Category Blog Archives - Massage Professionals of Jackson HoleMassage Professionals of Jackson Hole

Massage Professionals Has Moved!

Yes – we’ve moved to a new and lovely office:

As of March 12, 2018, Massage Professionals of Jackson Hole has opened in their lovely new location in the Powderhorn Mall, off Broadway. The address is 970 West Broadway, suite 204, Jackson, WY, 83001. We’re right above the UPS Store – use the door between REI Co-Op and the UPS Store. See Google Map below. Our phone number remains 307 413 1961.

Meanwhile, at the same time, Tina Seay of ‘Healing Touch’, with whom we used to share an office, has moved to Wilson – in beside Wilson Backcountry Sports, in the location where Spirit Books used to be. Her phone number also stays the same, at 307 413 3494.

in Blog / Uncategorized by Hamish 25 Mar 2018 0 comments

Chocolate Massage

Although we at Massage Professionals of Jackson Hole don’t offer chocolate massage, here’s a superb article, thanks to Yogawiz.com, that allows you, finally, to indulge in (literally) chocolate – especially for Valentines Day …and other days:

While there is no doubt that chocolate is the best pick-me-up around, it has always got a bad rap for being full of calories and fat. Chocolate has also been considered one of the culprits for bad skin as too much consumption can lead to acne and skin blemishes.

Of late though, the view on chocolate massage for the skin has taken an about turn. High-end spas all around the world have introduced the latest in skin care – chocolate spa treatments! From soothing chocolate massages and body wraps to indulgent chocolate facials and invigorating chocolate body scrubs, suddenly chocolate is everywhere. Using cocoa-based creams, lotions, and oils, you can now choose to get your chocolate fix without the calories.

Some of the benefits of chocolate massage include:

Firms the skin – The caffeine present in chocolate stimulates the circulation and improves blood flow. This in turn improves and invigorates skin cells, decreases the aging process and increases firmness of the skin.
Rich in anti-oxidants – The darker the chocolate, the more powerful are the antioxidant properties. It is also important that you choose your creams and lotions carefully before you begin using them. Products that contain more than 35% of pure cocoa are more effective when it comes to revitalizing the skin and giving it a plumper and firmer feel. Antioxidants also help increase the level of collagen and elastin in the skin and thereby reduce the effects of aging. Fine lines and wrinkles can be treated with regular chocolate treatments as antioxidants lessen the damage caused by free radicals in the body.
As a moisturizing agent – Cocoa butter contains high amounts of natural oils and emollients necessary for treating dry, rough and flaky skin. A chocolate massage or chocolate body wrap using a cocoa-butter based massage cream will help remedy rough skin especially on those stubborn spots such as the elbows, knees and feet. The higher the percentage of cocoa butter in the lotion or cream, the better moisturized the skin stays long after the treatment is over.
Good for health – Studies have shown that eating a small bit of dark chocolate every day can improve your cardiovascular system, and help prevent atherosclerosis and chronic fatigue due to its antioxidant properties. Chocolate also has the power to improve a person’s mood and cause feelings of euphoria. Even the smell of chocolate can accomplish this positive effect on the brain; making chocolate massages an ideal way reap the health benefits of without any of the guilt associated with eating too much chocolate.
Good for cellulite – Chocolate contains theobromine that helps burn fat and get rid of cellulite. A chocolate massage or chocolate body wrap helps work the chocolate-based lotion or oil into the skin for the best results.
Calming effects – Who hasn’t calmed down after biting into a chunk of chocolate? In much the same way, a chocolate massage helps reduce stress and tension and eases tight and sore muscles.

You can also make your own chocolate massage lotion at home in a few simple steps:

Mix together a quarter cup of cocoa powder with one cup of shea butter and a quarter cup of chamomile oil. You can use a blender for this to get a nice smooth consistency.
Mix till the lotion is smooth and free of lumps. If you would like it thinner, add some more oil. If you prefer a thicker cream, add some more shea butter. Make sure that the shea butter is at room temperature for the best results.
Pour this lotion into a jar with a tight lid and store in a cool dark place.
Use to massage into the skin or as a moisturizer. It is gentle enough for everyday use.

Thanks also to Everyday Health for this wonderful chocolate massage post.

Be Well,

Hamish and Rochelle

Massage Clients Help

Massage therapists are in a position of being of help to their clients. The purpose of this post is not to go into the benefits of massage – but to consider, or at least be open to, how your massage clients help you. Massage clients help me in many ways: 1) by being clients upon whom I can practice my skills, 2) by allowing me to practice my art on them, 3) – and of course they’re the source of income for Massage Professionals of Jackson Hole which is why, really, we’re all doing this in the first place.

But most of all massage clients help me by helping me tune into the body of another – which takes full concentration and focus. To massage another person is to perform a type of meditation. Some people (like me) find it hard to find time to simply meditate for even a short session at home – therefore if I can find it while I’m at work, then that’s a great bonus for me, it helps me help my massage clients – and it’s how my massage clients help me.

So, if after skiing those wonderful ski slopes at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, you feel like having a nice deep relaxation massage – come on in and get some help – and while you’re at it, you can help me. Come to think of it – it’s a symbiotic relationship – and why not? – that’s the way a business relationship should be, especially in the world of body and mind work. A massage can be especially beneficial if both client and therapist get into the meditation zone together.

Be well,

Hamish and Rochelle.

in Blog / General / Jackson Hole / Massage / Uncategorized / Wellness by Hamish 14 Jan 2015 0 comments

Organic Massage

Well, it would be a stretch to say that there is such a thing as Organic Massage, and there are of course organic massage oils such as Certified Organic Sunflower Oil, Certified Organic Safflower Oil, Certified Organic Olive Oil,Certified Jojoba Oil, and non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) Vitamin E, but this is a column about organic eating and organic massage marketing.

In the last couple of years, more of our local Smith’s grocery Store in Jackson Hole has been given over to organic fruits and vegetables. This could be in direct response to the recent opening of a huge new Jackson Whole Grocer just up the street. Or it could be Safeway taking a genuine interest in their customers’ health and responding to market forces. But every time I go into a store and see the word ‘Organic’ I become the skeptic and remember the discussion in Michael Pollan’s book: ‘The Omnivore’s Dilemma”. He says that far too many food companies are getting on the ‘organic’ bandwagon – just to increase profits (markups on anything that says ‘organic’ are many more times than non-organic) – when in fact there isn’t really that much of an organic nature to these foods. It’s a bit like ‘green-washing’ – when a company that pours millions of gallons of toxic waste into our rivers gets a ‘green’ award because it recycles its office paper!

Then there’s another kind of organic – which is how we’re growing our business at Massage Professionals of Jackson Hole. So maybe we’re getting closer to Organic Massage.

There’s organic in the way Massage Professionals of Jackson Hole is gaining positioning in the search engine rankings, and there’s organic in the way we’re slowly increasing our customer base. That is: we’re not spending money on link farms, buying Facebook ‘Likes’ or Twitter followers and so on. Those things can bring in vast numbers but it’s not a good way to go and is detected by the search engine crawlers as ‘underhanded’ and will cost more than money in the end. It will cost of massage business credibility. Search engine rankings are being increased in three ways: 1) Rochelle is working hard (she started with one to two hours every day) participating in lively SM correspondence on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus. 2) Our new web site www.massageprofessionalsJacksonHole.com is totally dialed-in, with ‘responsive’ capabilities to show up on mobile devices, and 3) The blog – such as this post. It’s important to keep it rich in keyword phrases and content – although you won’t see the word ‘Massage’ or ‘Jackson Hole’ written up too much in this week’s post. Another way we’re doing it organically is simply by growing the business slowly. We recently turned down the opportunity to take over an established massage business in Jackson Hole. There are beautiful premises with four nicely decorated rooms, inexpensive rent, a customer base and a very advanced responsive web site. We turned it down because we’d rather grow into that kind of positioning than purchase it all. It just seemed like the better way to go. We’ll grow by reputation one customer at a time – and that’s organic. And then, who knows, maybe one day we’ll discover Organic Massage as well – but if we do, it will be slowly – and organically.

Be well,

Hamish and Rochelle

in Blog / Uncategorized by Hamish 01 Jan 2015 0 comments

Listening Massage

What on Earth is a listening massage?

When you go to your massage therapist for a massage, the entire session from intake to goodbye is about you – the client. You want, and are paying for, your massage therapist’s full attention. This means not only the attentions of my physical massage upon your body – but also a listening ear. Therefore I mentally prepare myself to listen to words as well as what the body is telling me. I call it a Listening Massage. You may need more, you may need less. But whatever it is, your massage therapist’s good listening ear will make your massage extra meaningful – and it’s a good business move for the massage therapist as it can make regular customers out of first-time clients. That’s what we try to do at Massage Professionals of Jackson Hole.

With the massage intake form filled out, it is of course normal and customary to review what you want from your massage – especially if you are a first-time client with this therapist. Whilst the massage therapist will generally repeat the information on the intake form back to you, it is important, at this time, to ask questions and make comments where appropriate. This is where the Listenint Massage starts – not on the massage table. You should be doing most of the talking. If you have certain specific reasons for wanting a massage, you should find your massage therapist listening, empathizing, and showing understanding of what you are saying – but without saying too much.

If your massage therapist is listening to – you can tell by observing this advice to those in listening-type work fields or just for social reasons:

And it’s not appropriate for the massage therapist to get caught up in too much small-talk or add to your points by adding examples of their own similar issues. Here’s me with my ‘Listening Massage’ hat on…

I had a client, a young lady, who warned me that she had badly bruised her Coccyx about three months previously – and that it still hurt. Well, that was very interesting to me as I had had that exact same injury earlier this summer. I asked her how it happened (MOI, Mechanism of Injury, could be important knowledge to the massage) and she told me that she had fallen on (not off) her bicycle – and landed on the rear wheel hub with her Coccyx. Well – my goodness – there’s an incredibly strange coincidence – that’s exactly how I suffered my own injury. So in fact there was quite a conversation I could have had with her. I could have gotten into the whole story of how this same thing had happened to me and all such other time-wasting small-talk. But the that would have been about me! – And how could this possibly have helped or contributed to the massage or the way I would give the massage? Not one little bit. I remembered to make this a Listening Massage. So of course I made empathizing noises, said ‘Ouch’ to show that I, as a massage professional, understood the nature of the pain of an injured Coccyx, and left it at that. Therefore she got to do 95% of the talking at the time of discussing the intake form, and I’m sure she felt satisfied that she had been listened to. And after all, what is it we’re after if it isn’t a satisfied customer?

But once you’re in the room with your massage therapist, in my view – this is where the chat stops and the listening massage becomes more about the massage therapist listening for breath and ‘listening’ by feel, to your body as the changes occur while the massage gets its rhythm. There will be more about that in later posts.

Be Well,

Hamish and Rochelle

in Blog / General / In-Home Massage / Massage / Wellness by Hamish 12 Dec 2014 0 comments

Breathe

You hear it all too often…”Don’t forget to breathe.” Zen masters and casual meditation practitioners will tell you that the breath is the very core of our being – it’s where we ‘go’ to meditate. Therefore it stands to reason that, when receiving a massage, you will be better off if your body and mind are receiving this massage from the inside out – and you can achieve this through the breath. And a good massage therapist will sense, and hopefully breathe in sympathy. Breathing costs nothing, has immense health benefits for you and allows you to become in a more harmonious – it’s a win-win situation.

Now, of course, everybody breathes – otherwise we’d be dead! – I’m talking about a more conscious breathing on your part while on the massage table. It’s the kind of breathing that takes the mind into just itself and, as a massage therapist, I’m not shy about letting the client know I expect them to concentrate on their breathing. I also add in that they might like to try being aware of where my hands are, following them as they go and keeping track of where they’ve been. Breathing and setting the mind to keep track of where the hands are will create a profound meditation which helps me do my work.

The above applies mostly to relaxation Swedish Massage; although it also applies in sports massage and other types of massage where specific breathing can be used in a very different kind of a way, for example, on exhalation to allow a certain range of motion to be reached. It’s quite simple – just breathe. The beginning of my Swedish relaxation massages usually involves quite a few minutes of ‘over-the-drapes’ work. There are several reasons for this which I will get into in a later blog post. But during this time, after a brief ‘hand-walk’ up the body I’ll stand on one side of the table with my hands on the ‘other’ side of the body, and do some good compressions of the shoulders, rhomboids, erector spinae. Each time I compress I work with the client’s breath to make sure that I’m pushing down on the out-breath (therefore you have to be able to see the body moving with the breath if they’re quiet breathers). This results in a complete expulsion of all air from the lungs – something that the body rarely achieves – and something that my clients tell me feels absolutely wonderful. It’s a sort of ‘assisted breathing’ and you’ve been doing some of the work for them.

After a good spell of this on both sides of the body, I and the client are ready to have the sheets pulled back to expose the back and get some oiled Swedish massage started. The client’s body and mind are more than relaxed and ready to start with the massage that’s to come.

Be well,

Hamish and Rochelle,
Massage Professionals of Jackson Hole

in Blog / General / Uncategorized / Wellness by Hamish 11 Dec 2014 0 comments

How Much Pressure

How much Pressure do you like? Is a strange question when applied to massage. Intake forms can be a bit silly when they ask this question. The question is far too general and tempts you to vote with their feet – as it’s not a fair question – and you don’t know your therapist. The other thing about the how much pressure question is…where? And at what stage in the massage? Not only does the amount of pressure differ all over the body, it also depends greatly on the overall flow of the massage, and the body type you’re working on. A massage therapist can and will go deeper, if appropriate, once their client is more into the massage session, more relaxed, and has been having the benefit of preparatory and warming strokes, such as petrissage, tapotement, and even a more vigorous effleurage. (Additionally, I use a table warmer – which goes a long way to preparing the muscles and mind of your massage client for deeper work.)

How much pressure is used also refers to the circumstances and type of massage you are looking for. For example, I work in spas in Jackson Hole, and travel to out-call appointments, where clients are mostly looking for relaxation massage with some specific thrown in – such as ‘tight shoulders, neck and upper back’. These tend to be ‘one-time’ clients – looking for a bit of feel-good pampering while on vacation (and many people find that vacation is very stressful). When I am a sports therapist working on a specific problem with an athlete whom I see weekly in our office, that’s a whole different context, where how much pressure is used is arrived at in a whole different way: the clients needs have been assessed in previous sessions, and a plan has been developed.

In writing in a massage blog about how much pressure to apply , there’s a whole lot of peripheral information that needs to be considered – all the way from that silent, energy-filled ‘communication’ with the client on the table, to the much more physical aspects of the therapist’s size, weight, strength, experience with skills and knowledge of anatomy. And there’s a feeling that grows from the first moment of touch.

Once I have the client comfortable, warm, secure, and have done some over-the-drapes work and good warming strokes – I’ll get down to the business of massage and figuring out how much pressure to apply, and when and where. I use my senses as I move along slowly sensing how much pressure to apply in whatever stroke is appropriate for that moment. By this time I have found the right amount of oil to suit the client’s skin type and depth of massage they’re capable of handling. More oil means a lighter massage, less oil means deeper – it all has to do with the enabling or the curtailing of the speed of the stroke. With more oil, you’re going to zoom along the surface of the muscle, not spending much time there. Less time means less pressure.

So the question of how much pressure really means much more than putting a check in a box on an intake form – it’s an opportunity for a discussion with your massage therapist. And as you have this discussion, you’ll find that your therapist is gathering a whole lot more information than just about how much pressure you would like – an overall idea of your massage is forming in your therapist’s mind.

Be well,

Hamish and Rochelle,
Massage Professionals of Jackson Hole

in Blog / Deep Tissue Massage / General / Massage / Uncategorized by Hamish 25 Nov 2014 0 comments

Teenagers Benefit from Massage

Yes, it’s true – teenagers benefit from massage. Massage has been shown to help different issues that occur during adolescence.We have all been through those sometimes dreaded (and just as often wonderful) years between childhood and adulthood. We go through massive changes hormonally and physically – and while regular doctors’ visits are recommended for the hard, medical aspects of this growing-up stage, massage can also be an important component of a teen’s health and wellness. Here are 3 areas where teenagers benefit from massage

1. Poor body image and eating disorders.

Depression, social pressures regarding appearance, and participation in sports where leanness is valued (such as gymnastics, wrestling, and diving), are all associated with the development of eating disorders. Needless to say, high school provides ample opportunity for all of these.

Studies done at the Touch Research Institute with women who struggle with either anorexia nervosa or bulimia showed that regular massage decreased anxiety levels, increased levels of the feel-good hormone dopamine, and reduced depression scores. Participants in the study also showed better scores on the Eating Disorder Inventory, indicating better body awareness. While counseling is obviously of paramount importance, massage therapy can be a powerful adjunct to other forms of treatment for eating disorders. It’s just another example of how teenagers benefit from massage.

Teenagers living in Jackson Hole, or those visiting the Tetons, are not exempt from these health and mental concerns, so regular massage therapy with companies like Massage Professionals of Jackson Hole should be a part of life.

2. PMS and menstrual pain.

What’s worse than menstrual problems? Menstrual problems when you’re a teenager. Between the irregular cycles, the inexperience with managing symptoms, and the embarrassment about getting help, adolescence can be a rough time to have a uterus. Effective treatments like hormonal birth control can have negative social connotations, and require a pelvic exam to obtain, a procedure that most teen girls have yet to experience and may wish to avoid.

Yet once again it has been shown that female teenagers benefit from massage as it has been shown to help with pain, anxiety, and feelings of depression related to PMS, as well as other symptoms like water retention. Girls can also benefit from learning self-massage techniques to use when experiencing menstrual cramps on a day-to-day basis.

3. Athletic injuries.

While high school athletes are injured at around the same rate as professional athletes, their growing bodies mean that they’re often injured in different ways. Since bones grow before muscles and tendons do, youth are more susceptible to muscle, tendon, and growth plate injuries. Sprains, strains, growth plate injuries, repetitive motion injuries, and heat-related illness are among the most common injuries among young athletes. Boys are most likely to experience athletic injuries while playing ice hockey, rugby and soccer, while soccer, basketball and gymnastics lead to the most injuries in girls.

Sports massage has a long history, and can be especially effective when dealing with repetitive motion injuries like tennis elbow and runner’s knee. Massage therapists are now found at every kind of sporting event, from the Olympics all the way down to your local 10K. Given that teen athletes can be more vulnerable to injury and overuse than their adult counterparts, it makes sense to offer them the same opportunities for healing and pain relief.

Do you know a teen who could use a massage? Go to www.MassageProfessionalsJH.com today and book your massage online. Please see our weekly newsletter No.5 for more massage news.

in Blog / Massage / Uncategorized / Wellness by Hamish 30 Oct 2014 0 comments

Jackson Hole Ski Swap

The Jackson Hole Ski Swap is such a deal – not only are the prices hard to beat, most of the time, but you get into that kind of party atmosphere and excitement as part of a large, anticipating crowd. Correctly called the Jackson Hole Ski Club Ski Swap, it is a fund-raising effort for the Jackson Hole Ski Club – 25% of the sale price goes to help those young athletes train and compete against regional competition.

The Jackson Hole Ski Swap is an annual fundraising event hosted by the Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club. Local and regional vendors as well as local ski enthusiasts will be selling new and used Alpine, Nordic and Snowboard equipment and clothing. Please come along if you have gear to sell or need something for the upcoming season. The Jackson Hole Ski Swap is an annual event, always held the last weekend of October. Hundreds of people line up at the doors on a frosty late October morning – all in down jackets, wool hats and Sorrel boots – yes, another Jackson Hole ski season is on the horizon and the tempting ski flicks by Teton Gravity Research and Warren Miller have already made the rounds – amping-up the excitement.

Memberships to the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club are $30 and provide hundreds of benefits and discounts at local businesses throughout the winter season.

Here’s the address for the Jackson Hole Ski Swap:

Heritage Arena- At the Rodeo Grounds

305 West Snow King Avenue Jackson, Wyoming

Here’s the schedule: Here’s the schedule for the Jackson Hole Ski Swap:

Friday, October 24, 2014 12-7pm at the Jackson Hole Heritage Arena

Vendors drop-off 12pm-2pm Public drop-off 12pm-7pm

Saturday, October 25th 7:30am – 1pm at the Heritage Arena

6:30am – Coffee from Elevated Grounds and burritos from Pica’s on site! All profits to benefit the JHSC Scholarship Fund 7:30am -The Early Bird gets the Worm! Come early to get the cream of the crop at the Swap! Early Bird admission is ten dollars or five dollars with your Ski Club Membership Card. Paying for early admission is definitely worth the price because you get the pick of the good stuff and a relatively uncrowded experience. 8:15am- Doors open for the public. General admission is one dollar or free with your Jackson Hole Ski Club Membership Card. Please bring your membership card or purchase one at the door.

Saturday, October 25th 2-4pm at the Heritage Arena

Items not sold during the Ski Swap must be picked-up between 2pm and 4pm. Please bring your paperwork to retrieve unsold items. Items not picked-up by 4pm will be considered a donation and taken to the Sublette Ski Swap.

5:00pm – 7.00pm – Get a massage at Jackson Hole Massage Professionals.

Be well, Hamish and Rochelle.

in Blog / Jackson Hole / Jackson Hole Parties / Off-season / Off-season activities / Uncategorized by Hamish 23 Oct 2014 0 comments

Halloween in Jackson Hole

If you’re planning on spending Halloween in Jackson Hole, there are plenty of parties to go to and places to get your costumes. First, there’s Halloween Headquarters Jackson Hole. This is probably the largest collection of Halloween costumes available in Jackson Hole, as they exists specifically and only for selling Halloween costumes. But it is just open for the month of October. They don’t have a web site, but customers reviews say: “I love Halloween Headquarters! Great Service and awesome costumes”. ” Great Selection, surprisingly more variety than other Halloween stores.”

If you’re on a budget and into more creativity than just buying a costume, your Halloween in Jackson Hole will be all the better for a visit to Browse ‘n’ Buy – Jackson Hole’s favorite thrift store. Their Halloween costumes have now been on display for a couple of weeks. Of course, you can make Halloween costumes out of just about anything from home…with a little imagination and devilishness…

It wouldn’t be Halloween in Jackson Hole if it wasn’t for Snow King Resort – they’ve held the biggest ‘do’ in town for some years now. It’s known as the KMTN (a Jackson Hole Radio Station) Halloween Bash, and it attracts hundreds of scarily – costumed revelers. There’s a live band, costume competition, silly games…and beer. This is a late night adult party – so use a designated driver or the tipsy taxi service.

It’s usually cold having Halloween in Jackson Hole, and costumes aren’t known for their warmth – so almost every neighborhood in Jackson has haunted houses and mazes for the kids to enjoy – with adult supervision. Enjoy your Halloween in Jackson Hole.

Be well,

Hamish and Rochelle

in Blog / Jackson Hole / Jackson Hole Parties by Hamish 14 Oct 2014 0 comments

Blog

Massage Professionals Has Moved!

Yes – we’ve moved to a new and lovely office:

Chocolate Massage

Chocolate Massage

Massage Clients Help

Massage Clients Help

Organic Massage

Organic Massage

Hamish and Rochelle

Listening Massage

Listening Massage

Breathe

Breathe

How Much Pressure

How Much Pressure

Teenagers Benefit from Massage

Jackson Hole Ski Swap

Jackson Hole Ski Swap

Heritage Arena- At the Rodeo Grounds

Friday, October 24, 2014 12-7pm at the Jackson Hole Heritage Arena

Saturday, October 25th 7:30am – 1pm at the Heritage Arena

Saturday, October 25th 2-4pm at the Heritage Arena

Halloween in Jackson Hole

Halloween in Jackson Hole

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