Cauliflower - your BFF for the holidays

There’s 27 days before Christmas, as of this blog post.

We’re making lists, doing stuff, and staying up until midnight working at getting it done.

In all of this rush, Academy Massage wants to remind you to remember yourself - rest, eat well, and squeeze in a massage.

For many of us, eating well can be the kicker at this time of year. And carbs are the killer. But let’s face it, mashed potatoes most often win out over celery sticks, no matter whether those sticks are plain, dipped in ranch, or smothered in peanut butter or cheese spread.

There’s, however, a vegetable that comes out on top in this battle. It’s cauliflower - believe it or not!

Named among the world’s healthiest foods, cauliflower is an excellent source of vitamin C, K and B6, folate and pantothenic acid. It’s a very good source of choline, dietary fibre, omega 3, fatty acids, manganese, phosphorus and biotin.

Here’s a delicious recipe for you to try.

Magnificently Marvelous Cauliflower Mash

cook your cauliflower in boiling water for 12 to 15 minutes, until very tender
drain all the water (the drier the cauliflower is, the better)
mash cauliflower, as you would potatoes
add a bit of milk, teaspoon of butter or a tablespoon of olive oil, and/or sour cream, as is your preference
dash of salt and pepper, or other complimentary spices to taste
top with parsley and/or chives

You’ll not miss the potatoes. We promise.

“I couldn’t believe it, when I tried it,” says Academy Massage owner, Debby MacKenzie. “I thought for certain that I was eating mashed potatoes! But I wasn’t, and the cauliflower was lovely.”


Other healthy holiday tricks you might like to try include:

drinking lots of water, and even enjoying a good-for-you snack before heading out to the festivities. This will keep you full, and help you to resist the snacks, before dinner
keep up your workouts and massage schedule through the season, so you can delight in the delicious, without feeling guilty
encourage those around you to make great choices, by serving happy healthy sides.

Wishing you a season that remembers you!

Love from,
Academy Massage Therapy

Time is on your side - if you are on time!

It was the Rolling Stones who sang “Time is on my side”, while Mick Jagger’s refrain was, “Yes, it is. Yes, it is.”

For the rest of us, however, while we would like to think that time is on our side, that truth is - time is on our side - if we are on time. And with the end of the year and the holidays fast approaching, truer words were never spoken.

As of this blog posting Thursday, November 22, there are in fact:

• 32 days left until Christmas
• 39 days left until the end of the year.

The Academy Massage Therapy gift card is one way of dealing with the number of days until Christmas. It simply allows you to give a gift of wellness to the people you care about. Available for purchase in any denomination at the front counter of the clinic, gift cards are a super sweet solution for so many holiday gift gaps!

And then the other really important date that rolling towards us at great speed is December 31, 2018 - the end of the year! That’s the last day that you can make use of your this year’s insurance allocation for 2018. On January 1st of 2019, those 2018 dollars are gone.

Don’t leave dollars in your insurance benefit package!

During this busy season Academy Massage suggests:

• that you review your remaining insured benefit dollars
• call Academy Massage and book your before-year-end massage appointment(s)
• when you come in for that appointment or appointments, purchase those gift cards -
  for one, two, or even a series of massages for the year ahead - to give to the
  favorite people in your life

• after your massage, head home, create one of Academy Massage's hydration
  recipes, put on some Rolling Stones tunes, put up your feet, and raise a glass
  to Mick and the boys.

“Time is on my side” is a great tune. And when you’re on time, you’ve even got the time to listen to the entire album, in the lead up to the holidays!

“The Academy Massage Therapy wishes you the gift of time during this busy season,” says Academy Massage owner, Debby MacKenzie. “And, we’re here to help you find a bit more of it!”

The merry cranberry - a healthy enhancer!

Native to North America - the cranberry has long been a staple fruit on the prairies, in fact some of you may remember picking cranberries as a kid, while others may still enjoy this outing, and the rest of us have a favourite retail location at which to purchase these tart little treasures.

As they did in the past, today the cranberry continues to ingratiate itself in a multitude of food items. At this time of year, they are often spotted floating atop the punch. Dried, sweetened versions of this beauty often grace festive gatherings. They are, of course, a great garnish at the holiday table. And throughout the year cranberries are good as juice, add great colour to a salad, and provide a good accent to muffins and loaves. Most every food it seems, can be enhanced with a good handful of cranberries.

Some have even titled cranberries - among the world’s healthiest foods. A Google search lists upwards of 13 health benefits related to consuming antioxidant cranberries, including weight loss!

And what’s more, cranberries are truly tasty.

The acknowledged healthiest way to consume them is - raw! Slicing them in half before you add them to something is probably the best way to make them the most chewable.

Following are a couple of cranberry hydration recipes which offer a seasonal twist to your post massage hydration.

Refreshing water choices provide a lift to your spirit, as well as your body. Keeping hydrated is an important part of staying healthy. Water promotes cardiovascular health, maintains the body temperature, helps muscles and joints work better, and keeps skin supple.

Also remember to drink plenty of water, particularly after your massage! Drinking lots of water at this time will help flush out the toxins released during your massage, and rehydrate your muscles.

Orange Cranberry Zip

Ingredients

1 orange

1 cup raw cranberries

water

Directions

Slice orange, leaving the rind on, into 1/4 inch rounds.

Slice raw cranberries into halves.

Add all of the ingredients to a pitcher of water, and stir.

Chill for an hour.

Enjoy!

Minty Cranberry Aah

Ingredients

1 cup fresh mint leaves

1 lb raw cranberries

water

ice

Directions

Wash mint leaves, and chop very coarsely.

Slice raw cranberries into halves.

Add all ingredients, including water and ice to a punch bowl or drink dispenser, stir.

Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

KELLY SANCHEZ RMT

Kelly Sanchez is a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT). She’s been with Academy Massage Therapy for 13 years. Why? Because she likes the place - a lot!

“I really like Debby. She’s nice to the staff. She’s caring and concerned about us. If someone doesn’t come into work. She’s on the phone immediately checking to see if they’re okay, or if they need anything. Really, she’s more of a friend, than a boss,” explains Kelly, in her description of Debby MacKenzie, owner of Academy Massage

“The atmosphere here feels like home. I like the people that work here. And the clients, I like working with them.”

Kelly chuckles when she tells the story about how she became a massage therapist.

“I really wasn’t quite certain about what direction to take after I finished high school,” says Kelly. “I has briefly thought about nursing, but I can’t stand the sight of blood or needles, so that wouldn’t have worked out too well.”

“In grades 11 and 12, we used to see lots of films. I always sat with one of my girl friends who always appreciated having her back rubbed. So I did that every time we watched a movie. Then word spread, and lots of people would say that they needed a back rub. And eventually I was rubbing different people’s back throughout the entire movie.”

Still not certain about which direction to take, after her graduation from grade 12, it was her friend, Angie, who pointed out to Kelly that she’s be rubbing her classmates’ backs for two years, and so why didn’t she. “just do it!”

And that’s what Kelly did!

A few details about Kelly’s areas of specialty follow:

• pre-natal massage - Kelly does both pre- and post-natal massage. “I think I like just about everything about pregnancy,” says Kelly. Most often, women come to her asking for pre-natal massage. This massage assists the function of both muscles and joints, while improving circulation, and relieving fatigue.

• neck, face and scalp massage - focuses on the jaw joint, TMJ or temporo mandibular joint, explains Kelly. Most often brought on by stress, grinding teeth or clenching the jaw - the muscles and soft tissue of the very upper region of the body are manipulated to relax the muscles, increase the blood and oxygen to these areas and ultimately relieve pain.

• sinus massage - Kelly believes, “a good head, neck and face massage will clear up so many issues.” A sinus massage works nicely on a cold, congestion, allergies and sinus headaches. The massage focuses on the forehead, around the eyes, and along the cheekbones, under the eyes and back again.

• breast massage - Kelly sees breast massage as stimulating blood flow to the breasts, thereby decreasing tension and stress. Most notably, Kelly explains that breast massage is helpful for women who have had a mastectomy, particularly when dealing with scar tissue.

• aromatherapy - And what are the benefits of aromatherapy? Kelly says there are many, including: reduction of anxiety, easing depression, boosting energy levels, speeding up the healing process, eliminating headaches, boosting cognitive performance, inducing sleep, strengthening the immune system, reducing pain, improving digestion and increasing circulation.

You can book an appointment with Kelly or any of the 50+ massage therapists at Academy Massage Therapy by calling 204-489-5050.

Academy Massage Therapy gift cards - help for the holiday gift gap

Oh my goodness! What to do? What to do?


Is that the little voice inside our heads - as each day lurches closer to the holidays? Sometimes we probably can’t even find the stop button for that little tune.


In fact, the shopping solution is actually right here.


It’s the Academy Massage Therapy gift card!


Available for purchase in any denomination at the front counter, and a sweet solution with many applications:

• the newspaper delivery person - who clambers over snow drifts in the winter, and jumps over puddles in the summer

• the neighbour who helps you with the yard work - taking care of the lawn and trimming, the snow and ice

• the vet - who listens, strategizes, encourages and heals Harry, the cat

• the garage mechanic - head under the car, ear under the hood, greasy hands and a big smile when the job is done

• the gym coach - who believes, persists and prods, when all you want to do is to plop to the ground

• your kid’s teacher - a thank you for the patience, guidance, thoughtful comments, classroom lessons, after school activities, piles of pages corrected and lesson prep

• the health care worker - who daily pops in on your mom with a cheery smile, and slice of just-baked banana loaf for her to sample

• the health care professional - whose medical intervention means that you have breath, sight, hearing, life - and the ability to do your own version of the two-step at the family social

• the kids - always tearing about with not a minute to spare, and not a second to stop

• your partner - your best friend, your relationship, the most important person in your life. Gift cards can cover single or couple massage therapy choices.

“I like to think of the Academy Massage Therapy gift card as a gift of true caring and thoughtfulness,” said Academy Massage owner, Debby MacKenzie. “It’s essentially wellness in a box.”


Purchase options are up to you - choose from a single massage or a regime of massage appointments which span the course of a year, and everything in between.


“Our gift cards really do say - ‘Wishing you well!’,” Debby noted.