Supporting Your Metal

In Chinese medicine, Autumn is the season of the Metal element and Grief is the emotion of the Metal element. We all experience loss, separation, feeling of grief as we ‘let go’. Grief cleanses us of what is no longer needed in our lives.

There is more to this season than “letting go”, it is also a time to take in the pure. Think of waking up on a brisk fall day and filling your lungs with that clean, cool autumn air. Our lungs enable us to take in the pure, the new. They grant us the inspiration of a breath of fresh air. In classical Chinese medicine, the Lung is described as “the receiver of the pure Qi (Chi) from the Heavens.”

Just as metals give value to the earth (gold, silver, etc.), the Metal element within us gives our sense of self-worth. Each of us has a unique and priceless contribution to make to the world around us. When our Metal energy is imbalanced, we cannot sense our value, so it is imperative to include practices in our daily lives to support the energy of our lungs and the metal element that is within all of us. 

Below are 3 easy ways to support the Metal element in your body:

-A Morning Meditation Specific to Lung channel

As you wash your hands 

Focus especially on your thumbs

Sense or imagine Energy and blood 

Flowing freely through your thumbs

Balancing and strengthening your Lungs

Releasing any pent-up grief and sadness

Boosting Qi, blood and oxygen flow

Bringing a sense of freshness and vitality

To your day 

-Simple, Delicious Soup

Homemade egg drop soup: simply stir a beaten egg into a hot bowl of chicken stock or broth and sip slowly to reap the moisturizing benefits so as to combat the dryness that comes with Autumn season. 

-Acupressure Point

Point highlight: Lung 7

This time of year there are always all sorts of colds and viruses floating around now that we are cooped up indoors with the colder weather.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine, before our more modern understanding, colds were thought to be the result of an "invasion of an external pathogen."  This pathogen then became trapped in our bodies and the ensuing battle between our bodies and the pathogen resulted in what we experienced as colds. 

One of the functions of Lung 7 is to "release the exterior", which essentially means to open the door and help to show the invading pathogen the way out of the body. We can interpret this as activating the immune system so that it can better fight off the cold. Lung 7 also "benefits the head and nape of the neck" as well as the lungs themselves. Since this is often where we experience many cold symptoms, Lung 7 is a useful point to help clear up that nasty head cold. 

So next time you are feeling a cold coming on, feel free to show Lung 7 a little love by pressing on this point with some pressure - even doing small, circular movements.

We're Hiring - Amazing Opportunities:

COVID changes have created wonderful opportunities for the right individuals! We are seeking a few exceptional practitioners to add to our Team of Excellence. This is a positive and supportive work environment, with a collaborative mission to create a healthier community through complementary, holistic treatments. Seeking passionate practitioners and support staff who are self-motivated, yet understand the value in collaborating with a team, and have a positive, winning attitude. We work hard at Therapeutic Bodywork - but when you’re doing what you love, it should feel like FUN.

Please submit resume to: massagecapecod@gmail.com No phone calls, please.

Holistic Esthetician: Seeking an experienced Esthetician who is self-motivated, dependable, passionate about skin care and must align with our health and wellness brand. Using high-end, organic, but results driven products - these are not your ordinary facials. We are all about cultivating an experience - so if you like working on an assembly line, this position is NOT for you. Offering Facials, including Peels and Dermaplaning, Gentle Hair Removal, Eyelash/Eyebrow Tinting, Body Treatments.

Part-time position available and highly coveted Friday + Saturday shifts open.

Massage Therapist: Seeking experienced and passionate Massage Therapist to join our team. Turning business away year-round, we are always recruiting the highest of excellence to work with us. While we value and appreciate diverse styles of bodywork, our clients are typically seeking ‘therapeutic and deep’ work. A solid understanding of Anatomy & Physiology is mandatory. This is NOT an ‘assembly line’ kind of operation. We emphasize connection with each client and schedule time accordingly. Opportunity to be as busy as you want!

Reflexologist: Our Reflexology program is booming and we are ready to add another extraordinary Reflexologist to our roster. Must be well versed in using Reflexology to treat chronic and acute health conditions and have the ability to educate clients and community about the benefits of Reflexology. Must be self-starter and take an active role in collaborating for the overall success of the practice. Seeking an experienced Reflexologist who is ready to grow with us.

Raise Your Stress Tolerance

Our bodies were designed to handle a moderate amount of stress. But stress, when experienced for a prolonged period of time, can wreak havoc on our health, well-being and ultimately lead to dis-ease. Building up your tolerance to handle stress will better support your body against the negative effects of chronic stress. That’s right. With a few small tweaks you can build up a better defense to support yourself in stressful situations and beyond.

5 ways to Raise Your Stress Tolerance:

1. Quality Sleep - when we talk about health and well-being, there’s not much that doesn’t start with ‘get a good night’s sleep’. Our sleep is absolutely paramount to raising our stress tolerance. If you have trouble sleeping, try ending your screen time 30-60 minutes before bed and practice a bedtime ritual. A Magnesium supplement or our Sweet Dreams Magnesium Cream may help bolster a sound sleep.

2. Strengthen Your Vagal Tone - The vagus nerve is the largest cranial nerve in the entire body and is an integral part of activating the parasympathetic nervous system - where healing takes place. The vagal tone indicates the ability for the vagus nerve to activate itself. Like a muscle, the more we trigger the vagus nerve, the stronger it gets and therefore, your body is more readily able to trigger a relaxation response. For details on how to increase your Vagal Tone - click here to watch our video.

3. Spend More Time in Nature - get outside, breathe the fresh air, soak in some Vitamin D. Studies have shown a myriad of positive health benefits to spending more time in nature. A walk in the woods, time in your garden, an afternoon by the ocean - however you enjoy the outdoors, make more time to do it.

4. Decrease Alcohol and Sugar - give your nervous system the best chance to fight stress by decreasing your alcohol and sugar intake. Regular consumption of alcohol and sugar will negatively effect your hormones and ultimately increase your cortisol levels, actually creating stress on your body’s physiological balance. Build your body’s reserves by fueling it with a healthy diet, so it has the proper energy to draw from during stressful times.

5. Develop a Mindfulness Practice - cultivating a Mindfulness Practice on a daily basis is one of the most effective ways to build your stress tolerance. Start with 5-10 minutes a day and build up to 20-30 minutes of a seated, deep breathing practice. Taking deep breaths sends a message to the brain to calm and relax.

Another simple Mindfulness Practice is to start or end each day writing down 5 things you’re grateful for. Recognizing and stating the beauty in each day will help your mind naturally shift to a more positive perspective overtime. It’s a practice.

Join Our Team! We are Hiring!

We are growing and looking for a few exceptional practitioners and support staff to add to our Team of Excellence. This is a positive and supportive work environment, with a collaborative mission to create a healthier community through complementary, holistic treatments. Seeking passionate practitioners and support staff who are self-motivated, yet understand the value in collaborating with a team, and have a positive, winning attitude. We work hard at Therapeutic Bodywork - but when you’re doing what you love, it should feel like FUN.

Generous commission, benefits package included and full office support make TB an exceptional place to work.

Please send resume and cover letter to: massagecapecod@gmail.com. No phone calls, please.

Massage Therapist: Seeking experienced and passionate Massage Therapist to join our team. Turning business away year-round, we are always recruiting the highest of excellence to work with us. While we value and appreciate diverse styles of bodywork, our clients are typically seeking ‘therapeutic and deep’ work. A solid understanding of Anatomy & Physiology is mandatory. This is NOT an ‘assembly line’ kind of operation. We emphasize connection with each client and schedule time accordingly. Availability on Saturdays is required - opportunity to be as busy as you want!

Reflexologist: Our Reflexology program is booming and we are ready to add another extraordinary Reflexologist to our roster. Must be well versed in using Reflexology to treat chronic and acute health conditions and have the ability to educate clients and community about the benefits of Reflexology. Must be self-starter and take an active role in collaborating for the overall success of the practice. Seeking an experienced Reflexologist who is ready to grow with us.

Reception Help: We are seeking 6+ hours a week for Reception Help, weekday evenings. Must LOVE attention to detail, have the ability to multi-task and thrive at customer service. This position can lead to more responsibilities that can be done remotely or with flexible hours.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Acupuncture + Adrenal Fatigue

The adrenal glands produce a number of hormones that are necessary for optimal health; these include cortisol, adrenaline, testosterone and estrogen. When you are under constant emotional, mental or physical stress, the adrenal glands can over produce cortisol to keep up with the demands of stress. This excess prevents the adrenal glands from producing other hormones that the body needs, resulting in fatigue, body aches, sleep disturbances, digestive issues and nervousness.

Acupuncture is one of the best methods to regulate the adrenal glands. Acupuncture works by relaxing the nervous system. By relaxing the nervous system we allow the body to enter what I like to call “the healing zone”: this zone is state that is neither fight nor flight, only restorative healing happens here. Acupuncture ensures the Qi (vital energy) flows freely through the body and that yin and yang are in relative balance. In Western terms, acupuncture helps restore homeostasis. Acupuncture for adrenal fatigue stimulates the points associated with the kidneys to boost adrenal functions, to promote healthy cortisol levels and increase the production of dopamine and serotonin to lower stress.

Acupressure can also be used to extend your treatments. Self-applied acupressure to the points one hand width below the lateral eye of your knee, and between your achilles tendon and your medial malleolus can help improve adrenal function between acupuncture appointments. Massage these points, as shown in the images, in a clockwise motion daily.

Christina Trieste is a Licensed Acupuncturist with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine, has a Diplomate of Acupuncture from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). She has specialized training in Orthopedic Acupuncture. She works with a full scope of health conditions including but not limited to: Post-Stroke Recovery, Mental + Emotional Health, Sleep Disorders and Insomnia, Digestive Disorders, Pain Management, Women’s Health, Fertility and Preventative Medicine.

Book with Christina on Monday, Tuesday, Friday + Saturday.