Elements Therapeutic Massage - East Longmeadow

Article: "Emails Really Stress Us Out" by Linda Wasmer Andrews

Wed, 16 May 2012 05:44:00 -0500

Check out this link to a great article by Linda Wasmer Andrews on the effets of constant emails and how stress levels are at an all time high because of our dependency on technology. This is very insightful, and scary! I know I am always connected, maybe it's time to take a step back from the inbox at scheduled times each day...

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/allinyourmind/emails-really-stress-us-out

Enjoy!

JLP

3 Reasons to Get a Massage More Often

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:22:00 -0500

Why a regular massage should be a fundamental component to your overall wellness program

We'd all love to get massage on a regular basis. If that sounds more like a luxury and not a necessity, check your facts. Health experts recommend regular massage therapy with good reason!

Consider these three excuses to get a massage as often as you like:

1. Your pain wasn’t built in a day.

You didn’t develop that ache or pain or health condition overnight. Pain comes from things you do over a period of months and years, like working at a desk or computer. And it’s likely to reoccur simply due to the routine of everyday life and the toll that it takes on your body.

A regularly scheduled massage helps you keep on top of your health rather than playing catch-up all the time. American comedian and actor, Bob Hope received a massage almost every day of his life and he lived to be almost 90.

Think about how much money you spend on healthcare to treat symptoms like chronic pain, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety and depression — and to diagnose you when you’re sick — and consider then how much you could save by adding a preventive treatment like regular massage.

2. Stress happens — all the time.

Your stress triggers are always with you, not just on days when you decide to treat yourself to a massage. Sure, there are bigger, one-time events that are intensely stressful, like losing a job. But low- to moderate-level stress triggers — crazy traffic, difficult people, delayed flights — are an ongoing part of everyday life. And experts widely agree that this chronic, continual stress is the underlying cause of 80 to 90 percent of all health conditions.

Stress leads to all kinds of serious, chronic health conditions including high blood pressure, insomnia and obesity. And there’s more and more research showing that stress alone can lead to certain types of cancer.

You can’t stop stressful situations from happening. Even if you practice stress management techniques like meditation, it’s challenging to completely prevent the natural chemical reactions that stress triggers in your body. But you can manage its lasting effects on your health by “stress-detoxing” on an ongoing basis. Frequent and consistent massage helps your body sustain its stress resilience mechanisms and keeps stress hormones in balance, in turn reducing the risk of chronic health conditions and illnesses.

Therapeutic massage can become a part of a regular stress management program. Making this is a priority can help you maintain a healthy weight, sleep better, and even alleviate depression in certain situations.

3. Quality of life isn’t just for special occasions.

At Elements Therapeutic Massage about half our clientele comes in for regularly scheduled massages. Some of the longtime clients become concerned if they can’t come in for their regular session — because it helps keep them healthy and enables them to lead an active lifestyle.

Even if you’re not experiencing pain or mobility challenges that keep you from hiking, biking, golfing or other physical activities you enjoy, massage can simply be the breather you need to keep your sanity and perspective in a hectic society. Think about how that can improve your outlook, attitude and relationships with your spouse, kids, family, friends, coworkers, boss....

Not sure how often you should have a massage? Almost everyone can benefit from a monthly massage. Depending on your health situation or concerns, a more frequent massage may be in order. A regularly scheduled massage regimen could help you save on healthcare costs like over-the-counter remedies for stress-related symptoms and illnesses.

Networking is the Golden Key to Growing a Business

Wed, 02 May 2012 03:13:00 -0500

As an Elements owner, I am part of a wonderful franchise that provides much support and many systems in regards to running a successful business. I could not be happier about my decision to join this franchise network and the people in our corporate office in Denver are amazing.

When I was starting this business almost 4 years ago, as well as other ventures in the past, I quickly realized that the most affordable and effective way to grow and nurture my business as a long-term asset was to get out of the 4 walls surrounding me and network in the community. This need has only increased as my business has grown.

I often coach other business owners to get involved with at least 2 structured organizations in their respective territory. The big names I often recommend are the local Chamber of Commerce, Business Network International (BNI), Young Professional Society, the Rotary Club and the Exchange Club to name a few. These organizations are generally in every major community, city or town.

And networking works 2 ways. First, you should be focused on what BNI calls the "givers-gain", which is the benefit of connecting and referring people to the right professionals that can help. Second, as a reciprocal perk, you begin to receive introductions and referrals back your way. It truly is a 2-way street of giving.

Start small, and work up the courage to attend some events, maybe 1 per week for the first 3 months in business. Before you know it, you will have developed and nurtured some great relationships and grown your business in leaps and bounds!

JLP

Shape Up Your Summer Body, While Rejuvenating Your Mommy Spirit

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:00:00 -0500

Moms spend most of their waking hours as caretakers – taking care of running a busy household, juggling work and family schedules, and caring about the health and happiness of friends, family members and even clients. Many times, though, caring for others is done at the expense of caring for themselves.

In celebration of Mother’s Day this month, it is time to start taking care of all the mothers out there who run their minds and bodies thin in an effort to care for everyone and everything that is important to them and their families. Caring for mothers starts with giving them the relaxation and rejuvenation they deserve with frequent massage therapy sessions tailored toward helping them reach their mind and body goals this summer.

To help moms get their bodies and minds ready for summertime activities, regular massage can be an excellent tool for repairing, reinvigorating and reshaping a women’s body. Whether you are striving to trim down winter’s last pounds or tone your body for fun summertime activities in the sun, massage can produce positive results for losing weight and firming up your body. It is time to bring in the massage troops to shape up your body and rejuvenate your mommy spirit.

Waist Reduction: Scientific studies have linked massage therapy with a reduction in cellulite, as the firm pressure of a typical massage may aide in breaking up fat capsules in the body’s tissues, enabling the body to absorb and shed cellulite. Massage also can have a positive effect on weight loss efforts by reducing the production of cortisol (high stress hormone) in your body. When you are stressed out, it can be difficult for your body to lose weight, even if you are eating healthy, as cortisol inhibits the body from releasing fat and toxins.
Positive Attitude: Incorporating massage into your health and wellness regimen can also transform a weight loss program from a dreaded experience to a more positive one. Instead of focusing on cutting out your favorite foods and depriving your body to meet your desired body shape, massage can turn the experience into a rewards-based environment that is focused on caring for your body and rebuilding the mental and physical pieces you may have lost over time.
Body Cleanse: Deep tissue massage techniques can help cleanse the body by helping eliminate toxins that can collect in your muscles after strenuous exercise. Massage also is an excellent agent for minimizing toxic attitudes that can weigh down your self consciousness and self esteem. The relaxing environment of a therapeutic massage not only motivates your mind and body to achieve wellness goals by energizing your attitude, but it also can establish a winning attitude that can set you up for accomplishing anything you focus your mind on.
Repair Muscles: Sports massage is a key element to soothing common muscle aches and pains caused from increased activity during the spring and summer months. As your activity levels increase, you may not always stretch, ice, heat or rest your tired muscles as often as you should. Regular monthly massages can provide the tune up that your body needs to stay up and running.

All mothers, and women in general, want to look good and feel good about their bodies. Massage is the solution the help you accomplish both – but the secret is receiving regular massage therapy sessions. Start taking care of your mom today by giving her the gift of massage this Mother’s Day. If you are a mother, you don’t have to wait until your kids or spouse are clued in on the benefits of massage. You can start adding yourself to the list of things and people you take care of by scheduling monthly therapeutic massages for yourself for the rest of the year.

Wishing you health & serenity,

JLP

Melt Away Tax Time Stress with Three Simple Relaxation Strategies

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:13:00 -0500

April showers may bring May flowers, but "stress storms", common this time of year (April 17 tax deadlines, changes in seasons, failed New Year's resolution attempts), can leave you feeling wilted, run down and even depressed. Instead of getting caught in a storm of stress this spring, blow away the winter blues by melting tension and fatigue with regular therapeutic massage sessions that will not only nurture your mind and body, but support your overall well-being.

In today's plugged in, always on-the-go society, stress can be found in all aspects of your life. While some types of stress can be healthy for your mind and body, a January 2012 study from the American Psychological Association (APA) revealed deepening concerns about the connection between chronic disease and stress. Research continues to show that stress can negatively impact your health by:

Weakening your immune system, leading to common colds, sicknesses and even more critical medical problems.
Disrupting sleep problems, leading to fatigue and even insomnia.
Decreasing positive moods and feelings about yourself and others, leading to depression and an overall sense of unhappiness.
Causing headaches, upset stomach or digestion, and muscular tension.
Increasing irritability, anger, anxiety and nervousness.¹

Realistically, you may never be able to completely eliminate stress, anxiety and pressure from your life, but there are steps you can start taking today to stop the vicious cycle of being showered with stress. In honor of National Stress Awareness Month this April, you can start by incorporating the following three relaxation strategies into your daily life to promote a more stress-free lifestyle.

Release Mental and Physical Tension

Therapeutic massage is a medically proven method for supporting your health and wellness. Massage can help relieve physical tension such as back/neck pain, reduce stress, increase circulation, and improve your body's full range of motion. And, by making massage a regular occurrence on your calendar, you will give yourself a designated time each month to release mental and physical tension, lowering the risk of stress piling up to levels that can lead to negative results.

Revive and Reinvigorate Tired, Sore Muscles

Whether you are sitting in front of the computer all day, chasing a toddler around the house or training for a sporting event (or trying to be successful at all three at the same time!), it is more than likely that your hips, back and neck may feel sore and fatigued at the end of the day. By loosening these common stress carrying muscle groups on a regular basis, you can instantly de-stress your mind and body. Deep tissue massage specifically can break up scar tissue and help muscles recover more quickly so you can bounce back faster from a hard gym workout or working on a computer screen for 12 hours a day. Not only will your body feel more revived and stronger after a massage, but your mind also will be sharper, helping you maintain a more consistent focus on all of your day-to-day activities.

Take Time to Get in Touch with Yourself

Massage can help you establish a balance in your life that is not only good for your mental and muscle health, but also your body's internal system well-being. Studies show that leading factors of medical problems and common illnesses can occur from overworking yourself, carrying too much stress and not dedicating enough time to relaxing your mind and body on a regular basis. It's important to carve out 15 minutes a day (daily meditation), one day a week (designated "Me" time) and once a month (monthly therapeutic massage) to devote time and energy into establishing a positive mind/body connection.

By implementing these three stress reducing habits, you are well on your way to avoiding a stress storm this spring and giving yourself the opportunity to stop and take time to smell the flowers. The skilled massage therapists at Elements Therapeutic Massage are available to listen to your individual needs and will use the proper techniques to deliver a truly therapeutic experience. Call your local Elements studio today to begin experiencing all of the stress management benefits of massage therapy.

Wishing you health & serenity,

______________________________

¹Stress in America™, Our Health at Risk, American Psychological Association, January 2012.

Elements Welcomes Our New General Manager, Jill Bellospirito

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:40:00 -0500

Please join our staff in welcoming our new General Manager to Elements, Jill Bellospirito. Jill begins her new position this week and we are so excited to have her lead this studio and grow with us professionally.

Jill has been a Licensed Massage Therapist for over 5 years and has been living in CO until recently relocating back here to New England. She brings leadership and massage franchise experience to this role and her level of energy and professionalism is contagious.

Stop by and say hello to Jill and I am sure you will know immediately why we chose her for this great and ambitious position.

Welcome to you Jill!

Check Out the Rave Reviews From Our Clients

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 03:06:00 -0500

Hello and good morning. At Elements, we strive to give the absolute best massage in the world to our clients, and to truly customize each experience to their specific needs. Click on this link to view the amazing reviews we've received from our clients recently. Will you be the next success story at Elements? We hope so!

http://touchofelements.com/eastlongmeadow/page/testimonials

Wishing you health and serenity,

Welcome to the team: Elements adds new LMT's

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:11:00 -0500

We are excited here at Elements to welcome some new licensed massage therapists to our team. We are expanding our business and to meet the demands of our clients we have hired Rebecca and Sandra recently to help us better serve you. They are both ecstatic to be part of such a wonderful team and bring enhanced elite therapy to the studio. For bio's on all of our staff, see the "About Our Studio" tab on our website homepage and click on "Meet the Therapists".

Once again, welcome Rebecca and Sandra!

15 Things Your Massage Therapist Wants You to Know

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 04:51:00 -0500

Check out this great article from Kelli Boylen on massage.com, it's all about the 15 things that our LMT's would love their clients to know about the great service and relationship we provide.

http://www.massage.com/15-things-your-massage-therapist-wants-you-to-know

Enjoy!

Red Meat Linked to Premature Death

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:48:00 -0500

Red meat linked to higher risk of premature death

Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY

Hamburgers and hot dogs are getting even more grilling.

A new study indicates that eating unprocessed red meat (hamburger, pork, roast beef, lamb) and processed meats (bacon, hot dogs, bologna, sausage) may increase a person's risk of premature death and raise their risk of death from heart disease and cancer.

Conversely, substituting other foods such as fish, poultry, nuts and beans for red meat may lower a person's risk of premature death, the analysis suggests.

Other studies have linked eating red meat and processed meat to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some cancers (particularly colorectal cancer) and premature death.

"This new study provides further compelling evidence that high amounts of red meat may boost the risk of premature death," says the study's lead author, An Pan of the Harvard School of Public Health. But, he says, this type of study shows association, which doesn't necessarily mean a direct cause.

Pan and colleagues analyzed the diet, health and death data on 37,698 men and 83,644 women.

To determine the risk of eating unprocessed red meat or processed meat, the researchers factored out other qualities of life, including age, weight, physical activity and family history of heart disease, and dietary habits, such as intake of whole grains, fruit and vegetables, nuts, legumes, dairy products, fish and poultry.

The results

Among the findings published online Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine: Eating one serving a day of unprocessed red meat (about the size of a deck of cards) was associated with a 13% increased risk in premature death; one serving a day of processed red meat (one hot dog or two slices of bacon) was associated with a 20% increased risk of premature death.

Using a statistic model, the researchers estimated that replacing one serving a day of red meat with one serving of fish would decrease the chances of premature death by 7%; replacing it with poultry would decrease the risk by 14%; nuts, 19%; beans, 10%; low-fat dairy, 10%; and whole grains, 14%.

"The message we want to communicate is it would be great if you could reduce your red meat consumption to half a serving a day or two to three servings a week, and severely limit processed red meat intake," Pan says.

Beef industry objects

But the beef industry says the study doesn't prove red meat is the dietary villain.

"Once again, what we are seeing here is an observational study that's limited because it can't establish cause and effect," says registered dietitian Shalene McNeill, executive director of human nutrition research for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. "The most striking thing about this study is those who were eating higher intakes of red meat also were eating more calories, were less physically active, were more likely to smoke and ate fewer fruits, vegetables and whole grains."

Pan says those factors were taken into consideration to try to eliminate their influence, "but certainly, it is possible that other unmeasured or residual confounding effects from lifestyle factors exist."

Robert Eckel, a former president of the American Heart Association, says the group does not set a limit on consumption of lean red meat but promotes an overall heart-healthy diet: "A small serving (about 3 ounces) of lean red meat several times a week can be added to an overall heart-healthy dietary pattern without concern."

Marji McCullough, a nutrition epidemiologist for the American Cancer Society, calls the study "important" because "it shows that consuming red meat and processed meat increases the risk of death from all causes," not just colorectal or other cancers.

To see more of USAToday.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.usatoday.com

Copyright 2012 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Disclaimer: References or links to other sites from Wellness.com does not constitute recommendation or endorsement by Wellness.com. We bear no responsibility for the content of websites other than Wellness.com.

Check Out the LMT Bio's and Pick Your Favorite

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:42:00 -0600

Click on "About Our Studio" in the left column and choose "Therapists" to read the bio's of all of our employees and licensed massage therapists. We have 15 LMT's that can help our clients with any and all of their wellness needs.

We are so proud of the excellent staff we have here at Elements.

Wellness Is a State of Mind

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:39:00 -0600

Dear wellness community:

Often times people will ask me to define “wellness”. I have heard many different ways of putting the idea of wellness into words, from the most basic, such as “the absence of disease” to more complex versions. To be well is completely subjective to the individual.

For some, wellness means feeling an overwhelming sense of limitless energy and vitality each day. For others, it’s having the strength and endurance to do the daily activities that one enjoys. And yet for some, it may simply be the ability to get out of bed in the morning without having the take pain relief pills.

Whatever your wellness goal is, you must take small steps toward achieving the day-to-day progress and overall accomplishment of that goal. Usually a client tells me that they are so far gone in their personal wellness that they can’t remember the last time they felt great. The major concern then becomes “I feel like I will never get to a point of wellness”. Small steps add up to big results. Normally when a new client begins to make small changes in their daily routine and is consciously working toward a better healthy life, they immediately feel the difference, however small it may be.

My challenge is this: pick a goal that is your ideal situation for your health. That goal may be to lose 50 pounds or to drop your blood pressure. Then, simply commit to small, daily changes toward that goal. You might start with an easy one, such as “I commit to taking a multi-vitamin each morning after my breakfast”. Enough of these small daily commitments add up to a tremendous result, yet each small goal doesn’t seem so insurmountable.

Whatever it may be that you are striving towards, you can do it if you break your goal down to small daily behavior changes that you can handle. Your idea of personal wellness only applies to you. Decide what is most important and go after it.

In health, always,

Spoil your Sweetheart!

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:46:00 -0600

We have a few great gift ideas to spoil your sweetheart this Valentine's Day. You can book our couples massage room, grab a gift card or sign your sweety up for a monthly membership! Our Gift cards for Members are 2 55 min massages for $99! This is a tremendous savings on health and well-being for 2012! Our members enjoy their massages and their massage therapists so much that they return on a monthly basis to spoil themselves as they deserve to! We want to spoil our new members with 6 free upgrades for the year, or a free gift card! Please see our Sales Care Specialists for details or simply ask your massage therapist for a plan regarding what goals you would like to accomplish for this year for your health! Thank you to our are existing Members for your continued patronage! We look forward to 2012 with you!

Studio of the Month

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 09:46:00 -0600

We have been awarded franchise of the month for Novemeber 2011! This is a huge group effort! From our front desk staff to our amazing therapists we have strived with our customer service to make sure our consumers get the very best in massage therapy for their well-being and it showed. Thank you team for an outstanding effort! Being #1 out of 75 studios nationwide is quite an accomplishment especially with all the natural disasters we have had this past year, you all continue to please us! To a prosporus New Year of 2012, Cheers!

Holiday's are coming

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 12:04:00 -0500

Holiday's are just around the corner! We have some great promotions going on for our Members and Non-Members! Our client care specialists will take care of all of your appointments and general requests, and the LMT's will take care of all of your special massage needs. Our LMT's customize their massages to fit your specific needs. "TOO DEEP", "NOT DEEP ENOUGH" please feel free to speak up so the LMT can accommodate you to the best of their ablities. Be Well, Drink Water, and stay Stress Free!

Cranial Sacral

Wed, 04 May 2011 07:41:00 -0500

I recently took a class on Craniosacral Techniques. This modality works with the craniosacral rhythm by gently working the spine, skull, and facia. Its light work that is non invasive, and only uses 5 grams of pressure, with is the weight of a nickle. This work can treat, stress, migranes, TMJ pain, fibromyalgia, anxiety, tinnitus, along with other things. I personaly had an amazing experience feeling craniosacral work, to feel my bones try to fix themselves and go back to where they belong. I cannot wait to learn more.-Nikki

April Newsletter

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 16:25:00 -0500

Membership Program

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 10:29:00 -0600

We are now over 600 Members and we have only been open for two and a half years! Whooohooo! Our Wellness Membership Program is for anyone who wants to maintain their health and well being through massage! You can check out all the details under our Wellness Membership Page. Just a reminder that all studios do their membership a little different than us. We are open 7 days a week and have 17 therapists who specialize in therapeutic massage. We also take fsa/hsa accounts as well as give insurance discounts. This program really sets us aside from any other massage facility. We hope you come and enjoy yourself here at Elements Therapeutic Massage in East Longmeadow, MA.

Massage Therapists

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 10:08:00 -0600

We now have 19 Licensed Massage Therapists on Board! Check them all out on our "MEET THE THERAPISTS" page! We are very proud of our team and our growth! All our therapists are their own artists, you can give Picasso Monet's brush! We have a lot of members and non-members who like to jump around to see which therapist best fits their needs and that's what we encourage any client to do! Hope your experience with us is a fantastic one!

Elements Therapeutic Massage now accepts Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) to cover your massage!

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:08:00 -0500

Elements Therapeutic Massage now accepts Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) to cover your massage!

Check with your company to see if massage therapy services are included in your FSA/HSA account and mention that when booking your massage with us. Your hard earned pre-tax dollars can help to pay for a wonderfully relaxing and stress-reducing massage.

You can also use these accounts for our wellness program. Ask any of our Front Desk Staff for details.

In Good Health, The Elements Staff

Haiti Relief

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:35:00 -0600

Elements Therapeutic Massage presents:

The Healing Hands for Haiti

This week at Elements, purchase any massage gift card or book any massage appointment and 10% of the sale proceeds will go directly to the American Red Cross Haiti relief fund.

It has been over a month since the devastating earthquakes that destroyed many sections of Haiti and took hundreds of thousands of lives. Much work has been done and many have donated but the need is still great.

Elements is proud to be involved in this cause and welcomes any donations.

Mention this at your next appointment until the end this week and receive an additional 10% of the walk-in rate for your massage or gift card this week.

The Holiday's are near!

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:55:00 -0600

ETM East Longmeadow is doing a buy one get one half off for this Holiday Season! Walk-in rates apply. 55 min massage is $79 get the second one 1/2 off of that or two 55 minutes for $119. Our 80 min massage is 105 or 2 for 158.00, or if you want to warm up for winter try our Hot Stone Massage 55 min is $99.00 or 80 min for $120. You can also order gift cards online and we will be open Christmas Eve and New Years Eve until 5 pm. This promotion is only good until 12/31/09! Have a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season! From our families to yours - The Elements Team.

Meet our Therapists

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:14:00 -0500

Hello Everyone and Welcome. We have added a few more therapists to the "meet our therapists" page. Please feel free to search through the therapists biographies to find out who may fit your needs more so that when you are booking an appointment you can request a therapist by name. We hope you enjoy this part of our website. Thanks for your interest in ETM East Longmeadow, MA 01028!

Hello and Welcome!

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:29:00 -0500

This is our NEW website. Please enjoy. We are still building it so please bare with as we are under construction.