Sage spa

Inspiration for Martin Luther King Day

 

All labor that uplifts humanity, has dignity and importance.

Dr. Martin Luther King

Visit the Museum of Motherhood

Interested in activities for the kids or just a peek into what mothering is like around the world?  This museum in New York City looks very interesting.  It has:

• informal baby groups and playdates
• exhibitions (the current one is on breastfeeding)
• an affordable venue for parties

The museum's is "a certified 501c3, committed to connecting women, mothers and families through music, art, activism and education for cultural, economic & social awareness free of age, race and socio-economic barriers. MFI cares about, and acts upon the status of birthers and caregivers, while addressing important issues, creating meaningful content, and providing compelling community experiences, marrying education, “her”story, creativity, culture & community benefiting all."  Sounds like a good thing in every way. 

MORE

Understanding Pain: What to do about it in less than five minutes?

 

Warm Compresses During Labor Help Prevent Trauma

Help me pass the word to all of our moms-to-be.  New research shows the warm compresses on the pelvic floor during the second stage of labor help prevent tears.  This is really good news, and it's such a nice low-tech solution.  Midwives have been doing this for generations; but, the medical establishment is just starting to get a clue.  According to the research, warm compresses reduce the incidence of tears by 52%. Unfortunately, they don't give the details of what materials, what temperature or how often to use the compresses; but, I bet your midwife can tell you  If you want to read the scientific data look here MORE

Share Your Birth Story!

Want to share your birth story with other women?

Perhaps to inspire, maybe to teach, maybe to comfort? One of my favorite mother-friendly organizations, Choices In Childbirth , has put out a call for inspiring birth stories for the "In Her Words" section of their blog.  You can send your story to Julia@choicesinchildbirth.org with your contact information. You can also send pictures to go along with your story.

"I once had a sparrow..."

"I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance that I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn".- Henry David Thoreau

 

What Real Women Look Like

Unhappiness with our bodies is pretty common among women.  

I suspect it's the reason some women avoid coming for a massage, which is a shame because an attentive, professional massage could be just the gateway we need to open the door to healing these negative feelings.

 Though our society has come a long way, it seems that men are still judged more on their accomplishments and wealth and women on their beauty and body.  I hope this dichotomy will be gone in the not too distant future.  Meanwhile, we as women need to present ourselves with all of the positive body messages that we can.  

Recently I found a website that I really like.  It's called "My Body Gallery... What Real Women Look Like."  On this site women submit photos of themselves (heads/faces excluded).  Then you plug in height, weight, pant size and shirt size.  You also post a few words about your feelings like:

"I'll never be a size six." 

"I don't remember a time when my body wasn't big." 

"It all started before I was even a teenager."

"I've always been called too skinny by everyone I met."

After submitting your search parameters a group of pictures of people similar to your body type will come up. It's often amazing and instructional how lovely these bodies are even though the women with these body types don't like them.  It's also somehow comforting to know that others struggle with this issue. The site is just beginning and they could use more photos.  I plan on submitting one.  I'm tiny to most people but with large, athletic legs, which I've always hated even though they are such talented legs (I was a dancer).  

A final word:

Women need to bond together on this issue and celebrate our differences and our beauty as well as our accomplishments. Celebrate your life and your body; get that massage! And, If it makes you feel any better, massage therapists, work by feel, often with our eyes closed while doing a massage! 

Inspirational Quote: Martha Graham

"Some people have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can"~~Martha Graham

 

Looking for an excuse to get a massage?

Low back pain is one of the most common complaints of our Sage clients ... and the rest of America too so don't feel alone.

New research shows that massage alleviates low back pain better than traditional medicine treatments like medication or physical therapy.

 This is important because low back pain is a major cause of absenteism, disability and 'presenteeism" (you're actually at work but can't perform well because of the pain.  The massage participants in the study were required to get (lucky them) one massage a week for 10 weeks.  At the end of that time, their back pain was significantly reduced or gone entirely.  If you're looking for an excuse to get a massage, I think you've found it!

Acupressure Is Good Pressure

At Sage we have several different treatments that include shiatsu/acupressure points. These treatments are Massage for Menstrual Cramps, Massage for Headaches and Massage To Encourage Labor.  We believe in the effectiveness of point work not only because our extensive experience at the massage table shows that it works but because research studies have proven it to be so .  We are not "just winging it" although we certainly use our creative intuition when we need to in order to personalize a treatment that will be most effective just for YOU.    

If you're interested in reading the research (and I know there are some science nerds like me out there who are), here are a few studies that prove the effectiveness of shiatsu/acupressure:

Acupressure is more effective than physical
therapy for low back pain: MORE

Acupressure effective and reduces the need for pain medications in
migraine and tension headache.  MORE

Meridian Massage (shiatsu points) relieves
PMS/menstrual cramps:  MORE