December 31, 2011

MORE Gifts & Discount for the New Year!

New Year Series Special!

The start of a new year marks a time when we make resolutions, try new things & look ahead to a happier & healthier future! Mending Hands would like to support your commitment to self care & holistic health by offering $20 off the already discounted series packages bought in January! *

Mending Hands Lip Balm

Every client can take home a NEW custom designed mint Mending Hands lip balm! Just in time for the wintery months -  soothe your chapped lips with this delicious balm that contains Vitamin E, Aloe Vera & UVA / UVB protectors. Also, PABA free!

*Discount can be used if purchasing a series as a gift for someone else. If you are already using a series package, you can purchase an additional package at discounted rate to extend the number of pre-paid sessions. Not valid with Pay-as-you-go arrangements.

December 06, 2011

Holiday Closings & Gift Certificates

Mending Hands Massage Therapy will be closed from December 16th thru January 1st.  Although Mending Hands will be closed for sessions, electronic gift certificates can still be sent for your holiday gifting! 

December 04, 2011

How to Prepare Your Muscles for Cold-Weather Workouts

When it's cold outside, our muscles tighten and our aches and pains hurt even more. In this weather, we literally need to warm up before we work out. But how?

The key to a successful workout include a proper warm-up routine, a steady transition from warm up to activity, and a balanced body at all times. Click for some awesome tips!

November 27, 2011

The Stress Scale: Everyone Has A Need For Massage

The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), more commonly known as the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale, was created as a tool to helps us measure the stress load we carry, and think about what we should do about it.

In 1967, psychiatrists Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe decided to study whether or not stress contributes to illness. They surveyed more than 5,000 medical patients and asked them to say whether they had experience any of a series of 43 life events in the previous two years. Each event, called a Life Change Unit (LCU), had a different "weight" for stress. The more events the patient added up, the higher the score. The higher the score, and the larger the weight of each event, the more likely the patient was to become ill.

The Stress Scale (Click More to See the Scale!)

November 23, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

This Thanksgiving I want to let my clients, colleagues and friends know that I am thankful for YOU! Mending Hands has had an amazing year and I thank you for making it so!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Note: I will be making time for my friends and family this Thanksgiving, so Mending Hands will be closed from 11/23 - 11/27.  All e-mails sent to melissa@mendinghands.com about appointments or gift certificates will be answered when I return!

November 18, 2011

Massage Therapy Lowers Blood Pressure

Approximately one in every three Americans, or 31.3 percent, has high blood pressure, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and high blood pressure is a risk factor for stroke, congestive heart failure, heart disease and kidney disease.

In new research, massage therapy resulted in significantly lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure in comparison with a control group, according to an abstract published on www.pubmed.gov.

The investigators set out to evaluate the effect of Swedish massage to the face, neck, shoulders and chest on blood pressure of the women with prehypertension, according to the abstract.

This was a single-blind clinical trial study, the abstract noted, and added:
"Fifty pre-hypertensive women selected by simple random sampling [were] divided into control and test groups. The test group (25 patients) received Swedish massage 10-15 min., three times a week for 10 sessions and the control group (25 patients) also were relaxed ...[and received] no massage. Their [blood pressure] was measured before and after each session."

The investigators noted, "Findings of the study indicated that massage therapy was a safe, effective, applicable and cost-effective intervention in controlling [blood pressure] of the prehypertension women and it can be used in the health care centers and even at home."

"The effect of massage therapy on blood pressure of women with pre-hypertension" was published in the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research (2011 Winter;16(1):61-70.) It was conducted by investigators with the Department of Internal Surgery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, in Isfahan, Iran.

First seen HERE:

November 08, 2011

New Service: Dry Brush Advanced Care Massage!

The newest service at Mending Hands is just in time for the cold weather skin doldrums - Dry Brush Advanced Care Massage!

Using dry brush gloves - experience the benefits of detoxification, increased circulation, cellulite reduction and glowing skin. After warming and exfoliating your skin, heated therapeutic towels will be applied to relax your hard working muscles. This delightful session also lets you enjoy a relaxing swedish massage with moisturizing lavender infused oil!

November 03, 2011

Stomach Growling During a Massage is Normal. Really!

This week - I had about a dozen clients inspire my next post of Absolutely Human. Have you ever gotten a massage and it seems like your stomach decides to talk the whole time? Have you ever been half a sleep on the massage table when the rumbles and gurgles of your insides decide it's a good time to give a soliloquy? As a massage therapist, trust me when I say - this happens all the time. Really.

Some clients laugh.
Some are inclined to apologize.

I always say, it's just some borborygmi. It's a good thing!

Borborygmi: (pronounced /ˌbɔrbəˈrɪɡməs/; from Greek βορβορυγμός) also known as stomach growling, rumbling, gurgling, grumbling or wambling, is the rumbling sound produced by the contraction of muscles in the stomach and intestines of humans. The word borborygmus refers to this rumbling.

The "rumble" or "growl" sometimes heard from the stomach is a normal part of digestion. It originates in the stomach or upper part of the small intestine as muscles contract to move food and digestive juices down the gastrointestinal tract and functions as a sort of intestinal "housecleaning".

Massage has a way of helping things move along and getting your systems working in a better and more effective way. Why should your digestive system be left out?

There are very few professions where the mumbles and growls of your intestines are a COMPLIMENT! So don't feel self - conscious! Next time you are taking care of your whole self by getting a massage, let your borborygmi do what borborygmi does!

October 30, 2011

Limited Time Only: Gift Certificate Sale!


For only ONE MONTH A YEAR Mending Hands Massage Therapy has a gift certificate sale!  Get your Holiday shopping done earlier by giving your friends,  loved ones (or even yourself!) the gift of relaxation for less!



Save $10 on any Gift Certificate for a massage or holistic facial. Save $20 off any already discounted package of 5 Sessions

Email melissa@mendinghands.com to purchase! 

MUST MENTION THIS SALE! Payment is accepted as cash, personal check or PayPal (with an additional $3 fee for service charges). Offer only valid from 11/1/11 - 11/30/11. Offer not valid with any other discounts or freebies.

October 19, 2011

Massage After Exercise May Speed Muscle Recovery

Does sports massage after intense exercise speed muscle recovery? While athletes of every kind use sports massage, the hard research into whether and how it works has been sparse. But a 2008 study by Ohio State University researchers found evidence that Swedish massage improved the time it took for the muscle to recover and the massaged muscles had less damage and less evidence of swelling and inflammation.
Massage Study Tests Muscle Recovery
The four-day study was performed on rabbits rather than humans. They were sedated and their muscles put through simulated exercise. The test group of rabbits then received simulated massage while a control group didn't get massage. The massage imitated Swedish massage techniques, which are the most popular for sports massage with long strokes, kneading, friction, and joint movement. After the exercise and massage, the researchers tested the muscle tissues of all of the animals. The specific muscle tested was the anterior tibialis, which in humans is the shin muscle that often complains with shin splint1 pain when you begin or change your walking program.
Massaged Muscles Showed Improved Recovery
The difference in strength recovery between massaged muscles was significant - 60% strength compared to 15% for the non-massaged muscles. The researchers also saw that the massaged muscles had fewer damaged muscle fibers and no sign of white blood cells present to repair muscle damage. The massaged muscles showed less sign of swelling, weighing 8% less than the non-massaged muscles.
Previous Human Study Didn't Find Recovery Effect
While the rabbits showed some effects of improved muscle recovery from massage, a previous study of human cyclists published in the April, 2004 issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine concluded that there was no measurable effect in the ability of their leg muscles to perform after either of leg massage or resting recovery. But the cyclists reported less fatigue after massage.
Should You Get Sports Massage?
This study suggests there is a benefit to sports massage after a hard exercise workout. Walkers training for a half marathon or marathon may benefit from sports massage after their long workouts.

First Seen HERE: 

October 11, 2011

Massage makes for happier, healthier, calmer babies!


Hundreds of local parents are getting their infants massages — just for the health of it.
Premature infants who receive massage generally recover faster from health problems, according to "Massage Today" magazine. This is because infant massage can reduce pain in premature babies, decrease stress levels and help them heal faster. It can also help underweight infants gain weight faster by speeding up their gut mobility and making them hungrier.
Research also shows that babies who receive massages sleep better, have a stronger immune system, have fewer digestive problems and are less likely to get sick.

October 03, 2011

Open on Columbus Day!

Celebrate your health at Mending Hands Massage Therapy! I will be taking appointments on your day off! E-mail for your session on Columbus Day - Monday, Oct. 10th

Space is limited, so book now: melissa@mendinghands.com

September 26, 2011

Health Benefits of Rose Essential Oil

The health benefits of Rose Essential Oil can be attributed to its properties like anti depressant, anti phlogistic, anti septic, anti spasmodic, anti viral, aphrodisiac, astringent, bactericidal, cholagogue, cicatrisant, depurative, emenagogue, haemostatic, hepatic, laxative, nervine, stomachic and uterine.

September 22, 2011

Aching Back? Try Massage for Chronic Pain

It's not news that a back massage feels good. But now there's clinical evidence to show just how good.

In the latest study comparing the benefits of adding massage to usual care for lower back pain, researchers report that massage improved pain symptoms and allowed patients to function better than those who didn't get massage.

That's good news for the eight out of 10 Americans who will, at some point in their lifetimes, experience the excruciating spasms of back pain that can send people to bed for days, if not weeks.
It's also helpful news for doctors. Even though it's common knowledge that an old-fashioned muscle-kneading is a great way to relax and reduce pain, the new findings give that notion some clinical teeth. Having such data in hand is critical for doctors who are discussing options for pain relief with their patients. "We have a huge number of people who get medical tests and treatments for back pain, and we have a huge problem with opioids," says Dan Cherkin, senior research investigator at Group Health Research Institute in Seattle and lead author of the study. "In spite of all that, we're not better off in terms of addressing back pain. In fact, the problem is getting worse."
In the study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Cherkin and his group recruited 400 people with chronic back pain. The participants' pain was typical of the kind that most of us experience: the result of wear and tear on muscles, or from being tensed up in front of a computer for too long. The researchers excluded those whose back pain was due to injury or a disease like cancer, in order to study more everyday types of back problems.

September 14, 2011

Pregnancy Massage: Helping what ails you in pregnancy!

Most people enjoy human touch. A touch can convey comfort, love, awareness and many other sensations. It can also help alleviate aches and pains.

All of these are of benefit, especially when you are pregnant.

Benefits of Pregnancy Massage include:

  • Tranquil relaxation and reduce stress.
  • Relief from muscle cramps, spasms, and myofascial pain, especially in the lower back, neck, hips, and legs.
  • Increase in blood and lymph circulation, which can reduce swelling.
  • Reduces stress on weight-bearing joints.
  • Improves outcome of labor and eases labor pain.
  • Enhances the pliability of skin and underlying tissues.
  • Provides support for the new mother with physical and emotional strains of mothering.

September 09, 2011

More Evening Appointments Available!

Mending Hands Massage Therapy is excited to announce that more evening sessions will be available 5 DAYS A WEEK!

De-Stress at the end of your day with a Massage or Holistic Facial (or both!) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday!

Email: melissa@mendinghands.com to give yourself something to look forward to after work!

August 25, 2011

Taking a Break to Rejuvenate!


Mending Hands Massage Therapy is practicing what we preach and will be taking time off from September 1st - 9th. If you are looking to have a massage after this break - let's get your appointment secured! E-mail melissa@mendinghands.com

August 22, 2011

New Aromatherapy: Cedarwood!

One of the ancient oils, cedarwood was used by Egyptians, Greeks and other ancient civilizations; today, cedarwood essential oil has properties used in aromatherapy.

True cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) essential oil is extracted from the Atlas Cedarwood tree and should not be confused with Texas (Juniperus ashei) or Virginian (Juniperus virginiana) Cedarwood, which are commonly sold in the USA and often under the general term cedarwood. There are also several other trees which yield 'cedarwood' oil; Atlas Cedarwood oil is the preferred oil of today's aromatherapist.
Historical Use Of the Atlas Cedarwood
The ancient Egyptians used cedarwood oil to embalm, for perfumery and in cosmetics; the ancient Greeks also used cedarwood oil to preserve bodies as they believed it helped to make one immortal. It is thought that the Lebanon Cedar tree may have been the original cedarwood tree which was used for cedarwood oil in ancient times, as its fragrance was useful as an insect, ant and moth repellent; it was also used greatly as a building material source.
In the Far East, cedarwood oil was used as a preservative too, in addition as a remedy for treating urinary tract and bronchial infections; cedarwood was also used as an incense. The Tibetans used it in traditional medicine and as an incense in temples, of which it is still used today.
Use of Cedarwood in Aromatherapy
Cedarwood essential oil is antiseptic, astringent, anti-bacterial, a stimulant to the skin and circulatory system, sedative and an aphrodisiac. In aromatherapy, it is useful in the treatment of eczema, dry skin, dandruff, fluid retention, nervous tension, arthritis, rheumatism, cystitis and asthma. Cedarwood also has some other uses.
Other Uses of Cedarwood
Cedarwood is commonly found in men's fragrances and aftershaves, where it is used for its antiseptic and astringent properties; it is also used in cosmetics, soaps, perfumes and detergents. Cedarwood is frequently used in meditation and is capable of balancing the mind and relieving anxiety; it has strong spiritual connections. Cedarwood essential oil can be used as an alternative to the more expensive sandalwood essential oil, as it possesses similar properties.

August 17, 2011

Regimens: Massage Benefits Are More Than Skin Deep

Does a good massage do more than just relax your muscles? To find out, researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles recruited 53 healthy adults and randomly assigned 29 of them to a 45-minute session of deep-tissue Swedish massage and the other 24 to a session of light massage.
All of the subjects were fitted with intravenous catheters so blood samples could be taken immediately before the massage and up to an hour afterward.
To their surprise, the researchers, sponsored by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health, found that a single session of massage caused biological changes.
Volunteers who received Swedish massage experienced significant decreases in levels of the stress hormone cortisol in blood and saliva, and in arginine vasopressin, a hormone that can lead to increases in cortisol. They also had increases in the number of lymphocytes, white blood cells that are part of the immune system.
Volunteers who had the light massage experienced greater increases in oxytocin, a hormone associated with contentment, than the Swedish massage group, and bigger decreases in adrenal corticotropin hormone, which stimulates the adrenal glands to release cortisol.
The study was published online in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
The lead author, Dr. Mark Hyman Rapaport, chairman of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences at Cedars-Sinai, said the findings were “very, very intriguing and very, very exciting — and I’m a skeptic.”
First seen HERE

August 05, 2011

Why High Heels Are So Bad for You

Biomechanical Effect of Stilettos

by Erik Dalton, Ph.D.

The biomechanical effect of heels in everything from running shoes to stilettos has puzzled researchers and fired controversy for almost a century. In a highly functioning body, the neuro-myo-skeletal system ‘hangs’ in dynamic equilibrium, each part balancing the other. But when a woman wears high heels, a new dynamic equilibrium occurs (Fig 1) If one body part becomes ‘fixed,’ the whole system must compensate with altered movement patterns resulting in kinetic chain ‘kinks.’ Here’s an interesting experiment that’ll help you get a feel for biomechanical adjustments high-heel wearers deal with every day: • Stand barefoot with the back against a wall. Observe how your ‘upright’ body column forms a perpendicular line (ninety degree angle) with the floor (Fig 2A).

July 29, 2011

Happy Birthday Mending Hands!

 Celebrate ALL August Long!
Mending Hands Massage Therapy will be raffling off some gifts this month. Clients that come for a session in the month of August can enter their name to win!

A FREE 60 Minute Massage
or
or

You will be allowed to enter your name for each visit - so the more sessions you receive - the better your chances to win!*


But that's not all!
Back by popular demand -  Book a 90 minute massage & get a Foot Loose treatment for FREE! Treatment includes a hot towel wrap for your tired toes - then cool them off with an extended cooling peppermint foot massage!**

*winners will be contacted directly & prize will be redeemable for a year from the date of the drawing. Cannot be combined with any other discounts or freebies.
**Offer only valid with the purchase of a 90 minute session. Can be added if using a series but will not be combined with any other discount or freebie time. Must mention offer at booking. Valid 7/1/11 - 8/30/11

July 23, 2011

Research Shows Massage Therapy Lessens Stress

Many massage clients turn to massage therapy to feel relaxed and stress-free. In new research, investigators in Sweden set out to evaluate the effects of massage on the stress responses of healthy volunteers.

In this crossover design including 22 (mean age 28.2) healthy volunteers (11 male and 11 female), cardiac autonomic tone was measured by heart rate and heart rate variability. Stress hormone levels (cortisol) were followed in saliva, according to an abstract published on www.pubmed.gov. The investigators also measured blood glucose and serum insulin. Extracellular levels of glucose, lactate, pyruvate and glycerol were followed using the microdialysis technique. Massage was performed on hands and feet for 80 minutes. During control, participants rested in the same setting.

July 13, 2011

Helping Children Find Focus: Massage Calms ADHD

Imagine lying on a massage table. As your massage therapist sets to work, you feel your body relax. Your muscles soften, your nervous system calms. Now, imagine how you feel when the massage is over--relaxed, alert, calm, and content.

Anyone who has gotten a massage understands the many benefits that it offers. Massage is usually reserved for adults--or sometimes infants--but what about massage for kids and adolescents? If massage helps calm the body and improve alertness, how might it help kids with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? Can children and teenagers who can't sit still benefit from massage?

July 04, 2011

Fertility Massage: Mind-Body Awareness Increases Fertility Rates

There is no doubt that undergoing infertility treatment is stressful, with high rates of anxiety and depression reported by many patients. Mind-body therapies designed to help women reduce stress earlier in the treatment process result in higher pregnancy rates, but little is known specifically about the impact of these therapies on women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

June 27, 2011

Be a friend of FATHOMS!


FATHOMS is an animated film that my husband just launched on Kickstarter!

Joe Russ has been amazingly supportive of Mending Hands Massage Therapy (designing my logo, making my beautiful website, cultivating my brand through business cards, custom stationary & so much more) We have been partners in creativity for a while - having co-created our myology app, Anatomy In Motion!

Being a household of two small business owners requires a lot of support.  We are each others biggest fans.  And for that reason I wanted to take a moment to give back to him by sharing this phenomenal project!

Please take a moment to watch his FATHOMS presentation! You can also like it on Facebook or follow along on the official site!

June 20, 2011

How Heavy is Your Head?

Posture is such an important part of how our bodies feel.  Here at Mending Hands - extra time is made to talk about some quick and simple posture tips to keep you feeling better in between sessions. We can talk about the specific ways to get you feeling better at your desk, at home and even while you are exercising. Just let me know when you make your appointment that you want to get some great self care tips to prevent back pain, head aches and other posture pains!

June 13, 2011

Benefits of Massage for Athletes


From injury prevention to warm up to cool down, massage therapy can benefit every part of an athlete's training program. Properly administered sports massage can improve your overall athletic readiness and treat specific problems that might be holding you back in your training.

June 06, 2011

5 Ways to Turn your Daily Clean into Daily Care!

1. A Steamy Stretch:  Use the heat and warmth of the shower to increase the effectiveness of stretching! Doing neck stretches in the shower or even hamstring stretching (Think: Sit & Reach) in the tub is a great way to add some much needed muscle lengthening to your daily routine. Please, be careful! Take your time and make sure you are balanced. Only stretch in the shower if you can do so safely! Here at Mending Hands - most clients get personalized stretching tips to take home and take care.


2. Aromatherapy: A suggestion would be to put a few drops of Eucalyptus  or Tea Tree oil in your hands and inhale while letting the warm water hit your chest. This can help with congestion, inflammation, sore throats, colds, flus and even laryngitis. Looking for a bright pick me up for the start of your day? Anything citrus - Lemongrass, Orange or Grapefruit will do the trick. Taking a bath to calm down for the night? Try Lavender, Chamomile or Ylang Ylang.


3. Scalp, Head, Face and Ear Massage: Take a little longer with that shampoo lathering to loosen up your scalp and the base of the skull where all those tense neck muscles attach. Tug on your ears to loosen up that fascia that might be triggering your TMJ. Find all those yummy Shiatsu face points that help with headaches or sinus issues and give yourself some relief. 


4. Soak it Up: Add some epsom salt to you bath and let your whole body unwind in it's grain sized mega magic. In the warmer months - add some Peppermint Oil to draw the heat out of your hard working body.


5. Use a Scrub: Yes, sugar or salt scrub exfoliates the superficial layer of the skin - making a brighter new you! BUT! The actual act of rubbing the scrub all over IS massage! So go to town, massage yourself to de-stress while you clean up!


Hope you enjoy these 5 simple steps to making sure you take time to take care of yourself!

May 30, 2011

Massage for Clients with Allergies

According to findings published in the August issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, more than fifty percent of the U.S. population is sensitive to one or more allergens. Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, found that 54.3% of individuals aged 6-59 years old demonstrated a positive allergic response to at least one of the ten most common allergens.

Symptoms
An allergic reaction to any given substance can be either local or systemic.

Some typical local responses to allergens include:
• Swelling and itching of the nasal mucosa, including a stuffy or runny nose

• Eye redness, burning and itching 

• Pain or fullness of the ears

• Various skin rashes

• Headaches

May 21, 2011

Open for the Summer Holidays!

An Invitation! To book a session with Mending Hands Massage Therapy for Memorial Day and July 4th! When all the Park Slope spa's are closed - you can still take some time for yourself and relax with a Mending Hands massage on your summer days off!

Space is limited! So E-mail now to secure your session!

May 16, 2011

Skip to the Loo



Continuing with our Absolutely Human series, let's talk about why not only is it normal to have to go to the bathroom after a massage - it's actually a good thing!

Some of the benefits of massage is the support of the circulatory and lymphatic systems of the body. A few functions of the lymphatic system are to transport immune cells, fats, acids and extra interstitial fluid. This fluid is what gets taken to the liver for cleaning and discerning if it is needed in the body. What is not reabsorbed is sent to the kidneys, bladder and eventually the commode. The difference between the way the circulatory system and the lymphatic system keep themselves moving around and around the body is key! The circulatory system has the heart to pump the blood around the body (flowing 60,000 miles per day no less!). The lymphatic system is designed to flow through the body with the help of movement (the more you move your muscles the more the lymph gets pushed along). Also, with the help of some one - way valves along the path - the body prevents lymph from back flowing. Thus, keeping the lymph going in the right direction!

Massage therapy literally aids lymph to move! As it moves, more interstitial fluid flows though the checkpoints (lymph nods) getting inspected by the body's immune system patrol. Then passes along though the liver and kidneys - getting rid of soluble wastes from the bloodstream, as well as excess water, sugars, and a variety of other hormones and chemicals the body just doesn't need anymore. 

So having to skip to the loo after a massage just means that you body is getting a little more self cleaning with your self care!

May 09, 2011

7 Tips When Working on Ticklish Clients

Whether it’s a new or regular client, a tendency towards ticklishness can arise at virtually any moment. There are many interpretations of what ticklishness is, and what a massage therapist can do about it. Our experts have assembled the latest information to keep you informed and help you make the best decisions for your ticklish clients.
Why Are Some People Ticklish?

April 30, 2011

Anatomy In Motion is Going Universal!

We are busily working on the universal version of Anatomy In Motion! This version has some great updates that utilize the unique possibilities of the ipad user and also gives iphone and ipod touch users some new tools as well.

The first addition we are giving you a sneak peak of is the note taking feature! Remind yourself to study a certain muscle or note a difference from your personal references. Jot down a great stretch you learned. Mark down any info you want for each and every muscle in Anatomy In Motion!

Stay tuned form more details on this mega new update!

April 22, 2011

Relaxation Techniques: Essential for Reducing Stress

Relaxation techniques are an essential part of your quest for stress management. Relaxation isn't just about peace of mind or enjoying a hobby. Relaxation is a process that decreases the wear and tear on your mind and body from the challenges and hassles of daily life.
Whether your stress is spiraling out of control or you've already got it tamed, you can benefit from learning relaxation techniques. Learning basic relaxation techniques is easy, often free or low cost, and poses little risk. Explore these simple relaxation techniques to get you started on de-stressing your life and improving your health.

The benefits of relaxation techniques

April 20, 2011

Bouquet of the Day!

This week's bouquet from Hibiscus Flowershop is ringing in Spring for Mending Hands clients!

Not only that, Mending Hands and Hibiscus Flowershop are pairing up for the celebration of Brooklyn Moms! This Mother's day - if you buy your favorite mom a Mending Hands Gift Certificate you will be eligible for an exclusive discount at Hibiscus Flowershop! Celebrate mom with 10% off your  Hibiscus purchase of $30 or more. Feel free to email for more details on how to make your mom feel relaxed and loved this Mother's Day!

April 11, 2011

The Benefits of Massage During Pregnancy

Studies indicate that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health.

Massage therapy addresses different needs through varying techniques, one of which is called Swedish Massage, which aims to relax muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation through mild pressure applied to the muscle groups of the body. Swedish Massage is the recommended prenatal massage method during pregnancy because it addresses many common discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts during pregnancy.

April 07, 2011

Bouquet of the Day!

This week's bouquet from Hibiscus Flowershop is bringing in some beautiful tropical vibes for Mending Hands clients!