Business Relocating February 1st

 

McShane Massage is Relocating 

This weekend truly starts the process of relocating. I will be moving out of Insparation Salon January 30-31 and into Optimistic Living Counseling Center of Albertville. 

This is an opportunity to truly take everything I've learned over 20 years and multiple different locations, and create something wonderful. I think all of the other places were ok. BUT they were created by other people. While having my own wellness center back in 2007, Orion, gave me this opportunity, I was so overwhelmed with attempting to fill the place with alternative health care workers and supporting their needs that my own came last with a great price that took far to long to recover from.  

I am truly starting with a clean slate. I am painting walls this weekend. I have spent the last week or so purchasing furniture and office items. So much fun😁 and so much to pick from! 

I'll share here that I took a huge leap of faith. I was guided to not rent one but two rooms. So I rented two rooms right next to each other. There will be a Massage Room and a Healing Room. Each will vary a bit because the work in these rooms are different. You will find this information on your appointment reminder directing you to which room you are in for your session. You will be able to go directly to your room without having to wait in the lounge area. In each room, there will be water and snacks for you. Perhaps my favorite part is that we will finally be able to sit comfortably and talk and share before and after a session. YAY!

 My focus have been privacy, quiet, and comfort. ✔

I'm excited and scared all at the same time. 

Wishing you the very best. ☕

Nancy McShane

McShane Massage

Last Day at InspaRation Salon

 

The Last Day at InspaRation Salon

Well here we are Friday January 29th. My last day of work and move out date.  It's been a crazy busy and emotional week. I have been at this salon for just shy of 7 years and I have loved every day of it and it's team.

Earlier this week the owner announced that my space had been filled. I was shocked and saddened at the same time. I was flooded with self doubt. Maybe I just didn't make a good enough of an effort to deal with the one HUGE problem about the whole room. 

The Massage Room Window

The window is a furnace about 2pm every day. The lack of ventilation is the other problem. The noise coming from the pizza place, facial room and parking lot all added to the relaxing atmosphere of this room. As my mind dealt with all of these self doubts, mother nature provided the validation that I will be ok. See while it was only around 15 degrees outside, It was also sunny! So as soon as the sun came around the building and was directly on the window, the room was a nice 90 degrees. It was too hot to work in this week. Luckily I had clients in the early morning and late evening. That self doubt eventually went away after several days of extreme heat.
 
You maybe be thinking to yourself BUT Nancy I always hear this sound like air moving in a vent when I'm on the table. That's white noise from the speaker above your head not air. I've had clients think they are cold because of this white noise. It's interesting how our brains work. 

I finished up work today and packed my room. We are off and moving to our next adventure and some much deserved ventilation. LOL!! I wish the next massage therapist of that great room all the best. 

Happy Friday 

Nancy

Massage and Immunity

Massage and Immunity - How does it work?

No one can deny the restorative healing power of massage. Reducing pain, depression, anxiety and stress, along with boosting our immunity. All of which have an effect on our mental and physical well-being. Pain effects our lives and our quality of life.  Massage is known to help reduce pain by increasing blood flow, easing inflammation and reducing muscle tightness.

It’s a well-known fact that individuals who have a high level of stress are more prone to injury and illness. Reduction of stress, is another benefit of massage. Stress is known to elevate your heart rate, cause elevation of the stress hormone cortisol, which inhibits weight gain, elevate blood pressure, cause headaches, digestive problems, sleep problems, heart disease, memory and concentration issues just to name a few. These all effect our immune system and make us physically ill. You may not be able to remove all the stress in your life, but you can take stress reducing measures which are healthy choices.

Research has shown that receiving regular massage therapy helps boost our immune system and flush toxins, increasing blood flow throughout the body. Massage increases the activity of white blood cells that help our body fight diseases and may help with reduction of cortisol.

Remember to receive massage when feeling healthy, as a regular routine. Massage in combination with other complimentary and conventional treatments can help you look and feel your best. When your look and feel your best you are at the top of your game and you become more productive at home, work, sports and in your everyday life.

Massage therapy is an excellent choice as a complementary therapy to conventional health care. Be open and honest with your massage therapist, if you are under the care of a physician for a specific aliment, check with them about massage. It may be an option for you. It’s not meant to take place of nor postpone seeing your health care provider for any medical or mental issues. If you have a health condition and are unsure if massage would be right for you, please discuss any concerns with your health care provider. 

Here are a few tips for reducing stress and boosting your immune system.

• Get a regular massage which will help lower your stress level and increase your immune system.
• Accept that there are events that you cannot control.
• Try to keep a positive attitude or at least work on it.
• Try to halt stress in its tracks, yes it’s hard when you can’t control it
• Manage your time. Give yourself time to get things done; don’t overwhelm yourself, you know your limits.
• Do things you enjoy, like cooking, reading or gardening.
• Take 15 to 20 minutes every day to sit quietly and reflect. Learn and practice relaxation techniques like yoga or deep breathing.
• Exercise regularly.
• Avoid alcohol, recreational drugs and don't smoke
• Eat healthy, well-balanced meals
• Get enough rest and sleep, your body needs to recover and repair itself
• Seek out social support
• See your health care provider as needed, especially if things feel beyond your control.

May you be blessed with harmony in your heart, peace of mind, and an abundance of joy and love to surround you always.

I look forward to seeing you

Nancy McShane

 

My 3 Favorite Tennis Ball Stretches

Struggling with sore muscles? Foam rollers help, but have you tried a tennis ball? Yup, there are a ton of self-massage exercises you can do for myofascial release with nothing more than a good ol’ fashioned neon yellow ball.

These exercises will help you stimulate blood flow and buff waste away from tight muscles, which loosens you up and and leaves you feeling relaxed. Just don’t expect the process to be painless. When you dig into your muscles with a tennis ball, you can isolate knots that you might not otherwise target. This has a “hurts so good” sensation that can get pretty intense.

To make the process easier, make sure you’re targeting soft muscle tissue — not bones or joints. If you find a spot that hurts, move slowly, allow your body to carefully roll back and forth across the adhesion to help loosen things up and understand the power of gravity: The more body weight you use, the deeper you’ll dig and the more it’ll hurt. Lift your weight slightly away from the ball during intense moments. The goal is to loosen up tight spots, not end up bruised.

1. Neck

If you’re prone to tension headaches, or if you find your neck getting tight after a long day in front of a computer, take a few minutes to ease the pain with a tennis ball. Simply lie on the ground and place a tennis ball behind your neck, just to the right of your spine and under your skull. Sink into the tennis ball and roll your head slightly to the left and right, avoiding your bony bits. If you find a tight spot, stop and hold your position for 30 seconds before continuing. Switch sides after a minute or two.

3. Upper, mid and lower back

You can use one tennis ball or two to target the muscles that run along your spine and into your sacroiliac joint (your pelvis). By using two tennis balls, you can target both sides of your spine at once. To keep the balls in place, put them in a tube sock and tie a knot between the balls to prevent yourself from rolling the ball over your backbone. Place the knot along your spine, so the two tennis balls are on either side. Use gravity to target tight areas, rolling very slowly to loosen things up.

5. Hips

I see alot of people that have been sitting many hours working and now have troubles with their hips, particularly of the hip flexors (the iliopsoas) and the muscles responsible for external rotation and abduction, including the deep muscles of the glutes. As always, make sure you don’t roll the tennis ball directly on any bones — rather, aim for the soft muscle tissue at the front and around the sides of your hips. This is one of my personal favorites.

 Enjoy the stretches

Nancy

mcshane.massagetherapy.com 

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How Massage Can Get your Body Ready for Winter Sports

How Massage Can Get your Body 

Ready for Winter Sports

If you enjoy winter sports and you’re chomping at the bit for the snow to get here.  Ask yourself: Is your body ready? Winter sports can take a toll and cause soreness — especially at the start of the season. Starting your season early with regular massage will help you feel better and allow your body to perform better when the snow begins to fly. 

Tackle Soreness Now

It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or an expert after the backcountry adventure, as an athlete you are always trying to get better. Starting massage therapy before the season can help you perform better in your winter sports activities. Whether you’re a skier, snowboarder, Nordic skier or you enjoy snowshoeing; getting a regular massage now will help increase your range of motion. This will help you move better through the snow. Massage can also help you with your balance, which is imperative for winter activity.

Any sport has the risk of injury and can create soreness in your body at some point. For some reason, winter fun just comes with more pain than other seasons. The stiff boots, the cold weather, the movements that aren’t replicated in any other activity all play a part in your body’s soreness. If you’re cross-country skiing or snowshoeing you’re using your entire body to move. If you’re snowmobiling, your body is taking a good beating for nearly the whole ride. Getting your muscles loose and your body active with a sports massage before the season will help you heal faster after your day in the snow. You won’t feel the stiffness or have the aches and pains that you normally would experience. 

See you soon

Nancy McShane

McShane Massage

5 Ways to Bring Happiness To Your Life

Often, the only thing standing between you and a better, healthier life is simply YOU.

Happiness comes to those who choose to be happy, but many people wait needlessly for permission to be happy. Permission is nothing more than someone else's approval--but as simple as it is, it keeps them from succeeding and being happy.

1. Permission for acceptance. Acceptance doesn't mean you have to give something else up, just that you a give yourself permission to be happy and to accept what is happening for you right now this moment. Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony.

2. Permission to be imperfect. Let's be honest--perfect isn't real. if you want to be happy, embrace your imperfections. Don't let perfectionism steal your happiness.

3. Permission to keep the blues in their place.  Don't allow the blues to create your experiences; know that they are part of you, but not the full sum of who you are. Think positive thoughts and positive things will happen. Do things that make you happy and be with people who make you smile.

4. Permission to choose. Sometimes we get so caught up in pleasing others that we forget ourselves. The element of choosing for ourselves is a major source of happiness. Think of what you want and then make the right choices for you. Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response.

5. Permission to try new things. If you are stuck in the same old routine and you're looking for a way to shift, it starts with giving yourself permission to try something new. We are all so scared of doing anything we are not familiar with, and the last thing we want is to do something we might fail at. And it's true, you may not excel--at first, anyway--but if you don't try you're cutting yourself off from things that can make you happy.

I can't wait to hear how these simple changes brought you happiness. 

Nancy 

mcshane.massagetherapy.com
BOOK NOW

https://www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/7-powerful-ways-how-to-give-yourself-permission-to-be-happy.html
https://www.drnorthrup.com/give-yourself-permission-slip-relax/

Make a Shift Into Happiness

 

 How to Shift Your Energy Into Happiness

What is happiness? You might think you know the answer to this, but let me give you my perspective on happiness. You might think that happiness is a good state of mind, but happiness has nothing to do with your mind. In fact, in order to achieve happiness, your mind does not need to be involved at all. Did I just say that? Yes I did, and it’s true.

We feel better, more balanced and happier when we feel supported by ourselves. You might be thinking that you could then say to yourself, “I am here to support you” or “I want you to be happy,” but that’s not going to work to make you feel happy, now is it? No, of course not. When we feel most supported by ourselves, it’s not what we say to ourselves that makes us feel happy and supported, it’s how you direct, use and hold your energy.

How do you use your energy to create happiness? 

Well, it’s easier than you might think. You have many systems in your body, and the least talked about, but most powerful system is your energy system. Albert Einstein, with his famous formula E=mc² has proven that we are in fact, energy. Even Matter is energy. Okay, this is not a science class, but a good way to understand how important your energy system really is. Without your energy system, you and I would not be here in this form.

So, how does our energy system work to help us create happiness, and make us feel supported? Your energy system is designed to work in a specific way, but how we have been conditioned to think has stopped us from using our energy system correctly. With our incorrect use of our energy system, most of us feel stressed, tired, out of sorts, anxious, worried, depressed, as well as disconnected. Need I say more?

One of the biggest ways we disconnect from ourselves and feel unsupported, is simply by thinking too much. Yes, overthinking is the culprit for much of our problems including stress, lack of sleep, anxiety as well as our physical ailments. Now, what you can do about this is as simple as getting out of your head and moving into your body. This means that you can STOP the over thinking, and go more into bliss in a matter of minutes or even in just a few seconds.

 

5 Reasons To Get a Massage while Exercising

1. It enhances your post-workout recovery

A good, therapeutic massage helps loosen up your muscles after an intense workout, which in turn allows you to recover from the impact better and faster than you normally would. You spend your time tightening and toning your muscles doing weight work and they start to feel like they’re going to snap, they just get so tight. Massage helps restore some pliability.

2. It soothes the pain of sore muscles

Those muscles can really ache after you put them through the ringer at the gym or while pounding the pavement during a run. But, massaging and stretching them can help work out the knots, flush out the toxins that contribute to the “ouch” factor and get the blood flowing again so they don’t hurt so much. 

3. It makes your muscles work better

Regular exercise not only puts a strain on your muscles, ligaments and tendons, but it also messes with those connective fibers under the skin known as your fascia — which help the muscles work smoothly and efficiently when they’re in good shape.

The fascia can get really gunked up with repeated exercise, and that makes it harder for muscles to slide past each other easily. Massage helps by loosening up those fibers so the muscles are doing what they’re supposed to with much less effort. And then, bingo! Your workouts get a nice boost.

4. It can increase flexibility

Massage can help loosen up the muscles and restore some flexibility. Unless you continually stretch to keep your muscles lubricated, you will get stiffer with age. But a massage, especially one that includes some stretching exercises, can reverse at least some of that process and give you back a bit of the incredible flexibility you had as a kid.

5. It helps you feel better, mentally

If you’re just beating yourself up with high-intensity classes or weight training, that’s not going to be completely beneficial. Massage can give you a nice balance with the happy endorphins from working out. It’s a cortisol reducer as well — a stress reliever.

Instead of saying, ‘I’m going to get the best body, damn it,’ and push push pushing yourself, remember to give yourself care. Massage can be a nice part of that. You need both the exercise and the maintenance. That’s part of a well-rounded fitness regimen.

 

A Look Back & Forward

 

Hello Saturday - Let's Dish.

Although 2020 has been the craziest year of in my life time, a lot of good has come out of it. Here's a catch up post on what's happening in the massage room. 

Since our quarentine back in March, I have incorporated a daily routine of researching & studying massage and healing materials and scheduling all of the social media on many different outlets. I didn't know where it would take me but I felt guided to do a little everyday and was told it was like a garden and would grow over time. Well - it sure has. I have fine tuned so many parts of my business and have reached more people then I have in the last 20 years. 

Massage is finally just massage. 

It was wonderful and scary all at the same time to come back in June and have split the energywork that I do from the massage services. This has aloud me the opportunity to focus even more on the physical problems at hand. When I split those services, I had no clue where the universe was taking me with it but now I have a clear vision. Over time - Spiritual Healing services has bloomed from all of this work. It has grown in need and as a favorite that it is it's own service. I did not see this coming BUT I am so humbled by it and so excited for all the things this service will bring to my practice. 

Spiritual Healing - Not your Add-on anymore.

Spiritual Healing as I said is it's own service. Due to this change it is also a whole different process. There is an intake process, an assessment, procedure, and counseling. I have taken all of my schooling including psychology schooling and applied it to this service. The service is 60 - 90 minutes. It is not your add-on service of: here's your colors and chakra functioning. It is: here's where there are energy issues that a need to be addressed and here are some key mental and emotional things I see in your energy that will need to be addressed to avoid physical health issues in simple summary.

The future of McShane Massage 

So here's my BIG NEWS Due to the following issues with my office: 

1. Ongoing environmental issues with my office - in the summer it's WAY TO HOT and now it is WAY TOO COLD. There is no ventilation in my office and the walls are like tissue paper. 

2. Noise from Facial room

3. Clients receiving Healing & massage sessions need more privacy and less noise

I am looking at moving my office to a local counseling center that would eliminate these issues. I am in the middle of negotiations at this moment but I am obviously very excited and hopeful. This means so much to me because it falls in line with my beliefs in that massage is not just massage - it's not just a spa session - it's a whole life session. There is so much more to it and now that the healing services have taken off the timing could not be better. 

I love Insparation Salon with all my heart. I've been there for 6 years. All of the woman there are amazing at their craft. This place has aloud myself to find myself, to get myself back on my feet after my wellness center failed. The woman here embraced my services and my business. I cannot thank them enough. And due to all of this I am so proud to say I am ready to move on and get back on track doing what I love -  Healing as many as I can - within my abilities. 

With that I wish you a blessed Saturday. 

Nancy McShane

McShane Massage.