Never give UP!

Happy FRIDAY!!

Okay readers, I have been on quite the roller coaster lately.  The past year and a half has been crazy. Blood, sweat, tears, laughter and joy have come my way.  As some of you know I opened a new business Lavandula Wellness Centre on my own last year.  Without help from friends and family it wouldn't have been possible.  Although I had a tonne of support its hard to feel like I wasn't "in" it by myself.  This might be because most nights when I was at the office late, I was alone.  When the bills came, it was just my name on the invoice and when the problems came up, I was the one responsible for fixing them. With all the support in the world sometimes you are still left in the arena alone to fight and defend, to win the game so to speak.  In those moments of weakness, defeat and confusion I would never have imagined I would be where I am today.  I am not rich by any means, but I am smarter, stronger and have failed enough times to know failure is the key to reaching success.  In the past year where I felt as though all my efforts were failing, they weren't.  I was planting seeds, nourishing them and hoping they would grow. My seeds didn't sow right away, they took their time. Had I stopped nourishing them when I thought it wasn't worth it anymore I wouldn't have met tonnes of amazing people who continue to support me, and show me whats possible.  I wouldn't have placed 8/40 for the Top 40 Under 40 business awards. I wouldn't have double ranked and met my short term goals with my new company I've joined, Nerium International, I wouldn't have had any nominations in the Hamilton Spectator and Lavandula wouldn't have been nominated in the Gold category for Holistic Health or placed Top 10 in the massage section nor would I have placed where I did in the paper.  I don't tell you this to brag, I tell you this to show you that just because you don't see the results, just because you can't grab a hold of that success and see it, its still happening.  Thanks to my partnership with Nerium, I read a great book called the Slight Edge by Jeff Olsen, little did I know in some areas of my life I was already applying the Slight Edge Philosophy.  Now I am trying to apply this philosophy to all areas of my life.  To do little things no matter how insignificant them may seem at the time, consistently and persistently, until they compounded effect gives me the desired outcome I have been working towards.  I am grateful that a recent choice I made lead me to see how I was already applying this to my life and how with the Slight Edge Philosophy I can really change any area of my life I wish to change.  Whatever your dreams are go for them, don't stop. Don't let the nay-sayers and ankle bitters bring you down!  People are out there to suck the energy out of you because they wish they could have the drive to reach their dreams or they don't understand yours. Just remember WHY you are doing what you do, and let that drive you on forward!


Wishing you the best in whatever drives you forward!

Blessing and love sent your way!

Stephanie Oliver Xx




To learn more about this incredible opportunity, contact me today!

www.beautifulhamilton.arealbreakthroughcanada.com

www.lavandulawellnesscentre.com
stephaniemuirrmt@hotmail.com
www.facebook.com/StephanieMuirOliver

5 Simple, Yet Productive Business Tips

Wow!  Its been too long!  Lots of things are happening, I have gotten so caught up in life...but I am back!

Sometimes I think we get so wrapped up into something new and exciting especially when we invest ourselves, physically, emotionally or financially.  For me that investment was Lavandula Wellness Centre.  I love being a massage therapist, its one of my passions.  Helping people be better fills my soul up.  Being an Entrepreneur isn't always peaches, and if you are the juiciest ripest peach on the tree, there will still be someone who doesn't like peaches.

I have learned many things over the past 6 years being self employed, a business owner and a "leader" ( I use the term loosely as I learned along the way with my teams).  Here are a few I want to share with you!

1.  Keep your head up, always.  You will have more positive thoughts about life in general, looking down when thinking leads to more negative thoughts.  I learned this when I read a great book The Slight Edge, grab a copy. It will change your life, if your ready.

2. When it gets hard, stay.  You never know what step will take you to the next level.  Most people will not succeed because they give up when it gets hard.  Seek mentorship, stay in the game.

3. Try and better yourself each day.  Without being the best person you can be, how can you teach anyone else too?  Read 10 pages of a good book, listen to a great audio CD on the way to work.  10 minutes or 10 pages daily can curb your thoughts.

4. People who help people get ahead are most successful.  Give back, volunteer, reach out, share opportunity.

5. Seek advice and mentorship from others who are already successfully doing what you are doing, or can help you in specific areas of your business.  Somethings you shouldn't do because realistically you can't do everything and do everything well.  If you ask in the right way, people are almost always willing to help!

Remember the sky is the limit!  Anything is possible.  Just work hard, seek advice from people who are qualified to give it and have some fun along the way too!

Peace and love your way,

Stephanie

www.facebook.com/StephanieMuirOliver
www.beautifulhamilton.arealbreakthroughcanada.com
www.lavandulawellnesscentre.com

Long Weekends are MADE for PLAY!

There are many components to a happy life.  One of them being play.  Rest is equally important however rest brings you to a play where you can finally enjoy play.

What do I mean when I speak of PLAY?  Play can be anything that fills your soul up.  Dr Stuart Brown, a researcher in play has a definition for play that I love!

Play is…

• is voluntary
• has no obvious survival value or is apparently purposeless
• is pleasurable or fun
• creates a diminished sense of time and self consciousness
• is improvisational

There are different types of play.  You can plan it, get lost in it or find yourself.

For me play is creating and organzing.

Creating

I love to paint, I am not an “artist” in the eyes of the art community but inside myself I am one of the best.  Glitter, paint, collages, scrapbooking…I get lost in these things for hours.  This is my get lost inside myself play.  Sometimes its as simple as putting pictures into an Album.

Organizing

This is like play for me, because it fills me up.  Cleaning, sorting and freshening up spaces or areas makes me feel great inside.  Nothing is better than an organized, clean and creative space.  Less clutter leads to less stress.  So technically for me, housework can be play.  But only if I am doing it because I want to, not because I feel I have too!

Be careful not to force yourself into play often.  Take baby steps.  Maybe its a trip to the park with the kids, weeding your garden, making homemade bath salts or trying a new dance class.

Whatever you do get out and play this weekend!  How do you play?  Remember play is as important as rest, nutrition and self love!

Have a fantastic long weekend!  Stay safe and have fun with family and friends!  That’s what long weekends are all about!

Peace, love and blessings,

Stephanie Oliver (Muir) RMT

http://www.facebook.com/LavandulaWellnessCentre

http://www.facebook.com/StephanieMuirRMT

http://www.lavandulawellnesscentre.com

One year ago today…

One year ago today….how time flies!

Last year on this very day I made a choice to let go. Let go of the past, and embrace the present. Stop fearing the future and live in the now. I was sitting on the beach, 7am watching the sun rise. It was quiet, the water was still an the sun was shining! In that moment I realized this is what life is about. Not about money, status, getting things done or finding your way. Life is about moments and relationships.

The moments if you stop to embrace them will enhance or change your life. I met some awesome people last year the day after this day. It was the universes way of telling me, yes you can slow down and still be productive, yes you can take time for YOU and not feel guilty. I learned that night about “stillness” which is what I experienced that morning on the beach.

I also learned that relationships need communication. Without it there are just two souls feeling different things,. You will drift apart without communication. Little things or expression of emotion can go a long way. I have lost friendships over this, especially over the past year.

The most important thing I learned is our greatest fears can be our greatest gift.

Over the past year I left the comfort of my career and started a new one, I took a leap and started Lavandula and here we are one year strong. This allowed me to see my worth, what I could do, and what I couldn't. I met amazing people over the past year that I would not have had I not jumped out of my comfort zone.

I got married, bought a home and changed my inner circle. I know now surrounding yourself with people who are like minded, people who bring you up, is very important. Relationships that tear you down, there is no time for that. One way streets are no longer for me. I will care but only as much as I can without it hurting myself. Toxicity is not a good thing in any relationship. The givers generally start to turn resentful and push back. If you are a giver this will hurt your credibility as so and if you are the taker you will inevitably feel confused, sad or lost as to why, because a) it’s never been a problem before or b) they have no idea what they have done wrong because they haven’t done anything wrong per say. You did.

The moral of the story is last year I didn’t think I would be where I am today. I didn’t think I could do it alone and looking back, I didn’t. Great relationships will enhance your outlook on life, support you at your worst and show you love at your best! Facing your fears and going for that one thing you keep thinking about will open doors you didn’t know were there. It’s scary as hell, but worth every second, even the defeating ones. Take time. Life moves fast. We lose sight of what matters due to the demands society places upon us, why add to that by putting more on yourself.

Stop, be still, live freely and speak what you feel.

Here’s to the end of not only a fabulous birthday but an amazing 26th year of life! I can only imagine what 27 will bring!

Thank you to all those special people who believed in me, supported me, listened to me good and bad and never let me fall along the way!

XoXo

Stephanie Oliver (Muir)

Change with Love

Change on the rise!  Sometimes we need to sit down and analyze our chaos. What made us full and happy may change or alter. This is a good thing even when it feels like it's pulling you down, as you can always come back up!

Change is necessary for growth. If you don't grow, you "die". The only thing worse than staying the same is living the same path that is no longer serving you out of fear that YOU may fail, regret it or still feel empty. You also may fear you have made choices YOU are no longer happy with and this is hard to deal with when analyzing the parts of our chaos we created. It's easy to blame others until no one else is around to blame.

Your dreams may change, your plan may alter and your path may curve. This does not make the past a waste nor does it make your future certain. It means you are growing in the present where we find peace.

Remember, things that grow receive love, give love and cultivate it. Much like a tree, flower or vegetable, it gets harvested, watered and fed so we can enjoy its beauty or nourishment.

If the tree, flower or food didn't grow we wouldn't want it, the same should be for our dreams and aspirations!

Follow your heart. Listen to your soul. Try new things. Find joy and love. The rest will somehow follow if you keep chasing!

Do something courageous, something you love and have some fun this weekend! 


Sending peace and laughter your way,



Stephanie Oliver (Muir) RMT



#foodforthought #dreamsexpand #growth #change

www.facebook.com/StephanieMuirRMT
www.twitter.com/StephRMT
www.lavandulawellnesscentre.com

Regular Massage=Regular Dental= Regular Check-ups

Why are regular massage therapy appointments just as crucial to your health as your 3-6 month dental visit or yearly check up at the doctors office?

Did you know that people who start to receive regular massage therapy appointments are less likely to have chronic low back pain, headaches or shoulder pain that is not caused by injury or trauma?

Massage therapy helps to regulate your circulatory and lymphatic flow, promotes relaxation, increases your range of motion in your joints, breaks down scar tissue from old injuries, helps new injuries heal correctly, improves performance and prevents injury, treats the fascia and eases away muscle tension from over use or over strain.  Massage therapy also increases the functioning of your immune system.

Your massage therapist also sees things you don't; we massage parts of your body you don't see often, your neck, back, posterior arms and legs.  We palpate muscles and lymph nodes and feel things that aren't always "right" on the surface. Your therapist can make you aware of your moles and watch the change for you, they can notice lumps/bumps to make you aware of or notice a vein that may need some attention.

 

Your massage therapist cannot diagnose you, but they can recommend that you get something checked out or looked at.  Massage therapists in Ontario have a high level of training when it come to anatomy of the human body, physiology (what happens inside) and pathology (disease). We also with time and experience see many clients with common ailments that have been previously diagnosed, so more often than not your therapist knows what they are doing and can guide you in the right direction when there findings are not in their scope of practice.

When we go to the dentist we have our mouths checked- gums, teeth, tongue, upper lymph nodes around our face and neck.  This keeps our cardiovascular system strong and our oral hygiene in good shape.  We see the doctor they have a quick listen to our heart, take our blood pressure, weigh us, ask a few questions and most of the time it ends there, and all is good.  Its not always fun, yet most of us, still make a point to do it.  When you see your massage therapist you not only receive a service that you will actually enjoy (no offence to the hygienists, dentists and docs, I love the clean teeth feeling but I can't say I can compare the "check ups" and cleanings to a massage), you will receive so many awesome health benefits!  Prevention and solution can be found with massage therapy just like many other health care service we depend on.

Keep that in mind next time something hurts.  Pain killers can be a quick band-aid to your problem, but to fix the issue and prevent it from coming back, massage, chiropractic or holistic health services may be a better long term option!

 

Remember to always take care of your best asset, YOU!

Love your body its the only place you have to live ~ Jim Rohn

Sending light, energy and health your way!

Stephanie Oliver (Muir)

stephaniemuirrmt@hotmail.com

www.lavandulawellnesscentre.com

facebook.com/StephanieMuirRMT

Why a Massage is not Just a Massage- Client Perspective on Massage and Reiki Therapies

Guest Blog by CC Black

Today I am sharing with you a blog from a client of mine.  CC brought this blog post to me in hopes I could share it with my readers.  As she says "I can't be the only one sitting at my desk with panic attacks" I thought it would be good to educate people on the benefits of alternate therapies.  Thank you CC for sharing your experiences with us!  We appreciate your willingness to share these things with our readers!

Why a massage is not just a massage...

I remember sitting at my desk working away when I realized I was in a full-blown panic attack. I had stopped breathing and it felt like my heart had dropped into my stomach. The more I thought about not being able to catch my breath the more panic-stricken I became.

I counted to 10, than 20, than 10 again. When I was finally at a normal state of breathing I decided to take some action. I did a Google search on relaxation and breathing – it was through this search that I found Reiki and massage therapy. I had been to a massage therapist before however it was usually as a treat for me, not as a preventative measure. Reiki was at this point still a mystery and I consciously decided I would not Google anything further and just go with it.     

What I found through Reiki treatment was a greater sense of relief. It is very hard to explain, especially to those who don’t understand the Reiki concept, but I can say that after a few treatments I felt a little lighter in the shoulders. Turns out that you can carry another person’s burden on your shoulders, and you may not even know it!

After starting my Reiki, and facial acupuncture, for purely cosmetic purposes, I decided to book a massage. I am not sure what held me back for so many years – it’s almost like finding a life partner, you want to make sure it is the right fit and nothing will be used against you in the future. It is very important to exhibit some honesty when looking for a massage therapist – they can tell you things about yourself only you thought you knew – so be prepared to get real and you will thank them for it later!

I have to say I am quite lucky to have my massage therapist in my life – not only does she help me regain my correct posture, she has also become a very good friend. I can now say that I am breathing a little easier, and my panic attacks have decreased immensely (I am working towards never again!). Massage therapy helps your muscles relax, and when the muscles relax so do you - and you become a better person to those around you.

If you have one hour a month to give, than you have enough time to start treating yourself;  your mind, your body, your spirit. 

-CC Black

If you have any questions for CC or myself please feel free to comment or send me a message on my facebook page! 

Thank you for reading!  Have a fabulous weekend!

Sending love and light your way,

Stephanie Oliver (Muir) RMT

lavandulawellnesscentre.com

Finding the love inside....

Hi all!  

Hope your having an awesome week enjoying Canada Day, Independence day or just the summer days in general!

I talk a lot about how if you love yourself, all will fall into place. Less stress, less pain, less doubt more creativity and less fear brings more courage. In order to love ourselves we need to be vulnerable, we need to be confident and we need to accept ourselves and love what we are, not who we could be.

I found this great blog post by Julianne Ross full of great images that show our insecurities and how we may one day over come them. I couldn't help but share them with you!

Please keep an open mind looking at the images as there may be somethings you may not agree with. Remember how we feel is how we feel it does not give us the right to judge!

I hope you find inspiration and courage from this blog post to help you overcome those things you may be shameful about.

Love and Blessings

Stephanie Oliver Muir RMT

Facebook

www.lavandulawellnesscentre.com

Reference:
http://mic.com/articles/92651/18-empowering-illustrations-to-remind-everyone-who-s-really-in-charge-of-women-s-bodies

Massage Mondays! A little humour to start your work week!

Happiness is.....a Massage! 

Happy Monday 

Everyone! 

#massagehamilton   #massage   #massagemondays   #lavandulawellnesscentre 

Lavandula has a special offer! Because we are almost 1!

Lavandula Wellness Centre is almost a year old!  I remember this time last year, I was busy creating Logos and buying office materials!  How time flies!  Lilyana who has been with us since day 1 has a new special offer to celebrate our up and coming 1 year anniversary!  Linda has new hours and an awesome special to take advantage of! 

Buy 3 Reflexology, Reiki, Indian Head Massage or Charkra Healing Treatments and Get 1 FREE!
Buy at second set of 3 and receive all 3 treatments at 10% off plus your additional FREE treatment!  Her reflexology sessions make my toes melt, literally. :-) 

Thank you to everyone for giving us a great start at Lavandula!

      www.lavandulawellnesscentre.com

SPF “Super Poisonous Facts” Natural Sunscreen

Natural Sunscreens- SPF “Super Poisonous Facts”

Sunscreen, we need it there is no doubt about that, but what is sunscreen?

There are approximately 17 ingredients in sunscreens that are FDA approved.  These ingredients are clear chemicals that have the ability to absorb or reflect UV light.  Only 2 of the 17 ingredients reflect UV light leaving 15 to absorb into your skin! Of these 15, nine are known disrupt the endocrine system.  In order to have an effect sunscreens typically need to be applied 20 minutes prior to sun exposure.  Most sunscreens lose as much as 90% of their effectiveness in just an hour, these chemicals get used up as your sunshine exposure increases, so they need to be reapplied often. Other forms of sunscreen such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide-the sit on the surface of the skin and physically block UV light.  Your parents or grandparents most likely used these two “minerals” to protect their skin from the sun.  These creams typically are white and do not go on clear or smoothly.

The problem with majority of our sunscreens on the market are that they are chemical sunscreens.  These sunscreens don’t sit on the surface of the skin – they soak into it quickly and find their way into the bloodstream. These chemicals do not have directions, they will absorb into and all over your body.  They are not detoxified in the body, meaning they end up in your liver, blood, urine and/or breast milk up to two days after a single application.  Could you imagine what your body fluids are filled with after an entire summer! 

Some of these chemicals disrupt endocrine function in the body. This interferes with the normal function and creation of hormones. The hormones most commonly effected by sunscreen are estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid hormones.  These endocrine disruptors found in some chemical sunscreens, can cause abnormal development of fetuses and growing children. These chemicals can cause early puberty, premature breast tissue development and small and undescended testicles in boys. They are thought to be the cause of low sperm counts in men and infertility in women. Some of these disruptors have also been known to cause or contribute to the development of breast and ovarian cancers in women and may increase the chance of prostate cancer in men.

What can you do to protect your skin without effecting your endocrine system?

A few things you can do protect yourself from the sun without using a toxic chemical based sunscreen:

• Limit sun exposure- wear a hat, keep your shoulders covered, find the shady parts of the beach or bring an umbrella.
• Increase OMEGA intake- Omegas are great for our skin and can help protect us from skin damage and give us healthier cells.
• Use coconut oil, carrot oil or red raspberry oil as a sunscreen alternative.  They will need to be applied more frequently and are not waterproof!
• Make a DIY sunscreen.  There are tonnes of recipes online like this one: 

Natural Homemade Sunscreen Ingredients: Source: wellnessmama.com

• 1/2 cup almond or olive oil (can infuse with herbs first if desired)
• 1/4 cup coconut oil (natural SPF 4)
• 1/4 cup beeswax
• 2 Tablespoons Zinc Oxide (This is a non-nano version that won’t be absorbed into the skin. Be careful not to inhale the powder). This makes a natural SPF of 20+ or more can be added.)
• Optional: up to 1 teaspoon Red Raspberry Seed Oil
• Optional: up to 1 teaspoon Carrot Seed Oil
• Optional: up to 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
• Optional: 2 tablespoons Shea Butter (natural SPF 4-5)
• Optional: Essential Oils, Vanilla Extract or other natural extracts to suit your preference

Melt all ingredients in a double boiler on low heat.  Store in a glass jar or small pot.  Lasts about 6 months.

Below are some ingredients you can use on their own or mix them together.  Look for reviews online or try them out for yourself!  I have tried coconut oil and carrot oil myself and have found them both to be effective.

• Almond Oil- SPF around 5
• Coconut Oil-SPF 4-6-
• Zinc Oxide SPF 2-20 depending on how much used

• Red Raspberry Seed Oil SPF 25-50
• Carrot Seed Oil –  SPF 35-40
• Shea Butter – SPF 4-6

There are also some great products out there that have been made and tested for you already!  Check out this website to see different natural and organic sunscreens and how they measured up to their competition! 

I hope this article helped to educate you and make you aware that what we put on our bodies matters.  Our skin is our largest organ and we need to do our best to protect it!

Sending love and blessings your way,

Stephanie Muir RMT

Massage Therapist/Mentor

http://www.lavandulawellnesscentre.com

stephaniemuirrmt@hotmail.com

Upper Trapezius- aka the headache

Did you know one of the most common muscles massage therapists treat is the Trapezius muscle?  The trapezius muscle consists of 3 parts upper, middle and lower fibres.  The upper trapezius is the most common part of the muscle to cause problems, or make those problems evident to us!  The trapezius muscle when all 3 parts are used together is responsible for elevating, retracting and upwardly rotating the scapula.  This muscle attaches at the base of the skull and along the spinous process of C7-T12, extends to the front of the body to the clavicle (collar bone) and out to the edges of the scapula (shoulder blade).  Daily uses (actions) of this muscle are shrugging of the shoulders and overhead movements.

Anatomy of the trapezius muscle.

Many of us have experienced that pain along the back of the shoulder blades. It burns, it feels tight and seems to nag at you on a daily basis. Most commonly you will feel these symptoms after a long day at the office, a hard-core study session or after long hours at the computer. Lately I am seeing this problem increase in 12-18 year olds! You can thank IPhones and Tablets for that!

When you have trigger points or hypertonicity (tight) in the upper trapezius it can also cause tension headaches! The referral pattern for pain for the upper trapezius muscle “looks” like a question mark. It comes along the back of the head up around to the temples. So how do we fix this problem or avoid it all together?

Upper trapezius Trigger Point Referral Pattern

Massage therapy is one the best ways to get relief! Trigger point therapy and muscle stripping can help decrease and diminish the “knots” and help the muscle to relax. In order to maintain the work your massage therapist has done for you there are a few things you need to do. First off stretch, stretch and stretch! Sitting tall, grasp the back edge of the chair with your hand on the side to be stretched. Turn your head toward that same side and lean head and body away to feel a stretch in the side of the neck and shoulders. Hold for 45 seconds to a minute and repeat on the other side. I recommend doing this in the morning and at night.

Upper Trapezius Stretch

You can’t help it if you work at a desk or have long hours to put in at the computer, but you can ensure proper ergonomics at your desk. Your computer screen should be at eye level and your screen should be directly in front of you! Do not sit on an angle and try to look at your screen!! Ergonomics are key! Ask your boss or manager to order what you need to make this possible. Most larger companies have someone on staff to ensure proper ergonomics at your desk or workplace. In the long run it saves the both of you time and money!

Lastly ensure you are sleeping with proper neck support. Generally one pillow is more than enough, but each person is unique.  Talk to your therapist to find the best methods for you personally!

Any more questions? Any topics you want me to discuss or cover?  Just send me an email or give me a call if be happy to help! :)

Educating you one post at time!

Truly yours,

Stephanie Muir RMT
Registered Massage Therapist

stephaniemuirrmt@hotmail.com
Lavandula Wellness Centre

Follow me on Facebook or Twitter for more great information and insight!