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

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