Year of the Dragon - We're Celebrating

February 10th, 2024 will mark the beginning of the Chinese New Year and usher in the Year of the Dragon. The Chinese New Year is celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice and is considered to be the largest holiday in China. Celebrations last about a week and include parades, performances and many rich traditions such as cleaning ones home to make room for good luck, passing out red envelopes of money to symbolize prosperity, and many traditional feasts.

The Year of the Dragon promises to be as fiery and bold as it sounds, especially in marked contrast to 2023’s Year of the Rabbit, which should have felt more hesitant and relatively tame. Dragons hold significant cultural symbolism in Chinese tradition and are regarded as powerful and auspicious creatures. It is said that many families in China try to grow their families during the Year of the Dragon and we could expect to see a baby boom within the Dragon years.

Dragons are typically full of vitality, goal oriented, visionary leaders. They know exactly who they are and posses the keenest sense of self. Those born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to be ambitious, energetic, and charismatic, often inspiring others with their passion and enthusiasm. They are considered to be confident and unafraid to take risks, making them magnetic personalities in social and professional circles.

This Year of the Dragon promises to bring evolution, improvement, and abundance. It is a perfect time to think about rejuvenated beginnings and lay down foundations for long-term success. It is predicted to be full of opportunities for growth and renewal, but will emphasize the need for forgiveness and peaceful resolutions.

In celebration of the Chinese New Year we are offering a Winter Wellness Acupuncture Package for all NEW patients. Our New Patient Acupuncture Package includes your Initial Session and two Follow-Up sessions all for $309. This Package is valid for the month of February only - don’t miss it. Simply book your INITIAL session below. The discounted price will be reflected upon your checkout at time of session.

It's Time to Peel

Winter is here, which means it’s a perfect time of year to think about doing a Peel or Peel Series to deeply exfoliate and target any skin concerns. If you’re thinking about a Peel, but not quite sure where to start, we hope to answer some of your questions below.

What kinds of Peels do you offer?

At Therapeutic Bodywork, we use Cosmedix Clinical Grade Peels, which are botanically based and work with your skin to encourage healthy exfoliation and renewal, without harming your healthy skin cells, like traditional chemical peels. We offer several different levels and intensity of peels and each peel is customized specifically for you, your skin type and your goals.

What are the benefits of a Peel?

Peels are incredibly effective at addressing a wide range of skin issues, in addition to helping to resurface, deeply exfoliate and stimulate collagen production. Each peel can be tailored to your specific needs, but peels are used to effectively diminish fine lines, age spots, hyperpigmentation, and blemishes. They are used to target redness, uneven skin tone, loss of lucidity and elasticity of they skin. Peels can also help reduce pore size and acne scarring.

What sort of downtime should I expect?

Every peel and every skin type elicits a different response, but for the most part, Cosmedix peels have very minimal downtime. You can expect some shedding a couple-few days following your treatment, but we will recommend a few products to help soothe skin, help reduce redness and increase hydration so you can continue life as usual.

Can anybody do a Peel?

Most everybody can benefit from a Peel, but pregnant and breastfeeding women should wait to do a Peel and book a Custom Facial instead.

How do I get started?

For best results, Cosmedix Peels are booked in a series that can be customized to your specific skin needs. No prep is needed for your first peel - come on in, we’ll chat about your skin care concerns and create a road map to more radiant skin. Book a Custom Peel to reserve your spot.

Unveil your radiant skin with Cosmedix Peels.

Protect Your Yin this Winter

On December 21st, we celebrate Winter Solstice, which ushers in the last season of the year; Winter. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, each season is more than just a change in weather; it's an opportunity to live in sync with nature’s energies around us. Winter is Yin in nature, emphasizing rest, reflection, and the cultivation of inner strength. The colder, darker days provide opportunity to slow down and nourish ourselves.

Yin and Yang are fundamental concepts representing the dualistic nature of life. Yin embodies qualities of darkness, coldness, and rest, while Yang embodies light, warmth, and activity. Winter is considered the most Yin of all seasons, characterized by stillness, darkness, and a slowing of energy.

Yin depletion occurs when the body's Yin energy is not adequately nourished, leading to imbalances that can manifest as symptoms such as dry skin, irritability, insomnia, anxiety, night sweats, scanty periods, lethargy and more. Acupuncture serves as a powerful tool for addressing Yin deficiency and promoting overall balance. By tapping into the body's energy pathways, acupuncture facilitates the restoration of harmony, supporting optimal health and well-being.

One way to determine Yin deficiency is to start with a lifestyle check. On a piece of paper, make two columns; name one Yang and the other Yin. First, write all your Yang activities such as active endeavors that keep you running from morning to night. Is your job consuming you? Do you work out as hard as you can at the gym? Next, write all your Yin activities such as meditation, being outdoors, or sleeping.  These are activities which help you restore and rejuvenate. When you compare the columns, which is longer? Once you better understand where you’re lacking, you can cultivate different lifestyle habits accordingly.

Acupuncture for Yin Depletion:

Restoring Balance: Acupuncture seeks to restore balance by regulating the flow of Qi, the body's vital energy, along specific meridians. When Yin and Yang are in harmony, the body functions optimally, and the risk of imbalances and illnesses is reduced.

Kidney Meridian and Yin Energy: In TCM, the Kidney organ system is closely associated with Yin energy. Acupuncture points along the Kidney meridian are often targeted to tonify Yin and nourish the Kidney's vital essence.

Nourishing Blood and Fluids: Yin energy is closely linked to the production of blood and bodily fluids. Acupuncture can stimulate the production and circulation of these essential elements, addressing conditions associated with Yin deficiency, such as dryness and dehydration.

Calming the Mind: Yin energy is also related to the calming and nourishing aspects of the mind. Acupuncture treatments that focus on specific points can help reduce stress, promote relaxation, and enhance sleep—all of which contribute to nourishing Yin.

In addition to regular acupuncture treatments, consider the following TCM-inspired tips to prevent Yin depletion and promote overall well-being this winter:

Nourish with Warming Foods: Choose warming foods to support your body's internal heat. Incorporate nourishing soups, stews, and herbal teas made with ingredients like ginger, garlic, and cinnamon.

Protect the Kidneys: Keep your lower back and abdomen warm to protect the kidney energy. Dress in layers and consider using warming herbs like moxa for additional support.

Embrace Gentle Exercise Practices: While winter encourages a slower pace, it's essential to maintain a balance between activity and rest. Engage in moderate, gentle exercises like walking, yin yoga, or Tai Chi to promote circulation without depleting energy.

Hydration Habits: Opt for warm beverages like herbal teas to stay hydrated. Avoid excessive consumption of cold or iced drinks, as they may disrupt the body's balance of warmth.

Rest and Recharge: Embrace the stillness of winter by prioritizing adequate rest. Get to bed earlier and aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night to allow your body the time it needs to rejuvenate.

The Vagus Nerve - Your Key to Reset

The vagus nerve is the longest of the cranial nerves and plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions, including heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, and more. It has both sensory and motor functions and is involved in the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for rest and relaxation responses.

Mounting research has suggested that stimulating the vagus nerve through various exercises can have a therapeutic effect by helping reduce stress and improve overall well-being. The vagus nerve is sensitive to changes in the body's state - relaxation techniques like box breathing, as well as CranioSacral Therapy, can trigger a parasympathetic response, leading to vagal stimulation.

Box Breathing

When your fight or flight response kicks in, your body will respond by quickening your heart rate and breathing. The idea behind box breathing is to take longer, deeper, and more intentional breaths, which signals your brain that you're safe.

In fact, a small 2021 study found that just one 5-minute session of deep, slow breathing with an equal inhalation and exhalation helped promote a balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity, ultimately reducing anxiety.

CranioSacral Therapy

The manipulating the cranial bones and spine during a CranioSacral Therapy session can influence the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and release tension in the body. This indirect stimulation of the vagus nerve promotes relaxation and reduces stress.

Through deep listening of your body’s rhythms, Craniosacral Therapy targets the body's natural self-corrective mechanisms to help stimulate an internal change. Given that the craniosacral system includes structures of the central nervous system — the skull, cerebrospinal fluid, the membranes of the brain and the spinal cord — CST can have a positive impact on mood regulation, pain tolerance, stress response and relaxation.

If you haven’t experienced the myriad of healing benefits of CranioSacral, we invite to feel the stress and tension relief in your mind, body and spirit with a session.

Book with Palma on Tuesdays + Wednesdays.

Fall; The season of slowing down

As the days become shorter, the warmth of the summer sun begins to fade and the leaves start to change, nature encourages us to move from the yang (expansive/outward) energy of summer to a more yin (reflective/slower) energy of the winter. Fall is a pivotal season between summer and winter and according to Chinese Medicine, a time when our Qi is most unstable. It is an important time to slow down, reset your nervous system and reconnect to some healthy lifestyle practices.

In Chinese Medicine, Fall is the season associated with the Metal element and the Lung and Large Intestine. The Metal element is associated with grief and the Lungs and Large Intestine represent the process of letting go, exhaling and excreting what we no longer need. When we have a metal imbalance it can manifest physically in our lungs/large intestine with ailments such as; bronchitis, coughing, allergies, colds, sore throat, constipation, diarrhea or abdominal pain. On a spiritual level, grief is the emotion of the lungs and an imbalance may present with chronic feelings of sadness or excessive grief of this season.

Chinese Medicine offers seasonal practices to best support your health and help you feel your best through the season of Fall:

1. Warm Up Your Food: It is time to move away from raw, cold foods of the summer and start cooking up some soups, stews and cooked vegetables. Warmer foods are easier on your digestive system, nourish your lungs and strengthen your immune system.

2. Protect Your Neck: According to Chinese Medicine, wind is ‘the carrier of one hundred evils’ and when the back of your neck, aka the ‘wind gate’ is exposed, we are most susceptible to pathogens that can make us sick. Protect your neck and you will be protecting your health.

3. Sip Warm Water or Bone Broth: As dryness move in this fall season, keep your lungs moist with sips of warm water, teas or bone broth. Add a little honey to some hot water to soothe any dryness and remedy any dry coughs.

4. Rest More: Take your cues from nature, and allow yourself to slow down and reset this fall. Now is a great time to recommit to your self-care routine, make less plans and embrace the slower pace of life as we prepare for a healthy winter.

5. Breathing Exercises: With the lung organ system most active during fall, deep, cleansing breaths are essential to stimulate the lung qi, which contribute to a strong immune system and an uplifted spirit. Nature offers a lot of beauty this time of year, so get outside and practice filling your lungs with fresh air and take deep, cleansing breaths. Breathwork is also an effective tool in moving grief and sadness and practicing letting go. You can also try breathing in some Eucalyptus essential oil to open the lungs and support deeper breaths.

As you get back to your wellness routine this fall, we are here to support your transition with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs, Massage Therapy, Reflexology, CranioSacral or Skin Care. We invite you to slow down, reset your nervous system and reconnect with yourself this fall.