Three Worlds Massage Therapy

08/08/2025

I’m worried about you.
I’m worried about your feet. 👣

As a massage therapist, I hear a lot about lower back pain—especially from clients who wear women’s shoes. 😑

If you’ve given birth, the situation is usually even worse. There are so many reasons why (don’t get me started here)—but seriously, message me and we can talk. I swear these little 👶 should come with a black box warning.

My first question when someone complains of low back pain is always:
“Does it get better when you’re wearing sneakers?”
And about 99.999% of the time, the answer is: yes.

I get that a wide toe box isn’t sexy and that heels are. I’ll always support your choice to wear them—but let’s talk about harm reduction.

👉 Your feet are your foundation.
If your foundation is off, it can throw off everything: feet, ankles, knees, hips, and low back. Honestly, it can mess with your whole body—but that’s a conversation for another day.

If I had my way, everyone would be in custom orthotics.
This one preventive tool can help stop chronic pain, support graceful aging, and may even prevent major surgeries down the road.

Insurance usually won’t cover orthotics, but it will usually cover a foot scan. A good scan shows how your feet are aligned—and what kinds of problems your specific misalignment might cause. I personally like the Foot Levelers scan and orthotics, but there are plenty of solid brands. The best one is the one that meets your needs.

When you get your foot scan results—and the pain it describes matches exactly what you’re going through?
That’s your sign. Get the orthotics.

Yes, they’re a couple hundred bucks.
But they last for years, and once you have them, you can slip them into any cute sneakers and move on with your life. No more dropping hundreds on high-end trainers hoping they’ll solve the problem.
Pro tip: Take them with you when you shop for shoes so you can check the fit with the orthotic.

One last thing—for those of you dealing with super tight calves or nighttime charley horses:

Do you point your big toe toward the sky when you walk?
You’ll know if you do, because there’s probably a little hole worn through the tops of your shoes over your big toe.

Try it right now—lift your big toe upward.
Feel what that does to your feet, ankles, and calves?

That’s a habit—a maladaptive compensation pattern—and it’s creating tension with every step.

The fix? Awareness.
Notice it. Stop doing it. Your body will adjust, and your shoes will thank you.

🚨 Please be careful with your ankles while you’re breaking this habit—your body may feel a little unsteady at first as it readjusts.

There’s so much more I could say about foot health—but I’ll stop here.
Consider this Part One of a series.

If you’ve made it this far, I hope the information was helpful. 💬

💆‍♀️ In my massage sessions, I take your feet seriously. Every client gets a peppermint foot massage, and depending on your needs, I may use foot cupping and hot stones too. If you want to learn more about your feet—or the bigger picture of what’s going on with your body—reach out.

☮️❤️💆‍♀️
Let’s take care of your foundation.

911 E 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46240
Text or call: (317) 447-9774
Weekend appointments available | Fully accessible studio
Licensed Massage Therapist – Janet Montes Phelps, LMT
Indiana License

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Disclaimer: This post is for informational and educational purposes only and does not replace advice from a licensed healthcare provider. Please consult a medical professional, physical therapist, or podiatrist for diagnosis and treatment of any specific health concerns.

08/04/2025

Your calves are more important than you think.
The calf muscles aren’t just for walking—they’re one of the main pumps for your lymphatic system. Every step, every flex, every squeeze helps push lymph fluid through your body, clearing out waste and keeping your immune system sharp.

But when you sit too long or your calves stay tight and stagnant, that system slows down. You might feel it as swelling, puffiness, sluggishness, or even brain fog.

That’s where lymphatic drainage massage and circulation-focused bodywork come in. Targeting the lower legs can kickstart this natural pump and help your whole system flow more efficiently.

It’s one of the simplest, most effective ways to support your body’s detox pathways and feel lighter from the ground up.

📍Nora, Indianapolis
📅 Appointments Thurs/Sat/Sun
📩 DM me to book

Ready to support your lymphatic system? Reach out to book a lymphatic drainage massage with me.

You have a second heart – and it lives in your calves.

Your body has a hidden circulatory booster, and it’s located in your lower legs. It’s called the soleus muscle, and it acts like a “second heart,” pumping blood from your legs back up toward your chest. This helps your actual heart overcome gravity and keep circulation flowing.

But here’s the important part: this second heart only works when you move.

If you sit or stand still for too long, blood can start to pool in your legs. Over time, this can lead to swelling, varicose veins, or even serious blood clots, according to experts at the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic.

The solution is simple: keep moving. A short walk every hour is enough to activate your calf pump. Even small actions like standing up, stretching, or doing toe raises can help. If you’re dealing with chronic swelling, elevating your legs or using compression socks can provide relief – but consistent movement is the real key.

Even more interesting? Some scientists are exploring how soleus-focused movements (like seated heel raises) can help regulate blood sugar and improve metabolism – meaning this second heart might have benefits beyond circulation.

So whether you’re pacing the room or just lifting your heels at your desk, remember: you’re not just moving your legs – you’re keeping your second heart beating strong.

07/28/2025

POV: You’ve been in survival mode so long, you started calling it personality.
You’ve made hypervigilance look like ambition.
You’ve made disassociation look like chill.
You’ve made exhaustion look like drive.
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Psychology or Chakras?

“Healing” is a word we hear all the time. It sounds good. But what does it really mean, and how do we actually get there?

There’s an interesting overlap between chakras and psychology that offers a spiritual path grounded in science.

Chakras are energy centers in the body that are believed to affect our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The earliest mentions of chakras come from the Vedas, ancient Hindu texts written between 1500 and 500 BCE.

In 1943, psychologist Abraham Maslow introduced his Hierarchy of Needs. His theory of human behavior is still used today in both education and mental health. Maslow’s work was shaped in part by Eastern philosophy, which he referenced in several of his writings.

A lot of people have noticed how these two systems mirror each other. Both encourage us to heal from the ground up so we can reach our full potential and contribute something meaningful to the world.
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So where do we begin?

With the foundation.

In the chakra system, that’s the Root Chakra. It’s located at the base of the spine and is tied to our need for safety, grounding, and survival.

In Maslow’s theory, the root matches the first two levels: physiological needs and safety.

Pretty good overlap, right?

The root chakra starts forming even before we’re born.
It reflects the environment we’re born into, our labels, our caregivers, and how safe or supported we felt in those early years.
As adults, things like trauma, abuse, financial instability, or social isolation can all disrupt the balance of root chakra energy.

Whether you’re looking through a scientific lens or a spiritual one, the message is the same:

When the foundation isn’t secure, it’s hard to function at higher levels.
We get stuck in survival mode.

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What does that feel like?

When root chakra energy is imbalanced—either blocked or overactive—it can show up as:
• Chronic anxiety or fear
• Trouble focusing
• Feeling disconnected from your body
• Physical tension or illness
• Numbing out, addiction, or avoidance
• Hoarding or compulsive collecting
• Disordered eating or body-based coping
• Always on edge or easily triggered
• Constant insecurity or overthinking

Maslow and the chakra system both describe the same truth.
We all need to feel safe, supported, and grounded in order to grow.

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So what do we do about it?

Start with symptom relief.
Just like with any other physical or mental health condition, you deserve proper care and support. This may mean starting with medical intervention.

You may need a doctor, a therapist, or medication to stabilize your nervous system.
That is not a failure. That is a foundation.

Once you’re medically supported—or when you feel safe enough to start exploring—holistic tools like bodywork, grounding practices, or spiritual healing can become powerful additions.

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Root chakra support might look like this:
• Walking barefoot or time in nature
• Yoga or somatic practices
• Meditation or deep breathing
• Aromatherapy (especially wood or earth scents)
• Crystals like garnet, hematite, or red jasper
• Trauma-informed massage or bodywork
• Reiki, sound healing, or frequency work (396 Hz and 432 Hz are both helpful)
• Safe touch or nervous system co-regulation (massage, cuddling, being held)

If you’ve been through trauma or your root chakra has held unbalanced energy for a long time, these practices may help you start to feel better. They might be enough. Or they might just open the door to something deeper.

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Some of us are carrying long-term damage. Neglect, abuse, addiction, homelessness, systemic oppression. If your foundation was shaken early in life, it’s not your fault that it’s hard to feel safe now, but it is your responsibility to do something about it.

My own healing has included a lot of layers: therapy, EMDR, shadow work, sobriety, and facing parts of my story I had to bury to survive. It’s a never-ending process. But I also believe it’s why we’re here.

When we begin to create a solid foundation inside ourselves, something shifts.

We start to believe,
“I’m safe now.”
“I can rest.”
“I belong here.”

That’s when the real work begins.

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Ready to reconnect with your body?

If this speaks to you and you’re curious about body-based healing, I offer trauma-informed massage and energetic support in a safe, inclusive space.

My studio is fully accessible, and I welcome everyone seeking a more grounded connection to themselves.

911 E 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46240
Text or call: (317) 447-9774
Weekend appointments available | Fully accessible studio
Licensed Massage Therapist – Janet Montes Phelps, LMT
Indiana License

07/22/2025

🌿 Energetic Benefits of Cupping 🌿
Cupping isn’t just for sore muscles.
It’s also a really effective way to clear stuck energy.

Sometimes what we’re carrying shows up physically, and sometimes it’s just a heaviness that won’t go away.
Cupping creates movement in the body and helps shift what’s been sitting too long, whether that’s tension, emotion, or just energetic clutter.

I often pair cupping with eucalyptus 🌱 and peppermint 🌬️ to help guide that release.
The cups lift and create space, while the oils open up the system and support flow.

• Eucalyptus clears the chest and encourages deeper breathing, which helps move emotional weight
• Peppermint cools the system and energizes the flow of both circulation and focus

Together, they amplify what cupping is already doing — clearing space in the body so things can move again.

✨ Most people walk out feeling lighter, more clear, and like they can finally exhale.

If your body feels off, heavy, or like it’s holding too much, this work can help.

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📍 Now booking cupping + massage sessions this weekend
💬 DM me with questions or to get on the schedule

07/21/2025

🌿 Today’s Cupping Facts 🌿
When a muscle becomes overly tight, it can restrict blood flow to the area — a condition called ischemia.
🩸 Ischemia = reduced blood flow
💨 Less oxygen & nutrients = more tension and pain
🔁 The cycle continues…

✨ Cupping therapy helps break that cycle by gently drawing blood into the affected area, improving circulation and promoting relaxation.
🧘‍♀️ While cupping alone can offer amazing relief, it’s even more effective when combined with massage therapy.

💆‍♀️ When cups are followed by manual massage:

• 🔓 Muscle adhesions (tight, sticky fascia) can be released
• 💧 Lymphatic flow is enhanced
• 🧵 Muscle fibers stretch more effectively

This powerful combo lowers the chance of muscles tightening back into that painful ischemic state. 🙌

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Ready to feel the difference?
📍 Now booking weekend cupping + massage sessions
💬 DM me to schedule or ask questions!

07/16/2025

✨**Now offering weekend massage appointments!**✨

I’ve expanded my studio hours to include Saturdays and Sundays — perfect if you need some time to relax and recharge.

🌿 60-minute sessions include your choice of hot stones or cupping – $85
🌿 90-minute sessions include both hot stones and cupping – $125
(All sessions include aromatherapy)

🕒 Saturday Hours: 12:30 PM – 9:00 PM
🕒 Sunday Hours: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

📍911 E. 86th St.
📲 Text 317-447-9774 to schedule

01/16/2022

Often we don’t make the time to stretch during the day. Stretching is wonderful for keeping the body limber, injury prevention and to keep the blood flowing. This is a quick stretching routine for people with limited mobility or for those working at a desk.