation techniques are simple to learn, fast and effective to use, and available 24/7.
WALK or DRIVE by the OCEAN. Views of the water can change your psychology and physiology. Just ask Joey who is lucky to enjoy the View from the Dock every day! Take a drive along BackShore Gloucester or walk Good Harbor or Singing Beach and you will a relief of tension and experience your blood pressure lowering.
Lucky to Live on Cape Ann!
Flashback Friday: From Breakfast Joint to Massage Studio
We know that GMG was a big Mamie’s Kitchen fan back in the day, so we’d thought you guys would get a kick out of seeing inside Saltwater Massage Studio. It’s pretty hard to believe that not too long ago, corn beef hash was being served in the same spot that our salt scrubs and candles are shelved. It’s a transformation you have to see to believe… In Joey’s words, “It’s pretty hard to believe there’s an oasis on Pleasant St., but you did it.”
Want to see it in person? Stop by on Men’s Night on 12.17 from 6 – 9 (we don’t discriminate!) Otherwise, we’re open by appointment 7 days a week. Call us at 978-390-7600 or visit our website to make an appointment. We hope to see you soon!
Follow us on Instagram to see more of what we’re up to…
December 1st Community Reiki Share
Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind and Spirit
Monthly Community Reiki Share – Tuesday. December 1st. 5:15 – 8:15 P.M. $20.00 Suggested Donation. Portion of the proceeds go to charity.
Join us for some relaxation for this holiday season. The holidays can be joyful, but can also create additional stress for many. A session of Reiki can help relieve stress and promotes a greater sense of well being.
Come for the whole evening to enjoy the beginning meditation and Japanese reiki practices of a mawashi (circle) and open reiju (attunement.) Or pre-register for a scheduled session of Reiki.
You can come for some or all of the evening and enjoy the sense of peace and calm, and healthy snacks and tea. You don’t have to be a Reiki practitioner to join in. Those attending often comment on “how welcomed” and “relaxed” they feel and “how peaceful” the evening is.
Where – Manchester Community Center. 40 Beach St. (Harbor Place) in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Every 1st Tuesday of the Month.
This month we are hoping to help increase awareness of Lung Cancer, which is the #1 cause of cancer deaths in men and women in the U.S., more than breast, colorectal and prostate cancer combined. Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment SAVES LIVES!
This month the charity we are teaming up with is www.LungForce.org and for those effected by Lung Cancer. Cheryl, a 34-year-old woman was diagnosed with lung cancer in October. A wife and mother of an 8 month old, Cheryl never smoked and lived a healthy lifestyle. She is currently in treatment and we wish her well.
You do not have to smoke to get lung cancer – exposure to radon gas and other chemicals and toxins in the environment are linked to lung cancer. Essex County and Cape Ann have a higher radon level than average, due to the large concentration of granite. Test Your Home or Place of Business – order a radon test kit! I got mine from the American Lung Association. You can also order them through the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency.)
If you currently smoke, STOP! As a registered nurse in critical care and cardiac rehabilitation, a former smoker, certified hypnotherapist and tobacco treatment specialist, a large part of my work has been helping people stop smoking and live healthier lives. Contact me for help to stop smoking or http://makesmokinghistory.org/1-800-quitnow.html. Take Back Your Health and Your Life! You’ll be glad you did.
Practice Gratitude – It’s Good for Your Health
Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind and Spirit
grat·i·tude ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od/
noun
-
the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.“she expressed her gratitude to the committee for their support”Synonyms: gratefulness, thankfulness, thanks, appreciation, recognition, appreciation
A Sense of Gratitude Improves Your Health
Studies on gratitude support an association between gratitude and a sense of well being. One study by Dr. Robert A. Emmons of the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami, leaders in the field of research on gratitude showed that after keeping a ‘gratitude journal for 10 weeks, people were
- more optimistic
- felt better about their lives
- began to exercise more
- went to the doctor less often.
Practicing Gratitude Enhances Relationships
In one study, individuals who took time to express gratitude for their partner felt more positive toward the other person and felt more comfortable expressing concerns about their relationship.
Expressing Gratitude to Employees Motivates Them
People want to feel that they are doing a good job and are members of a team. The best way to promote teamwork and motivate employees is to treat staff as valued members of the team.
10 Ways to Practice Gratitude:
- Count Your Blessings
- Keep a Gratitude Journal
- Thank Someone (Mentally or Out loud)
- Write a Thank-You Note Once a Week
- Practice Optimism
- Daily Prayer
- Daily Mindful Meditation
- Promote Teamwork (at Home and Work)
- Celebrate Successes
- Perform Acts of Kindness
Sources and More Information –
Digdon, N and Koble, A. Effects of Constructive Worry, Imagery Distraction, and Gratitude Interventions on Sleep Quality: A Pilot Trial. July 2011. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Vol 3. No 2. pages 193–206
Emmons RA, et al. “Counting Blessings Versus Burdens: An Experimental Investigation of Gratitude and Subjective Well-Being in Daily Life,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology(Feb. 2003): Vol. 84, No. 2, pp. 377–89.
Grant AM, et al. “A Little Thanks Goes a Long Way: Explaining Why Gratitude Expressions Motivate Prosocial Behavior,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (June 2010): Vol. 98, No. 6, pp. 946–55.
Lambert NM, et al. “Expressing Gratitude to a Partner Leads to More Relationship Maintenance Behavior,” Emotion (Feb. 2011): Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 52–60.
Layous, K, et al. Delivering Happiness: Translating Positive Psychology Intervention Research for Treating Major and Minor Depressive Disorders. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2011; 17 (8): 675
Roberts, H. (2005). Creating motivation, identifying incentives and enablers, and encouraging staff development. Community Eye Health, 18(56), 122–124
Sansone RA, et al. “Gratitude and Well Being: The Benefits of Appreciation,” Psychiatry (Nov. 2010): Vol. 7, No. 11, pp. 18–22.
Seligman MEP, et al. “Empirical Validation of Interventions,” American Psychologist (July–Aug. 2005): Vol. 60, No. 1, pp. 410–21.
How to Keep a Daily Gratitude Journal– Write ‘3 things to be Grateful for’ Daily. Do this for 21 days and it becomes a habit.
Here are my ‘3 things to be grateful for today,’ –
1) I am Grateful for the Beauty of Last Night’s Full Moonrise Over the Ocean. (2) I am Grateful for Today’s Sunshine. (3) I am Grateful to Have Work That Brings Me Joy.
Easier to Feel Grateful When Living on Cape Ann. ~ Happy Thanksgiving. Karen
Recovery, Compassion and Wisdom
Help Stop Lung Cancer – ‘Lung Force Giving Day’
Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind and Spirit
November 17th. Today is ‘Lung Force Giving Day’ at the American Lung Association. Join me in this effort to stop lung cancer! Donate or become a social ambassador and spread the word!
The Goal – Raise $$$ for innovations in research and personalized treatments against the #1 cancer killer – Lung Cancer.
Innovative Targeted Therapies for Lung Cancer have improved the outcome of lung cancer. Innovative research and personalized treatmentt are the goals for this fund-raiser.
The Facts –
- Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer of men and women.
- Every five minutes, a woman in the U.S. is told she has lung cancer.
- The lung cancer death rate in women increase in the last 37 years, while falling 24% among men.
- More American women die from lung cancer than breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer combined.
- More American men die from lung cancer than colon cancer and prostate cancer combined.
- People that smoke are at increased risk for lung cancer (And other cancers, heart disease, stroke, COPD.)
- Anyone can get lung cancer; Non-smokers too.
- Exposure to radon gas is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer. Like carbon monoxide, you cannot see or smell radon; it is colorless, odorless gas. To find out more about radon and how to order a test kit – http://www2.epa.gov/radon/find-radon-test-kit-or-measurement-and-mitigation-professional
Indoor Levels of Radon in Essex Are Higher Than the National Average Due to the Granite. – http://county-radon.info/MA/Essex.html
You don’t have to smoke to get lung cancer. Check out this video – http://www.lungforce.org/vision-video
Talk to your doctor about risks, prevention and early detection. Regardless of the cause of lung cancer – smoking, radon, asbestos, pollution – prevention and early detection can save lives.
Cape Ann Wellness 