Restorative Bodywork December 2005 Newsletter
restorati...@gmail.com
Restorative Bodywork Newsletter
http://www.restorativebodywork.com
Please forward this to anyone you know who deserves to feel better!
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In this issue:
Make More Time for Less Stress
Holiday Anti-Stress Quickie
Gift Certificates/Relaxation to Go
Office Miscellany
Project Linus Project
Free Massage!!!!!
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Make More Time for Less Stress-
So the Restorative Bodywork newsletter took an inadvertent hiatus
August through October - I feel as a stress reduction professional the
best teaching I can provide for my clients is to take my own advice and
not stress myself out trying to get stuff done when it's time for
rest:) Here's what I've been trying to incorporate in my life over
the last few months:
Time management plays a huge role in stress reduction.
Let's experiment with that idea - take a moment and close your eyes.
Breathe deeply into your abdomen for a few minutes...let everything
drift away - you can take a few moments out of your day and breathe.
Now check your shoulders and neck - how do they feel?
Now think about what you need to get done in the next few days. The
big things, the little things, everything - how are your shoulders now?
Your life and the things you feel you need to get done don't need to
be a burden on your body, mind and soul. It may take you a few weeks
to build some new habits but the benefits you will reap are more than
worth the effort. This information on the negative effects of stress on
your health is from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
"Research is starting to show the serious effects of stress on our
bodies. Stress triggers changes in our bodies and makes us more likely
to get sick. It can also make problems we already have worse. It can
play a part in these problems:
· trouble sleeping
· headaches
· constipation
· diarrhea
· lack of energy
· lack of concentration
· higher risk of asthma and arthritis flare-ups
· tension
· stomach cramping
· stomach bloating
· skin problems, like hives
· depression
· anxiety
· heart problems
· high blood pressure
· irritable bowel syndrome
· diabetes
· neck and/or back pain"
Or, to paraphrase - STRESS DOES REALLY BAD THINGS TO OUR BODIES - and
we need to take action to not let this happen.
Here's what you can do - take a these few simple steps to develop a
time/stress management plan - What often gets missed though when
building a time management plan or schedule is time for rest and
recovery - to reduce day to day stress, we need to schedule what we
don't do as much as what we do.
Prioritize- What do you live for? After you take care of your basic
needs for love, food and shelter, what lifts you up? Take a look at
how you spend your time - can you lose a few things you "should" be
doing? Does watching that rerun of "Friends" really make you
happy? Let go of some of the things in your life that suck your time
without giving you anything in return. Yes, you are worth it.
Schedule- Write it down. Book time in your calendar for your
priorities. Don't let little time sucks get in the way of what's
important. If you don't schedule it, it's too easy to tell
yourself, "I'll just answer this email and then I'll do X." If
you are going to write an outline for your next novel tomorrow
afternoon from 2-4, then turn off your phone at 1:55 and give yourself
that time. It'll be ok - you'll find out it's more than ok.
You'll also discover if you schedule the '"grown-up" tasks like
cleaning and laundry you'll be able to accomplish much more in less
time. Scheduling also helps you focus - having a list and sticking to
it keeps you on track, so you are not distracted
Prepare- After you build your next day's schedule, what would make it
easy to accomplish? If you have "take stuff to the dry cleaners
before work" on your list, put your clothes by the door the night
before so you can just grab them on the way out in the morning.
Simplify- Do one thing at a time - yes, that's not a very
"90's" idea, I know. And when we successfully multitask we do
get sort of an adrenaline rush "high" - but it doesn't last and
falling sort of our goals just keeps our stress switch on. Focusing on
one thing lets us complete that task more quickly and efficiently.
Rest- As much as we need to schedule what we do, we need to also
schedule what we don't do. What does your body need to thrive during
your work and enjoy your play time? 8 hours of sleep each night? A
massage once every 2-3 weeks? A balanced diet? 2 liters of water a
day? Take care of yourself so you can take care of the priorities in
your life.
Trust- Know that the world will keep spinning if something doesn't
get done. Sometimes if I'm not completing a "should do" I ask
myself if I'm going to care about it when I'm 80. The answer is
usually no.
Let me know if you received any benefit from this article - I'm also
always looking for topic suggestions for future newsletters - email me
at con...@restorativebodywork.com with any ideas or feedback -thanks
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Holiday Anti-Stress Quickie:
If you are at your desk or sitting in a chair, pick up your feet and
circle your ankles in opposite directions 10 times, breathe deeply.
(Standing in a store, circle your wrists.) See how you feel.
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Gift Certificates/Relaxation to Go
Is there someone special in your life who deserves to feel their best?
Think how happy and delighted you can make your special someone with a
gift of Restorative Bodywork - gift certificates available for :60 &
:90 minute sessions!
This year you can add extra Restoration, Rejuvenation and Relaxation to
your gift! A lovely gift bag of fresh, handcrafted 4 oz. lotion, 4 oz.
bath salts and an aromatherapeutic eye pillow makes your gift extra
special! The R&R&R set is a $24 value - you can add it to your gift
certificate purchase for just $20! Check out the set at:
http://www.restorativebodywork.com/massage-products.php
:60 session gift certificate & R&R&R gfit bag = $105
:90 session gift certificate & R&R&R gfit bag = $145
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Office Miscellany
Well the big news is the Cambridge location has changed to:
675 Massachusetts Ave., 10th floor
that's still in Central Square in the Healthy Women Physical Therapy
practice, fyi.
Office hours are:
Boston
Mondays 8-4
Tuesdays 8-7
Wednesdays 8-5:30
Cambridge
Fridays 8-6:30
Saturdays 8-1
Rates will be going up $5/session in January - I don't want to turn
anyone away because of cost, so let's talk about rate accomodation if
this is a burden.
And if you need to reschedule a session, the policy is changing to 48
hours notice required.
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Project Linus Project
So as some of you know, giving back to the community has been an
important part of my business mission since I started my practice about
11-12 years ago. Over the last 2 years I have not been able to
participate in a regular volunteer project and I miss it. I've been
trying to carve some time out of my schedule, but to no avail.
Then I found Project Linus - http://www.projectlinus.org - a group
that provides handmade blankets to seriously ill or traumatized
children. So I'm making blankets. However, I do not have a car, which
makes getting the fabric a little tricky, so this winter if you can
bring me 2 yards of suitable blanket fabric (fleece or boiled wool) to
your next session, I will take $5 off that session's rate.
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Free Massage!!!!
For every 3 people you refer, who either come for a session or purchase
a gift certificate, you get a free 60 minute session as a big thank you
from me!
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Happy Holidays!
Dorea D'Agostino, LCMT
http://www.restorativebodywork.com
617.852.4513
Coming in the January Newsletter: The just how good can you feel
challenge!