It's almost summer - which means it's time for a sizzling sale on Heat Wraps! 25% off from now until June 19th. These make great Father's Day gifts! 

  I have a few important updates this month. First, just a heads up that my schedule is a little more limited for the next few weeks due to a month-long class I am taking. It may take me longer than usual to respond to messages, but I will always get back to you!

  This month, I've had to make a few major changes that everyone needs to be aware of. I am currently booking about 3 1/2 months in advance. While I am happy that my schedule is so full and stable, I have been contemplating if it is wise for me to keep scheduling new clients. As of right now, I am only adding new clients to my cancellation list. 3 1/2 months is just too far to confidently schedule appointments, though I do not mind doing that for current clients who have an established routine. I realize this is inconvenient, and I very much appreciate everyone's referrals! But this is what is best for right now. 

  In addition, I have also decided to halt gift card sales. This is so I can avoid running into an unethical situation of turning away someone new who already has a gift certificate. Please check out all the details here.    

  Also some really great news: A NEW MASK POLICY! In accordance with NYS guidelines, vaccinated individuals may go mask-free, if desired.

  I look forward to seeing all your smiling faces this month!
  

  Hi everyone! I have a very important update regarding gift cards. For the time being, I have to temporarily stop the sale of gift cards, online and in-office. One exception being if you wish to purchase a gift card for an existing, scheduled client. 

  This is a very unusual decision, so I would like to explain very honestly:

  Since the shutdown last year, so much has changed. Business has boomed, which is a wonderful thing and I am so grateful! If there has been one silver-lining to this pandemic, it is that people are making better decisions about their health, and are much more concerned with taking steps toward a healthy lifestyle. Regular massage can be an amazing tool in a wellness routine, and interest has grown exponentially over the last year. 

  However, with this growth I have found myself in a bit of a predicament. I am only one person, and my scheduled is filled to capacity. Right now I am booking about 3 1/2 to 4 months in advance! I am very strict with my schedule, I know exactly how much I can handle, so opening up more appointment times is not possible. I love the referrals, I love being able to take new clients, but it is almost impossible to confidently schedule 4 months out. 

  Right now, I am not booking new clients and instead I am putting them on my cancellation list. This, of course, is not reliable. With us getting more control over Covid, our schedules are stabilizing, and my cancellation rate is going way down. Rarely do I have a cancellation on a Saturday or an evening, and those are the most popular appointment times. 

  Gift Cards complicate this matter. Over the last few months, many people who are not currently clients have received gift cards. I cannot in good conscience refuse to schedule them, I feel that would be unethical. But they will have to schedule so far in advance it is not practical for most people. This is why I have chosen to temporarily suspend gift card sales. I don't want people purchasing a gift card for a loved one only to have them be told they may not be able to schedule. This is unfair.

  I am currently working on a few new things that will hopefully allow me to treat more people, but those plans won't come to fruition for a few months. Please be patient with me during this time! I will definitely be reopening gift card sales by the holidays, and they will continue to be an in-office option for existing clients. 

  If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 315-717-6192 or send me an email at evolvemassageandwellness@gmail.com

  It's almost Mother's Day! Evolve has several new additions this month, all designed to celebrate Mom!

  First, 75 Minute Massage Gift cards are back! This is a perfect gift for Mom (or you!) to add a little extra time to an hour massage. This session is available only with this gift card, and cannot be used the same day as purchased. There is a very limited quantity, and they are ONLY on sale until Saturday, May 8th. Please call 315-717-6192 or email at evolvemassageandwellness@gmail.com to reserve and set up a pick-up time.


 
  New teas and teaware! After focusing on black teas and the Wellbeing collection over the last few months, I felt it was time to introduce something perfect for spring- Green tea! My featured tea this month is Jasmine Green, deliciously fresh and floral. This is one of my personal favorites! Perfect for a rainy spring day. Along with the featured tea, I now have a sampler of 5 green teas, including the Jasmine Green. 10 infusers in a box, 2 of each kind. Lastly, I now have Stainless Steel Tea Infusers. Until now I have been giving out little free ones with Loose Leaf purchases and thought they are ok they are not very good.  These new infusers are very high-quality, and will ensure that no tea leaves end up in your cup!

  Check out my list below for pricing info:

 
It's Spring! And I am ready for rainy days, warmer weather, and flowers!
  We just got back from a trip to Texas to see my baby bro and my year and a half old nephew. This was my first time meeting my nephew in person!

  In addition to the family time, we took a few days to relax in Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. This was the peak time to visit Garvan Gardens- thousands of tulips in full bloom! It was so refreshing to see and is the inspiration behind my April featured teas. 

Yes, I said "teas" because I could not decide on just one. Instead, I'm featuring the entire Wellbeing Collection. The collection consists of 5 wellness teas, and you can now purchase them individually for just $2 each. Try the whole collection, mix and match your favs. 

  In addition to the Wellbeing Collection I also have something really special- Single Serve Matcha! Matcha is a powdered green tea that has been used ceremonially in Japan for centuries and has many health benefits. As a tea lover, I was intrigued by the idea of Matcha but did not want my first experience to be from a fast food shop. So I purchased some from TeaForte and loved it. The Pure Matcha is definitely my favorite, but there are several blends to choose from, including Chocolate, Coconut, Chai, and Ginger. These are also available for just $2 each, and I'll give you instructions on how to properly prepare it. 

  Scheduling Update: I am now booking into late June/early July. June availability is tighter than usual because I will be taking a class that entire month which limits some of my evening availability. It will be well worth it, and I cannot wait to share this new venture with you... expect updates throughout the summer!

  These are the next available dates as of April 1, 2021:

  Day: Friday, June 11th
  Evening: Monday, July 5th
  Weekend: Saturday, June 19th (only for a 30 minute spot) 

  Please keep these dates in mind when calling to schedule. Waiting lists are available!

  If you haven't already, make sure to follow me on Facebook or Instagram for daily updates to the schedule, and for updates throughout the month!    

  Happy March! This month marks one year since our lives were completely turned upside down. I know my life, personally and professionally, is drastically different, and I am sure yours is, too!
  There are a few important updates to be aware of this month. 
  First, I want to address my current schedule and availability. As of right now (March 1st) my evenings and Saturdays are booked until June and days are booked out until May. If you do not have a scheduled appointment, please be aware that when you call it will likely be several weeks (or even months) before I am able to book you in. However, we can always put you on a cancellation list. My advice is to not wait to book your appointments! And it is also a good idea for us to book several out, if you need to be on a routine schedule. 
  My weekend availability has recently changed. I am now only available every other Saturday. This, of course, limits the appointments I can take and pushes out available times. But it was a very necessary change for me to make in my life that not only serves me, but ensures a quality experience for all my clients.  

  Since my schedule is so full, it has allowed me to consider new wellness additions to Evolve- and I'd love your help! Recently I began offering some products for retail,. Please feel free to take my quick Product Survey! It will help me be able to tailor products to my clients' needs. All feedback is appreciated. Take the survey here.

  My featured TeaForte tea for March is a classic- English Breakfast! This is a rich, bold Assam tea that will be a perfect way to begin your morning. It is available as a Loose Leaf tea or in the Black Tea Collection. Last month's featured tea, Orchid Vanilla, completely sold out but is also available in the Collection. Defense, an immune-system supporting green tea, is also available in Loose Leaf or in the Wellbeing Collection. 

  Lastly, our Heat Wraps are back! Newly stocked Neck and Shoulders, as well as Spinals, Knee Sized, and Minis! Limited supply, but I will hold an order for you if needed.  

  Let's fight cabin fever by making sure we are energized, healthy, and pain free this month!
  

  I love the holidays. I love decorating, wrapping gifts, baking cookies, and celebrating with family and friends. But let's be honest, along with the holidays comes plenty of stress, chaos, and toxic energy. 
  We are constantly under pressure to *Buy, Buy, Buy*! Everything from commercials to social media to product packaging is designed to make us buy it. At no other time is this pressure greater than during the holidays, where giving gifts is marketed to us as being a measure of love. 
  2020 has been such an odd and stressful year, it really amplified the things that cause us more stress than joy. 

  I have a huge confession to make. As a business owner, it is VERY rewarding to watch your bank account grow during the holidays. As a result, so much of my energy ends up being devoted to getting people to buy gift cards rather than my focus being on the health and wellness of my clients. In this year, when energy is already spread so thin, mental health already volatile, the toxicity of it all became so apparent to me.

  As a resolution for 2021, I feel the need to recommit to wellness. Not only for my own health, but for the example it can set for my clients and followers. How am I going to do this? In a couple of fun ways I am looking forward to:

  1) If you've been in my office recently you'll known that I've started to offer some retail products. While at first this could seem like another toxic pressure to place on clients, I commit myself to only offering products that I truly believe will enhance health and wellness. This includes our custom-designed Heat Therapy Wraps as well as my favorite brand of tea. And I have more wellness products coming this year!

  2) I am embarking on my own experimental wellness journey, with a different challenge every month! I'll be able to document my various journeys on social media as well as in my monthly blog posts. I have a few ideas, but I welcome and encourage your suggestions!
​  There is one very specific guideline I must stick to- the monthly project must encourage a healthy mind, body, and soul, and bring about only positive changes. It can be something as simple as a commitment to read a book, or as challenging as swearing off social media. But no diets, nothing that encourages negative, restrictive or obsessive behavior. If you have an idea please share it with me!

  So what is my wellness experiment for January? 

  In January 2021 I commit to practicing yoga every day for the entire month. 

  I look forward to 2021: The Year of Wellness and to sharing it with all of you!

  Let's be honest, the cost of healthcare and wellness is high! Whether paying for health insurance and deductibles for medical
expenses, or paying for better food or a gym membership, all the measures we take to stay healthy add up quickly. 
  Including regular massage therapy in your budget might seem daunting. An hour massage session usually costs between $70 and $100, depending on the location. Most insurance companies do not cover massage, and even if they do many therapists don't accept insurance. But there is a way to include massage in your budget. 
  Begin by scheduling a massage appointment once every 4-6 weeks. I often say that if we all had the time and the means to do so, I'd recommend a weekly massage for everyone! But even for the most financially secure among us, that can become expensive. Luckily, you don't have to do this to reap the benefits of massage. It's more important for you to establish a consistent routine for your massage sessions. Once a month is fairly easy to budget out. Just make sure to stick to your schedule. The body responds very well to routine, so as long as you stay in a consistent routine you will find that you will still have less pain in between sessions.
  Does a monthly massage still strain your budget? Most massage therapists offer 30 minute sessions. Schedule a half-hour session for yourself once every 4-6 weeks, and maybe every few months treat yourself to an hour or a 90 minute session when you feel confident in doing so.
  Remember, one way or another your health will cost something. Healthy food costs more than junk food, insurance rates are astronomical, and wellness therapies such as massage do come with a price tag. But most would agree that we'd rather pay to prevent illness than pay to recover from one.
  If you get a massage once a month, it only costs about the same as a daily cup of coffee. And caring for your long-term health and wellness it is certainly a worthwhile expense in your monthly budget.    

  The short, sweet, and simple answer to this question is "No." No one is ever "too old" for massage. But let's explore ways in which aging may affect your massage session. 

   As we age, our mobility becomes more difficult. Getting on and off a massage table, or turning over during a session, may seem like a chore. This is one main reason why you may feel that you cannot receive a massage. However, this is a problem that is easily solved. Moving slowly, not rushing, and having someone there to make sure you are safe is all you need! Your therapist should be trained to assist you, and should also be patient. (If you ever go to a massage therapist who makes you feel rushed and is impatient with you, do not go back to them!) 

  There are some conditions that develop with age that you should discuss with your massage therapist ahead of time. Osteoporosis, arthritis, or disk degeneration are examples. Before your first session, you will likely need to fill out a health history form and it is important for you to tell your therapist about these types of conditions. Be honest about your health history and areas of pain. Your therapist will know how to adjust the massage techniques to ensure that no harm is done. To a well-trained therapist, this should not be a problem at all. 

  Something to keep in mind: In New York State, Licensed Massage Therapists are allowed to legally limit their practice to patients within a certain age. Usually, this is in regard to how young a patient can be. Rarely will you see a therapist limit their practice based on more advanced age, but on occasion it does happen. Respect the therapists' guidelines, as they may feel they do not have the proper skills to ensure your safety- such as the physical ability to assist you in turning. (Again, this is rare, but legal in NY) 

  Don't be afraid to discuss your concerns with your therapist. Your comfort and health are their priority!    

  I have heard many people tell me this, and it breaks my heart every time. 

  "I'd love to get a massage but I'm too overweight."

  I begin the blog series with this painful statement because it brings up so many other issues beyond someone's weight. It's not as simple as someone feeling bad about the numbers on a scale. It has to do with feelings of shame, self-consciousness, self-loathing, vulnerability, and worthlessness. 

  To address the concerns that are solely about weight- very rarely would a higher body weight mean you could not receive a massage. Sometimes, the health issues that can come along with a higher weight could cause complications that your massage therapists should known about - such as high blood pressure or Type 2 diabetes. But as long as those conditions are monitored and controlled, there is no reason why you cannot receive a massage. 

  But let's move on, because when someone tells me that they are "too overweight", I understand that they usually mean a number of other things. 
  People of a higher weight are, unfortunately, used to being ridiculed. Being self-conscious and embarrassed about their bodies is common. When someone says they are too overweight for massage, often they mean that they would be embarrassed about being seen unclothed. Some feel like a therapist would be disgusted to touch them. 

  I have good news! Your massage therapist is NOT judging you. They are going to find the best way to treat your muscular pain regardless of how much you weigh. I have worked on people of ALL shapes and sizes, and not one found that their weight prevented them from having a relaxing, soothing experience. If you are self-conscious about their body and prefer for me to not massage or undrape a specific area, I always respect your wishes, as would any licensed massage therapist. Becoming comfortable with a therapist will take a little while, but once you build that relationship you'll wonder why you didn't treat yourself to massage sooner. 

  To end, I have a very important piece of advice that I want everyone to follow: If you ever go to a massage therapist and they make you feel embarrassed because you are a higher weight- DO NOT EVER GO BACK. If that happens, it is the therapist who is in the wrong, NOT you! 

  Everyone deserves to get a massage, and everyone can and should- regardless of your body weight.  

In my 10+ years as a massage therapist, many wellness fads that have come and gone. Every season brings a new "life-changing" secret to health, beauty, weight loss, or youth. Each promises a simple fix. Eat this super fruit, try this fitness class, eliminate this one substance- and all your problems are solved!

Out of the hundreds of life hacks that have come along, there is only one "secret" I can confidently say is true. 

The secret the wellness is.... that there isn't one!

Don't be disappointed- this is a good thing! Once we can accept that health requires work, discipline, and some tough self-love, we can begin to move forward in our wellness journeys. We can stop wasting time (and money!) on things that don't work for us. 

Many of these "hacks" do work to a certain extent. For example; CBD oil has shown itself to have anti-inflammatory effects. But when a product is advertised as curing everything from headaches to cancer, such as how CBD has been marketed to us, it may be too good to be true. Every fad diet, every new fitness craze, they all promise simple solutions to complex problems. And even if work for some people, they may not be right for your body's unique needs. 

Health and wellness require that we take a hard look at ourselves, our lifestyles, and take care of our bodies physically, emotionally, and mentally. That means eating well, getting the proper exercise, engaging in activities that stimulate our brains, seeking out mental health counseling when needed, establishing a healthcare routine that puts the focus on you, finding healthy ways to deal with stress, anxiety, and depression. 

This can seem daunting because it requires effort on our part. Think of your body as a investment, and the effort you put into keeping it healthy will pay off in the end.