Lilly Sage Massage Creations

04/09/2026

PSOAS is one of my favorite stabilizing muscles, but also can be a very underrated one.
When I have clients presenting with tightness in their PSOAS, I usually recommend one of my Thai sessions. Positional release has yielded great results with this deep muscle, but it also helps remind us to look at the body as a whole and not just individual muscles! 💪

Psoas: “Psoas Major muscle stiffness, but not strength or flexibility, is associated with chronic Low Back Pain and related dysfunctions. These findings highlight a potential link between PM stiffness and LBP in high-risk sports. Further longitudinal research is warranted to clarify the temporal and causal relationships.”

- Zhou EFM, Wong AYL, Lin G, Huang J, Fang J, Liang W, Cai X, Fu SN. Differences in Psoas Major Muscle Properties Between Elite Athletes with and Without Chronic Low Back Pain. Sports Med Open. 2026 Mar 2;12(1):20. doi: 10.1186/s40798-026-00983-5. PMID: 41770406; PMCID: PMC12953823.

Image: Authors

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41770406/

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http://www.secretlifeoffascia.com/

04/01/2026

Reminder of rate increase taking effect today! I updated the rates on my website as well.

03/08/2026

Thank you NWHSU! It was a blast to be a part of this with some of my favorite massage therapy colleagues and expand my knowledge in my favorite field of learning!
SO happy to see Fascia exploration and research getting the attention it deserves within our professional industry! 🙌

03/06/2026

Hello all my customers, I have an important update.
Effective 4/01/26 all hourly rates will increase by $5
New hourly rates-
Therapeutic-$80
Thai-$85
Deep tissue-$90
Ninety minute sessions will reflect these new prices as well.
The start of this month I have attached the information to clients reminder emails for their appointments to notify this change.
Raising cost is a decision I never take lightly, but need to do when is necessary to stay to offset increased supply costs.
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out, thank you very much for your continued support! 😄

02/12/2026

Sending all our sympathy to our dear friends at Iowa Lakes Community College today 💙💛

The Estherville Police Department sends our most sincere sympathy to our friends at Iowa Lakes Community College. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the students, faculty, staff and families affected by this horrible accident.

02/10/2026

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas from our families to yours! Thank you for making Lilly Sage and Earthshine a part of your 2025. We have loved sharing our happy massage therapy worlds with you another year. We hope for everyone’s abundance, happiness, and health leading into the new year! 🎄🫶🏻

12/22/2025

Winter solstice marks a turning point and invites us to pause. 🕯️ We welcome the return of the light. Winter can be such a challenging season for mental health and also for our physical health. It’s a great time to tune in and be intentional about prioritizing practices that support us. Massage therapy is a supportive tool for mental and physical health.

12/20/2025

Sciatic nerve pain is one of my most frequent nerve issues I come across as a massage. It also can affect the entire lower region of the body when irritated.
It’s far more common than many realize! A huge contributor is actually one of my favorite muscles, the piriformis.
Many clients of mine have heard me describe muscle layers that sit above the piriformis, and many have had graciously placed their trust in me to release it with some of my favorite positional “pin and stretch” release techniques.
As it may most commonly refer into the low back and the pain may not actually signal in the glute, it’s important to help everyone that goes on my table understand that the low back refers the nerve signals from this sciatic nerve region.
If you’re experiencing sciatic signs and symptoms, massage therapy can be an amazing tool to help alleviate that sciatic nerve pain at the very source! 👏

Low back pain? Sciatic pain or tingling? Stiff joints or muscles?

This little muscle right here, called the piriformis, may be partly to blame.

The piriformis, in combination with the other posterior hip muscles, stabilizes the hip joint by steadying the head of the femur inside the acetabulum of the hip bone. It also contributes to the external rotation of the hip joint, in addition to abduction of the thigh while in the flexed position.

As you can see, the sciatic nerve runs right next to this group of muscles. So, it's easy to understand why a tight piriformis or any other muscles in the hip girdle, can cause significant discomfort.

Massage therapy is one great way to reduce this pain and discomfort, gain some mobility, and increase productivity in your body and mind.

At home foam rolling and stretching is another important component to help maintain a pain free lifestyle.

12/19/2025

One of my favorite nerves to release around the base of the skull. Also one of the most common neck/head points of stress I see in the studio as well!

🚨 OCCIPITAL PAIN, HEADACHES WON'T GO AWAY?

Occipital nerve compression, known as occipital neuralgia, causes severe, throbbing, or electric-shock-like pain starting at the skull base and spreading up the head to the forehead or behind the eye, often triggered by touch. It's caused by irritation or injury to the occipital nerves, often from neck trauma (like whiplash), tight muscles, arthritis, or tumors, leading to symptoms like scalp tenderness, dizziness, and migraines.

Treatments range from at-home care (heat/cold, anti-inflammatories) and physical therapy to nerve blocks and, sometimes, surgery to decompress the nerve.

➡️ Symptoms of Occipital Nerve Compression

• Pain Quality: Sudden, sharp, shooting, throbbing, or burning pain.

• Pain Location: Starts at the base of the skull and radiates to the scalp, behind the eyes, and sometimes to the shoulder.

• Triggers: Brushing hair, resting the head on a pillow, or neck movements can cause intense pain.

• Other Sensations: Scalp tenderness, numbness, or tingling.

➡️ Causes

• Trauma: Head or neck injuries, whiplash, or concussions.

• Muscle Tension: Tight neck muscles compressing nerves.

• Spinal Issues: Osteoarthritis (especially in the upper spine), disc disease, tumors, or gout.

• Other: Diabetes, infections, or unknown causes.

➡️ Treatment Options

• Home Care: Heat/cold therapy, over-the-counter pain relievers, gentle neck stretches.

• Physical Therapy: Massage, exercises to relax and strengthen neck muscles.

• Medications: Muscle relaxants, prescription anti-inflammatories.

• Nerve Blocks: Injections of anesthetic/steroids near the nerves for pain relief.

• Advanced Treatments: Occipital nerve stimulation (implanted device) or decompression surgery (rarely).

➡️ When to See a Doctor

Seek medical help for unusual, sharp head/neck pain, especially if it feels like electric shocks, is persistent, or is accompanied by light sensitivity or dizziness, as it can mimic migraines.

12/12/2025

All this snow has us feeling extra holly AND jolly at the studio this year. To get in the Christmas spirit, we are giving little goodie bags out to all our wonderful clients while supplies last! ⛄️❄️