Happppppy New Year

Remember that we are going for building a LIFE-LONG program recalibration! I want to nourish you with massage as part of your personal practice. Playing sports, making yourself a spa at home, massage, yoga, Pranayama, or any other self care activity you enjoy that relates to physical conditioning can be the parts of your self-care-practice. The idea that we are practicing rather than chasing a goal is absolutely key here. 

Body image issues are a big deal for many of us, and every single one of us (of all ages, shapes and sizes) are affected by our crazy culture. If you are someone that is looking to massage or fasting as a way to lose weight, I encourage you to consider tweaking the inner dialogue a little. Doing ANYTHING ‘to lose weight’ becomes a dirge. Massage is passive exercise, and you do burn calories receiving (and giving!) massage. Fasting is trendy and undoubtedly limits caloric intake. But nothing is sustainable when it is a chore. Any self massage and all other styles of massage—including those that don’t bring on a good sweat and/or pain—can help you control your weight by reducing stress, bringing mindfulness to your eating habits, and provide a heightened sense of well-being and self-esteem. 

Massage in your life is ultimately about fine-tuning your ability to listen, to TRULY LISTEN, to what you need from one moment to the next. My great hope is that you can cultivate a self-massage, exercise and eating practice that will be fiery and vigorous on the days when you need to sweat, and soft and nurturing when you need restoration.

When we feed our souls, we become strong enough to face the challenges that life throws at us. When we bludgeon ourselves with anything (even good things) we exhaust our deep resources to be useful and engaged lovers, parents, partners, workers, bosses, and stewards of the Earth.

So let’s salute the new beginning of the calendar year my friends! What a privilege it is to bow to the Earth with you where we live, work and play on the traditional territory of the Nuu-chah-nulth People.