come as you are
start small: simple body movements, ideas and ways to help you feel better on the regular
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"I really need a massage" is a phrase I hear at least once a week from someone. And I have definitely heard that phrase uttered even more lately as we experience a huge uptick in stress and anxiety due to this year's election. Yet many do not actively seek out a massage, unless gifted one or when desperately seeking bodywork if they can't move their neck. From my conversations with people who have or have not gotten a massage, including clients, I've found that people believe they:
Little To-No-Time for Self-Care Self-care is a hard thing to do. Especially as Americans. We are always in a hurry and always busy. We glorify working more than 40 hours a week while shamming those who take time out for themselves. However, running on steam can't last. As the saying goes "You can't pour from an empty cup." In other words, how you can continue to work, be productive and creative, help your friends, and connect with your family, etc if you're running on low? You can't; eventually you'll burn out, walk around in pain, get sick, etc. Take time for yourself for self-care - a massage, a walk in the park, alone time with a book, no phone, etc. If you have time for an hour of TV or an hour of FB, you have time for a massage. Why A Massage Can Help Last year, the Huffington Post published an article entitled, Touch As Nutrition. The first line of the article reads: "Touch could properly be regarded as a form of nutrition." Safe, human touch and contact is a necessary part of being happy and healthy. Without it, children's brains don't develop and "solitary elderly people are almost 50 percent more likely to die early than those who have family, friends or community." For many of us adults, human contact "soon becomes rationed out, reserved for appropriate moments with appropriate people." So often that leaves us little to no touch from another human. Depression can set in and the immune system weakens. Massage does the opposite: boosts the immune system, helps with depression, anxiety, insomnia, and relieves muscles tension, along with much more positive outcomes. I get bodywork 1-2 times/month. I have for years. If I miss a month, my body is pretty much screaming at me and my anxiety is up. Human connection in a comfortable and safe way simply feels good. I have had clients over the years simply come to me not to just get the "knots out," but because they want physical human contact. That's more than enough reason to get some sort of bodywork. Affording a Massage Fact: you do not have to pay $150 to get a really good massage. Below are ways to find a really good massage therapist (LMT) for way under $100 :
Hopefully these suggestions help inspire you to find an affordable therapist that works well with your needs. Let me know if you have any other ideas. xo, Liz  Photo by Maria Kogan from Radically Restorative Yoga - a restorative class with 4 dedicated bodyworkers assisting the class
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Hi Rochester Area Friends - I'm looking to meet, research, and create a list of inclusive healers/supportive people in the Rochester community. Can you help me out? See below on what & who I'm looking for. You can send suggestions via the comment section or email me at [email protected]. Feel free to add any other support person/category I may have missed. This list is not the end all be all, or in any particular order. I posted this on my Facebook page today. But wanted to post here, as I am interested in your thoughts and suggestions. Please forward to friends, colleagues, and family members who might have suggestions as well. I plan to post a working comprehensive list int he coming weeks once I have a good amount of suggestions and do my research. Thank you for your support and help! Liz -Therapeutic Massage Therapist - Any type of Bodyworker -Shiatsu Bodyworker -Acupuncturist - Reiki Master - Yoga Therapist - Movement Therapist (including but not limited to music, theater, dance therapy) -Body Image Educator - Restorative Yoga Teacher - Ayurvedic Doctor -Holistic Medicine Practitioner - Herbalist - Plant-based Nutritionist - LCSW/Therapist specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Trauma and/or PTSD Therapist - Any PCP's who support and offer hormone therapy for Trans people - Doula - Midwife -*Chiropractor *I already have a good list for Chiropractor's so let's focus on building the rest up.  Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, NY
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June 2017
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