Massage with Mira

06/10/2016

05/08/2016

Touch is truly transformative.
Sometimes it isn't a deep, almost make you cry it hurts massage that has the biggest effects.
Listening and Touch that is absolutely present and supportive provides a nuance of subtle body changes.
Yesterday I had a first hand experience of this.
I went to a women's circle that I am a part of, but had not been to for almost a year. I did not feel at ease before entering, a constant barrage of thoughts swirling in my mind. This anxiousness creating a physiological response in my body of tense, crunched shoulders, a tightening in the front of the hip flexers where your psoas muscles resides (the muscle which contracts to preform a flight or fight response), and a general feeling of tension in the front of the forehead.
During the circle we were offered an opportunity to preform a partner exercise. One partner (the receiver) sat comfortably on the ground and the other partner (the giver) kneeled behind them allowing the receiver's back to rest on their chest. The Giver wrapped their right arm around to place their hand on the Receiver's heart and the left arm around to place their left hand on the Receiver's belly. The Receiver was now able to take 20 breathes at whatever pace they felt comfortable and allow themselves to feel completely supported and held by the Giver. The Giver counts their breathes so they do not have to think at all while Receiving.
On the last breath the Giver may wish to say "Inhale deeply and exhale completely." so the Receiver knows that the Giver will be moving their hands to the Receiver's shoulders. Then you can brush off your partners arms and back if that feels appropriate.
During this exercise I noticed something in myself...I found it really difficult to be the Receiver! I had thoughts come in such as, "Don't lean back too far into her." and "I should breathe faster so she doesn't have to be holding me for so long."
However, as the Giver I felt confident and at ease. I matched my breathe to hers to help offer the most relaxing experience.
When we offered our feedback to the circle I laughed as many of us had found it more difficult to be the Receiver.
We followed as being allowed to share one thing we were really excited about and we could also share something we felt we needed support or encouragement with. I spoke of the many anxieties that had been circulating my mind earlier and everyone listened with open attentiveness. We let it all out and by the end of the circle I felt much lighter.
The true testament to this exercise of just being present for someone as they are allowed to just BE, be held, be with their breathe I discovered the next morning. For the first time in weeks I slept through the night and when I did wake up I felt at peace to spend a couple more hours falling back asleep. My bowels released easily the build-up of toxins as a sign to actually letting go of your s**t. And my body discomforts I had noticed the day before were almost none existent.
This is a practice that is simple and absolutely effective because sometimes the most deep-rooted changes occur when we are silent. They occur when we are focused and present and showing up for another human being who like you is yes..going through s**t!
When your body is in pain it is sending you signals that there is unbalance somewhere in your life. Do not be afraid to ask for help and go with the grace to receive fully.
People want to show up for you and the moment you let them can change everything.

02/19/2016

Self-care is sexy not selfish.
Are you feeling drained, tense, sore, and that there just aren't enough hours in your day between work, chores, errands, kids, meal planning? Have a mobile massage!
Save the time and energy of travel. I now offer treatments in the comfort of your own home. You will be able to fully relax and sink in as deep as you want into some blissful soothing touch because you don't have to worry about traveling home with "massage brain" after, you've already arrived!
Holistic Massage 45min - $60 60min - $80 90min - $110
Indian Head Massage 45min - $60
Reflexology Treatment 60min - $70

Call/Text 6043166472 or PM me to book an appointment.
I look forward to serving your well deserved self-care practice.

There may be extra travel charge for locations outside of the Vancouver area.

02/17/2016

"Learning about the Lymphatic"

Make a practice of Rebounding:
I will give a brief overview (please refer to first "Learning about the Lymphatic" for a broader description.
You have more lymph fluid in your body than blood and your lymph nodes are providing antigens for purifying fluids to help cleanse your body of everything from allergens to cancer cells.
Unlike your cardiovascular system your lymphatic system has no pump, therefore gravity is not our friend and the only way to move lymph fluid upward is through muscle contraction and joint pumps.

TAKE A REBOUNDING BREAK
Many of us live quite sedentary lifestyles often not out of choice, but personal means of survival such as desk jobs we can help our lymph move by the act of rebounding.
Many people are investing in a mini trampoline and by spending just 10-15min a day lightly bouncing on this fun toy you increase the gravitational pull of your lymph fluid, similar to that of being on a crazy carnival ride or sudeen change in vehicular speed.
With intense walking or gentle rebounding the gravitational pulls are in vertical alignment with your body and it's lymph system.
Other ways you can rebound: Skipping rope, jumping jacks, or any other activities which require running/jumping...but don't feel like you have to do one of these more athletic endeavors a simple jumping up and down on a mini trampoline or even bouncing on an exercise ball is sufficient to help your body move lymph and cleanse itself.

Have fun! Be Happy, Be Healthy, and Feel Good!

01/14/2016

*Learning about the Lymphatic*
Why Hot/Cold showers are something everyone should be doing every day:

Inside your body you have two circulatory systems. The first that most people know about is the Cardiovascular which is the system which blood is continually pumped through the heart to the kidneys which help your body eliminate debris and excess fluids.
The second less well known system is called Lymphatic, even though this system actually consists of more fluid in your body than you have blood.

Why is it important to know about your Lymphatic system and how to keep it healthy?

The Lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs that carry a fluid called Lymph.which aids the immune system in the removal and destroying of waste by creating white blood cells, debris, dead cells, pathogens, and cancer cells.
The Lymph's flow is different than your Blood's flow. Blood is in a constant loop being re-oxygenated by the lungs and then sent back to the heart. However, Lymph travels but one direction, up.

Think about how the force of gravity affects our Lymphatic system, especially one that has been over-worked by taking too many prescription drugs, alcohol, coffee, or unhealthy foods which is already working overtime to clear your system.

One easy and simple thing you can do to help is to have hot/cold showers in the morning. I usually do this at the end of my shower.
I turn the water cold. And I don't mean lukewarm I turn it cold! The trick in this is to mentally prepare yourself by taking calm, slow deep breathes.
Allow yourself to turn and let the water touch every area for about 30 sec to a minute.
Then switch it to hot again for 30 sec- 1min.
Repeat this process 3-5 times at least.

Why does this help clear left over Lymph fluid and help your system function easier?

Your Lymph vessels contract when exposed to cold and relax when exposed to heat. Your Lymph system does not have a central pump like the cardiovascular does with the heart. It relies on the contraction of muscles to move its fluid.
The alternation of hot and cold causes lymph vessels to dilate and to "pump" fluid that may have stagnated in the system.
This helps ease build up and reduce inflammation and helps keeping a strong immune system.

More tips about supporting the lymphatic coming soon. :)

01/05/2016

Soma Studio welcomes Mira Hunter, Certified Massage Practitioner, Yoga Teacher, and Birth Doula

Mira Hunter has been studying, honing, practicing, and guiding clients through healing in Vancouver, BC since 2013. She most recently has returned to her hometown of Saskatoon, SK to serve her community here and will be a guest at our shop during her stay.

Mira is also a Certified Yoga Teacher through Karma Teachers Yoga. Her passion is to combine these two healing modalities through the use of breath-work in massage sessions. By beginning sessions with guiding clients through conscious breathe practice they have an opportunity to reach new states of deep relaxation. As the mind calms, the body starts to open, and in this space of peace true healing, restructuring, and rebalancing can occur. Mira enjoys offering complementary light, easy to comprehend stretches or exercises to assist your particular needs and aid in the bodywork.
Mira offers her clients a supportive, nurturing environment to let go, breathe, and feel empowered. Sessions are tailored specifically to each client's specific needs and objectives.

Her treatments are the perfect way to begin to nourish your body, mind, and spirit this 2016.

Please call Mira@ 604-316-6472 to book or for any questions or Mark@Soma 306-244-7662 to book a session today :)

You are perfectly enough.

12/12/2015

You're ability to heal comes from knowing that you will heal. The mind is needed as an ally in the healing process. The body already holds within it the innate wisdom of how to heal itself, but if the mind is constantly saying I can't and taking away precious energy from bodies systems we can't expect ourselves to get better. Become friends with your mind, believe in your bodies power to heal itself, and heal you shall.

10/30/2015

Disease is caused by being in a perpetual state of dis-ease. When ours is a state of dis-ease our body is out of it's natural rhythm, it's natural state which is of ease, calm, and peace. Ask yourself throughout the day "Am I at ease? Am I at peace?" If your answer is no then you have identified with something outside yourself. Your happiness is then conditional on something else. Asking these questions will help bring your awareness into the present moment. In the present moment is where we find our natural state of ease, peace, love, and joy. Consistently being in the present moment dis-ease ceases to be as it is only caused from thinking of the past or projecting into the future. More ease, less disease of the body, mind, and spirit.
Be happy, free, and at ease today friends :)

03/18/2015

What does it mean to hold space for someone else?

It means that we are willing to walk alongside another person in whatever journey they’re on without judging them, making them feel inadequate, trying to fix them, or trying to impact the outcome. When we hold space for other people, we open our hearts, offer unconditional support, and let go of judgement and control.

To truly support people in their own growth, transformation, grief, etc., we can’t do it by taking their power away (ie. trying to fix their problems), shaming them (ie. implying that they should know more than they do), or overwhelming them (ie. giving them more information than they’re ready for). We have to be prepared to step to the side so that they can make their own choices, offer them unconditional love and support, give gentle guidance when it’s needed, and make them feel safe even when they make mistakes.

03/09/2015

Nurture your body, destress your mind, and find soul connection. through a natural, basic human need.

Some benefits and effects of massage:

Multiple studies have shown that massage therapy can lower cortisol levels, increase dopamine and serotonin (our happy, feel-good hormones), and lower excitatory hormones like norepinephrine and epinephrine.

If you have too much norepinephrine or epinephrine it can lead to feelings of anxiety. Too little dopamine and serotonin can cause depression and other psychological problems.

Your body can move between two main states of being - the sympathetic state and a parasympathetic state. The sympathetic mode is what we think of as fight-or-flight mode. It's when the body triggers the autonomic nervous system’s stress hormones and ups our adrenal response. Most of us are in some level of sympathetic state just dealing with day-to-day stresses. Massage has been shown to help the body shift into a parasympathetic state. By supporting real stress relief, massage can set the body into a "rest and digest mode." What’s awesome is even a relaxation massage has the opportunity to chemically support a healthier state of being.

Some people find amazing benefits during the first session, others take more time to settle in and fully receive the treatment. One of the other aspects of massage that can prove to be helpful, is that the more massage your receive, the more you gain from it's benefits. Kind of like the way you work up the endurance to run a marathon, the more your body receives massage, the deeper and more effective massage becomes.