Jackson Hole

Chocolate Massage

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.

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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.

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Pour this lotion into a jar with a tight lid and store in a cool dark place.
  4. 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 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.

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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.

Jackson Hole Ski Swap

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.

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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.

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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. Jackson Hole Ski Swap 2

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

Heritage Arena- At the Rodeo Grounds

305 West Snow King Avenue Jackson, Wyoming

 

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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.

Halloween in Jackson Hole

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.”

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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…

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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.

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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.

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Be well,

Hamish and Rochelle

 

Inside Jackson Hole

Inside Jackson Hole

Inside Jackson Hole is this weeks post – and it has to do with a few of the things to do ‘inside’ if you’re visiting Jackson Hole and the weather isn’t cooperating with your outside plans.

There are wonderfully tasty eateries – from simple ‘great food’ cafes, like Cafe Genevieve, Lotus Organic Cafe, and Cafe Boheme; and more conventional restaurants like Bubba’s and the Virginian Restaurant; and then there are the high-end places like Snake River Grille, the Granary at Spring Creek Ranch, and the Blue Lion – but all that eating will be for later Jackson Hole food in my blog posts.

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This is about entertaining yourselves when the weather is poor. The first inside Jackson Hole activity to spring to mind is the National Museum of Wildlife Art – which is a must-visit Jackson Hole attraction – even in fine weather. There’s a permanent fine art collection that lives in the NMWA – that alone could keep you going for a day; and visiting exhibitions are ‘Western Visions‘, through October 26th., ‘The Odd Couple‘ – a New Pairing of Thought-Provoking Art – through December 31; ‘Tusk Horn, Flesh and Bone‘ by Graphic Designer Asher Jay, through January 18, 2015;  ‘From Stone to Glass‘ Wildlife Sculpture in Multiple Media, through April 19, 2015.

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Something for the kids? Well – there’s the Teton County Recreation Center to consider as inside Jackson Hole. There’s a lap pool, hot tub, steam room, dry sauna, kids pool, a large flume slide and a little one for toddlers. A couple of large gyms for playing organized sports are there if you can join a basket ball league for the day – and there are toddler play days there as well. Do check the pool schedules as local swim teams and other activities can make it unavailable.

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Something else for the kids inside Jackson Hole is Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Now – believe it or not – I’ve never been in there – but it is one of Jackson’s iconic businesses, right by the Jackson Town Square – so it must be good – right?

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And last but not least – back to the adults – another inside Jackson Hole activity is…MASSAGE. Ah yes – getting a massage when the weather is less than optimal makes so much sense. There are many massage companies to choose from, in addition to our very own Massage Professionals of Jackson Hole. There’s the Banya Day Spa, Jackson Hole Massage Therapy, Bliss Bodywork, the Harmonic Spa – to name a few. At the resorts, there’s Sena Spa, the Wilderness Adventure Spa at Spring Creek Ranch, and the Amangani Spa. At Massage Professionals of Jackson Hole, we offer couples massages in the comfort of our office at 270 Veronica Lane, Jackson, WY 83001 – and we will also come to your home or vacation residence.

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We hope you enjoy your time – inside Jackson Hole.

Be well,

 

Hamish and Rochelle.

Jackson Hole SHIFT Festival

Jackson Hole SHIFT Festival

The Jackson Hole SHIFT Festival is yet another festival to write about this fall. There’s been the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, the Jackson Hole Fall Film Festival (Frank’s Fall Film Festival), Jackson Hole Music Festival, Grand Targhee Music Festival – wow – Jackson Hole is the place to be for festivals.

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The Jackson Hole SHIFT Festival is all about saving the environment – or at least how one company, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, throws a party in order to advertise it’s sustainability practices. It’s a way to get the public involved and is, overall, a coming-together of people (mostly locals this time). There’s FoodSHIFT, where the sustainable practices in food purchasing and production are explored – and of course the tasting of gourmet food. The SHIFT Summit showcases how local communities in North America, such as Jackson Hole, can make a difference – and share their knowledge with other like-minded communities.

 

There’s a presentation called ‘Tools for Tomorrow’, inspired by Patagonia’s ‘Tools for the Grassroots Activist’, and modeled on the Jackson Hole Conservation Leadership Institute. This program teaches skills needed to plan and win a conservation campaign.

 

For Adventure lovers, Outside SHIFT Festival also brings mountain biking, fishing, wildlife-watching and more. Free guided bike rides and walks will show-off Jackson Hole’s extensive pathways. Guide companies will offer nature excursions at reduced rates, as will some fishing companies and mountain-bike guiding companies. Teton Gravity Research gets in on the act too, of course, with their latest spectacle ‘Higher’. Sponsored by Subaru Jeremy Jones’ jumps can be seen at the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts.

There’s also the Jackson Hole Wilderness Rendezvous – a celebration of the 50th. anniversary of The Wilderness Act, and the Jackson Hole Film Festival is finished at the National Museum of Wildlife Art with a presentation by Barry Lopez, who discusses the relationship between human culture and physical landscape.

 

The dates of the Jackson Hole SHIFT Festival are Wednesday, October 8th. until Sunday, October 12th. The fall colors will be in their last throes of brilliance – why not come out and join us?

Be well,

Hamish and Rochelle

 

 

Jackson Hole Centennial

Jackson Hole Centennial

Yes, the year of 2014 is the year of the Jackson Hole Centennial. The town of Jackson, Wyoming, was incorporated in 1914 – on September 21 to be precise – and we’re just three short weeks away from that date. And when you think about it – it wasn’t all that long ago, and to see images of Jackson then, compared to what it is now – wow – what a hundred years can do to ‘progress’.

 

So what do the locals do to celebrate the Jackson Hole Centennial? Well- there have been events all summer for visitors and locals alike. There was a huge Centennial Community Picnic at Miller Park, the 4th. of July Parade had a special flavor especially for the Jackson Hole Centennial, and coming up, on September 19th. Come along and help the Teton Raptor Center, the Jackson Hole Land Trust, and the Jackson Hole Historical Society have a ‘BARN-TASTIC’ evening at the Center for the Arts to celebrate the iconic  Mosely/Hardeman Barn. There will be live music with barn dancing, a film (see promo at https://vimeo.com/78426914) a discussion and wildlife art exhibits. There will also be a ‘Treasure Hidden in Plain Sight’ event.

For those into something more peaceful than barn dancing, there will be a quilting demonstration on September 20th. from 10am – 2pm at the historic Miller House in the National Elk Refuge.  Also on September 20th, the Jackson Hole Centennial will be celebrated with the Centennial Gala – that will be at 6pm.

As reported in my most recent blog post, one of the bog deals of the celebration will be the Lynyrd Skynrd concert happening this evening (August 31st.) at SnowKing Ball Park.

And of course there’s something you can also do to help celebrate a hundred years of Jackson Hole and that’s – Get a Massage, we here at Massage Professionals of Jackson Hole can arrange for your massage without all that organization and planning. Just give us a call at 307 413 1961.

Whatever it is that you do to celebrate the Jackson Hole Centennial – have fun, and –

Be well,

Hamish and Rochelle.

 

Jackson Hole Rodeo

Jackson Hole Rodeo

The Jackson Hole Rodeo is a true local event – that’s also a big deal for the visitors – there’s genuine regional and state-wide competition held. Why not come and enjoy it after your day of touring Grand Teton National Park, or Yellowstone National Park?  OK – you might just want to get a massage instead – so come visit us at Massage Professionals of Jackson Hole.

For more than 100 years, cowboys of Jackson Hole’s Wild West have been competing in rodeos. So if your family finds itself in the Wild West in the summer, make a date to catch the Jackson Hole Rodeo. The season runs from Memorial Day weekend through the end of August, with shows taking place on various Wednesday and Saturday nights, starting at 8pm. A special Independence Day Rodeo takes place and concludes with fireworks on July 4. It’s always a full-house great show, held at the Teton County Fairgrounds in Jackson, Wyoming, and then the Teton County Fair rodeos round out the season. Watching a genuine Western rodeo is a real thrill and you’ll get involved in the riders and their mounts right away. Competitions include calf-roping, bull-riding and barrel racing. Massage Professionals of Jackson Hole is happy to provide massage services to soothe the muscles those sore cowboys and cowgirls.

The setting for Jackson Hole Rodeo is superb, with green pine-treed Snow King Mountain right behind it – and it is centrally located withing walking distance of most of the Town of Jackson. For a small town like Jackson, this is a high-ranking rodeo in the Yellowstone Region.

In 1890 Sylvester Wilson brought the first group of settlers over Teton Pass into what is now Jackson Hole. He came here with his family to raise cattle on the fertile grass growing abundantly in the valley. 120 years and six generations later the pioneer spirit lives on–the Wilson family continues the western heritage and invites you to enjoy it with them by attending the Jackson Hole Rodeo.

Rodeo also runs three generations deep in the family, starting back with Clark Wheeldon riding broncs in the rodeo before it was moved to Wilson, Wyoming (yes it is named after the family). Uncles Chet and Chancy continued in their fathers footsteps riding bareback and saddle bronc horses. In 1976 Chancy earned a spot among the top fifteen saddle bronc riders in the world and a chance to compete in the superbowl of rodeo, the NFR. The Wilson boys and cousins followed as well; Bodee, Brandon, Shawn, and Jason riding broncs, while Buskin and Coby took the more dangerous route bullriding. Buskin finished as high as 26th in the world bullriding standings. Not to leave the girls out Karissa and Sadee barrel raced professionally winning several trophy saddles along the way. Philip meanwhile stuck to the business side of rodeo and worked as a director to the Wyoming High School Rodeo Association for twelve years five of which he served as President and Chairman. Phil now spends much of his time with Wyoming Cowboy Church bringing the word of God to cowboys. The family still competes in the team roping event at Jackson Hole Rodeo.

The Jackson Hole Rodeo grounds are located at 447 Snow King Avenue, Jackson, WY 83002.

Be Well,

 

Hamish and Rochelle

 

Jackson Hole News

Jackson Hole News and Guide

Fourteen years ago, about a year before I moved to Jackson Hole, I subscribed to the Jackson Hole News .  By the time I had moved to Jackson, the Jackson Hole News merged with The Jackson Hole Guide to become one: The Jackson Hole News and Guide.  This small-town newspaper was out of its league in quality – certainly compared to The Vail Trail – Vail’s weekly newspaper at the time.

Consistently, over the thirteen years I have lived here, the Jackson Hole News and Guide has won various awards and accolades – for photography, mostly under chief photographer, Bradley Boner and Photographer, Price Chambers; and coverage of small town stories – top of the class for newspapers of this size. Of course, Editor Angus M. Theurmer was editor, along with Tom Dewell, for all of this time and was largely responsible for the content and much of the praise.

Specifically, the Jackson Hole News and Guide has been honored by the Wyoming Press Association with fourteen Pacemaker Awards for excellence in such categories as reporting, advertising, design and web presence – and the newspaper has also won six first-place awards in its circulation class. For five years in a row, the Jackson Hole News and Guide has won the award of Wyoming’s best large weekly paper. Not Bad.

Unlike many newspapers that have either gone away completely, or become so small as to be a shadow of their previous size – the Jackson Hole News and Guide has continued to be a weighty tome. The Owner / Publisher of the newspaper is Kevin Olson (Having been the Chief Operating Officer of the newspaper, he purchased it from Michael Sellett in January of this year) and Teton Media Works is his new company – additionally publishing The Jackson Hole Daily and Teton Homes and Living Magazine.

Visitors to Jackson Hole, who wish to dig deeper than the usual tourist activities, would do well to purchase the News and Guide as it is thick with interesting information about the goings-on of Teton Valley, Wyoming. Advertisers abound in there – and we at Massage Professionals of Jackson Hole, advertise in this paper and the Jackson Hole Daily from time to time. it’s good to be seen.

I always look forward to Wednesday coming around when it’s nice to get a fresh edition of the Jackson Hole News and Guide straight off the press.

Be well,

 

Hamish and Rochelle.

 

Teton County Library

Teton County Library

The Teton County Library definitely belongs in the realm of ‘Things to do in Jackson Hole‘. And why not? One of the things we learn at Massage Professionals of Jackson Hole is that people who come to Jackson Hole actually overdo it – and end up needing a massage. Too much of a goal-oriented vacation raises expectations and proves to be stressful, and generally prevents much of the rest and relaxation that is the whole point of being on vacation. A visit to Teton County Library is a delightful treat.  There are beautiful and diverse, comfortable seating areas to go and read yourself a book of a periodical. It’s a great way to take a load off your feet or get out of the heat, or the heavy rains we experience here in Jackson Hole in the summers. Additionally, there are meeting rooms, study rooms and a large display area where, currently, the featured show is Yellowstone, Then and Now – and exhibit and speaker series.

Teton County Library, by the way, means Teton County Wyoming, of course, as Jackson Hole is in Wyoming…but there’s also a Teton County in Idaho – just over Teton Pass. Oh – and you have to go through Teton County, Idaho, in order to get to the Alta Branch of Teton Country Library – unless, that is, you drop in by parasail or hike over the Teton Range from Grand Teton National Park.

The following, from the Teton County Library’s web site, explains the recent renovation and addition to this spectacular and modern state-of-the art facility: The voter-approved library project includes an 11,000-square-foot addition and renovation of the previous 24,000-square-foot building, parking lot and outdoor areas. The building project has created more space for reading and study, computers and technology, community meeting rooms, and dedicated teen and children’s areas, which are separated from quieter library spaces. We are planning for Silver LEED certification. The library’s existing electrical, data and building systems were replaced, upgraded and modernized. Architects on the project were Gilday Architects with Humphries/Poli Architects, and Construction Manager was GE Johnson. Teton County Library is certainly the most contemporary in the Entire Yellowstone Region.

Teton County Library is celebrating it’s 75th birthday this year with all kinds of special events so be sure to check out their web site https://tclib.org/

Be well,

 

Hamish and Rochelle