SOUNDBATH AND COMMUNITY SHIATSU 3/8-22-29

Shamrock Special!

1 hour massage paired with a luxurious, freshly-made green tea sugar scrub! Bring a friend!

Use the link menu to book your appointment today!

COMMUNITY SHIATSU WALK IN CLINIC

Saturday March 8, 22nd & 29th

Stop by on March 8th, 22nd, and 29th for a Zen Shiatsu treatment!

Thai Massage and Shiatsu Stretch, both deeply rooted in ancient healing traditions, are powerful therapies that can bring balance, relief, and overall wellness to your body. These techniques combine mindful touch, gentle stretches, and energy work, all designed to enhance circulation, flexibility, and vitality.

In a typical session, you remain fully clothed, as no oils or lotions are used. This makes both therapies unique in their approach. The therapist uses their hands, thumbs, elbows, and even feet to apply gentle pressure along energy lines or meridians in the body, much like acupressure in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This pressure stimulates the flow of energy or "Qi," helping to release blockages and restore balance.

During a Thai Massage, the therapist guides you through a series of yoga-like stretches, moving your body in various positions that help to open up joints and elongate muscles. These stretches are often fluid and rhythmic, encouraging the release of tension and fostering deeper relaxation.

Shiatsu, similarly, focuses on acupressure techniques but also includes stretching to improve muscle flexibility and promote energy flow. It’s like a combination of massage and stretching, designed to help release physical tension and improve emotional well-being.

With both therapies, the influence of TCM comes into play, focusing on the balance of Yin and Yang and the flow of Qi through the body. By working with these energy channels, Thai Massage and Shiatsu Stretch can help support better digestion, increased energy, reduced stress, and improved mental clarity.

Each session is personalized, allowing you to experience the benefits in a relaxing, nurturing environment where your body’s natural healing abilities are supported, leaving you feeling rejuvenated, aligned, and in harmony with your own energy. Truly blending art and science!

YOGA!

Pop by for 8:30 AM yoga!

SATURDAY MARCH 8, 22, 29

AND

Low and Slow Yoga and Sound Bath

Saturday Night at 7!

This is a no talking slow and gentle follow along into a Savasana event!

DATE NIGHT!!

MOXIE MESSAGE:

Some Tips and tricks to stay healthy when its -10 one day and 80 the next!

Focus on Nourishing the Liver (Spring Element)

In TCM, spring is associated with the Liver. The liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi (energy) throughout the body. Spring can stir up emotions like frustration, so it’s important to nourish and support the liver during this time.

Foods: Sour foods (such as lemons, limes, vinegar, pickles, and fermented foods) are considered beneficial for liver health. Incorporate more greens like spinach, mustard greens, and chard.
Herbs: Milk thistle, dandelion, and chrysanthemum tea are excellent for supporting liver detoxification.

Regulate Qi and Blood Flow

During the change of seasons, your body’s Qi and blood may feel stagnant due to the imbalance in weather. To keep the Qi flowing and your blood moving smoothly:

Moderate Exercise: Practices like Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and gentle stretching help to keep your body’s energy circulating and build warmth to prevent the cold from settling in the body. The 8 Brocade is a great routine to start with if you are a beginner.
Acupressure: Focus on points like Liver 3 (Tai Chong) and Gallbladder 20 (Feng Chi) to stimulate smooth energy flow and alleviate tension.

Support the Immune System

The fluctuating temperatures you described can challenge your immune system, so it’s important to strengthen your body’s defenses.

Ginger: Fresh ginger tea or ginger in soups can warm the body and support immune function. It's especially good when the temperature is still dipping.
Garlic: Known for its antimicrobial properties, garlic helps fight off colds and infections.
Tonifying Herbs: Astragalus root and codonopsis are often used in TCM to strengthen immunity and improve overall vitality during transitional weather.

Boost Your Digestive Fire (Stomach and Spleen)

As the weather warms up, your digestive system may still be sluggish from winter’s cold. TCM recommends strengthening the digestive fire to maintain balance.

Warming Foods: Incorporate soups, stews, and broths made with warming spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and star anise. Avoid raw and cold foods like salads and ice cream during this transitional period.
Avoid Overeating: During spring, the spleen becomes more vulnerable, and overeating can lead to bloating and discomfort. Aim to eat smaller, more frequent meals.

Support the Lungs (Prevention of Spring Allergies)

Spring is a time when allergies can flare up due to pollen and environmental changes, which can affect the lungs. TCM recommends protecting the lungs during this time.

Foods to Strengthen the Lungs: Pears, radishes, and white mushrooms are considered beneficial for lung health. Cooked foods are better than raw, as they help keep the digestive and lung systems in balance.
Herbs for Lung Health: Licorice root and astragalus are frequently used to tonify the lungs and prevent allergic reactions.

Stay Warm and Adapt to Temperature Changes

Layering: Wear layers that allow you to adjust as the temperature changes throughout the day. TCM advises that sudden exposure to cold (especially when your body is overheated) can harm your health, so it’s important to stay warm, particularly in the early morning and late evening when the temperature tends to drop. ESPECIALLY KEEP YOUR NECK COVERED!!
Warm Drinks: Avoid ice-cold drinks and opt for warm beverages like herbal teas, broths, and soups. These will help your body adapt to temperature shifts without shocking your system.

Maintain Emotional Balance

Spring, with its fluctuating weather, can make emotions harder to manage. According to TCM, the liver energy governs emotions like anger, frustration, and irritability. Focus on mental health and emotional balance.

Deep Breathing and Meditation: Practices that relax and calm the mind, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or journaling, can help prevent emotional overwhelm during seasonal transitions.
Aromatherapy: Scents like lavender, chamomile, and rose can help calm the liver and reduce emotional stress.

A Simple Daily Routine for Transitioning from Winter to Spring:

Morning: Start with a cup of warm ginger tea and some stretching exercises or Tai Chi.
Lunch: A warming soup with ingredients like ginger, garlic, leeks, and greens (spinach, mustard greens, etc.) to support digestion and the liver.
Snack: Pears or a small handful of almonds and walnuts for lung and spleen support.
Evening: Wind down with a cup of chrysanthemum or dandelion tea to support liver detoxification and calm the body.

A little prevention goes a long way to keep you healthy!

Meet the amazing Healers of Moxie!

Heather Fowler MMP, LMT, 200 HR RYT

To book use link above or check out East Meets West Chicago, Moxie Massage Chicago, Small Batch Yoga, Prosperi-tea Collective Chicago. For Acupuncture see the student clinic of Pacific College of Health Sciences Chicago

Kai Hicks LMT

To book use link above

Alexander Zeigler LMT