I see it all the time. Someone comes in for a massage appointment and they just have the "look". A little nervous, a little unsure, a little wide-eyed. It's ok! We've all been there. I thought I'd take this opportunity to share with you my best advice for how to receive a massage and get the most benefit out of it. 

In short... No, you do not have to undress. If you are uncomfortable, let your massage therapist know and they can do work over your clothing to help relax you and ease your aches and pains. If you do not want to undress, please wear clothing that is light weight and close fitting like yoga pants or a tank top. 

Most people undress for their massage. It is easiest to address your issues if your LMT can contact and glide on your skin. About half of our clients chose to leave their underwear on and the other half choose to remove them. It's totally up to you. That being said, all areas of modesty (breasts, genitals, gluteal cleft) will be covered by a sheet during your entire massage. Your massage therapist will ask if there are any areas you do NOT want to touched and it is a great time to say "Don't touch my feet" or "I don't like work on my glutes (aka rear end)". It's your body and your choice!

Remove your jewelry before you get on the massage table and leave it on the side table next to your chair. It is difficult to address the muscles of your neck while trying not to pull a necklace or avoid getting massage cream on it. If you have trouble with the clasp, we are happy to help! Rings are not terribly obtrusive to work around, if you prefer to leave them on. 

This is your time to be cared for. If your  LMT needs your arm in a different position, she/he will move it. You don't need to help! Just let every part of your body be heavy and sink into the table. If we lift your arm, we will continue to hold it for you. No need to hold it up! Sometimes, your massage therapist may wiggle or gently rock a part of your body to bring attention to the tension you are holding there. It can be hard to let go and we understand. You can even say "I can't let go!" and we can talk about it a little bit to see if we can help. 

There are some medications that affect your ability to feel pain and discomfort. Totally awesome when you need it, but not so great for massage time. If you are unable to feel the true level of your pain or discomfort, you aren't able to give your massage therapist feedback if they are working with too much pressure or if a stretch is too much.  Being on medication doesn't mean you can't have massage! It just means your LMT needs to know and adjust the work accordingly.

If something is uncomfortable to you, please speak up! Your massage therapist is an expert in anatomy, but only you know how their work feels in your body.  This isn't a "no pain, no gain" situation. 
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Is the table warmer too hot? Speak up! Music too loud? Let us know! Do you like aromatherapy? Holler!  Your massage therapist is here to be the best part of your day. We try to set everything up to your liking, but everyone is different. Don't ever hesitate to speak up if there is something we can adjust to make you more comfortable. 

You do not need to entertain your massage therapist. We are very entertained with the work we are doing to help you feel great! Of course, we welcome the chance to chat and get to know you a bit if that is what helps you get the most out of your treatment. On the flip side, you do not need to make small talk. It is ok to close your eyes, stay quiet and let your mind rest. 

Your massage therapist is there to help. It's ok to tell your LMT that you are nervous and not sure what to expect! We want to be able to answer your questions and help you feel at ease. If I have someone that seems a little timid, I like to tell them, "Don't worry. I've done this before, so I'll get us through this!" It usually gets a laugh and helps set them at ease. 

So, as my mom used to tell me when I was a teenager, "Just remember, Do, Do, Don't, Don't and you'll be just fine."

Take good care!
​Kristina

 A few weeks ago, we were excited to announce the newest addition to our team, Erin Whitworth. With experience providing sports massage, deep tissue therapy, and prenatal massage, we knew she would bring some awesome knowledge and techniques to the table - literally. Since we’re still pretty excited about her joining Body of Work Wellness, I thought it would be great to interview her for our new blog series, “20 Questions with Lindsay”.
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What made you decide on a career in massage therapy?

I wanted to become a massage therapist because I wanted to be able to work for myself, and help others at the same time. I have always been fascinated with the human body and how our muscles hold us all together.

How long have you lived in Oregon? Have you lived in any other states?
I have lived in Oregon for 3 years. I grew up in Idaho, moved to Montana, and then Washington.

Tell me three of your favorite restaurants in the area, and your go-to menu item from each.
Gin Thai - Green curry
Pho Gabo - Chicken Pho with lots of spice
Any Indian buffet.

What music do you enjoy listening to when you’re not giving a massage?
Dance mixes - anything upbeat to help me stay motivated.

Aside from being a Massage Therapist Extraordinaire, do you have any other hobbies or talents?
I was once a dental assistant, a wild-land firefighter (college years), and I love to refurbish old furniture.

What was the last good book you read, and why did you enjoy it?
The last thing I read was an acupressure book. I enjoy educational science books.

How do you usually spend your days off from work?
My days off are spent being a mom and working out.

What is your spirit animal and why?
A horse. I love them!

What is your perfect way to spend a rainy day in Oregon?
Snugged on the couch watching a movie with a big cup of coffee.

What is your favorite quote?
“You are where you are supposed to be, just breathe.”

What is your go-to karaoke song?
“Zombie” by The Cranberries.

Describe the perfect pizza.
The perfect pizza is made with simple, great ingredients. Pesto, Mozzarella, basil, and in an outdoor pizza oven.

What is your favorite kind of tea?
I love black tea with a little sugar.

What was the last TV show that you binge-watched?
I’m currently binge-watching This Is Us.

Tell me the corniest joke you know.
How do you make a Kleenex dance? Put a little boogie in it! (I got that one from my son)

Before you started studying massage therapy, what was your favorite subject in school?
Science - A&P.

Do you have a favorite stand-up comedian?
Amy Shuman.

If you could pick any fashion fad to make a comeback, what would you choose?
MC Hammer pants!

What is your favorite vacation spot?
My dream vacation is in Olgiasca, Italy. This is where my family is from.

Finally, what is a weird/fun/little-known fact about you?
In high school, I was in FFA (Future Farmers of America).

​So there you have it! Be sure to book an appointment with Erin soon - she is available Monday 9-2, Tuesday 8:30-1:30, and Thursday 8:30-12.    And stay tuned for the next “20 Questions”!

We love to introduce you to other small businesses who produce fantastic products and make a difference.  
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If you've been in to see us recently, we hope you enjoyed a cup of tea! We introduced Teadrops at the end of October and they've been a hit. Teadrops are pressed, organic tea sweetened with a touch of organic sugar. They disintegrate in your cup! No steeping time. They are individually wrapped and come in cute shapes. You can sample a variety of flavors while you are visiting us and we offer a selection of 8-pack boxes for your enjoyment at home. The sustainably-sourced wooden boxes need only a shiny bow stuck to the top to make it a lovely hostess gift, teacher gift or "you're awesome" gift for anyone. 

Tea Drops is a small California-based company on a mission to build community and connections through tea! Learn more at ​https://www.myteadrop.com/pages/about

Say that 10 times fast! Several of us discovered Tamara Green of Servello a few years ago and we ADORE her skincare line! Servello products are used in high-end spas all over the country and she is based right here in SW Portland. She formulates and produces her aromatherapy based products by hand. The difference is clear!

We are debuting a few of Servello's products in our BOW Favorites area on Small Business Saturday (Nov. 25th). The Shea Butter Body Cream is a special treat for thirsty winter skin and the Toe & Heel Butter is fantastic too.  Don't forget a lip balm or two to protect your lips from blustery winds! Great for gift giving this holiday season or to care for yourself. 

Jewelry is returning to BOW! Z Studio Jewelry is the beautiful handiwork of Carol Streimikes in her studio in Southern Oregon. She uses natural stone, sterling silver and crystal to make her jewelry. Each piece is one of a kind. She has a great eye for unique stones and combinations. Come check out the newest creations!

Body of Work Wellness is a small, woman-owned business and is committed to voting with our wallets. Supporting locally owned businesses feeds our local economy and makes us all stronger.  From our sheets to our massage cream, we chose local whenever possible.

I became interested in shamanism as I studied different massage and healing modalities. In general,massage and western medicine tend to compartmentalize. Meaning, this doctor will look at your bones but isn’t the person you need to talk to about your muscles and that person, by law, can’t have anything to do with your mental health. Everything is separate. Yet, as I worked on client after client who came in with physical pain that was clearly tied up in the mental/emotional stresses or traumas they were experiencing, the compartmentalized model made less and less sense to me. It was clear the human being is one organism made up of many parts whose parts interact on an intrinsic level. The cases I saw where patients had the best outcomes in their healing were always the ones where they were willing to address not just the physical but also the emotional and spiritual/energetic aspects as well. 
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he variety of shamanism I have learned is a conglomeration of many different cultures and traditions. My teachers looked to what practices were common cross culturally and what was at the core of those practices once local superstition was removed. Superstition has always been a way of connecting practices to the emotional/psychological core of what is really going on. It has been a way of explaining that which we don’t understand and often fear. But we have science to help us in these processes now so we can blend modern psychodynamic work with ancient healing practices.This makes the work much more potent for those of us who have grown up with the western mindset. 

So what does this all look like? I may have a client who comes in to me saying they feel stuck in life. That the feeling of being stuck and not being able to move forward is contributing to depression, anxiety, headaches etc… My job as a shaman is to help the client get to the core of what is going on “what kind of stuck?” I might ask “What does that feel like?” We will seek out the original wound that set the client on this path in the first place. Often modern psychology stops here (although more and more psychological modalities are moving beyond the talk therapy model) saying “There it is! That is the reason you are this way. Now stop it!” But if we could talk ourselves out of it we would have already done so long ago. These core issues are layers and layers of years and years of trying to find ways to dance around a wound that never had a chance to heal. Here is where shamanism excels. Through a variety of practices we search for the mind body connection to this ongoing issue and begin the repair work, the true healing. Sometimes it’s as simple as affirming something that the client needed to hear but was never told. This repair work may include, Soul Retrieval, Energy Extraction, Sacred Drama, Guided Meditation, Journeying, Illuminations, Energetic Resets or a variety of other practices. Each session is tailored to what the client needs. I don’t know what sort of healing is needed until we are in the session in that moment. Shamanism is above all a practice of mindful awareness of being present with what is true now and helping the client to do the same. 

If there is an issue in your life that other forms of medicine and healing don’t seem to help, regardless of whether it’s physical or emotional or life circumstances. Shamanic healing may be a new avenue for you to try to experience deep and true healing. I am excited to now be offering these services here at Body of Work Wellness.
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Shamanism is a general term for the indigenous healing practices of native peoples. Much of our western medicine started here with the plants and insects and tinctures of these native wise men/women. There is another aspect to the healing these medicine women/men do which is universal across cultures. They not only look after the physical health of their people but also their emotional and spiritual health. ​

In this 7 week CLASS we will be learning:
 
HEALING GONG 1 - GATHERING HEALING QI FROM THE UNIVERSE
This is a self-healing form that is easy to learn and practice. It is done seated on a chair. It can easily be implemented in daily life and the rewards will be obvious.
 
FREE INTRODUCTORY CLASS - Sept. 6th 11:30 - 1:00 pm
 

• 7 week series offered Wednesday 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
• Sept. 13th through Oct. 25th

 
Cost: $90 for the full series or $15 per class.
 
RSVP to Maria at 503-863-9173

SHENG ZHEN GONG consists of graceful moving and non-moving qigong forms. These forms strengthen and relax the body, dissolve negative emotions, clarify the mind, open the heart, and ultimately elevate the spirit. Sheng Zhen translates as "sacred truth" and also as "unconditional love". Sheng Zhen Gong is the qigong of unconditional love. 
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You spoke and we listened! 
Our clients simply adore the option of scheduling their appointments online, whenever it's convenient! It has served us well for years. Recently, we've noticed that you want more information at your fingertips.

Enter MindBody, We've moved our online schedule to Mindbody. You may be familiar with it as it is popular with local gyms and yoga studios. Simply create your account with the email address you've used with us in the past and the world is your oyster!
You can

• Schedule online
  
• Purchase gift certificates for friends and family
  
• Prepay for your service so you can breeze out the door afterwards
  
• Check how many sessions you have left in your prepaid package
  
• Cancel or reschedule appointments
  
• See your visit history and anything you have schedule in the future.

Change can be hard, but we know you can do it! Update your browser favorite for Body of Work Wellness online massage scheduling  https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=984344&stype=-9

We're honored you choose Body of Work Wellness for your massage therapy needs and we strive every day to earn and deserve your business. This change will enable us to better serve you. Thank you!

Did I get your attention? I may have lured you into reading this under false pretenses, but it's for a good cause! You have rights, darn it, and I want you to know about them!

We, at Body of Work Wellness LLC, are considered a "covered entity" for HIPAA purposes. We bill health insurance and auto insurance electronically for massage therapy services and are required to follow HIPAA rules and procedures regarding your private health information. In order to meet these requirements, we have revised the Privacy Policy for our office and will be asking each of you to sign a current version of it at your next visit. It's ok to roll your eyes about it (ugh paperwork!), but we want you to know that we take our responsibility seriously and abide by the procedures set forth by the US Dept of Health and Human Services. You can learn more about your rights at ​https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/index.html. 

If you have any questions about this policy, please feel free to contact us at any time. We are here to help! Click "Read More" to review the text of our Privacy Policy: