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As many of you know I have worked in Antartica before as a sea kayak guide and zodiac driver. This year I was hired on by One Ocean Expeditions, to set up a wellness, spa sector on board, as they are creating an Active Cruising Program, which will allow people to stay in shape and pamper themselves while traveling in the most remote, harshest region of the world.  I will offer a range of spa / body treatments that will work in conjunction with our sauna and plunge pool. I will also teach a few morning yoga classes.

While away I will send photo and story updates from my life on the high seas. Massaging on ocean swell, that should be interesting! and I hope to get some time in a kayak, as well.

I wish you all a fantastic winter in Seattle and thank you for your visits and laughs, up until now! It has been a wonderful 9 months for me at Chill Massage Therapy in West Seattle, and I hope you too! While I’m away you will be in the good hands of Heather Glen LMP, Alix Mclaughlin LMP, and Diana Elizabeth LMP all of whom, can take care of and free you of worries and knots with a wide range of massage modalities and skills. You can find out more about them on our website. www.chillwestseattle.com

Again, though I am excited for this oppurtunity, I am also so grateful for your support and friendship and I look forward to my return. Until then check back to keep in touch and I will try to share my experience from Antartica!

Have a fantastic winter, stay warm but stay Chill!

Cheers,
Maureen d’Armand, LMP
“may you have oil in your lamp, warmth in your igloo, and peace in your heart!”

Fall can also be a challenging time.  As darkness sets in, our mood can decline, our energy levels drop, we are more prone to sickness and our skin gets dry and pale.  We forget sometimes as humans that we are still just mammals, living our life in a cyclical pattern as set forth by the earth revolving around the sun.  We tend to live life in mono- the thought that we should always have the same mood, the same energy, the same food desires and the same sleep patterns.  But we are still natural beings and in fact what you need in the fall is drastically different that what you need in the summer.

In the fall the body naturally slows down.  Your energy levels are lower, as your metabolism slows down.  Your body needs more sleep than in summer, you desire soup, because your metabolism craves food that is easier to digest that raw food.  Your mood becomes more introspective and quiet, as this is what is happening in nature.  Plants are dying and pulling their energy into their roots to over winter-why not join them and give your body a break.

Many of us go barreling into fall full speed ahead.  Starting new projects “to keep occupied” getting a new gym membership, setting hefty goals of running marathons, learning to sew and reorganizing the garage.  It is no wonder our body gets depleted and we end up sick.

A few ways to combat sickness and energy depletion in the fall:

1. Trust your intuition.  When you feel tired in the afternoon, consider a nap. Make a cup of tea and curl up on the couch, read and see if sleep comes.  It’s ok your body needs it.
2. Eat cooked foods.  Hot soupy delicious creations are much easier for your body to digest when it is already trying to stay warm and free from infections.
3. Use aromatherapy as preventative medicine, to ward off colds, flu’s and infections.  As antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria proliferate, and new viruses develop, keep your immune system steadfast with a few little tricks:  Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Ginger and Lemon Essential Oil can float you through the winter illness free.  You can easily burn a few drops of Eucalyptus in a diffuser in your home to fortify your immune system, or add a few drops to a small spray bottle of water and spray your home to combat bacteria.  If you feel like the sniffles already have you, take a hot bath and use a mixture of eucalyptus and lemon essential oils (just a few drops!) directly in the hot water.  Enjoy the room as hot and steamy as possible inhaling the aromatic fumes deeply through your nose.  If taking a bath is too time consuming, pour some hot water in a bowl add 3-5 drops (no more) of eucalyptus and put a towel over your head and bowl for 5 minutes.  If shopping for organic essential oils at PCC or an organic supplier is too overwhelming, just stop by Chill.  Nicole has bottled straight, organic eucalyptus essential oils-for $4.  Yes that is a four .
4. Use a neti pot- or sinus rinse.  This small but extremely functional contraption allows you to irrigate your sinuses with warm salty water helping to keep them clean, bacteria free and aids healing from earlier colds.
5. OIL YOUR SKIN- I learned the benefits of oiling my skin from my mom.  (Thanks Mom!)  About 4 years ago on a particularly harsh Alaskan winter I could not keep the skin from flaking off my forehead and my shins always looked like snake skin.  You’ve all seen it.  As the season changes, evolving into fall, your skin naturally becomes drier.  Even during our massages during this time of year, we go through much more oil and lotion to achieve a comfortable slip.  As one does when nothing seems to work, I called my Mom.  She educated me on a comfortable way to hydrate my skin in the most natural way possible.  She (and now I) after finishing in the shower, turn off the water, put a towel on our heads, but still wet, warm and within the confines of the shower apply oil directly to our wet skin.  A blob about the size of a quarter can oil both legs, another is enough for the chest, belly and arms.  My mother uses Alba botanicals “Kikui Nut Oil,” it smells delicious and is extremely rehydrating. I like to use pure oils that reflect my differing seasonal needs.  Oiling your skin is not only good for your skin but your whole being.  A lot of us can’t imagine rubbing oil on our skin outside of a massage, but oiling your skin, especially in the Fall and Winter is one of the best things you can do to hydrate the largest organ of your body.  When you’re finished showering, before exiting the tub, put a towel on your hair and apply sesame oil, or grapeseed oil or for extremely dry skin jojoba oil directly to your wet skin.  Then finish your bathroom business; brushing your teeth . . . and pat dry your skin with a towel.  I do this to my skin everyday, and do not have oily clothes or towels, but very hydrated and happy skin.
6. If you feel a cold coming on, or are at the end of one I always oil and add a few drops of eucalyptus to the oil and do a special forehead and sinus massage, paying special attention to rubbing my chest and lungs in circular motions.  My colds rarely come, but are always brief when I attack with eucalyptus and oil.  I prefer to use grapeseed oil in the summer; it is lightweight and toning.  In the fall and spring I use sesame oil being thicker and I can use it on my scalp and hair as well.  In the heart of winter I use jojoba the highest quality oil that is easy to obtain.  Chill currently carries organic jojoba oil for a plethora of purposes; stretch marks, hydration, eczema. . .
7. Get massage.  A relaxing deep Swedish massage is often just what the body needs to unwind after a busy week.  If you find your self chilled for a few days in a row in winter, try a hot stone massage- deeply relaxing while it reheats your body to the bone-literally and the oil and lotions are extrememly rehydrating for your skin.
8. Rest!  It is something we are all bad at in the western world.  But try it!  Take a load off.  Grab a book and curl up on the couch.
9. If your mind cannot stop spinning, you have troubles falling asleep or wake at night because your brain is on overdrive.  Try essential oils.   I diffuse oils in my house every day-to lift my mood, to help me focus, to relax and unwind and to energize.  If you would like some pointers about good blends please ask any of us at Chill. We are happy to make suggestions specific to your needs.  We can even discuss making customized blends for your needs.

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