Plan II: I would travel around to peoples houses with my massage table and do In Home Massages. I thought this to be a novel idea and won that would really be successful. Who wouldn’t want a massage in the convience of their home. It was going along pretty good, not to busy I was maybe doing 2 massages a month. I advertised on the Dollar Savor and thought I would get a lot of business. Well a year later and I still was not doing more than 2 massages a month. I really did not like the idea of working in a spa or for someone else. I really, really wanted my own business and was not about to give up on that idea. But you know that table is really heavy, 33 lbs and when you have to bring it upstairs it is really awkward.

Plan III: This plan just happened to come out of the blue actually. I put together a networking site for the graduates and alumni of my massage school and I would rutinely get notices from the school when massage spaces or job opportunities came about. Well well such notice was for a massage space that was right down the road from my house, like 4 miles. It was a hair salon owner who recently decided to build a massage room in her salon. I never really looked at massages spaces before because I still had this idea that maybe some how I would find the money to add on to my house and have my massage practice. Like maybe I would find a washed up treasure chest on the beach or something yeah right! Anyway this particular massage space notice appealed to me and I decided to look into it. And I am really glad I did. The owner and the other girls are so great and we get along really well. We have our own little family and I love going to work everyday.
My advice to anyone looking to have a practice in their own home is: Do it if you can build a separate rooom and bathroom and can insure a queit atmosphere. If not search around and find a place to rent. If your as lucky as I am you will find a place that matches your style and personality and if your even more lucky, like me, you will find a new extended family and find so much joy in your job and clients. I have noticed that my clients are the best most loyal clients. The atmosphere I work in and the people that come into the salon are the best and I don’t have to work super hard to book people. I still spend several hours a week marketing, but just being in the salon has gotten me many, many wonderful clients. Do I still want a massage practice in my home? Sometimes, but the joy I have where I am, I don’t think I would get through a home practice. One thing you have to think about it if you are working from your home it can get kind of lonely. You have your clients, but the social interactions you get from being outside of the home can be so rewarding.

I love my job and I love my clients. My clients are the best people in the world and I always look forward to my time with them. I feel very blessed to have them in my life.

Love and Light
Shellie Morin LMT
www.sensesationalmassage.com
207-850-1014

Technique: Stone massage is a form of contemporary bodywork and spa treatment. Stones of various sizes, shapes and textures are used as massage tools, and as a form of thermal therapy. As massage tools, stones are used instead of the hands to apply pressure during techniques such as effleurage. As thermal therapy, stones may be heated and placed on the body over certain anatomical structures or in patterns over energy centers and meridians; or cooled and used as cryotherapy to reduce swelling and cool tissues.

Theory: Stone massage is practiced as an eclectic form of bodywork incorporating Western anatomy and physiology with traditional Asian medicine. Geological properties of various kinds of stones are considered. Hot stones applied to the body impart weight and heat that promotes relaxation, normal body function, and energy balancing.
From Tappan’s Handbook of Healing Massage Techniques by Paticia J Benjamin and Frances M Tappan

The benefits of Hot stone massage: The heat helps the muscle to relax, increases local circulation, and makes connective tissue more pliable allowing for a deeper massage. Sore stiff muscles benefit from increased circulation and heat. The chronic pain of fibromyalgia can be eased with Hot stone massage and well as many other chronic pain and some arthritis pain as well. Plus it just feels good.

Shellie Morin LMT
www.sensesationalmassage.com
207-850-1014

Technique: Swedish massage is a form of traditional Western massage. The five classic technique categories of Swedish massage soft tissue manipulation are effleurage(long flowing strokes), petrissage (kneading, compression), tapotement (percussion), friction and vibration. Joint movements ad hydrotherapy are also within the scope of Swedish massage.

Theory: Swedish massage is based in Western anatomy, physiology, and pathology. It is applied to support the normal function of the human body and its systems, as well as enhance its innate healing capacity.

Massage is one of the traditional natural healing arts. It has been used for centuries to promote and restore health along with other gifts fo nature such as nutritious food, herbs, healing waters, exercise, relaxation, fresh air and sunshine.

Some of the effects of massage: Muscle relaxation, increased alertness, or reduced anxiety. Massage improves the overall health of cells and tissues of the body, primarily by increasing blood and lymph circulation. The “milking” action of petrissage techniques and the sliding movements of effleurage are very effective in moving body fluids to facilitate natural processes. Increased fluid circulation improves delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissue cells, and helps in removal of metabolic wastes and byproducts of the inflammatory process. Massage also plays a role in the tissue repair process by helping in the remodeling of healthy scar tissue, ease sore aching muscles, increase joint mobility and flexibility, help with posture, increase the immune system keeping you from getting as many colds and flus. It also reduces stress and just give you a better all over sense of wellbeing.

taken from:”Tappan’s Hanbook of Healing Massage Techniques” by, Patricia J Benjamin, Frances M Tappan

Shellie Morin LMT
www.sensesationalmassage.com
207-850-1014

It was such a great atmosphere with all the caring people and their dogs. None of the dogs faught, it was a truely beautiful thing to see. Everyone was in such a great caring, giving, and fun mood. I was proud to be a part of such a wonderful event. I was fourtunate enough to massage so many wonderful people and meet some great dogs with great stories. Dogs from the Buxton puppy mill seizure and other sad stories of neglect and abuse to people who breed dogs responsibly and every dog was so beautiful and so well behaved. I felt really blessed to beable to be apart of this event and plan to do so again next year.

Those of you who haven’t been to a Strutt Your Mutt fund raiser should really come down and experience it for youselves. I will be there next year and the year after etc… doing free chair massages, so stop by and see what a great and joyious event it is.

Shellie Morin LMT
www.sensesationalmassage.com
Airport Plaza Route 109 Sanford Inside the 109 Hair Salon
207-850-1014

That’s right enjoy a fast ,easy and convenient new way to book your massage session 24/7.

Book your session, receive a confirmation e-mail and number. Book up to 6 weeks ahead and book those ever popular First Friday of the month, Fantasitic Friday, 1 hour $30.00 sessions.

So just go to www.sensesationalmassage.com and click on the book now button to book your appointment.

Love and Light
Shellie Morin LMT
www.sensesationalmassage.com
207-850-1014

Registration and activities start at 10:00 AM. The walk begins at 11:00 AM and covers a 2-mile round trip route along the Kennebunk Beaches, beginning at Mother’s Beach (located farthest south on Beach Avenue next to the playground). Water stations for dogs and people will be located along the route.

This year marks the 14th annual Strut Your Mutt, which is the Animal Welfare Society’s largest single fundraising event of the year. The pledge money raised from this year’s walk will benefit the Sadie Fund.

For more information go to:

http://www.animalwelfaresociety.org/sym/index.php

I will be at the Strut Your Mutt fundraiser this year giving complementary Chair Massages for anyone who wants one. Hope to see you there!

Love and Light
Shellie Morin LMT
www.sensesationalmassage.com
207-850-1014

Here is what you can expect.

When you walk in for the first time the massage therapist will take you to a room or have you sit in a waiting or sitting area and have you fill out an intake form. This form gives the therapist your name and address, birth date, and phone number. Why? some therapist want your birthdate for medical reasons or also because they may offer you specials or discounts for your birthday, which is also why they ask for your address, you don’t want to miss out on any special offers or discounts do you? They may ask for your e-mail address for the same reason. Your phone number is in case the therapist needs to get a hold of you to cancel or change your appointment.

Some therapist work with insurance companies, so there may be a section asking about your insurance, the policy number, name, and address. They may also ask for your doctor’s name incase your doctor is the one who made the refferal for you to have the massage. The insurance company may not accept the session if a doctor did not make the referral.

There will also be a section asking about your medical history. This is important because there are certain conditions that could interfer with the massage. For example a person with high blood pressure maybe asked if the condition is under control or if you are under any medications for your condition. Massage increases the circulation in the body and if you have high blood pressure that is not under control a massage could worsen your condition, you could pass out or worse, go into cardiac arrest. There are also certain skin conditions that could interfer as well. Anything like poison ivy, which could not only be spread over more of your body by massage, but also spread to the massage therapist as well. We also like to know if you have had any recent surgeries, we don’t want to reinjury the area. We also like to know if you are taking any medications that could interfer with your ability to feel pain or pressure.

After filling out the intake, form the therapist will take a look at it and ask you any further questions based on what you filled out. Then the therapist will talk about the session and how best to approach the session so you get the most benefit from the massage. For example if you are having lower back problems the therapist may ask you to start off by lying face down on the table so that area can be worked first. Your therapist will also ask you the type of pressure you prefer, light to firm. This may also be asked on the intake form. Your therapist will also let you know how the massage session will progress, will the therapist start will your back, then legs, then have you turn over etc… You will also be told to lay under the sheets on the table, or towel depending on what type of massage style your therapist was trained in. Most likely though you will be under a sheet and blanket. Your body will be covered at all times by the sheet and blanket. Only the part of you body being massaged will be uncovered, massaged, then covered back up.

At this point your therapist should say something to the effect of “You can undress to your level of comfort”. The level of comfort will obviously vary from client to client. For women it is recommended that you take your bra off, but if you are not comfortable taking your underwear off, don’t. For men if you want to leave your underwear on that is fine too, but remember if you wear boxers that come kind of far down on the thigh, the therapist may ask for you to either take them off or if they can be rolled up, so that the therapist can work on your thighs.

You should also tell the therapist if there are any area on you body you do not want massaged. Some people don’t like thier feet touched, let your therapist know. It should go with out saying that a legitimate massage therapist will never massage breasts or genitals. There are some therapists who are trained to do breast massage for breast cancer patients or other abnormalities dealing with the breasts, but these therapist often work with health care practioners and have a special training or license to do so.

Ok, so you have been over your intake form and know how the therapist is going to start your session as well as how you should lay on the table and how you will be covered(draped). You have told her of any areas you don’t want massaged. Now the therapist will leave the room so you can have privacy to get undressed and under the sheets on the massage table. When the therapist comes back in, the massage will begin.

Now lets talk of something that is of concern mostly to men. Some men are concerned about what will happen when the therapist massages their thigh. Ok, lets say it, Will you get an errection? Massage engages the parasympathetic system. The system that is responsible for controling smooth muscle contraction, regulate cardiac muscle, or stimulate or inhibit glandular secretion. In other words the PSN (parasympatetic nervous systm)plays a role in the pelvis in sexual activity. In males, the cavernous nerves from the prostatic plexus stimulate smooth muscle in the fibrous trabeculae of the coiled helicene arteries to relax and allow blood to fill the corpora cavernosum and the corpus spongiosum of the penis, making it rigid to prepare for sexual activity. To put it more simply, the PSN is responsible for making the penis errect.

It is possible for some men, when getting a massage that they become so relaxed that they can get an errection. Bottom line is if you don’t make a big deal about it neather will your therapist. If you find your therapist does make a big deal about it, then you should find a new therapist. I can also guarantee that 9 times out of 10 your therapist is not even going to notice, unless you say something. It is not something you should be embarassed about, it happens and a mature therapist will not make a scene or big deal over it. If you have any concerns about this you can talk to your therapist about it. So don’t let this worry stop you from experiencing the benefits of a massage. It may not even happen to you.

To learn more about the parasympathetic nervous system click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasympathetic_nervous_system
If you have any other questions or concerns about getting a massage or what to expect, talk to a Massage Therapist. If you want ask your questions here in the comments section. Don’t let your worries prevent you from getting a massage. I am sure anything you are worried about can be overcome just by talking to a therapist about it before your session.

Love and Light
Shellie Morin LMT
www.sensesationalmassage.com

The ideal thing would be to schedule a massage for yourself,( Sense-Sational Massage 207-850-1014), but if you just can’t find the time here are a few tips to help you stay relaxed and balance. Meditate or just take time to do nothing, your body and mind will thank you for it.

How to Meditate

There are many different meditation methods, but at the core of each is the goal to focus and
eventually quiet your mind. Remember, meditating isn’t about sitting in awkward positions. As you progress, you will find that you can meditate anywhere and at any time, accessing an inner calm no matter what’s going on around you. But first, you have to learn to tame your mind. StepsMake time to meditate. Set aside enough time in your daily routine for meditating. The effects of meditation are most noticeable when you do it regularly and consistently rather than sporadically.

Some people will find a five minute meditation worthwhile, for others, the benefits of longer meditation are well worth the time.
You can meditate at any time of day; some people like to start their day off with meditation, others like to end the day by clearing their mind, and some prefer to find refuge in meditation in the middle of a busy day. Generally, however, the easiest time to meditate is in the morning, before the day’s events tire your body out and give your mind more to think about.
Don’t meditate immediately following a meal, or when you are likely to be hungry. The body’s digestive system can be very distracting.
Find or create a quiet, relaxing environment. It’s especially important, when you’re starting out, to avoid any obstacles to attention. Turn off any TV sets, phone(s) or other noisy appliances. If you play music, make sure it’s calm, repetitive and gentle, so as not to break your concentration. Meditating outside can be conducive, as long as you don’t sit near a busy roadway or another source of loud noise.
Sit on level ground. Sit on a cushion if the ground is uncomfortable. You don’t have to twist your limbs into the lotus position or adopt any unusual postures. The important thing is to keep your back straight, as this will help with breathing later on.

You can also meditate on a chair. Make sure your back is straight (whether you lean against the chair or sit free does not matter). Your feet should rest solidly on the ground.
Any position in which you’re relaxed but your back is straight is permissible, even lying down - but be careful that you’re not so relaxed that you fall asleep. In warm weather, consider watching the clouds.
Keep your eyes half-open without focusing on anything. If this is too distracting or difficult, close them or find something steady to focus on such as a small candle flame.
Breathe deeply and slowly from your abdomen rather than your chest. You should feel your stomach rise and fall while your chest stays relatively still.
Relax every muscle in your body. Don’t rush this, as it takes time to fully relax. Do it bit by bit, starting at your toes, and working up to your head, until the tension melts away.
Focus your attention. You may notice that your mind wants to wander, bouncing from thought to thought, making observations about other things. Gently bring your attention back to a single point until it rests there naturally. The goal is to allow the “chattering” in your mind to gradually fade away. Find an “anchor” to settle your mind.

Let your attention rest on the flow of your breath. Listen to it, follow it, but make no judgments on it (such as “It sounds a little raspy…maybe I’m getting a cold?”).
To overcome verbal chatter, recite a mantra (repetition of a sacred word). A single word like “om” uttered at a steady rhythm is best. You can recite it verbally or just with the voice in your mind. Beginners may find it easier to count their breaths. Try counting your breath from 1 to 10, then simply start again at 1.
To circumvent images that keep intruding on your thoughts, visualize a place that calms you. It can be real or imaginary. Imagine you are at the top of a staircase leading to a peaceful place. Count your way down the steps until you are peaceful and relaxed.
For some people, focusing attention on a point or object does exactly the opposite of what meditation is all about. It takes you back to the life of ‘focus’, ‘concentration’, ’strain’. In this case, as an alternative to the above techniques, some meditators recommend un-focusing your attention. Instead of focusing attention on a point or an object, this type of meditation is achieved by attaining a state of zero. Take your attention above all thoughts till a point you lose all attention and all thoughts.
Silence your mind. Once you’ve trained your mind to focus on just one thing at a time, the next step is focus on nothing at all, essentially “clearing” your mind. This requires tremendous discipline but is the pinnacle of meditation. After focusing on a single point as described in the previous step, you can either cast it away, or observe it impartially and let it come and then go, without labeling it as “good” or “bad”. Take the same approach to any thoughts which return to your mind until silence perseveres.

TipsWhat you do with a silent mind is up to you. Some people find that it is a good time to introduce an intention or a desired outcome to the subconscious mind. Others prefer to “rest” in the rare silence that meditation affords. Read up on the different types of meditation and their purposes.
You should be comfortable enough to concentrate, but not so comfortable that you feel the urge to fall asleep.
Make some effort to be mindful of your mood and thoughts when not meditating. You may notice that you feel calmer, happier, and sharper on days when you have meditated, and notice a decrease in these qualities when you have not.
It may be beneficial to mentally review or replay the previous day at the start of your sessions, if you can do so in a relaxed, passive way. This often happens naturally, and sometimes it’s best to allow this to happen, as long as you don’t get emotionally wrapped up or let it go on too long before beginning meditation. This procedure is known as “processing” of recent events, and becoming skilled at performing a non-judgmental review of events does much to increase awareness and emotional well-being.
The benefits of meditation can be experienced long before the practitioner has been successful in maintaining focus or clearing the mind, simply as a result of the practice.
Set aside a specific time each day for meditation, but don’t overdo it. If 20-30 minutes in the morning isn’t enough, add another session later in the day instead of trying for a single, longer session.
It is easy to loose track of time while meditating. Being concerned about time can be distracting to meditation. Some people find it liberating to set a timer and let it be concerned about how long you have to meditate. Choose a gentle timer. If it is too jarring, the anticipation of the alarm can be distracting also.
Some people find that praying can be an effective form of meditation, and they believe in meditating, or “praying through,” perhaps for hours to find peace. For peace, naturally your prayer would not be “begging,” but more like being grateful for your breath and acknowledging your many blessings… rather than complaining.

Warnings Don’t expect immediate results. The purpose of meditation is not to turn you into a Zen master overnight. Meditation works best when it is done for its own sake, without becoming attached to results.
If you find your mind is wandering, try not to scold or beat up on yourself about it. Wandering restlessly is the normal state of the conditioned mind. This is the first lesson many people learn in meditation and it is a valuable one. Simply, gently, invite your attention back to your breath, remembering that you’ve just had a small but precious “awakening.” Becoming aware of your wandering mind is a success, not a failure.
Some people find it’s difficult to meditate immediately before bedtime. If you’re very sleepy, you may find yourself nodding off. Conversely, meditating may energize your mind, making it more difficult to fall asleep.
As you meet other people who meditate, you’ll encounter a few who will boast about their endurance for long meditation sessions–even hours and hours at a sitting. Don’t be tempted to change your practice to “keep up.” Meditation is not competitive.
Avoid bad dreams: if pleading and begging in prayer is your form of meditation, change that to being thankful and blessing others–in prayer and in life–to help you progress, sleep, and avoid bad dreams, proven by practitioners.

Borrowed from: http://www.wikihow.com/Meditate

How to Do Nothing

For those of us who are non-stop workaholics, doing nothing can actually be pretty difficult! If you’re like the Energizer bunny in that you keep going, and going, and going, here’s how to stop once in a while, think pleasant thoughts, visit the beach, stare at the water, and just do nothing.
Of course, the fact that this page has been accessed by you indicates two things:

You are on the path towards achieving your goal of doing nothing and are serious about it.
The very fact that you are accessing this page and finding out how to ‘do nothing, indicates you are doing something and therefore, violates your goal. Stop doing, start lazing!
[edit] StepsPlan ahead. Whether it’s an hour, a day, a week, a month, or a year of doing nothing, cancel all of your appointments for that block of time. Try to pick the most boring week or day, a day where you’ll most likely sleep most of the time.
Let people know. Tell everyone that you’re going to be “busy” and will be unavailable. Whether you choose to tell them that you’re actually setting aside some time to do nothing, or you just give them the vague explanation “I’m going to be busy” (busy doing nothing!), tell them not to call, visit, or interrupt unless it’s a real emergency.
Find a quiet, private place. Go somewhere you don’t feel pressured to do anything. This might be your bedroom, the backyard, or a local park. Find that place and go there.
Set your alarm. Set an alarm of some kind to go off when your “nothing” time is over, so that you don’t have to constantly look at the clock and count the minutes.
Turn off the phone. Turn off your cell phone, work phone, pager, PDA, Blackberry, computer, Beeper, Radio, Tv, Iphone and any other means of sending or receiving calls or messages. These distractions will only keep you from enjoying the nothing.
Sit by yourself. Feel the wind, the sun on your face, the chair touching your bottom. Listen to the rustle of the trees, birds chirping, water flowing. Never think about the past or future. Avoid the temptation to turn on the TV, listen to music, write a note to yourself, get a bite to eat, or anything else. The only thing you should do is go to the bathroom (if needed).
Learn how to free your mind. Clear your mind of all thoughts of work, worries, family, etc. by simply letting them go. Doing this not only allows your body to do nothing, but your mind as well. However, do not be worried if you find yourself thinking of things. Freeing up one’s mind is actually very difficult to master, and often requires more discipline than some free time (Buddhist monks, for example, dedicate their entire lives to freeing their minds).

TipsSetting aside some free time to do nothing on a regular basis is very healthy for your mind, body, and emotional life, especially if you find that you’re really wearing yourself thin. Often times, we are encouraged by the actions of our fast-paced, high-information society to believe that staying busy is a normal and natural state of existence. Remember, there is no guilt in giving yourself some private downtime. How often you do nothing is up to you, but it should be a rejuvenating experience.
Once you become good at doing nothing, you can use this new found time and energy to think of things, instead. This would not be doing “nothing,” but thinking while shutting out the world. Focusing on one thing this way will help you to concentrate better than having your mind zoom over a million thoughts a minute.
If you live in a small apartment, set aside a corner of a larger room with floor pillows, a softly scented candle and maybe a cozy throw. If these things aren’t available, just find a quiet place for yourself.
Try to temporarily forget about that work you have to get done, that test you need to study for, or that place you need to be, and just relax. Eventually, you will learn to plan what you will think about and not think about while doing nothing.
If you have an intimate companion, try doing nothing together.
If you really can’t handle the idea (or guilt) of doing nothing, then learn how to fish. That way you just lay by a river and say, “I’m not doing nothing, I’m fishing!”
If your parent asks what you’re doing, and doesn’t believe you are doing nothing, say you’re daydreaming.

Warnings At first you may feel nervous, sad, and restless. Try to relax and understand that doing nothing does not mean that you’re being unproductive or irresponsible. Keep in mind that you are doing this in order to clear your mind and ultimately extend your life so that you will have even more time. Ultimately, setting time aside to recharge your batteries will make you more productive, creative, and more able to concentrate in the long run, and that’s very good for work, school, or other.
If you are exhausted while you try to do nothing, you may end up falling asleep. If this happens, consider adding more sleep to your daily routine.
Remember not to do this for too long…eventually, you’ve gotta do something! Or maybe not!

Borrowed from: http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Nothing

Shellie Morin LMT
Owner of
Sense-Sational Massage
207-850-1014
www.sensesationalmassage.com

That’s right… The FIRST FRIDAY of EVERY month is FANTASTIC FRIDAY and a regular 1 hour Swedish Massage is just $30.00
So make your appointments now because they fill up fast and once fill that’s it until next month, no rain checks or anything else, so book now before it fills up.

207-850-1014
www.sensesationalmassage.com
Shellie Morin LMT
Sense-Sational Massage
Airport Plaza
Inside The 109 Hair Salon
Sanford Maine