Here we are, counting the days to winter solstice. Well, at least I am. Because, after that darkest day, slowly, incrementally, our days will start to brighten and become longer. We just have to endure a little darkness first. Really, the darkness is not so bad. It provides us with a natural place to rest and reflect, … Continue reading Bring out the sun
I dream of giving all of my living room furniture to Goodwill and replacing it with a few low tables, a couple of floor mats and an assortment of cushions. I want to spend more time on the floor. On the floor, I can put my legs up the wall while I read. Or, I … Continue reading More on the floor
One of the (so many) things I love most about Thai Massage is that it’s practical. You don’t need a special massage surface or sheets or oils or any fancy equipment to help someone feel better. All they need is you and all you need is them. Sometimes, you don’t even need them! You just need … Continue reading Keep it freshly squeezed
July was HOT. Have you been feeling sluggish? What about weary and swollen? As much as we can relish these beautiful, sunny summer days, heat can cause vasodilation, meaning our blood vessels expand, causing us to feel fuller, heavier and slower. With the help of gravity, legs up the wall can support healthy venous return–the rate … Continue reading Legs Up the Wall
Yoga, Thursday, 5:30 PM. When I put that on my calendar, I had every intention of going to class. So why, when mentioning my plans to my partner, do I say, “I’m probably going to yoga after work tomorrow”? Probably? I was giving myself an out. My calendar emails me reminders. The next morning, I shore … Continue reading The power of following through
My dog has spring fever. And she’s got it bad. For the past couple of weeks, our walks have consisted of loooong sniffing studies at a tree, a flower or what must be some magical shrub, followed by a full-speed burst to the next enthralling tree, flower or shrub. Sometimes, 20 minutes will only take us a few … Continue reading Small is big
From the traditional medicine perspective, whenever the season changes, our health is at greater risk. There’s a number of reasons for this—some of which I will talk more about in a future post—ranging from the way we dress to the forces that make the wind blow. Right now, the transition from Winter to Spring, is … Continue reading Cold Management and Prevention
I’m not going to pretend that at first, I wasn’t freaked out by the idea of sinus irrigation. I didn’t understand why someone would want to pour water up the nose and I envisioned it to be a difficult process requiring struggle and discomfort, like getting water up their nose when swimming, which is uncomfortable … Continue reading Jala Neti
Staring into my plate of half-eaten breakfast, I wondered if I had the strength for what came next. Last time, I sweated, whined and writhed in discomfort as my Thai Massage Therapist sank his forearms into my anterior lower leg, which rested securely in his lap. “Can I go deeper?” he asked. “A little,” I … Continue reading Massaging the person who shows up
Often, what my clients see when I give a Thai Massage are the efforts of my physical body as I move around the mat, maneuvering their own bodies into various shapes, shifting my weight forward to apply pressure or leaning back to traction a joint. “Wow!” they say, “You are basically working out all day … Continue reading The true definition of holistic health
The Iron Bird Way 