uplifted

We all experience stress once in awhile. It can become unhealthy and damaging at times. Whether it’s a difficult relationship at work or in business, or it’s juggling a super busy schedule, we all need to learn how to manage stress. Why?  Because stress not only damages our cells and wears down our bodies, it also can have a profoundly negative effect on our love lives.

Cortisol, our stress hormone can bring out the worst in us. That tunnel visioned, can’t let go, talk too much and too fast, me, me, me beast that spoils the mood.  On the other hand, when we’re able to shift gears, let go and relax, we have those loving endorphins that make us feel good, tell me about you attitude, and bring the fun to sexy time.

Sometimes people happily surprise me with the ideas they come up with to improve the quality of their relationships.  Often it’s buying a gift card for someone they love or having a spa day together.   Last week a couple met up at the spa who were getting ready for their date night. She scheduled a Radio Frequency Body Treatment and Facial with LED. She had walked into the spa still on her cell phone and not paying attention to anyone around her. By the end of her spa services, I could see that she felt calm and beautiful and her skin looked so smooth and firm. She was definitely ready to give her man her undivided attention. He arrived at the spa straight from work with all the stress of his day still on his mind.   He had scheduled a 90 min Relaxation Massage.  When I saw them as they were leaving, they were calm, smiling and attentive to each other as well as super pleasant to the spa staff when they said goodbye.  Adios cortisol. Hello endorphins. Brilliant!!!

The moment the thought enters your mind, ‘I need a massage,’ at that same moment place an intention for that massage before you even make the phone call to schedule it.  The most common intention is , ‘I need to relax and let go.’   Being able to prepare your mind so that when you are on the massage table you really can let go, instead of finally letting go in the last five minutes of your massage.  The next thing you want to do is look at your schedule.  Don’t schedule something important to your duties right before your massage.  Be completely free and done an hour before your appointment time begins.  Give yourself  time to wind down,  start thinking ‘I’m about to relax,’ change into a robe, if possible, soak in a hot tub, take a steam or sauna and focus on the sound of your breath.  When you do this, it is really easy for the mind to relax, let go of the stress you were thinking about and you become present in the moment.  Use your unwind time to let go, let, go, let go.  By the time you are with your massage therapist, you won’t need to tell them all your problems and why you’re so stressed, instead you are so ready for your massage.  What you gain is you will really be able to make a shift and your relaxation will go to a whole new level.  During the hour of your wind down time, drink water, eat something light so you aren’t hungry or thirsty during your massage.  Drinking coffee or eating sugary carbs before your massage makes no sense.   You don’t want to get all wired when you’re taking time to relax.  Think of this as a full day, not just an hour for a massage.  Later that night, after dinner and doing what you gotta do, relax again before putting your head down to sleep.  Breathe, turn off the lights, turn phones off, let go.   A hot Epsom salt bath before bed helps continue the detoxification, relaxation and gives you a delicious restful night’s sleep.  You’re letting your body know, ‘I love you. You need to be taken care of and that’s what we’re doing’.  Those are the kind of words you want to have.  Praise and thank your body with healing positive words.  You are taking care and loving yourself in that moment.  If you can embrace that kind of love for yourself before your massage and before going to bed it will elevate your quality of life.  Your body will give it back to you. Your energy level will be higher and you will feel more joy. Your body, mind and soul will be in a happy relationship ‘You take care of me, I take care of you. ‘

– A conversation with Pavel DeLeon, CMT
(Pavel may or may not agree with other content posted on Uplifted Blog.)
soothingharmony.com
Facebook.com/SoothingHarmonyMassage
Los Angeles, CA

Notice what causes you to shift into pleasure by the fabrics and materials in your home that touch your skin.  Your pillows, carpets, sheets and blankets can be carefully chosen for sensory immersion.  The towels in your bathroom can make others seem like sandpaper.  The rug you stand on at the bathroom sink or stepping out of the shower can be a sanctuary for your feet.  Feel the textures of the clothes you wear that come in contact with your skin.  Give yourself the gift of savoring attention as you create how the environment around you feels. So few people do this.  As you learn to linger a little more, and understand what you need to open up, you’ll experience more happiness in your body.

This isn’t the beginning, it’s a possibility that starts with loving your skin and body with it’s imperfections and amazing features as perfect for something far more important, your ability to offer and receive love, as a human being.  In that context, eat healthy, work out more and smarter, cut out pastas and breads, sugars and processed foods that cause your body to be unhappy with inflammation.  Eat clean and fresh foods, organic foods that are more vital, take care of your skin, your hair and your body.  Do all this in the framework of having more love to give, and enjoying infinitely more pleasure.  We’ve caught wind of subcultures in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and parts of Italy where life is considered a delicious meal to share… music, food, drink, sex, laughter.   How infinitely more sexy do you think you will feel when you cultivate yourself in this way?  If you have closed your senses to light, color, aroma’s and textures, you must be by now completely shriveled up. Let’s start from this point forward enlivening your senses in your skin and in your body so you can enjoy more pleasure and love.

This is the beginning of the next chapter of my life story. Well, not the beginning…because my journey of life is everyday and takes every step along the way. I am excited to share the joy, wisdom, and lessons of life here at the Uplifted blog.

Bonnie Ketring