To: James Caddell
From: Jim Caddell
Date: Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Dear James,
Here is your February massage newsletter.
I hope you are finding those New Years resolutions easy to keep!
Note:
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Your last appointment was Friday, July 31, 2009. It is time to make your next appointment. You are eligible for a $10 discount because you are on a regular appointment schedule. Referrals are the finest compliment I can receive, and I am grateful that you were pleased enough to recommend me to a friend. To show my thanks, you are eligible for a $10 discount on your next appointment.
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I hope to see you soon.
Jim
The Tranquility Times
February Goings On:
I’ve finished teaching classes at Sterling Health Center for the
time being, and I have no other all-day classes scheduled until May. That means
there will be more appointment times available in February, March, and
April.
Valentine’s Day is
coming up: get your sweetie a massage gift certificate at https://tranquilitytime.boomtime.com/lgift
or call 214-395-8000 to get a discount on phone orders.
My “Hand to Mouth” food drive is still going on. I’m
offering up to $20 off your massage with your donation receipt. Click here to
donate. Note: I only accept one discount per appointment; so if you are
eligible for two discounts, take the bigger one! $20 off for a $20 donation
beats $10 off for scheduling in advance.
The new office at Arapaho Gardens ROCKS! Quiet, private, and
roomy.
Spring Supplemental Newsletter:
A special new full-color Spring Supplement is available HERE as a PDF
file.
There are some good articles in this issue:
Body Image: Learning to Love Who We Are
New clients are often self-conscious about their bodies. My regular clients know that my table is a safe, non-judgmental place to relax.
Massage Ambiance is Key: Is the Scene Conducive to Your
Relaxation?
The squeaky wheel gets the oil. Let me know if something is annoying you or making you uncomfortable. I’ll fix it if I can.
Hibernating is for the Bears: Plan to Stay Fit This Winter
This last bit of cold weather won’t last much longer here in Texas. Here’s what you can do in the meantime.
Good Stuff Coming Up for You and Me:
I’ve scheduled three continuing education classes for myself this year (so far). I think you’ll like these techniques.
Hawaiian Lomi Lomi on Feb 26.
Lomi Lomi is also called "Loving Hands" massage.
“Hawai'ian LomiLomi massage is an art, ancient in history and profound in effect. In Hawai'i of old, health was a state of unity between body, mind and spirit. Disease could not affect one so aligned. In modern times we are distracted from this state, leaving us vulnerable to suffering.
“The health of the individual was recognized as directly connected to the health of the community. When sickness or injury affected a person, an art of healing addressing the whole person was required. These principles were applied as flowing sequences upon the body, bringing alignment, and with it, health to the recipient.”
-- Abby Cicirelli
Myofascial Release on March 29.
I have tried some of these techniques on a few people, and they reported excellent results.
Myofascial Release is a safe and effective hands-on technique that
involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective
tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. This slow, gentle
pressure takes advantage of the viscous flow and the piezoelectric phenomenon:
a low load (gentle pressure) applied slowly will allow a viscoelastic medium (fascia)
to elongate.
Trauma, inflammatory responses, and/or surgical procedures create Myofascial
restrictions that can produce tensile pressures of approximately 2,000 pounds
per square inch on pain sensitive structures that do not show up in many of the
standard tests (x-rays, myelograms, CAT scans, electromyography, etc.)
The use of Myofascial Release allows us to look at each patient as a unique
individual. Our one-on-one therapy sessions are hands-on treatments during
which our therapists use a multitude of Myofascial Release techniques and
movement therapy. We promote independence through education in proper body
mechanics and movement, self treatment instruction, enhancement of strength,
improved flexibility, and postural and movement awareness.
And a week-long retreat at The Esalen Institute starting June 20.
Esalen Massage Defined:
The sound of the waves provides a soothing background for
any massage session at Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California. This sound,
coupled with the cliffside natural hot springs and the educational community
dedicated to exploring the "far reaches of human potentiality",
inspires a unique approach to bodywork known worldwide as Esalen® Massage. 
The ocean provides a slow-moving rhythm very much akin to the internal rhythms of the body. The receiver rests on the massage table, draped, and the practitioner's hands begin quietly, with presence, attending to breath, allowing the receiver to drop inward. The long, slow, t'ai chi-like strokes awaken awareness, and as the tissues open to the warm of touch, the contact deepens, nudging bound-up muscles, drawing forth expanded movement. A relaxing sigh resounds through the body, and the practitioner responds with integration strokes into related areas. The massage continues, seamlessly, wrapping the torso arms, legs, hands, feet, neck, and spirit into a united whole.
The practitioner brings a knowledge of strokes (many have roots in Swedish Massage), of muscles and bones, of movement, of listening to the body as well as the words. Prior to the session, he/she pays attention to his own physical comfort, and quiets down internal chatter to welcome inner guidance, or intuition. As he massages, the practitioner responds to the signs of relaxation: deepened breath, enhanced circulation, a sigh, perhaps flutters of the eyelids. Each session is unique, tailored by personal requests, comfort level, physical tension and release, the felt sense of intuition.
The effects of this intentional touch, loosely categorized as "wellness/stress management massage", range widely. For some, it brings a renewed sense of health and vigor, others may regain a sense of safety with regard to touch. Often old tension patterns break free and old emotions are released. It signals a return to one's nature, a switch from everyday consciousness into a calmer, more colorful space less inhabited by the constraints of time and place. An out-of-ordinary reality.
The sources of this rich work are endless: it was informed by sensory awareness, Swedish massage, oriental medicine, meditation, gestalt practice. The influence of deeper work borrowed from Ida Rolf's teachings, Moshe Feldenkrais' sense of neural co-ordinates, Milton Trager's passive movement to awaken the mind, yoga stretches, somatic mind-body psychology, and more energetically based polarity massage and cranial-sacral work continue to "grow" the work. Each practitioner translates this into his/her personal art form.
At the heart of the session is a sense of empowering each individual to regain a sense of harmony, reverence, and balance, and to awaken inner resources for healing. It is not unusual to hear, "That was the most amazing massage I've ever received."
- Brita Ostrom
You all know how much I love the long, slow, gentle, full-body strokes of Esalen. I have studied at the Esalen Institute before, and I am looking forward to going back. Although I seldom give a straight Esalen massage, you will probably recognize some of these elements in my style:
Ten key aspects of the Esalen technique for practitioners:
1. Grounding oneself to the client's breath before making initial contact.
3. Gentle rocking to help the body let go of rigidity.
4. Creating a unified and whole massage defined by long, lengthening strokes.
5. Making small circular movements around joints to encourage release.
6. Bringing the whole body weight into the movement.
7. A little unpredictability to ease away holding patterns.
8. Allowing time to pause.
9. Understanding that massage goes beyond the physical self.
10. Remembering that everybody loves and wants to be touched.
-- Institute for Integrative Healthcare Studies, “Nudity and Esalen Massage”
Myths about Esalen massage:
¨ “In Esalen massage, both giver and receiver are totally naked.”
Ø
No. In Texas it is illegal for the massage therapist to be
naked while working, and it is considered unethical everywhere if money is 
changing hands.
¨ “In Esalen massage, the receiver is always naked.”
Ø Nope. In Esalen, the giver works all over the body, switching from arm to foot to shoulder to back; that means the less draping to get in the way, the better. Esalen works best with towel draping (or no draping), but I can also do it with a full drape. Lomi Lomi also moves randomly from one part of the body to another, and that’s one of several reasons I thought it would be a good addition to my style.
¨ “Esalen massage is like spreading oil for an hour.”
Ø No way, but if you are from the bone-crushing “no pain, no gain” school of massage it may seem that way. Esalen is more concerned with breaking the receiver out of holding patterns than forcing a muscle to respond. Holding patterns are those involuntary habitual motions that hold our bodies rigid unless we remember to relax. If we can break those patterns, then fewer aches and pains due to daily stress will develop.
Esalen is what puts the tranquility in “Tranquility Time.” It is the reason that people seek my touch rather than regular Swedish, deep tissue, or trigger point practitioners.
Video:
You are already a valued client. You don’t really need to see these new video ads. But you might find them kind of fun. (And if any of you are marketing gurus, I’d love to have your feedback.)
Tranquility
Time Ad – Contains computer generated flyover of tranquil tropical islands
and other feats of CGI derring-do. Music from a wonderful 1927 recording.
Valentine’s
Day Ad – Contains computer morphed images and exquisite Renaissance music
played by John Sayles.
New (and Improved!) Office:
Get directions at http://Directions.TranquilityTime.com
New: Infrared lamp permanently installed over the massage table for instant heat! Blankets only feel warm where you are covered up, but this lamp lets you feel warm all over. It feels like gentle evening sunshine, but without the danger of sunburn. Try it!
Price Adjustment:
The prices changed just a smidge at the end of the year. Click here for the new rate schedule. And that was just a little metric smidge, not a whole English smidge! ;-)
Upcoming Classes:
Massage for Couples
February 12, 2010, 6:30 pm - 10:30
pm
or
February 13, 2010, 1:00 pm - 5:00
pm
Massaging your partner can be a warm, sensuous, romantic way to foster intimacy
through loving touch. This course will be a few hours of unique quality time with
your mate, learning how to give each other a safe, relaxing massage. Is
there a better Valentine's gift than the gift of touch?
Sheets, tables, and oil will be provided. There will be light refreshments.
You will need to bring swim suits or underwear that you don’t mind getting a
little oil on.
Space is limited to a maximum of three couples, so reserve your place now! The course will NOT be cancelled for low attendance.
Infant Massage.
3/13/2010,
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
This class is appropriate for and geared to parents, grandparents, and other
infant caregivers. Massage therapists can receive CEU credits for the class as
well.
Although it’s fun and rewarding to massage other people’s babies, the primary purpose of this class is to teach parents how to bond with, communicate with, calm, and soothe their own babies. The relationship between a parent and baby is enhanced and strengthened through the nurturing touch of infant massage. Parent’s often find that their baby sleeps better, fusses less, and gains more weight when massaged regularly.
A baby’s world is all about touch, and this course is intended to help you share your child’s world more effectively. It’s fun for you; it’s fun for your baby!
Sorry! We will not be using real babies in this course, so leave your little one with grandma. Or bring grandma and leave Junior with Auntie!
My Client Loyalty Program: 6 Ways to Save:
And these days, who doesn’t want to save money? Read all about it by clicking here.
Free Stuff!
Here’s a reminder about all the free stuff that’s available with your massage. Just ask for it!
February Coupons:
February’s money-saving coupons are at Coupons.TranquilityTime.com.
New this month:
· Heroes’ Discount: $10 off for the people who are heroes every day. Last month it was police, firefighters, and military. This month, let’s honor our lesser-known heroes: nurses, EMTs, 9-1-1 operators. Thank you for your keeping us safe!
And back by popular demand:
·
$10 off on Valentine’s Day gift certificates. Your mate need
never know that you got a bargain! (This offer is not valid for online “instant”
gift certificate orders, but if you just can’t wait, order online at http://MassageGift.TranquilityTime.com.)
This offer expires the end of February,
whereas the others expire at the end of March.
· Up to $20 off for your donation to the North Texas Food Bank. $1 discount for each $1 donated, up to $20 total.
· $10 off for new clients. (But none of you are new clients, so you get $10 off if a new client drops your name. Tell ‘em to say “James sent me!” and I’ll make a note in your file. That’s all part of the client loyalty program.)
Note: most coupons have restrictions. See the conditions printed
in red at the bottom for specific information.
Thanks!
Thanks for being a loyal client. If you haven’t been in lately, I can’t wait to show you the changes!
Best wishes,
Jim
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Links and Contact Information
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