massage in Philadelphia

There are many reasons you might have tight muscles. Many of them are worsened by stretching.

WHAT?

Yup.

When a muscle is habitually shortened, stretching can indeed help. If you just spent an hour lifting weights or jogging, i.e. contracting muscles to build strength, stretching them afterwards can help maintain range of motion. If you spend 12 hours every day sitting, your quads are probably chronically shortened and could benefit from daily stretching.

If a muscle is shortened through repetitive contraction or postural patterns, lengthening it will help recreate balance. Unless you go at it aggressively, in which case you will encounter the protective mechanism built into your soft tissue to prevent injury. If you override this, you will likely do harm. Best to stop just short of your edge, linger and attempt to soften.

So, mindful, gentle stretching can help some kinds of tight muscles.

But let’s look at other reasons a muscle might feel tight.

It could be overstretched. Imagine pulling a rubber band to its maximum length. It’s tight, right? Would stretching it release this tension?

No! It will make things worse. Overstretched muscles need slack to relieve tightness. The chronic tension you feel in the back of your neck and upper back? I can almost guarantee they are tired from holding your head up when it’s crept forward of your shoulders. These muscles are already at their limits.

A muscle will tense if any part of you senses danger. Think about getting punched in the gut. Did your belly muscles tighten defensively? Many of us have patterns of contracted muscles due to chronic stress and unresolved trauma. The result? Walking around unconsciously braced for potential attack- physical, emotional, verbal or psychic.

Trying to stretch these muscles is an act of war with yourself. They are holding on and you’re trying to pull them apart, which creates greater unease and sends a signal to the nervous system to tighten further.

Clench your hand into a fist. Everything feels tight, yeah? The solution is to send a signal to the muscles to let go. Trying to override messages from the nervous system that are trying to keep us safe causes more stress and… tension. Protective patterns are usually well-intentioned, but often unskillful, outdated and unnecessary.

Same goes for patterns of emotional protection. If you feel the need to guard your heart, your shoulders and chest might curve in defensively. These muscles will indeed feel tight but until the cause is addressed, any effects of stretching will be temporary at best.

It’s common for muscles to get recruited to protect an injury. If you have a micro tear in a tendon, stretching is going to aggravate it. After the injury is properly healed, stretching can help return to a balanced posture, but before then, those tight muscles are serving an important purpose.

Rather than systematically addressing all tightness with stretching, try something new. Something radical. Drop your awareness into the body, beneath the tightness. Sense what it needs. Is there anything you can soften with your attention and breath? What about shifting your alignment so that your skeleton is bearing more of your weight?

I wholeheartedly recommend moving the body through its full range of motion as a remedy for tightness that won’t worsen these issues. Some forms of yoga can do that- those that invite body awareness and deliberate alignment. Not so much the calisthenics varieties. Somatics is a form of movement reeducation that helps establish healthy patterns. I’m a huge fan of Gyrokinesis classes which do the same.

Addressing the sympathetic nervous system and chronic stress, however, is my number 1 recommendation. Deactivating the message that your brain sends to your muscles to tense will allow much of the tightness to simply melt away. The root cause is often not in the muscles but in the nervous system. The nervous system can be activated by our emotions or our memories and even just a hint of perceived danger can launch a full-on sympathetic response (fight, flight or freeze).

In my 20+ years of literal hands-on work of tight muscles, I can say without a doubt that most of it comes from stress and the nervous system. Many of my clients are trying to get relief by stretching and wonder why it’s not having any benefit. That’s because it isn’t the correct remedy most of the time.

It’s important to note that I’m not saying that stress needs to be eliminated. That’s simply not doable for most of us. Yes, definitely minimize the stressors that you can. AND find a way of managing the unavoidable ones.

It could be meditation, journaling, dancing, tai chi, qi gong, acupuncture, gardening, walking, or painting. Something that brings you joy and moves your body in a way that feels good.

Reiki and gentle massage are brilliant at activating the physiological remedy for stress as well as stimulating circulation and releasing tension. If you’re wanting some support on your journey, I’m here to help.

And in the meantime, if you’ve been stretching and stretching to no avail, give it a break. It’s possible that those muscles are already overstretched.

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When Stretching Doesn’t Work

There are many reasons you might have tight muscles. Many of them are worsened by stretching.…
I get so frustrated when doctors diagnose arthritis and lead people to believe that there is nothing to be done about the pain they are experiencing. Gah!

True. There is no cure for arthritis. AND that doesn’t mean that it is a sentence to hopelessness and increasing discomfort.

We’re talking about inflammation of one or more joints. It can be quite unpleasant when left untreated. But don’t despair. It’s possible to manage inflammation and to create space in joints that might be jammed together because of tension or imbalanced movement patterns.

(If you’re over 20, I can practically guarantee you have at least one imbalanced movement pattern; perhaps from an old injury that didn’t heal 100% or repetitive actions from a job or hobby.)

It’s possible to have arthritis and to minimize the resulting pain. I see it all the time and feel it in my own body. Reducing inflammation, tension and misalignment can only benefit us. Why not give it a try?

Reiki is an amazing holistic healing technique that utilizes spiritually-guided life-force energy to reduce stress and pain. Stress is a primary driver of inflammation. It stands to reason, and has been backed up by my 20+ years of experience, that minimizing stress can provide relief to inflammatory conditions.

Reiki can also help process suppressed emotions. Releasing anger, resentment, worry and grief that might be blocking the body’s energetic flow can help joint issues. And will help prevent us from tipping over into the stress zone where cortisol triggers more inflammation.

You know what doesn’t help joint issues? A diagnosis presented without hope of a remedy. It’s unclear to me why the medical establishment hasn’t grasped this fact yet. Despair feeds tension that puts greater strain on the joints.

Reducing stress and re-establishing a healthy flow of energy in the body can support the reduction of muscle tension. This encourages circulation, providing the muscles with fresh oxygen and removes cellular waste, reducing pain in the muscles which can trigger a cycle of clenching, pain, clenching and more pain. It also allows for more space in the joints.

Reiki can also support body awareness and increase access to inner wisdom, helping us to notice when we’re using poor body mechanics and guiding us to new patterns or even therapies, such as Somatics, Feldenkrais or Gyrokinesis that promote balanced, healthy movement patterns, or products that activate the body’s innate healing abilities.

It might take time to relearn how to sit, stand and move in alignment, meet with and metabolize feelings and trauma, manage stress and reduce inflammation.

This is what holistic healing looks like: addressing the causes of imbalance rather than trying to eliminate the effects while carrying on with the offending behavior. It’s possible that these causes have been developing for decades; reversing this requires some patience and self-compassion.

But with some attention, effort and consistent Reiki support, there is hope of finding greater comfort and ease in the body and peace of mind.

To me, that seems like a much better option than doing nothing and bemoaning the doctor’s verdict.

I’d be delighted to work with you if you’re interested in pursuing Reiki treatment, or massage if you’re in the Philly area. You might consider taking a Reiki 1 class and learning how to give yourself daily treatments.

If that’s not your thing, I’d encourage you to explore one of the movement therapies I listed above, an anti-inflammatory diet or some form of herbal or homeopathic support.

Most importantly, know that there is hope, as hope is one of the greatest medicines available.

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Reiki and Arthritis

I get so frustrated when doctors diagnose arthritis and lead people to believe that there is…
Just a few clicks and you can have a lovely gift for Mom. It’s a win-win-win situation- easy for you, an exquisite experience and lasting memory for her, and a joy for me to be a part of the tradition of honoring mothers.

Use the code MOMS10 at checkout to save 10% on any gift certificate or 5 session remote Reiki package.

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Save 10% on Gift Certificates through Mother’s Day!

Just a few clicks and you can have a lovely gift for Mom. It’s a win-win-win…
Aromatherapy is finally here!!

I’ve been testing and sniffing and consulting with a colleague and master aromatherapist about creating delightful essential oil blends.

They are each designed to evoke a particular physiological and emotional outcome AND smell divine.

Choose from one of the four mixes and elevate your healing experience.

Calm: lavender, bergamot, and frankincense

Ground: spruce, sweet orange, and vetiver

Uplift: tangerine, cypress, and petitgrain

Balance: lemongrass, rosemary, and geranium

Some medical conditions don’t pair well with these oils- they are pretty potent medicine and need to be treated with respect. It’s important that you share any conditions or if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, with your therapist.

The special for May is a free upgrade with a 90-minute Reiki-massage if scheduled by May 31, 2024.

Prepare yourself for a next-level healing experience! I hope to offer this as an add-on for all appointment types in the future, but for now the 90-minute combo is the way to go.

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Aromatherapy Special

Aromatherapy is finally here!! I’ve been testing and sniffing and consulting with a colleague and master…
I spent a lovely hour in the woods the other morning. It’s pure therapy for me to be outside amongst my tree friends. Today I visited a tributary of the creek and found it to be rushing instead of its usual trickle.

We’ve had abundant rain lately, along with occasional flooding of major thoroughfares and copious mud puddles. A bit more dramatic than usual, but isn’t that the way things have been?

While I was enjoying the fresh air, the sounds and beauty of nature and the sunshine, I realized that this little waterway was a reflection of what I’m sensing in life.

Things are really moving fast these days! Perhaps it’s the energy of Aries, where assortment of heavenly bodies are currently clustered, the effects of the recent eclipse, or… well, who knows exactly, but I’m guessing you’ve felt it too.

What really popped out on my walk, though, was that the water flows fastest where the creek bed is narrow. In the places where it widens out, the water slows and becomes more leisurely.

This was one of those ding-ding-ding moments where something that seems completely obvious clicks into place in a deeply satisfying way.

If I want to enjoy the benefits of these quickly moving currents, focusing my attention on where I want to go AND how I can surrender to the flow will amplify my efforts.

It’s the combination of using the power of my intention combined with riding the natural energies that will yield the greatest results. I can choose to narrow my focus and feel like I’m kayaking through the rapids or I can diffuse my focus and feel like it’s a lazy, slow inner tube float.

Both are necessary for me in my personal life and business, but different goals call for different methods.

If you’re finding the flow to be too fast, too activating, maybe even overwhelming, zoom out and place your attention on the bigger picture. It’s likely your nervous system is all riled up and could use some soothing, but you can’t really feel that when you’re riding the rapids.

Likewise, narrowing your focus might help you to catch a lift on those rushing currents and bring some excitement and inspiration into your efforts.

I chose the latter and found myself being carried by exciting inspiration. I have some new services brewing, a potential collaboration for a new workshop and a new blog: A Soul’s Journey, found on Substack.

The cool thing about Substack is that it’s reader-supported rather than ad-supported, and I’ve made most posts available for free while offering twice-monthly guided practices for paid subscribers. If you’re interested in exploring the spiritual realm with me, I hope you’ll join us over there.

And if you’re interested in staying up to date on events and services I offer, please join my monthly newsletter.

And if you’re interested in receiving a session, I would delighted to work with you, no matter if you’re wanting to go narrow and fast, or wide and slow.

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Focused Flow

I spent a lovely hour in the woods the other morning. It’s pure therapy for me…
Yowza. I’m hearing a lot of reports from folks who are feeling daunted by the next phase of their healing journeys. It seems a lot of wounds and imbalances are coming to the surface; while this can be quite uncomfortable, it’s better than having them festering beneath the surface preparing for sneak attack.

If you’re feeling this way, know that you aren’t alone.

Whether it’s taking that first step or leveling up, overwhelm might be an unwelcome companion on this trip. There’s so much information out there, it’s hard to know what is relevant for you and where the heck to begin.

Misaligned habits, unprocessed trauma, limiting beliefs, cultural conditioning, suppressed emotions, dysfunctional relationships, unhealthy environments, outdated coping mechanisms, and chronic stress can all contribute to lack of wellness. To make it extra-interesting, many of these factors get tangled together and it can be difficult to trace to their origins.

It can be A LOT!

And… all journeys begin with just the first step. In my experience, managing stress is a wise place to start. Stress affects all of our bodily systems- digestion (gut health, we are learning, is the cornerstone to wellness), mental/emotional state (another cornerstone), quality of sleep (yup, this too!), cardiovascular capacity (need I say it?) and detoxification (mmhmm…) in particular.

By addressing chronic stress, we can free up life-force energy from perpetual survival state functioning and allow it to support the body’s innate healing abilities.

I’m not talking about a tropical vacation or meditation retreat or retirement. While that might be the route that you choose, it’s possible to learn to metabolize the effects of stress rather than avoiding it altogether through a complete lifestyle makeover (again, that may be for you, but don’t freak out if it isn’t!).

When I feel overwhelm bubbling up and my shoulders creeping up to my ears, I find moving my body to be a miraculous remedy. A few songs spent dancing (or thrashing!) about my living room can work wonders. Deep breathing, being in nature, expressing my thoughts and feelings (within the safe confines of my journal), singing, chanting, time spent on a creative project, laughter, and Reiki are all elements that help me manage the stress of the world.

Now you might read that as an assignment and think, well how in the world am I going to do all of that?

Good news! You don’t need to do it all. Choose one thing and start there. I’ve been at this for decades, and my healthy habits have accumulated over that time, bit by bit, but I started with just one thing.

One strategy is to choose the action that will have the biggest impact.

For me, that’s Reiki, a powerful but gentle healing energy that grounds me and activates the physiological antidote to stress.

Another strategy is to choose the easiest thing to implement as that will build your sense of accomplishment and encourage progress.

For me that’s also Reiki! How easy is it to absorb healing energy?

Your circumstances are obviously different than mine, but I feel confident that there’s something you can do today that will help. Ten conscious, deep breaths. A walk around the block. Watching a silly cat video. Calling a friend who knows how to listen.

It doesn’t need to be perfect, and it needn’t be the solution to all your problems. Just one thing that helps you feel calm in the moment. Just give it a try!

And if you want some Reiki healing deposited in your wellness account or some soothing bodywork, that’s what I’m here for! Book a session and I’ll do the work and you can sit back and receive.

And subscribe to this blog! I share lots of tips and tricks about holistic wellness, monthly specials and metaphysical tools. On most devices, the button to subscribe is found on the lower right corner.

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Overwhelmed? Just Pick One Thing

Yowza. I’m hearing a lot of reports from folks who are feeling daunted by the next…
Check out this interesting article! Some of the action steps are oversimplified, IMO, but there’s still a whole lot of good info here about psychological stress and how it impacts the body in a way that cultivates anxiety.

The Life-Changing Link Between Anxiety and Muscle Tension

In my work with hundreds of clients experiencing anxiety over the past 20 years, I’ve seen how stress amplifies anxiety. When people learn to mitigate the physiological effects of stress, very often anxiety diminishes greatly or even disappears altogether. Imagine a garden in which you stop watering the weeds. Only the most tenacious, deeply rooted buggers will persist.

It’s amazing to me how non-invasive, safe, gentle and natural treatments such as massage, Reiki and movement education can so profoundly impact a condition that is so disruptive to so many people and so very poorly treated by the medical system. (I’ll spare you my rant about that! Hint: follow the money.)

When the nervous system is regulated and we’re not constantly receiving “DANGER” messages and flooded with adrenaline, it’s easier to access clarity, cognitive abilities and inner power making many seemingly overwhelming challenges much more manageable.

Holistic treatments look at the whole being, including the mental and emotional components, as well as the physical and bio-chemical factors. Those of us in the healing arts are well aware of how complex health is because of the seeming illogical responses people may have to circumstances that trigger the fight/flight/freeze/fawn response. Deactivating the triggers requires us to first uncover them and treat them with compassion rather than attempting to suppress or atack them.

Back to the article… From this same website, “Clinical somatics is neuromuscular education… to retrain muscle memory and relieve pain.” It’s a practice of noticing where muscles are chronically and unnecessarily contracted and teaching them to release. Easier said than done, it’s true! But effective for those who have the determination to stick with it.

If building new neural pathways and learning how to use your body more efficiently just seems like too much work, consider booking a Reiki-massage if you’re in the Philly area or a remote Reiki session, wherever you may be. I’ll do all the work and you can just lay back and soak it up. Sometimes healing is more about undoing than doing.

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Somatics Approach to Anxiety

Check out this interesting article! Some of the action steps are oversimplified, IMO, but there’s still…
Over the past few weeks, four mothers have contacted me to schedule treatments for their teenage children. I couldn’t be more delighted! How wonderful that they have the opportunity to learn the value of listening to and honoring their bodies and emotions at a young age. I feel like I’m inducting them all into a revolutionary counterculture club in which cultivating health includes creating body/mind/spirit balance and freely flowing life-force energy.

I love teaching them that bodywork is much more complex than pushing hard on a tight muscle or rubbing where it hurts. I wish everyone knew this! I’m thrilled to introduce such a radical concept to anyone anytime, but the idea of someone starting off their bodywork experiences knowing this little gem can set them up for amazing results over time.

What’s most exciting is educating them about their autonomy during a session. (Yes, I meant autonomy, not anatomy!) They get to say what they’d like to work on and what they need to be comfortable. They can tell me to avoid anything they don’t like, and I will, even if I think it’s important to the treatment. We might have a chat about it, but they get the final word. They have the power to end the session immediately without needing to explain why. They can say “ouch” or “no” during a massage if they want less pressure or for me to move on to another area.

It occurred to me while discussing this with a young woman that these guidelines apply to people of all ages, but I don’t usually take the time to discuss them with adults. I assume that grown-ups know. But there is a seeming power differential in the treatment room where the professional can be seen as the expert. We’re standing, the client is lying down. We’re fully dressed and they, at the very least, have taken their shoes off. These factors can make it look like we’re in charge.

But we’re not.

The client is always the expert on their needs. Always.

However old you are, I hope you’ll hear me when I say this! You’re the boss of your session. OK, there are limits, and you won’t get a great treatment by micromanaging your therapist. We do have extensive training and many of us years, decades even, of experience. But “no” means no during a session. If your practitioner will not honor that, find one who does. There are plenty of times in life when we are not fully in control of our experiences, but healing treatments should not be one of them.

If you’re a caregiver for a child who needs some support, please contact me to discuss treatment options.

I wish everyone knew this about bodywork…

Over the past few weeks, four mothers have contacted me to schedule treatments for their teenage…
Last week a potential client asked me what my success rate was.

Ummmm…

I really had to give that some thought! I am 100% successful at delivering Reiki and/or massage to the clients who request it.

But that obviously wasn’t what she was looking for. She wanted to know how many of my clients were relieved of their symptoms, but that’s not a question I can accurately answer. I’d estimate that 95% of the time, people feel better when they leave my office. What happens after that is generally out of my hands.

Imagine you were seeking treatment for insomnia. Reiki and massage are both fabulous at calming the nervous system so people can fall asleep more easily and stay asleep. I can do my very best work, you’d feel calm and rested when we parted, but you could go home and drink a pot of coffee before bedtime. You probably won’t sleep very well, but you still received many of the wellness benefits anyway.

Holistic healing is a lot like not drinking a pot of coffee before bed. Or getting out of debt by curtailing spending and taking up a side job. All of our choices are affecting our progress.

My clients who switch to decaf after lunch experience tremendous results. Those who rely solely on me while continuing to drink coffee at bedtime get temporary relief.

There’s no judgment here. Anybody can get a session and feel better. Those who want to continue feeling better work with me. We become a detective team, exploring the options that they face every day to pursue or decline wellness.

Success rate? Here’s a more accurate question, one I wasn’t quick enough to express on that phone call. Are you willing to adapt your behavior and make healthier choices that support your goals? Your response is directly correlated to the success rate you can expect. And my services will mostly definitely support you in the process.

Whether or not you’re wanting to participate in your wellness pursuit, gentle massage and Reiki treatments can promote vitality, peace, calm, creativity, and health. Schedule a session without any guilt or shame about your habits. We don’t have to discuss anything you don’t want to!

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Success Rate of Healing Treatments?

Last week a potential client asked me what my success rate was. Ummmm… I really had…