My Blog Has Moved!

My blog has moved to http://PatrickSmithLMT.com/blog!  This is my main website, and now an updated one-stop-shop for info about me, online booking, and my blog.

Stay tuned later this year, when PatrickSmithLMT.com has an online store!

Thanks for following me.  Looking forward to seeing you at my blog's new location.

Cheers,
Patrick

I'm Moving! (My Blog, That Is)

For those of you who have been reading my blog, thank you!  It turns out that my website (http://www.PatrickSmithLMT.com) has been lonely and my blog is going to move in to keep it company.

What does that mean?  (Has he gone mad?)

My blog is soon going to be part of my website, so if you're following it, you'll need to change your bookmark when it moves.  My website will then be the Grand Central of Patrick Smith, LMT.  (And a store is coming later this year where you will be able to purchase products and services, including gift certificates!)

I'll send out the official moving cards in the next week or so with the new address once it's live.  In the meantime, thanks for following me!

What other topics would like me to write about?  I'm happy to serve.

Go Ahead and Sleep

There's nothing like getting a great massage.  But the next thing you know it, you're waking up and it's over!  Where did my massage go???

Many of my clients fall asleep on the table, and it's truly okay to fall asleep during a massage.  Your body still gets the full benefit of increased circulation, a boost to the immune system, and other benefits.

And if you're falling asleep on the table, you probably need it.  Too many of us are sleep deprived.  Michael Breus, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, recently blogged about sleep (or lack thereof) and its relationship to weight gain.  Lack of sleep drives us to eat poorly.  Not only that, it makes us irritable and dangerous on the road.

So go ahead and sleep.  Allow your body to restore itself naturally.

Validation for Natural Health

I started making and using natural skin products in a serious way just this year, and I've been sharing them with friends.  In the past couple of weeks, I have been hearing that the products are incredibly effective.  What a thrill!

I heard from one person that the face serum made him feel that his skin was "protected."  This was from someone who had never used any kind of moisturizer or cream.

Another friend said that the skin on her face felt "smooth and soft."  This is a friend who has tried all kinds of different brands, including some of the most popular "natural" brands.

I have to say that I, too, have noticed a real difference in my face and body, using only simple, natural methods to clean and moisturize.  My skin feels softer and more nourished.  In fact, I love this stuff so much, I'm converting most products in my home to simple, natural ones (e.g. a wood polish with jojoba and beeswax, a floor scrub from baking soda and essential oils).  They are just as effective, and they support health at the same time.

Hooray for natural health!

What's Up (and a Discovery)

I've been a little out of blogging touch, as we've been working on the next phases of my website.  First of all, this blog will soon move over to http://PatrickSmithLMT.com.  My site will have my favorite links, online booking for massage treatments, and my blog, all in one place.  SO much easier.

But wait -- there's more -- in the coming months we'll be introducing an online store, where you can purchase my massage and skincare products.  Great, natural, paraben- and other yucky stuff-free products.  More on that as it develops.

And I discovered that a favorite maker of beauty products -- who shall remain nameless...J.M... -- uses parabens and synthetic fragrances in its products.  Very disappointing to some of my friends who swear by this company...which is owned by Estee Lauder.  Lesson: if the full ingredients are not on its website, write to the company and ASK.  Keep that nasty stuff off of your skin!

Oil & Water/Serum & Lotion

I started moisturizing my face my first year in college.  I'm not sure why; it just seemed to make sense, and it felt good on my face.  Now, after, ahem, several years of moisturizing, I've tried just about everything.

That is, until I started using natural oils.  It started with a great serum from Naturopathica.  Then I started blending my own serums.  It's amazing how great my face feels using these nourishing oils.  Who knew?

What I'm trying to understand is what the difference in effectiveness is between lotion (water & oil, basically) and serums (oils).  Does anyone know?  What's the benefit of a lotion?  A serum?

In the meantime, I'm going to stick to my serums (evening primrose, rosehip, pumpkin seed, avocado...ahhhh....)

Massage & Depression (2)

As a follow-up to yesterday's posting about how massage can help depression, I just read that depression can worsen arthritis symptoms.  As this article relates, a massage addresses 2 things at once (at least).

With that in mind, doesn't it make sense to get regular massage?

See the article in Massage magazine here: http://www.massagemag.com/News/massage-news.php?id=10797&catid=292&title=depression-increases-perception-of-arthritis-related-pain