calm by leslie

I (heart) Nerds!

Had a great time tonight at BodyNerds.  It's always great to be among friends and fellow mavens.  Tonight's BodyNerdsmeeting was all about the abdomen and digestion and featured great chats with:

Marty Ryan, director of massage at The Tummy Temple and director of the Love Your Guts seminars.

Dr. Marnie Frisch ND, naturopathic doctor who works out of the Edmonds Wellness Clinic.

and

Me! 

I spoke about using essential oils for digestion.  All of the talks were well received, and I liked how we shared a common topic.  It allowed us to work off each other a bit, and Marty and Marnie's talks helped lay the groundwork for some things I wanted to touch on.

I recorded my talk on my laptop.  Will fiddle around with it over the next several days and see if I can get it edited down to a manageable, shareable file for this blog.

Thank you Melissa and Teresa for another awesome, nerdy night!

Who Do You Love?

Valentine's Day is almost here.  Need a last-minute gift?  How about a gift certificate for calm by leslie goods or services?  Call (425) 445-3759 or email me and I'll set you up with a lovely Valentine's-themed  gift certificate in a pretty gold "pillow" box.  It's an easy and much-appreciated gift for your sweetie!

Stuff We Care About and Stuff We Don't

As a sort of sister post to "Massage Etiquette", here's the inside scoop on stuff we (massage practitioners) care about and things we don't:

WE CARE:

• About any major surgeries or injuries you've had.  Yes, in your entire life.  That thing you're thinking "They need to know about that"?  We do.  It has bearing on how we will choose your course of treatment.
• About your current state of health. My very first client I ever had failed to tell me he had been in a car accident the night before.  Yowza!  Also, please reschedule your appointment if you are ill or have a contagious condition .  There are 3 main reasons for this:  1) We don't want to catch what you have.  2) We don't want our other clients to catch what you have.  3) Massage can greatly worsen the symptoms of a virus or cold. 
• Whether you've had alcohol or drugs in the past 24 hours.  This includes over-the-counter medicine as well as narcotics. Analgesic meds can effect how your massage is received. Narcotics are obviously not something you want coursing through your system when you're receiving massage, and it is both unethical and dangerous to massage someone under the influence of alcohol.  In fact, it's best to avoid alcohol entirely for 24 hours before your massage.  If you've had a fair amount to drink, massage can actually get you re-drunk.  (I've seen it happen.)  The last think I want to do is put a drunk client in their car to go home.

WE DON'T CARE:

• If you've shaved your legs or not.  Whether you've showered, yes.  Whether or not you have silky-smooth legs?  No.  We massage guys with very hairy legs, we're used to it.  Really.
• Whether or not you've had a pedicure.  Again, we're  more concerned with whether your feet are clean than whether your toes are polished.
• How fat you are (or think you are).  Honestly, this one just makes me sad.  I can't tell you the number of clients I've had (almost always women) who apologize to me for the state of their bodies.  That makes me want to cry.  I'm here to help you relax and feel better, not to evaluate you for Sports Illustrated.  Please learn to see yourself as the beautiful human you are. 

Massage Etiquette

Here's the inside scoop on how to be an ideal client!  This is the sort of stuff massage practitioners talk about in the back room:

• Be on time.  If you are late you won't be able to receive your fully alloted time for treatment.  That time slot has been reserved just for you.  On time also means not to arrive too early!  Again, the time reserved for your appointment has been set aside just for you.  The time 20 minutes earlier has not. 
• Please shower before your session.  It's common courtesy and it makes the experience better for everyone.
• Wait until your practitioner has left the room before you begin undressing.  No, we haven't "seen it all", and we don't want to.
• Speak up.  Many folks like to relax and "tune out" during their massage but if something is not to your liking please let your practitioner know.  They won't take it personally!
• Tipping.  This one is mixed.  If you are in a spa, then the massage practitioners (nay, the whole staff) are counting on tips as part of their income.  They are only taking home a small fraction of what the cost of the massage is.  If you are seeing a practitioner in private practice, then tipping is somewhat less expected, as the practitioner receives the entire sum themselves. (Though, to be fair, they have to pay for rent, supplies, and everything so they might be making less than the spa employee by the time all is said and done.)  If you are moved to tip, ask the person if they accept them.  My own policy on tipping is as follows:  They are never expected, and always appreciated, but the best tip you can give me is to refer me to your friends. 
• Leave on time.  I know, I know.  You're very relaxed.  The massage was wonderful.  Your practitioner was charming and kind and you want to tell them more about your trip to Jamaica.  But there is work to be done after the session and he or she needs to get to it.
• Tell your friends.  Most massage practitioners are trying to grow their practices.  If you like what they do, tell your friends.  It's the highest compliment you can give your practitioner, and the good karma will surely come back to you.   

Gift Certificates!

It's holiday time!  I've got a large selection of beautiful gift certificates.  A gift certificate for an Aromatic Reflexology session or a massage makes a great gift for friends and family.  Or you could make it for a dollar amount and let them buy a custom aromatherapy blend and a nebulizing diffuser.  I've even got pretty gold "pillow boxes" to make your gift really sparkle.  Contact me early to get the best selection. 

Best Massage in Sammamish!

Just had a client tell me she found me by typing "best massage in Sammamish" into Google!  Ha!  Love it!  At the same time, my friends at "HourTown" showed me that I'm the #1 hit for typing "I accept online reservations".  Ahhh, nothing like a good ego massage.  :-)

calm by leslie REVAMPED

Effective September 12, 2007, the following services and rates will apply.  All previous promotions and specials will be void by Sept 11, 2007 (with prepaid offers and prepaid gift certificates still being honored).

SERVICES AND RATES

•    THE REFRESHER - A short visit for when you just need a quick pick-me-up. Includes relaxing herbal tea, essential oil foot soak, hot towel wrap, custom-blended aromatherapy treatment and 30 minutes of table time*. 

This appointment is booked for 45 minutes. [cost:  $45]

•    THE RELAXER - A good choice for when you need more than one area worked on, but don’t have time for a lengthy session. This is also the one to choose for a standard reflexology session. Includes relaxing herbal tea, essential oil foot soak, custom-blended aromatherapy treatment, hot towel wrap and 60 minutes of table time*. 

This appointment is booked for 75 minutes. [cost:  $75]

•    THE RENEWAL – The longest session, with time for a full body massage.  Includes relaxing herbal tea, essential oil foot soak, custom-blended aromatherapy treatment, hot towel wrap and 90 minutes of table time*.

This appointment is booked for 1¾ hour.  [cost:  $100]

•    AROMATIC REFLEXOLOGY – The most holistic of all calm by leslie services! Together we will address mind-body and spirit with a session that includes a thorough client lifestyle intake, relaxing herbal tea, peppermint or rosemary salt scrub for the feet, essential oil foot soak, custom-blended aromatherapy take-home product, hot towel wrap and full reflexology session. You will leave feeling refreshed, relaxed, renewed and very well cared for.  My clients’ favorite! 

This appointment is booked for 2 hours.  [cost:  $120]

•    AROMATHERAPY CONSULTATION – Learn the health benefits of true aromatherapy (hint:  It’s not about smelly candles!) in this session.  Session includes a cup of relaxing herbal tea and a thorough client lifestyle intake.  I will then custom-blend one or more essential oil products for you to use at home.  You will be surprised and delighted by the benefits of using therapeutic essential oils on your body.

This appointment is booked for 45 minutes.  Session includes no table time or bodywork.  Client may be required to return 24 hours later to pick up products.  Cost of session is for consulting only, and does not include cost of final aromatherapy product(s).         [cost:  $45]

*“Table Time” refers to actual massage/bodywork time on the massage table, and can include any combination of the following techniques:  Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, neuromuscular trigger-point technique, reflexology, skin exfoliation, passive gymnastics & stretching, and stretching instruction.      

OUTCALLS:  I will come to your location for chair massage, reflexology or massage*.  These sessions do not include tea, foot soaks, or aromatherapy.  The cost is $1/minute, (with a 60 minute minimum) plus a $25 travel fee.  Residents outside of Sammamish, WA city limits also pay a 50 cents/mile travel charge. 

* Massage outcalls for established clients only.

DISCOUNTS:

•    Pre-pay for six (of the same kind) of sessions, get a 10% discount.   

•    Refer a friend, get $10 off your next session after their first visit.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Tuesdays through Saturdays:      8:00am-noon,  2:00pm – 6pm (5:30 on Wed)

Closed Sundays and Mondays

Yoga and Massage

I've long been interested in yoga and have recently revived my own personal yoga practice.  It's a great way to become more aware of and kinder to your body.  It's also a great exercise method that anyone can do and that I recommend to virtually all of my clients. 

Here's a great article from Yoga Journal on how you can bring yogic awareness to your massage, and how it can help. 

Massage as Preventive Medicine

Massage is a proven stress reliever.  So much so that many doctors prescribe massage for their patients recovery.  But did you know that massage can also help prevent the chronic stress problems that so many of us experience?  Massage promotes relaxation, lowers blood pressure, reduces chronic muscle tension, and increases seratonin (one of the "feel good" neurochemicals in our body).  Regular massage can be part of your preventive health maintenance routine. 

To encourage my clients to experience massage more regularly, I'm offering 10% off your next appointment when you book it at the end of your regular service.*

I want to keep you coming back!

* Since I'm already offering reflexology at a discounted price (while I'm still a student) this offer applies only to massage sessions.  Not to be used with any other offer/promotion.

What to Look for in a Massage Practitioner

All of us know someone who gives great back rubs, but it's a big jump from being good at back rubs to providing safe and effective therapeutic massage.  How can you be sure you're in good hands?  Here are a couple of things to look for:

• A Massage License - Massage licensing laws vary from state to state, but the State of Washington requires licensees to have received a minimum of 500 hours of education (which must include training in anatomy, physiology, ethics, first aid, hygiene and health standards, and more) and succesfully graduated from an accredited program.  The student must then past the licensing exam and pay their fees.  It is illegal to practice massage in the State of Washington without a license. All practitioners should have their license clearly posted at their place of work.  Most states require that their licensees take a minimum number of continuing education classes to maintain their skills and knowledge of their line of work.  A massage license is the bare minimum of what you should look for in a massage practitioner!
• Professional Affiliations -  Organizations such as the  American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) or the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywory (NCBTMB) hold their members to higher standards than the bare minimums required by their state licensing committees.  Members of these organizations pay membership dues to belong, and agree to take a higher number of continuing education classes in order to continue to hone their skills and expand their knowledge.  These members also commit or pledge to a specific set of high ethics and standards.
• Education -  Once you've found out your massage practitioner is licensed and that they belong to a professional organization, a very good indicator of whether or not you're in the right hands is to find out where your massage practitioner went to school.  Massage schools' curricula vary widely, with some doing the bare mininum required by the state and others more than doubling it.  A troubling trend in massage education is for multi-vocational schools to tack "massage" on to their long list of available certifications and provide sub-standard (though entirely legal) massage training.  A good massage school will provide ample training in anatomy, physiology, pathology, ethics, body mechanics, clinical training, technique and more.  To be a good massage practitioner requires a thorough grounding in communication skills and the therapeutic relationship, which in turn requires the massage student to learn a lot about themselves and how they choose to live in the world.  To give a good massage requires a lot more than "rub here".  The Cortiva Institute * is an organization that is working to unite the best massage schools in the country so that people have an easier way to know where the good schools are, and where the good massage practitioners are being taught.

I've included some "Recommended Links" on the sidebar to the right which have some great information for massage consumers.  I hope you find them helpful.

* Full disclosure:  I work part-time for The Cortiva Institute - Brian Utting School of Massage