Some take their coffee black; I take my tea green.

I love green tea. It’s a wonder brew, full of antioxidants that can hunt down free radicals in the body. Research increasingly shows that including green tea in your daily diet can help protect your body against cancer, arthritis, cardiovascular problems, high cholesterol, infection, and a weak immune system. Now you may be able to reap even more benefits of green tea by doing more than drinking a plain cup of it.

Here are some other fun ways to enjoy it:

Boost Your Daily Cup – According to a study at Purdue University, adding citrus juice or vitamin C to your daily brew of green tea can help green tea’s antioxidants stay in your body longer after digestion. So use either some citrus juice (lime is a quite tasty addition) or add some vitamin C to your tea and your body may reap more benefits.

Make a Green Tea Acne Treatment – Green tea acne treatments have become increasingly popular because they contain ingredients known to detoxify, reduce inflammation, swelling, and clear oil build-up. Treatments can be purchased or made at home. To make your own green tea acne treatment, boil some green tea, allow it to cool, and mix it with an egg white. Apply the treatment to a freshly washed face, wait for the mask to dry and harden on your face, and rinse it off with warm water. You can also skip the full green tea acne treatment concoction and apply a warm and wet green tea bag to the areas of your face affected by acne. I can’t personally vouch for it since I haven”t tried it yet. However, green tea in itself is quite mild and shouldn’t do you any harm.

Use Green Tea Shampoo – Most brands of green tea shampoo are quite gentle on the scalp and hair. They are full of antioxidants and vitamins, and they are known to strengthen and thicken hair as well as help repair damaged and dry hair. Brands such as June Jacobs Green Tea and Cucumber Conditioning Shampoo are helpful with hair that has been treated with dye and other chemicals.

Other Green Tea Products – The list of green tea products increases as green tea’s health benefits become well-known. If you’re curious, try some green tea ice cream, green tea toothpaste, green tea dessert bars, green tea-infused chocolates and caramels, and maybe even some green tea mints.

If you know of any other good ones, let me know.

Caution: After you get your first massage, you may be addicted for life.

Caution: After you get your first massage, you may be addicted for life.

So you’ve never gotten a massage.

Well, there has to be a first time for everything! Many clients come to me for their first massage, not exactly sure what to expect. They have an idea of what a professional massage should be like based upon some combination of what their friends tell them and what they see in the movies.

Trust your friends more than you trust the silver screen. I’ve got to say that movies provide an interesting depiction of massage therapy. While some representations are accurate, others are wildly different from the real experience. For example, most of my clients don’t look like supermodels. Secondly, not every client chooses to dress down to nothing. Finally—and most importantly—my massages are always purely platonic.

The truth is: the massage experience is different for everybody, but you should never feel uncomfortable when you are on the table. Every good massage therapist should know that and make sure that you feel at ease throughout the whole experience. However, I have to add that most massage therapists aren’t mind readers; you need to be able to feel comfortable asking questions and voicing your concerns whenever they come up.

Just to ease your mind a little in advance, I’ll lay out some common questions/concerns about a first massage and briefly respond to each.

1. I have a medical condition. Is it OK for me to get a massage? Many people with medical conditions find relief from their symptoms when they receive massage regularly. However, certain conditions are contraindicated. Some conditions, like rashes, may only be contraindicated locally (or directly on the site of the condition,) while others are more serious. Talk to your doctor before you get a massage. Once your doctor gives you the thumbs up, make sure your massage therapist knows about your condition.

2. When should I show up for my first massage? Most therapists prefer that regular clients show up at least 10 minutes early, but you should show up at least 20 minutes early for your first massage. You will need to fill out an intake form and have plenty of time to use the restroom, etc. Not all clients are aware that their massage time usually starts when they are left alone in the room to get on the table. If you show up early and are on the table by your slated start time, you generally will get a longer massage.

3. Do I have to take off all of my clothes? (Even my underwear?) You don’t have to take off all your clothes if you feel uncomfortable removing all of your clothes. In fact, some massage modalities don’t require you to take off any clothes. However, if you are experiencing low back or hip pain and you are going to receive anything like a Swedish or Deep Tissue massage, your therapist will be able to access more muscles if you remove all of your clothes. Know that even if you are fully unclothed, your therapist will only remove the sheet from one small area at a time as he or she works on it.

4. How often should I talk during the massage? Some massage clients find that they are able to unwind more if they get to know their therapist a little bit in advance. Others find talking completely unnecessary. Massage therapists are used to having talkers and non-talkers. However, your therapist should check in with you periodically to make sure you are comfortable and to inform you if/when you need to change your position on the table.

5. Is massage painful? It shouldn’t be painful for you. Your therapist will work to your pressure tolerance and ask you how you feel: don’t lie if you’re not enjoying the massage. The only person you’re hurting is yourself. If you’ve decided to get a massage in order to relieve some pain, you may experience some discomfort when your therapist does condition-specific work. Even then, your therapist should check in with you to make sure he or she is working within your threshold.

6. What happens if I accidentally get aroused? Sometimes things like that happen even when you don’t have sexual thoughts running through your head. All good therapists should know that and not think anything of it. However, if you begin to act based on any of those sensations (e.g. you touch your therapist or make insinuating comments,) your massage therapist reserves the right to—and very well should—end the massage right there and refuse to give you massages in the future.

7. What if I feel so relaxed that I end up falling asleep? Great! I encourage my clients to fall asleep. I especially find that clients who don’t get much sleep at home are able to fall quickly asleep during a massage. Most sleeping clients’ bodies are so relaxed that I am able to make more progress than I would be able to if they were tensing their muscles the whole time. Also, don’t worry about snoring. Therapists hear that all the time.

8. What should I do after my massage? Stay relaxed! Take deep breaths and be mindful of your body for the rest of the day. After the post-massage sleepy, trance-like state wears off, you should feel well-rested and maybe even have a heightened sense of clarity for the rest of the day. Also, don’t forget to drink lots of water. Water is a great natural way to flush toxins (natural metabolic byproducts that come to the surface during a massage) out of your system. I once didn’t hydrate properly after I got a massage and I didn’t feel so great a few hours later.

9. Should I leave a tip? Just as you would tip a hairdresser or server, leave your therapist gratuity if you think she deserves one. Since I work in a chiropractic office where not all clients realize they’re even allowed to tip, I’m very grateful for any tips I receive. Be aware that therapists who work at spas only earn a small fraction (~20-30%) of what the massage cost, and therapists who work for other therapists or chiropractors typically only receive about 40% to half of what the massage cost.

Do you have any other questions? Send me a note on my contact page and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Simplify your life.

Have you ever had one of those days? You know, the kind of day where all of your thoughts are jumbled into thousands of half-digested pieces and you’re not exactly sure how your keys ended up in the refrigerator? It’s easy to get caught up in a lot of physical and emotional clutter. It’s important for all of us–especially those of us who exchange energy with others so often–to simplify our lives and regroup. Some simple steps can make for a simpler life.

Breathe – Did you know that forcing yourself to take deep breaths actually alters your physiology? It’s true. Deep breathing decreases the body’s oxygen consumption, decreases the heart rate, and decreases blood pressure. Healthy body, healthy mind. So before you run out the door, shove a bagel in your mouth and rush to your next appointment, please don’t forget to take deep breaths. Make slower movements while you do it. It’s the most simple, healthy gift you can offer yourself.

Clean the Clutter - Simplify your life by simplifying your home.  Imagine how your stress and anxiety levels would fare if you could quickly find the things you actually need without having to sift through all the other stuff. Seriously consider when you last wore that red sweater. If it’s been longer than six months, put it into a large plastic bag with other clothing that’s going to charity. Giving to the needy can also make you feel good about yourself and reduce your anxiety and stress levels.

Use One Car - Share a car with your spouse (i.e. get rid of your second and third car) and take turns riding your bike, or take turns using public transportation. You’ll have fewer bills to worry about, you’ll be getting more exercise (or you’ll at least be enjoying more reading time if you’re taking the bus,) and you’ll be helping out the environment.

Unplug - These days, it’s really easy to get caught up in, “No, it’s my turn to use the television!” and, “They’re testing more missiles overseas?” and “Oh, great, Mom’s nagging me over the phone again.”  Unplug for at least one day every week. Try going a few weeks without reading all the bad news in the paper and focus on some other hobbies. For example, find ways to enjoy yourself in the great outdoors. Walk barefoot in the grass. Appreciate your mere existence. (And don’t forget to take those deep breaths!)

Own Your Time - Reserve 30 minutes to an hour each day and make it “you” time. Taking the time to reflect and consider other ways you can simplify your life will reduce a lot of anxiety and stress. If you simply can’t find any extra time, practice mindful meditation during daily tasks (such as cooking and bathing.) You will feel more relaxed when you begin to feel like your life belongs to you.