5/14/2015 0 Comments Physician, Heal Thyself
I don’t know where I first heard the phrase “Physician, heal thyself” but a quick internet search tells me that it originated in the Christian bible. I’m not a fan of organized religion in general but that line has stuck with me for years. How could I possibly heal anyone if I couldn’t first take care of myself? My abhorrence for hypocrisy forced me to do something. My self-imposed lifestyle overhaul began. Diet seemed like the easiest place to start. My idea of a diet isn’t a strict set of limitations on food. My little sister took ballet for years and she tried diet after diet to force her body into the lithe frame required for professional dancers. They all worked for a little while, but then she would hit a plateau. Her frustration and anger, mostly directed at herself, remained constant and tangible for years. I kept my mouth shut while she tortured herself, guilty of having the body type she desperately wanted. (Our perspectives may vary on these events but I think we’ll both agree that I have half of her class and none of her grace.) I didn’t want to add any emotional turmoil or set myself up for failure. For my diet, I simply paid more attention to what I put in my body. Junk food, ice cream and soda gave way to vegetables and home cooked meals. Cooking has been an integral part of my family’s gatherings; it seems we are born with a love of food and at least basic cooking concepts. It turns out that I love to cook and most of the time, I’m pretty good at it. (Don’t ask my best friend, who is an actual chef, to validate that statement.) Sixty pounds melted away with minimal effort. My flat stomach and skinny thighs are lost in the past but my body no longer feels like foreign territory. Success, even a small one, is encouraging. It helped me stay motivated and keep moving forward. Next step: Exercise.
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by Pallas Hutchison Last April, I joined a BNI group and found that the 60 second elevator speech is mildly terrifying. I don’t want to say the same thing week after week but what to talk about? It’s hard to do more than introduce massage in 60 seconds so how do I describe my business, massage, which I view as a complex and widely varied topic… My solution: Research common massage myths and debunk them one at a time. Not only do I have something to talk about for several weeks but I also can turn each myth into it’s own blog to fully explore and correct misconceptions about my field of work. To me, the statement “All massages are the same” is obviously ridiculous. To someone not as familiar with massage and bodywork, let me give you a few examples. A hammer and a saw are both tools, therefore they must be interchangeable. While cutting down a tree with a hammer may work eventually, it certainly is not the most efficient approach to the problem. A podiatrist is a doctor; so is an ophthalmologist…. Therefore it wouldn’t matter who is testing your vision. The many years of school required by all doctors makes them familiar with every part of the body. However, their specialization varies and determines what services they provide to their patients. The same can be said of massage practitioners. Bodywork includes massage therapy but not all bodywork is considered massage. An analogy for this would be a boot is a type of shoe but not all shoes are boots. (I will explore the vast catalog of bodywork in a future post.) Massage is a general term for a wide array of therapeutic touch modalities. Styles and techniques have developed independently on every continent over thousands of years. Dozens of different applications are taught by countless schools around the globe. Each student gravitates towards a different specialization, accumulating a unique combination of skills. Now take into account the individual’s value system and life experiences. The result is not a cookie-cutter massage script that every therapist follows to the letter for every client every day. The following are two fictional bodyworkers to help further illustrate the misconception:
Speaking from experience, I have not given the same massage twice, even to the same client. Each time someone comes in my door, they have a different body than the previous visit. By listening to each client, I get a different area to focus on. They’ve taken a long car trip (focus on low back, glutes and driving leg) or they’ve babysat their three grandchildren (just relax, with some focus on left shoulder from holding the baby). They’ve run in a 5k (all leg work please) or they’ve spent too many hours in front of their computer for work (shoulders hunched forward, pecs shortened, neck and eyes strained). I can keep creating scenarios and explaining what I would expect to see but I think my point has been made. 4/16/2015 1 Comment The Benefits of a Spaby Pallas Hutchison
Many people view massage and other spa treatments as luxury services. Without a doubt, it feels luxurious with a good therapist. However, the body treatments offered in many spas do more than just feel good. A good spa immediately lowers stress levels - which also lowers blood pressure - by simply providing a soothing atmosphere to remove clients from an often hectic lifestyle. Frequently, clients receive herbal teas or water infusions while waiting for their treatments to begin. Candles and incense further soothe or stimulate, depending on the scents chosen. Relaxing and healing services offered vary and include combinations of massage, body scrubs and wraps, reflexology, aromatherapy, and energy work. Massage reduces stress, pain, anxiety, and depression using various techniques including effleurage, petrissage, and friction. Deep tissue and sports massage techniques can correct chronic conditions and postural issues over time. Stretches used in Thai massage - similar to many yoga poses - keep muscles flexible, restoring range-of-motion after injuries and helping prevent future ones. Body scrubs, usually salt or sugar based, remove dead skin cells and improve circulation as well as detoxify the body. Mud, clay, and algae wraps hydrate and soften the skin, drawing out toxins while putting the client in a deeply relaxed state. The products used during these body treatments may also be infused with essential oils to further enhance their therapeutic value. Reflexology uses specific points on the hands, feet, and sometimes ears that correspond with areas of the body. By stimulating these points, good health is promoted throughout the body's systems. Some spas also offer holistic energy healing such as Reiki, a restorative practice originating in Japan. Reiki practitioners tap into an inexhaustible universal energy source, directing it through themselves into their clients to enhance the natural healing process. The energy is drawn to the injured areas and leaves the client balanced and energized. Unlike other spa treatments, clients remain fully clothed and may not even come in contact with the practitioner. First-time spa clients speak with an experienced therapist or aesthetician for help in learning what treatments are right for them. By taking advantage of spa services on a regular basis, clients become healthier in body, mind, and spirit. 2/26/2015 0 Comments Flashback to 2013Feb 3th: Online Special Oasis Massage is teaming up with Groupon to offer an amazing deal just in time for Valentine's Day. Call 508-280-4242 for details or to schedule. May 14th: Continuing Education Pallas has completed her classes at Cape Cod Community College for the spring semester and is looking forward to taking the summer off! Pathology for Massage Therapists and English Composition 2 have been checked of her course list. June 29th: Cape Cod Getaway A bike race to benefit the National MS Society. For the fourth year, Pallas will be at the Mass Maritime Academy, along with a few other massage therapists, working with Team Velox Rota. Visit link for more information or to donate. http://bikemam.nationalmssociety.org Sept 2nd: Continuing Education Pallas has begun another semester at Cape Cod Community College. Two more courses towards her Bachelor's degree. She has officially been inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the National Honors Society! Oct 11th: Update for Clients I opened Oasis Massage in 2005. As a new massage graduate, I set my prices on the low end of the industry average for Cape Cod at that time. The past eight years have brought tremendous success. As Oasis Massage continues to work towards expansion, we will adjust our rates for the first time to accommodate the increases in overhead as well as to reflect the experience and expertise acquired over the years in business. The first price increase will go into effect on November 1st. All rates will be re-evaluated quarterly and adjusted as needed. All active clients may "lock in" our current rate through package purchases or by signing up for our monthly massage program. Our spa services have been restructured and are now only available as add-ons to any massage service. The posted rates reflect this change, which is effective immediately. We thank you for your patience and understanding during this transitional period. Below is a chart that illustrates the price change and how we compare to other businesses. Please don't hesitate to call with any questions. Sincerely, Pallas Hutchison (Owner/LMT) *Average based on advertized rates of seventeen comparable businesses within a 25 mile radius. **Unlike other massage practices, Oasis Massage offers most styles of massage at the same rate. The lower rate represents Swedish/Relaxation massage; the higher rate represents Deep Tissue massage. November13th: Online Scheduling & Gift Certificate Purchases With the help of the Spa Booker team, we have learned the basics of the software needed to add online scheduling and online gift certificate purchases. Nov 30th-Dec 15th, 2013 We're running our first special through our new software. Use promo code "KICKOFF2013" to save 25% on gift certificates for the holidays. Dec 30th: Continuing Education Grades are in for the fall semester. Pallas passed Marketing, General Psychology and Piano with a 3.98 GPA. She is enjoying a few weeks break before the spring semester when math and chemistry classes start. 2/19/2015 0 Comments Flashback to 2012Feb 7th-12th: Online Special
Oasis Massage is teaming up with Limelight to offer an amazing deal just in time for Valentine's Day. Buy your sweetheart a 1-hour specialty massage, get one for yourself free! Limited availability for couples' sessions. Call 508-280-4242 for details or to schedule. April 2012: Our first interview/write-up! Copied and pasted from Zeel.com "Pallas Hutchison, a licensed massage therapist based in West Harwich, Mass., is committed to sharing her expertise in both relaxation and therapeutic bodywork techniques, such as Thai massage and hot stone therapy. Pallas says that becoming a mother opened her eyes to her unhealthy lifestyle and unfulfilling career. “I knew I had to make some changes,” she says. 10 years later, Pallas is now a licensed massage therapist with her own practice, Oasis Massage, located in Cape Cod. “I want to empower other people to make the changes within their lives that will lead them to their own happiness and success,” she explains. Oasis Massage offers both relaxation and therapeutic massage, as well as spa services such as facials, scrubs and wraps. Pallas says her clientele varies as much as her services, and includes athletes, chronic pain sufferers, post-operative recoveries, and individuals who simply want to relax. Regardless of their unique conditions, Pallas believes that many of her clients underrate the power of self-care. “It's amazing how many clients come in with chronic pain but are unable to identify the cause,” she says. That’s where Pallas comes in. “Through the intake process, I try to help them identify potential triggers. Sometimes the answer is as simple as rearranging their computer set-up or replacing their 15-year-old mattress.” Pallas is proud of the high level of competence she maintains at Oasis. “We have the tools to meet our clients’ needs. We consistently enroll in continuing education courses. We update our services frequently,” she says. “Our clients appreciate it.” " May 2012: We've Hired a New Massage Therapist! Oasis Massage is pleased to announce the addition of a new massage therapist: Danielle Gincauskis. We will now be offering extended hours on Wednesdays and Fridays! Danielle's journey into the alternative healing will be integrated into this timeline. A bio and photo will be posted soon. June 26th: Cape Cod Getaway A bike race to benefit the National MS Society. For the fourth year, Pallas will be at the Mass Maritime Academy, along with a few other massage therapists, working with Team Velox Rota. Visit link for more information or to donate. http://bikemam.nationalmssociety.org Aug 1st: Our Last Newsletter Our newsletter has been discontinued due to no ROI. Articles will continue to be shared via Facebook and directly with client's that request specific information. Sept 3rd: Continuing Education Pallas is officially a college student again. For her first semester, she is taking Kinesiology, Intro to Complementary Healing, and Business Ethics for Massage Therapists at Cape Cod Community College. Final goal: Bachelor's Degree in Complementary & Alternative Health from Ashford University. Sept 12-17th: Online Special Limelight is offering 50% off a 1 Hour Massage. Purchased deals expire March 16, 2013. Call ahead to reserve your time. Nov 7th: Business After Hours Co-hosted with Greg Wright Chiropractics, this networking event is free for Harwich Chamber of Commerce members. Limited space so register now. To RSVP or for more information, contact Chris Perry at chris@harwichcc.com or 508-430-1165. There will be no evening appointments on this date. (Turn-out wasn't great due to a mini-hurricane that night but we tried.) December 22nd-30th: Closed for Vacation No appointments available during this time. Gift certificates will be available for the holiday season until (TBA). |
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Pricing current as of January 1, 2024 ; subject to change without notice.
Pricing current as of January 1, 2024 ; subject to change without notice.