Back in January, I wrote this post about the differences between deep tissue vs. deep pressure massage.  Todays post takes that topic and expands it beyond massage therapy.  The topic in question is that of pain.  

Pain is not normal.  It should not be a normal part of your day and you shouldn't feel pain during activity or rest.  Pain is our body's way of letting us know that something is wrong.  Unfortunately, we have been conditioned to believe that pain means we are getting something done.  We are bombarded by phrases like "No pain, no gain", or "Pain is good, extreme pain is extremely good", and fitness videos and infomercials encourage us to work until we "feel the burn", and then sometimes work even harder.  I'm not sure when we took such a wrong turn in our thinking, but I am constantly working to change the perception that pain is a normal part of life.  

This month's aromatherapy post is all about clary sage. Clary sage isn't one of the more popular essential oils, and many people have never heard of it, but it has myriad benefits making it a great oil to have on hand. Clary sage is often considered to be a women's oil because a number of its benefits assist in things like hormone balance, and relieving pain associated with menstruation and childbirth.

Upon first glance, clary sage looks very similar to lavender, but it is actually a member of the salvia, or sage, family. You can tell the difference by looking at the leaves which much more closely resemble the sage leaves that you may find in smudge bundles or for cooking with. The aroma is also very different than that of a lavender flower. Clary sage is not the sweetest smelling herb, being much more bitter and earthy than the lavender that it looks similar to.

I used to be very competitive.  Far too competitive most would say.  People didn't want to play games with me because I would get mean about it.  I was a sore loser, and a sore winner, so afterward I was always either gloating or pouting.  This hard truth about myself was brought to my attention many years ago, and I began to make strides to change how I responded to actual or perceived competition. 

Today I had a lovely conversation with a client about having a competitive nature, and that got me thinking about my own journey and how I learned to be competitive in a healthy way.

This week's blog topic was requested by one of my lovely clients.  The other day, she asked me why we get stiff.  She has started to notice that she is experiencing muscle and joint stiffness, particularly in the morning that goes away as she moves throughout the day and wants to know the reason behind it.  

So, why do we get stiff?  Good question.  There are actually several causes for muscle and joint stiffness, particularly as we get older.  Let's begin by taking a look at what happens to our joints as we get older, as well as other common causal factors, and some ways to prevent stiffness.

It is no secret that I hate the "due date".  This arbitrary date that is thrown out to tell women when their babies will be born.  More and more, it seems like I hear women saying things like "I will have my baby on..." or "My baby's birthday will be...", when really, your baby may be born anytime within the weeks leading up to or following that date.  

The problem with the due date is that it sounds like there will be consequences if something doesn't happen by then.  Everything else with a due date comes with some sort of penalty if we fail to deliver the required materials on time.  If you don't return your library books by the due date, you will have to pay a fine.  If you don't pay your bills by the due date, there is a late fee, or if it goes long enough, you risk losing the service.  If you don't turn in your homework by the due date, you lose credit.  If your baby isn't born by the due date...  What then?

For this month's edition of the aromatherapy series, we will be talking about the uses and benefits of lemongrass.  Lemongrass is a plant that you may or may not be aware of.  It is very easy to grow and it has myriad benefits both in cooking and natural health.  Lemongrass is in fact, a variety of grass.  It enjoys warm climates and plenty of sunlight. You can easily grow lemongrass from stalks you find at the grocery store or farmer's market.  Simply place the stalks in a jar with an inch or two of water and leave them there until they begin to sprout roots.  Make sure to change out the water every couple of days or so.  When you begin to see new leaves grow, your lemongrass is ready to be transplanted to a pot or the ground.

Lemongrass is a very popular component in many asian style dishes, but can also be used medicinally, or as a powerful cleaner.  Before getting started, it is important to note that care should be exercised when using lemongrass oil when pregnant because of it's ability to stimulate blood flow.  It should also always be diluted in a carrier oil before being used topically to avoid a rash.

There is a certain conversation that I have had several times lately with both clients and other practitioners about ovarian cysts.  I have met several people who talk about "having to be" on birth control pills because they have ovarian cysts, but wanting to become pregnant.  Many years ago, I was also told that I must be on hormonal birth control in order to treat and prevent ovarian cysts.  Many of us are told that it is the only option, and are pressured or guilted into being on the pill.  

The last time I saw a midwife, I was once again forced to defend my decision not to be on birth control.  I was told that it was my decision, but by declining, I was going against medical advice.  She also threw out the word "cancer" to try to scare me into it, when really, while hormonal birth control may help to prevent ovarian cancer, it is not enough to warrant being on it simply for that reason, especially if you are not at high risk in the first place.  Luckily, I know better than to give in to that kind of guilt or pressure, but far too many women don't realize that they have the choice.  What's more, birth control is not the only answer.  What happens when you want to have a baby?  Are you just out of luck?  That doesn't seem right at all.  I have spoken to several women lately who are confused and feel like they have no options.  The truth is that you do have options.  You DO NOT have to be on hormonal birth control pills to deal with ovarian cysts.  Whether you want to have a baby, or just prefer not to be on birth control pills because of the harm they cause to your body (that's a whole other blog post), there are plenty of options out there if you know where to look.  Before we get started, it is important to note that I am not a doctor.  This post is designed to provide some suggestions for natural methods of dealing with ovarian cysts and should not replace medical care.  If you have an emergency, please call your doctor or 911.  Use these suggestions at your own discretion, and ask your doctor if there could be any potential harms for you.

Let's face it.  For most of us, bra shopping is not fun. There are actually very few women who can walk into an average bra or department store, and find their perfect bra.  For the lucky ones who have an "average" band size with a cup size that certain companies have deemed to be "correct", the options are endless.  But for far too many of us, the sizes that we are told we should be don't correspond with the size we actually are.  

Back in May, I posted a blog about things that people may get embarrassed about that their massage therapist won't judge.  With any new experience it can be hard to know how to act or what to expect, and while there are a lot of things that you shouldn't worry about, there are certain niceties that really should be exercised.  

Below you will find a list of do's and don't of getting a massage.  If you have not followed them to this point, have no fear.  All behavior and information is new to us at some point.  The point is to not continue behaviors that may be seen as rude or unhelpful.  Most of these are not things that people do out of malice, which is why I try not to encourage shame, but rather educate for future exchanges.  

When we think about oregano, most of us head to the spice aisle.  It has strong associations with cooking, especially for Italian food.  Did you know that there are actually a great number of health benefits that come from oregano?  You can reap some of these benefits by using it on food, but you can also buy it in essential oil form to get even more out of it. 

Aside from seasoning your food, oregano can be used to treat a number of ailments and discomforts such as skin conditions, the flu, arthritis, sinus congestion, parasites, and much more.  It is important to note that oregano oil should be diluted before it is applied to the skin.  Undiluted oregano oil can cause burning or irritation of the skin.  Pregnant women should avoid using oregano oil.  Let's take a look at some of the benefits of using oregano oil.