The Relaxation Center

Healthy Living Tips - What Are Yours?

At least once a month we will have a healthy tip to share with you - some about massage therapy - some on healthy living and more.  Contact us in Belmont at The Relaxation Center with your great suggestions for topics. We all want to feel our best and we can do this by sharing our knowledge.  Regards, Susan Fleming, Director at the Relaxation Center.

Good Posture is a Way of Life

Correct posture will make a person look better, feel better, and have more energy  - not to mention look more attractive and approachable!  Here are some hints on how to improve your posture.

Doing exercises to strengthen the back muscles will assist a person in having better posture. One has to use the back muscles. Focus on exercises that train the back muscles to pull back. If one does not train the back muscles to pull back, they won't have the strength to do the job. Then the poor posture starts or continues.

Some back exercises are very simple. It is doing them that takes discipline. The rewards are high and you will look better, feel better, have more energy and therefore be more attractive.

One great exercise that you can do almost anywhere is to simply stand up or sit up straight and put your arms out straight from your shoulders forming a "T" with your arms out from your sides and even with your shoulders. Then bend your arms in, so that you your hands are out in front of your elbows.  Your hands, arms and shoulders should be the same level. Then start to pinch your shoulder blades together and try to pinch a pea between your shoulder blades. Release the tension and do it again. Each pinch should last at least 5 seconds. Repeat this process until you can't do anymore. Do this once a day and you will see and feel the results very soon.

I will do another post with more exercises for posture. But for now - stand and sit at attention. When we do this we instantly have good posture. Did you know that when you choose good posture, you can get up to 30% more oxygen in your lungs and therefore will get more oxygen to your body and mind.  Until next time.....think tall!

My Favorite Aromatherapy Scent - Lavendar

In my massage practice I have found that my clients really like that I use aromatherapy. Why do I use aromatherapy? 

Aromatherapy has been utilized for many years. Before we had phamaceutical drugs, essential oils were used to help heal people if ingested. Even today in some countries, essential oils are prescribed by doctors to take internally. Many of our pharmaceutical drugs are have plant origins. The lavender plant has the properties of encouraging relaxation. The use of essential oils is a real science and not just being a nice aroma.

Different essential oils have different properties and results. I have researched over the years to find the highest quality essential oils. In general, I use the purest essential oils that relax and or refresh - rejuenvate the spirit.  In fact, I have evolved my own blend. The key ingredient for that blend is lavendar - a very popular oil known for helping people to relax. To learn more about this blend and aromatherapy in general, go to http://nccam.nih.gov/health/lavender/. 

If you have your own favorite aromatherapy scents and would like to share, I'd love to hear from you....

Massage and The Right Gym Makes the Difference

The Relaxation Center info: Massage is just part of the total package to make your life the best it can be. The total package is massage, cardio workout, weight bearing exercise, stretching (yoga, pilates, etc.) good diet, enough sleep.....and a positive mental attitude.  

Today I'd like to focus on how going to a good gym is a key part of this package. A good gym will have the cardio, weight bearing exercise and stretching that you need. What makes a good gym? One of my favorite gym's is Golds Gym.  I go to Golds Gym in San Mateo and find it to be a clean place with great teachers.  The most important part is the quality of the teachers and trainers.

The teachers at Gold's are well qualified and inspirational. Mary, who teaches pilates, is an expert. Ben, who teaches yoga, is also one of the best teachers I have had in almost 25 years of taking classes.

The kind of classes that inspire you and make you feel good are the ones that make exercising fun. Just start one step at a time ....try one class, if you don't like it, try a different one - or maybe talk to the teacher afterward and get their advice. But don't give up. And if you want another opinion or advice, give me a call or send me an email. I'd be happy to help.

Saturday Morning Health and Fitness on the Radio

If you are driving around on Saturday mornings, you might want to tune into KGO Radio at 810 AM on your radio in Northern California or "live" on the Internet at www.kgoradio.com .  One of my favorite health and fitness experts in the San Francisco Bay Area - Joanie Greggains is on from 8 am - 10 am Pacific time. Joanie has been making a difference in health and fitness for people for the last 20 years and she is still going strong.  So, check it out and let us know what you think!

Happy Life Hint – Positive Mental Attitude

Every day we wake up with the choice to have a Positive Mental Attitude, also known as PMA. It is our choice to have PMA or not to. If we ask ourselves, "How is the world treating us"? And then ask ourselves, "How are we treating the world"? It is about the same.  Curious thoughts.

You know how beneficial deep body work is for you. Let your friends and family feel great too. Give them a business card or a gift certificate to start feeling great. Many people don't know about deep body work. They might have had a "massage" before, but understanding how great they can feel when the pain and unmovable body parts are trouble-free is another level. Pass the word on....

Take care of yourself - you are worth it!

"It's time you both feel and do your best!"

Welcome to my blog.... the focus is on BodyMind Coaching and Professional Massage Therapy

Why? People who receive massages regularly feel more balanced: mentally, emotionally and physically. Add feeling great to gaining clarity about your purpose, values and goals in life and you become unstoppable!

So, stay tuned .....

Contact The Relaxation Center

Contact Us

The Relaxation Center
540 Ralston Avenue, Suite H
Belmont, CA 94002

Telephone: 650-591-2303

For directions to The Relaxation Center click here.

Appointments: Appointments@TheRelaxationCenter.com
Product Information or Purchases: info@TheRelaxationCenter.com
Website Issues: Webmaster@TheRelaxationCenter.com
General Information: info@TheRelaxationCenter.com

 

Make An Appointment Today

Just call or email us. We will get back to you within two business days.

The Relaxation Center
540 Ralston Avenue , Suite H
Belmont , CA 94002

Telephone: 650-591-2303

E-Mail: Appointments@TheRelaxationCenter.com

Spa Service Packages

BodyMind Personal Improvement Programs
Each BodyMind coaching session can be one to two hours in length.  Sessions can be booked and paid for individually.  Or, if you are ready to make a commitment, discount packages are available for 3, 6 or 9 sessions.  Contact us to customize a program just for you.

Massage Therapy Services
Massage therapy appointments can be for 1 hour, 1 ½ hour or 2 hours. Contact us to set up an appointment for a single session or for the maintenance program

Fitness Programs
We recognize that some people need a combination of massage and fitness coaching to reach their personal fitness goals. We have the expertise to help you determine exercises that you can do at home to continue the work begun at The Relaxation Center. Contact us to set up an individualized program to meet your needs.

©2009 The Relaxation Center. All rights reserved.

Massage Therapy Services

If you have ever experienced a therapeutic massage, you know how wonderfully "stress-free" your thinking can be as your body glows in the aftermath of being cleared of annoying knots and painful tightness. For those of you that haven’t had a professional massage, isn’t it about time?

Your massage will take place in a warm, comfortable and peaceful atmosphere with state-of-the-art equipment and techniques. Through a customized and personal approach, we apply the appropriate set of techniques to meet the specific needs of each of our clients.

Our sessions vary in length depending on your individual needs and life situation. (FYI, we are pleased to offer nurturing massage for women during their pregnancy). A program will be developed to help you feel your best using a combination of the following massage and therapeutic techniques:

• Swedish Massage
  A muscle-specific application of the standard effleurage, petrissage, vibration and tapotement techniques. Swedish is the most common form of massage.
• Shiatsu Massage
  A system of finger pressure massage, based on Asian healing concepts, which treat special points along "meridians" or invisible channels of energy that flow naturally throughout the body. This technique helps to release blockages and rebalance the energy flow of the body.
• Sports Massage
  A maintenance massage program that enhances the body's recovery process, returning the athlete to a high level of training and competition, while reducing the risk of injury. This technique also helps to reduce the muscle spasms and metabolic build-up that occurs with vigorous exercise.  
• Aromatherapy
  A technique dating back centuries using the highest quality essential oils of flowers, plants and trees. This technique helps to calm, balance and rejuvenate the mind and body.
• Foot Reflexology

This technique is organized around a system of points on the feet that correspond to areas of the body. Though this massage is specific to an area, the effects are felt throughout the entire body.

Call or email about how to get started or make your first appointment.

©2010 The Relaxation Center. All rights reserved.

Personal Improvement Programs

Are you ready to really launch your life? Do you want to look good, feel good, be more attractive and successful? Get on track? Then this is the program for you.

The BodyMind Personal Improvement Program motivates people to be connected physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually with a plan of action. Reach your full potential by identifying life design and redirection goals as a part of your personal BodyMind assessment and program.

The Traditional Conditioned Approach to Winning Needs an Update
Our conditioned approach to winning is to wind the spring even tighter as we force ourselves to work harder and endure longer hours. As a consequence, our bodies develop kinks and cramp in unnatural ways as our minds grind in a tunnel vision that sees no possibility except having to move faster, faster, faster in a world where there is never enough time.

The BodyMind Personal Improvement Program works to change all of that - coming from the view that your body and mind are inextricably linked in a total system where changing any facet of the system results in change throughout the system.

How is This Approach Different from Simple Massage?
To loosen the hold of old patterns of thinking and to free yourself to think in new and open ways, BodyMind coaching concentrates on clearing the blocks in the Body as a catalytic avenue to shifting the mood of the Mind towards new possibilities for innovative action.

The BodyMind Personal Improvement Program focuses on having you "embody" what you know. It provides a proven path to achieve the behavioral follow-through to make healthy practices an on-going reality in your daily living and equips you with the support structure to design and sustain the remarkable quality of life that you have always deserved.

Through the tailored combination of carefully selected massage therapies with inquiry tailored to your goals and challenges, the feeling of enhanced bodily flexibility and renewed energy can be harnessed with increased mental agility and creativity for entirely new action targeted at breakthrough results.

How does this work?
Your BodyMind coach is a certified massage therapist highly skilled in helping you learn to harness the dynamic connection between your body and mind. You and your coach will work together to determine a plan of action with both parties accountable for due dates, regular reassessment and follow up appointments.

The first appointment generally begins with the coach asking what prompted you to visit The Relaxation Center, followed by an in-depth review of your current physical condition, medical history, if necessary, and a review of your stress level and any areas of pain. You will be invited to share your health goals, as well as life challenges, so that a long term approach may be considered. Once we finish our discussion and jointly make some decisions, we will move on to your massage – personalized to meet your needs.

Each succeeding scheduled appointment will include review and update of the assessment from our first meeting as well as a massage session – all designed to continue you on your path to being the best you.

Call or email about how to get started or make your first appointment.

©2009 The Relaxation Center. All rights reserved.

About The Relaxation Center

The Relaxation Center is about you and the body/mind connection. It is our goal to help you be the best you can be. We focus on programs designed to motivate people to redirect and actualize their lives and become physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually connected with a personalized plan of action.

About Susan Fleming
Susan Fleming is the Managing Director of The Relaxation Center in Belmont, California.

As a BodyMind Coach and nationally certified Massage Therapist, Susan works with a wide range of people from senior executives to anyone with a desire to establish and sustain a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Renowned for her high energy and joyously positive attitude, Susan draws on an extensive background in business operations in both small and large organizations noted for outstanding achievement.

Since 1992, Susan has leveraged her strengths in customer care to focus on the rapidly growing wellness field where she has specialized in the body/mind connection. She is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association and accredited by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.

In the 1980s, Susan held various sales and service positions including General Manager of Bennigan's Restaurant in Arlington, Texas where she was recognized for outstanding performance managing sales, profitable operations and producing consistently high levels of customer satisfaction. Later, as Manager of Chili's Restaurant, she helped establish this organization's #1 industry leadership in national sales and customer satisfaction.

Her extensive continuing education massage certifications include: Massage Therapist and Health Educator (National Holistic Institute, Emeryville, CA); Lite Touch Cranial-Sacral Therapy (Michael Aaron D.C.); Lymphatic Massage (National Holistic Institute); Hand and Wrist Anatomy (American Massage Therapy Association); Myopathic Muscular Therapy (Institute of Myopathy); Body-Mind Work for the Eyes (School of the Self-Healing—Meir Schneider, PhD, LMT); Medical Massage (The Veldon Institute).

Susan's physical fitness certifications include: Aerobic Certification (Health and Fitness Institute, Hayward State University) and Group Exercise Leadership (The Institute for Aerobics Research, Kenneth Cooper, MD).

©2009 The Relaxation Center. All rights reserved.