Stress, Routines, and Massage Therapy

• Uncategorized
• No Comments

I think stress is one the great inhibitors of how we choose to live. Because stress is what is perceived, stress becomes part of our routine. We develop physical reactions to our perceptions of stress, which controls how we carry out daily habits, usually by limiting our responses to events and situations and our feelings of control. We become irritable, unable to sleep well, become grouchy with coworkers and family members, and we often put off things such as taking care of ourselves.

Massage therapyís greatest tool is retraining the bodyís perception of stress. By unlocking the patterns in the body, we unlock the mind, and we become more informed about how we can use our bodies (and our minds) differently to create more ease, not just in movement in general, but in how we conduct ourselves at the office and in traffic, in conversion, and really in just being ourselves. We find that itís okay to breathe and be in our bodies not matter what situation.

As a massage therapist, of one my goals is to help you find support, integrity, and balance, because these are the building blocks for overcoming the perceptions of stress. Not only does massage therapy disengage those rigidifying patterns (tension headaches, low back pain, grinding teeth, clenched fists, etc.), it opens a window to choose a different way of being in the world. Massage can help with finding more routines that suit you.

John Williford, LMBT

John is one our massage therapists here at Empower Personal Training. You can contact him by email at john@becomepowerful.com or by phone at (910) 232 5126.

A Motherís Day Thought from John

• Events
• No Comments

This post is written by John about his life partner Kerri . . . very sweet~

Motherhood implies togetherness. The first dinner Kerri and I sat down to have with Kaleb in our new home began with several small laughing fits, followed by a round of drumming and nonsense chatter. Kaleb declared we were probably the weirdest family ever, and all of us were okay with that. It was our first movements and dialogue as a new family and I lost all pretenses about being an adult. The togetherness we share has Kerri, my very-soon-to-be-wife, at its core.

Kerriís strength as a mom is her ability to practice peace, empathy, and patience with everyone she meets. She instills in her son the confidence to grow into himself without being ashamed or self-conscious, to be himself unapologetically. She treats Kaleb as an equal, capable person and, therefore, allows him engage in our new familyís processes. Her love is relentless as it is curious and her willingness to be part of the world is inspiring. And she just goes with it if Kaleb and I starting doing break-beats and chooses to be a part of us every moment of the way.

Both John and Kerri offer massage services at Empower. To schedule a massage today click HERE

Empower is Celebrating Moms the whole month of May. Call to find out about our Mother’s Day Specials!

919 . 401 . 8024

Massage for Healthy Skin – Who Knew?

• Uncategorized
• No Comments

Healthy Radiant Skin

It looks like Summer. It smells like Summer….and it definitely FEELS like Summer….With these sizzling temperatures comes spending lots of time kickin it pool side and soaking up those rays. Remember to apply tons of sunscreen with a high SPF.

Did you know that skin is the largest organ in our body? It is our external organ that protects our internal organs from the outside world. It plays an important role in our immunity by detecting foreign substances and fighting against infection. Keeping our skin healthy is very crucial in order to make it functional. Here are some skin health tips:

Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated.

Eat healthy foods to give your skin the nutrients it needs.

Avoiding harsh conditions (sun, wind, contact w/ chemicals).

Keep it clean.

GET A MASSAGE!

Hold up for a second did I just say … Massage? Right on! I wasn’t trying to be sneaky. Massage has great benefits for your skin. Massage increases blood circulation, which allows more nutrients to be carried to skin, it also increases skin cell regeneration which leads to less scar tissue. Massage increases sweat production, which aids in detoxification from waste. The oils, lotions and essential oils I use re-moisturize and soften dry skin. Massage can even help with some skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

So when youíre soaking up those sun rays..remember a massage or an exfoliating body scrub may be what your skin needs and deserves this summer. So go ahead and schedule your Empower Massage TODAY!

EMPOWERíS ONLINE SCHEDULING

Men, Stress and Massage

• Articles,
• massage
• No Comments

I have asked some of my male clients why they get a massage. All of them said stress, pressure of life, and work. Stress can cause headaches, migraines, chronic muscular tension, and lowered immunity, as well as play a large role in the quality of sleep. Acute and long term stress can also lead to unhealthy coping behaviors such as over-eating and inactivity. Letís face it, stress is a normal and necessary function in life, and we are not getting away from it! However, how we manage our stress can make a big difference in how it shows up in our bodies and minds. Experts say a relaxing massage is an excellent stress elixir.

Massage is on of the best ways to relieve tension. The benefits of massage therapy are numerous, ranging from promoting relaxation to loosening tight muscles and increasing blood flow. It can help you manage stress by relieving anxiety and tension, promoting relaxation, increasing your energy, improving sleep, reducing muscle soreness, and decreasing pain.

Therapeutic massage, such as the Swedish method, is one of the most popular techniques in relieving stress. The Swedish technique, that are often referred to as a full body massage, involve gentle kneading pressure and long strokes applied to the surface to relieve tension in the muscles and connective tissues. Other techniques that can help relieve stress include deep-tissue massage to release tension from the deeper muscles and connective tissues, and trigger point therapy to release muscle spasms from specific areas.

SPECIAL OFFER: June is for Gents!

Gentlemen, in order to break the stress cycle, the month of June you will receive $10 off your massage in order to de-stress and celebrate all your hard work!

Call Empower at 919.401.8024 and schedule your massage TODAY!

Or book online here.

Men, Stress and Massage

• Articles,
• massage
• No Comments

I have asked some of my male clients why they get a massage. All of them said stress, pressure of life, and work. Stress can cause headaches, migraines, chronic muscular tension, and lowered immunity, as well as play a large role in the quality of sleep. Acute and long term stress can also lead to unhealthy coping behaviors such as over-eating and inactivity. Letís face it, stress is a normal and necessary function in life, and we are not getting away from it! However, how we manage our stress can make a big difference in how it shows up in our bodies and minds. Experts say a relaxing massage is an excellent stress elixir.

Massage is on of the best ways to relieve tension. The benefits of massage therapy are numerous, ranging from promoting relaxation to loosening tight muscles and increasing blood flow. It can help you manage stress by relieving anxiety and tension, promoting relaxation, increasing your energy, improving sleep, reducing muscle soreness, and decreasing pain.

Therapeutic massage, such as the Swedish method, is one of the most popular techniques in relieving stress. The Swedish technique, that are often referred to as a full body massage, involve gentle kneading pressure and long strokes applied to the surface to relieve tension in the muscles and connective tissues. Other techniques that can help relieve stress include deep-tissue massage to release tension from the deeper muscles and connective tissues, and trigger point therapy to release muscle spasms from specific areas.

SPECIAL OFFER: June is for Gents!

Gentlemen, in order to break the stress cycle, the month of June you will receive $10 off your massage in order to de-stress and celebrate all your hard work!

Call Empower at 919.401.8024 and schedule your massage TODAY!

Or book online here.