May
3
2012
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Massage with a Caring Heart
Learn about the benefits of massage
Apr
30
2012
From a desire to help a friend on her intrepid path to become a midwife by training in Haiti came the idea to host a party in her honor and to support the Natural Birth Clinic where she is right now.
Please join us this Sunday May 6, from 2pm to 5:30pm, at our office on 1522 State Street.
We’ll be offering 15 minute massages for $20, delicious food, live music.
There will be a silent auction and a raffle for a 90-minute massage!
Here’s a link to the clinic we’re supporting: Mother Health International. Check out the video on the about page to get a sense of how amazing this organization is.
Feb
27
2012
I recently had the pleasure to drive up to Rivendell, a beautiful organic lavender farm on the road to Ojai, and stocked up on a variety of exquisite essential oils.There, Sandi Messori grows, harvests and distills several different kinds of lavender and other aromatic herbs with sensitivity and care. I have happily used her oils before, and I intend to continually have them in stock for your massages.
I listed below the varieties I have available at the moment, along with Sandi’s description of their properties. The healing powers of essential oils have been known for centuries. You can book an appointment and smell for yourself!
Lavender Lavandula angustifolia ‘ Rivendell Estate Blend’ -10 different varieties of organically grown Lavandula angustifolia distilled together: High sweet powdery notes, good for perfumery, emotional therapy and stress.
Lavandin - Lavandula intermedia- Used in aromatherapy for respiratory ailments, muscle pain, and circulatory distress and as an anti-viral.
Lavender/ Immortelle -The idea for this oil came from a suggestion by John Steele to do a co-distillation of Helichrysum italicum and Lavender. It is the last picking of her beautiful blue Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ which distills surprisingly well. She then added some of her first pick of the golden blooming Helichrysum italicum. This oil has a complex scent, a lovely sexy lavender with an underground warm toasty honey after-note from the Heli. It is described as a molecularly melded magical oil with a synergy of the healing properties of Helichrysum and the soothing properties of Lavender.
Cedar, Incense : Calocedrus decurrens: Organically grown, sensitively distilled at Rivendell, According to Debbie Freund of Scents and Scentsibility, this is the oil you would want to have around in a “Pandemic” The presence of Limonene and Pinene in this oil makes it anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. It can be used diluted down in massage blends for detoxifying, a drop in the bath for cellulite, lymphotonic. Inhale for respiratory, one drop in glass of water to gargle for sore throat.
If you’d like to learn more or perhaps order some of Sandi’s fine products click here: Rivendell Aromatics
Feb
16
2012
“The Five Elements are not elements so much as activities” John Blofeld
More commonly referred to as Five Element Theory, using the word phase instead of element more accurately reflects the dynamic nature of the relationship between the elements and how they relate to the seasons and our organ systems.
The Daoists observed that five basic energy transformations flow from the yin and the yang interactions: Wood represents energy that is a developing and generating. Fire represents energy that is expanding and radiating. Earth represents energy that is stabilizing and centering. Metal represents energy that is solidifying and contracting. Water represent energy that is conserving, gathering, sinking.
The same dynamic characteristics can easily be observed in the seasonal changes. In some climates thoses changes are more sublte, but they can be perceived even here in Santa Barbara, California. In Daoist tradition, there are five seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Indian Summer, and Autumn.
Each organ is energetically connected to an element according to their own types of activities or functions. In some cases the connection is obvious: Just as fire is expanding and radiating, the heart propulses fresh blood (our main source of energy) throughout our entire body. With practice, one can begin to feel these energies internally.
Winter is associated with Water, and the Kidney/Urinary Bladder organ group.
Spring is associated with Wood, and the Liver/Gallbladder organ group.
Summer is associated with Fire, and the Heart/Small Intestine organ group.
Indian Summer is associated with Earth, and the Spleen/Stomach organ group.
Winter is associated with Metal, and the Lung/Large Intestine organ group.
Again, it helps to think of these associations in energetic/dynamic terms. The liver is not similar to a piece of wood, but the functions of the liver are similar to the functions of wood that is growing and alive. Additionally, it is in the relationship between the different phases, seasons, and organs that one can begin to understand how these concepts can help us heal.
This website offers a great chart of the five phases and has excellent general information on TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
Feb
7
2012
Jan
16
2012
I adapted this recipe from a hazelnut cake, and I’ve tested it numerous times, with very happy results. You’ll satisfy vegans and non-vegans alike!
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups almond meal
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 cup + 1 tbsp vegetable oil (canola or grapeseed)
1 cup + 1 tbsp maple syrup
1 cup raisins
zest from 3 oranges
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce (+ extra as needed for texture)
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (+ extra as needed for texture)
Topping
3 tbsp shredded coconut
zest from 1 lemon (or 1 orange)
2-3 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
3-4 tbsp honey
Toast oats in oven for 5 mins at 350 degrees (or till you smell that nice toasted oat smell). Let cool for about ten minutes, then grind to a coarse flour. Mix with almond meal, whole wheat flour and salt.
Whisk oil and maple syrup thoroughly in large bowl (it will emulsify) and gradully add dry mixture to it.
Add raisins and orange zest, continually mixing. Add apple sauce and almond milk till you get a nice fluffy cake mixture.
Pour cake batter into an oiled and parchment lined 12′ baking dish (pyrex recommended). You’ll want approx. 1/2 inch thickness.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.
Topping:
Whisk all ingredients together. Remove cake when done. Brush topping over surface and return to oven for 5 minutes. (this is an unusual way to go about it, but it works!)
Cut into squares before serving.
Jan
9
2012
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Aimee combines Deep Tissue techniques with the use of hot stones to help loosen tight muscles in specific areas. The heat of the stones helps increase blood flow and reduce inflammation.
First she rubs the tight area with the heated stones to warm and relax the muscles, then she applies Deep Tissue techniques to further release knots and restricted areas. The combined effect literally melts away your tension! |
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One Hour: $105
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Jan
4
2012
According to Roger Jahnke, one of my main teachers, Qigong can be translated as the “cultivation of vital energy”. Qigong originated in China over 3000 years ago, and is still practiced in modern day China. The hundreds of different forms that have evolved in the country are based on ancient Daoist ideas, which are also the basis for Tai Chi and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The idea is to increase our vitality through movements that support the optimal flow of energy in our bodies. According to Daoism, energy flows through our bodies in channels known as meridians. Stress, over-exertion and unbalanced nutrition can lead to stagnation or excess energy in those meridians. Qigong aims to restore balance in our energetic system, through gentle movements, breath awareness, and focus of mind.
The practice I’ve been sharing with some of you these last few months has movements that specifically target our various vital organs (lung, heart, kidney, etc.) and includes visualizations that help increase the potency of the mind-body connection, inviting us to be more atuned to the many amazing functions of our bodies.
A Qigong practice can also explore the energetic aspect of our emotions and our spiritual lives. In traditional Daoism, there is a profound and inherent connection between our emotional, spiritual, physical and energetic beings.
Dec
14
2011
Holiday Gift Certificate Special
Buy Two Get One Free!
You know how good one feels after a massage! Share this experience with your loved ones who could use a little relaxation and relief.
$180 for Three One-hour Massages
(reg. $270)
$240 for Three Ninety-minute Massages
(reg. $360)
You can purchase your Gift Certificates here, and we will mail them to you!
Our cards are made with elegant card-stock and beautiful Japanese Chyogami paper. They have space for personal messages and come with a crisp white envelope.
Nov
9
2011
| Aimee completed her basic Barefoot training at Santa Barbara Bodyworks earlier this fall, and I’ve been training her in the finer points of this amazing work. We’ve had wonderful experiences sharing this work with some of you. Our last session was particularly special as our practice body was none other than John Harris, the man who developed this technique and from whom I learned so much of what I know. He was very happy with Aimee’s proficiency and technique!
To complete Aimee’s training, we’ll be offering Clinics on Friday mornings, from now until December 16. She will be performing the treatments, while I will be on hand to offer guidance and support (you might end up with the two of us working on you, as we did yesterday with John!) This is a rare opportunity to receive this work at a very affordable rate- $40/hour. Advance booking is recommended! Click here to book an appointment. |