Getting to Know You - Elizabeth Longo, LMT

You've been a part of our team at Therapeutic Bodywork for over 5 years now (WOW!) and have a thriving clientele who loves you and your massage style. Can you tell us a little bit about how you approach your work?

It is hard to believe it has been that long already! They do say 'time flies when you are having fun' and I have definitely loved my time at TB.

Through the years, I have gathered a lot of tools, both literal and figurative, into my massage therapy 'tool box'. However, all of the techniques, strokes, stretches and gadgets, treatments, potions and lotions have become secondary features as I have grown and refined my craft since entering the world of massage and bodywork as a shiny new graduate.

I now understand that the most important tool or skill I possess for being an effective massage therapist is the ability to actively listen. I feel a really successful session is one that is able to best meet the needs of the client on that particular day. How an individual feels physically in their body, how they are feeling emotionally, and the level of 'mental gymnastics' they may be doing, or stress they may be experiencing; these things are constantly shifting. All of those elements, revealed in conversation with my clients, combine to paint me a picture of how to best approach their session and which tools should come out of the box that day. Those few minutes, (or sometimes not so few - ha, ha) of chatting before the work begins are absolutely essential. They are what transform a massage into 'working with' a person instead of 'working on' them - and that is a big difference!

What do you love most about what you do?

I am honestly terrible at picking favorites. I guess that makes it no surprise when I say that I love the endless variety in the work that I do. I see a diverse mix of clients with very different treatment needs, preferences and personalities. This is precisely why it doesn't feel like five years have come and gone around the massage table at Therapeutic Bodywork - no two days have ever been exactly alike! In this field that keeps growing and expanding, there is always more to learn and I love that too. I learn from my clients and co-workers each and every day. I feel that my life is enriched by the work that I do, and the people that I see each day, and I am incredibly grateful for that.

You've been having a lot of fun experimenting with the Lotus Wei Flower Essences and offer a session that bring Flower Essences into the massage. Can you tell us a little about them?

Flower essences are infusions of flowers stabilized in a mix of water and alcohol that are used primarily to promote balance in the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of being. They are subtle, gentle and supportive, lifting your spirits - like the gift of a beautiful and unexpected bouquet of flowers might do. Katie Hess, founder of Lotus Wei, describes them as 'liquid energy that transforms your mood and your mind through your acupuncture meridians'. She likens flower essences to tuning forks that bring your body back in tune with a subtle electrical vibration through sympathetic resonance. 

The elixirs that they have created are taken internally, like other flower essences, throughout the day, under the tongue or in your water or tea. What is so different and exciting to me about Lotus Wei is that they have also combined their flower essence compounds with synergistic essential oils to create a line of deliciously juicy flower essence serums.

These luscious, organic, regenerative serums are intended for use all over the face and body which makes them an almost effortless way to shift your state of mind and a perfect addition to a nourishing massage when you feel you need an extra 'boost'. Whether you are seeking more Joy, Peace, Love, Calm, Inspiration, or Energy, there is a blend for every mood. (Discover more in our Wellness Shop)

You also do a lot of work with Oncology clients. Can you tell us a little about this specialized area of work?

A person's journey after a cancer diagnosis can often be a physically, mentally, emotionally and financially challenging and exhausting one. Those offering Oncology Massage seek to be a small respite from it all, offering supportive, nurturing touch and encouraging relaxation. Unfortunately, massage and other complementary therapies can be cost prohibitive to incorporate while undergoing treatment. That is why we are so fortunate to have the Cape Wellness Collaborative as a resource in our region.

The CWC is a non-profit organization that provides Integrative Wellness Therapies to people facing cancer on Cape Cod + the Islands. Through their various fund raising events each year, they are able to do this at NO COST to the individual. It is a truly amazing thing, and I am proud to be a provider of massage for our community through the CWC.

It is important to determine the types of modifications in positioning, contact and pressure that may need to be made to keep the session comfortable, effective and safe for the client. With training, you learn what to be aware of both during and after active treatment, as chemotherapy and radiation can have long-lasting effects on the tissues and systems. As they say in Oncology Massage - 'Strong Medicine = Gentle Work'.

How do your nourish yourself outside of the office, so that you can continuously give to your clients so generously?

With TACOS! (Just kidding!) Silliness and laughter loom large in my self-care, you see. I feed my creative spirit by finding ways to feel childlike and free - in awe of the natural world. As a multi-passionate being I have lots of options for filling up the tank: gardening, reading, cooking, sewing, painting, drawing, singing, hiking, tinkering, splashing, drumming, exploring new places with my husband, and most of all - traveling to Maine to spend time with my sisters and play all sorts of imaginative games with my four-year-old niece.

*For the entire month of June, enjoy a Complimentary upgrade to a Flower Essence Enhanced session with every 75 or 90 minute session with Elizabeth*

Elizabeth is available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays + every other Saturday

Living in Sync with the Season

Your Winter is Melting

Spring is a time of expansion. Just like the sprouts reaching forth from the hibernating depths of the soil, it is time to be reaching up and out. It is a time to be budding with excitement and flowering with joy for the anticipation of summer sun and fun. If spring has arrived and your inner light is feeling downtrodden and overburdened, then a closer look outdoors may help.

In Spring, it is hard to miss the bright colors bursting forth from the dark earth tones of winter. For some, however, it is easier to look outdoors and see the heavy rains and mud treaded earth. Just like a seed beneath the ground, if we are struggling to feel the nourishment of the rains and the expansion upward toward the growing warmth of the sun, then we must look inward to see that which is bogging us down. Is the soil above our heads dense and suffocating? Are we drowning in our own internal mud as winter melts away?

Winter was the time to go deep and look inward. As spring bursts forth, we too spring outward and bring with us whatever we found in our depths over the long winter months. If we lived accordingly in the previous year, then we burst forth with new vigor and strength. If not then we do not burst forth anew, but struggle to come out of our cold New England hibernation and alternatively struggle to transition into spring.

If you are not experiencing the energy and vigor of spring and instead are experiencing sluggishness and inertia (often as gas, constipation, achiness, heaviness, stress, allergies, congestion and/or fatigue) then your body is most likely overburdened and needs some extra attention.

Fortunately, in Chinese Medicine, Spring is the season of the wood element where the Liver and Gallbladder systems are predominant. If we help them along with a few simple lifestyle choices, then we will be living in accordance with nature and begin to enjoy this harmony if continued in the coming year.

First, rise with the sun! Do not take exception, awake before the sunrise and you will be guaranteed to carry the lightness of the sun with you through your day. Arising up to 1.5 hours before 6am is a practice for longevity.

Secondly, lighten up. For many this may mean losing weight, but in general, this means to start eating lighter. We don't need as much food for protection and storage as we did in the winter months. Instead, we think more bitter, pungent and spicy foods while also easing up on dairy, meat and rich, heavier foods. It is also wise to only eat when hungry and 'fast' on ginger tea when necessary. Think light, think green.

Next, Poop More! Yes, it has been said, going number two in the spring is very important. All organs of elimination need to be working optimally to ensure proper detoxification and this includes the colon. If you are feeling backed up and sluggish, or experiencing gas and bloating, then consider psyillium husk to bulk up the stool or triphala to cleanse and rejuvenate the colon.

Lastly, one may also consider stretches that mimic the upward and outward movement of nature or twists and bends that enliven the liver and gallbladder. Either way, take all your winter resolutions and put them into play this spring. It is the time to get moving and stay invigorated. Regain your momentum for the coming year by not letting your winter 'meltings' turn into mud.

Dr. Deb Salazar is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Licensed Acupuncturist who specializes in women's health, fertility and difficult/stubborn/chronic/recalcitrant disease. If you are interested in how acupuncture, herbs and Chinese Medicine can help you this Spring, please call (508) 428-1288 to schedule an appointment or click the button below.

Treat Your Feet

If someone told you they drove their cars 115,000 miles without a single oil change or any maintenance, you'd think they were crazy to not take better care of such a valuable possession. Yet, that's how most of us approach caring for our feet during our lifetimes. Consider these facts:

• The average person walks 115,000 miles over a lifetime.  That’s the equivalent of traveling the circumference of the earth 4x!

• 25% of all the bones in the human body are in the feet.  When these bones are out of alignment, so is the rest of the body.

• The soles of the feet contain more sweat glands and sensory nerve endings per square centimeter than any other part of the body.

• 3 out of 4 Americans experience foot problems in their lifetime, and yet, only a small percentage are born with foot problems. It is neglect and ill-fitting shoes that bring on problems.

• Since your feet are the furthest point from the heart, circulation to the feet is much more work for the circulatory system and stagnation within the body can quickly impact our feet negatively

Reflexology increases circulation in the feet and eases contractions of the foot’s muscles, ligaments and vessels.  This helps the feet to regain proper alignment and to be infused with nourishing blood flow so that they can stand strong in their job to support the whole body. Show your feet some love and book a Reflexology session.

Take $10 off Initial Reflexology session when you mention this blog. Offer expires 6/10/17

Mother's Day Special

No one deserves some self-care more than MOM.

Our Mother's Day Special is designed to nurture the woman who nurtures you.

Spoil Mom with a 75 Minute Massage and her choice of a Hydrating Facial or Reflexology Session all for $199. Click the button below to purchase and leave the rest up to us!

*offer expires 5/14/17

Getting to Know You - Dr. Deb Salazar, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Oriental Medicine (NM)

Your background in health and wellness is extensive. Can you tell us a little bit about how you first discovered your passion for wellness?

Well, it is really quite simple; I had harmony and then lost it! To be brief, I had been very healthy for most of my life until I had a major ski accident in my 20's. I broke three limbs and underwent two surgeries. It was a major transition point in my life. I knocked myself out of balance and was simply not okay with it. So, I went in search of health and harmony once more and have had many adventures and learning lessons along the way.

And how did this path lead you to a career in Chinese Medicine?

I had always knows I would follow a career in medicine; it just took some time to narrow down the path specifically to Chinese Medicine. I enjoyed many other realms of medicinal thought, but share Chinese Medicine's belief that nature is the supreme teacher and that all answers to health may be found within it's depths. If we listen well and follow it's wisdom then I believe that we too may find peace, harmony and beauty.

As a Doctor of Oriental Medicine (NM) your approach to your medicine is very comprehensive. Can you tell us a little bit about this?

Yes, I believe that everyone's journey toward health is unique. My role in this journey is to remind your body how to find balance and remind YOU how to listen to your own body. I may be better trained to understand ti's calls, but no one can every know your body better than you.

But, until we reach this level, I carry an every-growing toolbox to aid us along the way. I think it is very important to be realistic with patients and the more vast my tools, the more likely that we find solutions that are manageable and doable.

Nonetheless, I do believe that the more deep and comprehensive that a patient is willing to go, the deeper the health. Sometimes we must peel the layers of disorder away before we get tot he root of the problem. It is here that I encourage patients to seek and work toward because it is there that true and lasting healing may take place. But, it does require work and not just from me.

If someone is new to Acupuncture, what can they expect at an Initial Session?

An Initial Session is generally 90 minutes and entails a thorough health history so that I may understand the foundation upon which the current main complaints are built. Then we proceed with the normal acupuncture treatment and discuss further recommendations, if needed, such as; herbs, lifestyle modifications, supplements, etc. Most patients actually enjoy the first treatment - they get a lot of attention.

Of course, the most common question we get when talking about Acupuncture is 'does it hurt?'

Acupuncture is different for everyone depending on the day, the time, the season, etc. Some people are certainly more sensitive to acupuncture than others and some people don't feel anything at all.

Acupuncture may elicit different sensations, but at no point during a treatment do I want a patient to feel uncomfortable. The deeper a patient can relax, the deeper the treatment may work. Our aim is not to create pain or discomfort, but relaxation and calm.

The benefits of acupuncture, if only for mere relaxations, can be profound and outweigh any thought of 'pain'.

This ancient medicine, which is possibly 3,000-5,000 years old (accounts vary), has been proven to treat a myriad of imbalances in the body. Can you tell us some of the more common disorders you treat?

I treat the gamut and learn of a new Western diagnosis or syndrome nearly every week! I welcome all patients, but personally, I enjoy working with the more difficult cases that have had little success elsewhere. I also enjoy working with women's health and of course, working with the 'healthy' to deepen their knowledge and understanding of health.

One of your areas of focus is women's health. Can you describe some of the disorders or imbalances you treat that are specific to women?

I work with women in all realms; fertility, menstruation, menopause, stress, emotions, digestion, beauty, weight loss and more.

Women are different than men and it is important that we approach their health differently. Women are like the Moon, following cycles and constantly changing from one phase of life to another. For some, these constant fluctuations cause undue stress and confusion and often they end up on my treatment table tired, hopeless, lost or frustrated. Fortunately, Chinese Medicine offers them hope again by diving deeply into the many layers and facets of a women's life and teaching us how to live in better harmony with our cycles of life.

As a mother of two {adorable} little ones, Olive and Oscar, a wife, a practitioner, and a keeper of a slew of chickens and guineas hens, how do you nourish yourself so you can keep on giving in all aspects of your life?

Well, I am not sure I do! Before I had kids, I was certainly much better at taking good care of myself. Now it is a challenge, but fortunately, my own imbalances teach me much about health!

Nonetheless, although I do struggle to find 'me time', I always try and take a moment to stretch, do my 4 sun salutations, run through some Tai Chi or most simply, check in and make sure I am slowing down and taking time to breathe. I also love gardening, being outdoors, eating pure clean foods and taking my herbs.

You and your family moved to the Cape from New Mexico in 2016. (And we couldn't be happier you did!) Can you tell us some of the things you're enjoying about life on the Cape?

We moved back to the northeast to have family and community. Family was already here and we are grateful to have found a community here on the Cape. Everyone has been genuilinely nice to use. I love that the energy is focused here, on us (Cape Codders?) and on the beautiful land. We are happy to have found a place to call HOME. We love the life on the sandbar.

Dr. Deb Salazar is available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays + Saturdays.