Resources
Wondering what I recommend to keep your body feeling good between massages? Or what goes into my aromatherapy blends or facial products? You've come to the right place.
Things I recommend for basic body maintenance and care
Drink water. Seriously. It sounds easy but it actually makes a difference. Have you ever learned how to check if a dog or cat is dehydrated? You pull up on their scruff, and if, upon letting go, it is slow to release, they are likely dehydrated. Humans are the same. Not enough water in our systems means that our tissues are lacking lubrication. Muscles and connective tissue glide over each other easily in a hydrated body. Lack of water makes everything sticky. Your muscles have to work harder and your connective tissue is more likely to develop adhesions (knots or catches that contribute to tension and aches). If your body feels tight, achy, and fatigued, drink more water!
(Unfortunately, there is a long-standing myth that it is important to drink water before and after a massage because massage "releases toxins that need to be flushed out." There is no scientific evidence for this. Our metabolic processes are constantly changing our internal environment to keep us in homeostasis and our bodies are incredibly impressive recycling centers--hormones, neurotransmitters, and all manner of bodily chemicals come and go with ease, and our urinary and digestive systems dispel the waste. You're fine. You need to drink water, but that's not why.)
Move. Again, it's simple but important. Not everyone is a gym rat, and I get it, I'm not either. But our bodies need to move to stay healthy. Ideally, our muscles get the right combination of strengthening and lengthening. You can over-stretch a muscle and create weakness, and you can have really strong muscles that are tight because you never stretch them. I personally really like yoga for this kind of balance. I understand why a lot of people think it's not for them--I used to be one of those people. I eventually found a YouTube yoga teacher I like (Yoga with Adriene, what's up?!) and doing it at home by myself helped me feel more comfortable going to classes in person and expanding my practice. Maybe for you, it's riding your bike. Or stretching before bed and taking walks. But try to find something you like to do that helps you feel good, and ideally also helps you be aware of your body. Taking long, intentional breaths and checking in with how your body feels can tell you a lot about what you need.
Heat is a great softener. If you are feeling achy and tight, heat can often help a lot. Dry rice in a cotton sock, warmed in the microwave, is really soothing on tight muscles. A warm Epsom salts bath can work wonders. You don't need anything fancy (although a weighted electric warming pad like I use during massage services is also very nice).
Aromatherapy Blends
I make the following aromatherapy blends to enhance your service:
Breathe - rosemary, eucalyptus, and peppermint
For easy breathing during allergy season or illness recovery, or for just making the most of your breath and all it brings.
Calm - lavender, clary sage, frankincense
Soothing and relaxing, a balm to the soul.
Center - vetiver, bergamot, rosemary, cedar, neroli
For balancing and grounding if you're feeling unmoored.
Renew - lemon, lemongrass, sweet orange, tea tree, mint
Cleansing properties to make space for new energy.
I don't sell products, but if you want recipes or ratios, just ask and I'm happy to share!
Facial Massage Products
To cleanse: honey, coconut oil, or jojoba oil
I will recommend one of these based on what you tell me about your skin, but if you have a preference or curiosity, it's up to you.
To balance: a combination of rose water, aloe juice, and apple cider vinegar
Rose water and aloe have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to soothe and protect, while apple cider vinegar returns the skin to its naturally slightly acidic (4.5-5.5) pH. This also provides water-based moisture to seal in with the next step.
To protect: a jojoba-based facial oil, with either rose hip and vitamin E oil added, or a few drops of tea tree oil added
I often choose the tea tree facial oil for those with acne-prone skin or current breakouts, and the rose hip (which is very high in vitamin C) and vitamin E oil is good for all skin types, especially more mature or dry skin. My facial oils are jojoba-based, as jojoba has a similar chemical composition to human sebum, making it skin-supportive, with a neutral and natural feel.
*My goals with these choices are to demonstrate that a simple and budget-friendly routine is not just an option, but a great option, and that it's worth thinking about the difference between aesthetic manipulation and care. While there is a place for aesthetic manipulation (and I won't deny how important that can be for gender identity and all the ways we negotiate our place and power in the world), it's important to me to offer at least a bit of a counter-balance to skin care that has always been overwhelmingly dominated by beauty standards, and try to find ways to cut through some of that and opt out of the beauty industry with what I know of the actual science of skin and the nefarious nature of capitalist beauty marketing. Basically, I just want you to relax and feel good in the skin you have, and give you options outside of what's typically been sold to us as "care." I'm very happy to share exact recipes (because I don't actually want to sell you any products) and have more and deeper conversations about this with anyone interested!