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Listen to Your Body

hannah@elev8tus.com (Hannah Goette) — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 16:43:43 GMT

A New Direction

Listen to your body, its speaking to you. Now I have to take my own advice. My body is speaking to me about the direction of my practice. This is hard to share with you because I’m a private person and my practice isn’t just a job to me, it’s a passion... and this time it’s personal. For awhile I’ve felt stuck, not knowing what direction I should be moving in. It has taken a lot of processing and reflection…and procrastination. Change is hard and changing something that you know will effect other people makes the responsibility even more great.

I feel the season of my life changing, not for better or worse just different and I have to adapt with that. But I haven’t been, because I don’t think I really understood it until now. I have to be realistic, massage therapy for me is a very physically and energetically demanding job. I’m not the same woman who started this practice 7 years ago. If I want to keep my career intact I have to massage the way my body can and the way I’m the most passionate about.

The massages that I really enjoy giving are ones that help people connect and bring in awareness to themselves. That look at the body holistically and not just focusing on a specific area that hurts. As I always say, its all connected. My passion is helping you relax into your body and honoring where ever it is that day. I have to honor where my body is today.

Ok, so what are you getting at? You might be thinking. There are going to be some changes. I’ve decided to move away from offering trigger point therapy or any kind of rehabilitation specific work. I don’t want to focus on the pain. I want to focus on supporting your body heal itself; helping to highlight the wisdom pain can bring to you. I’m not going to fix or solve any muscular problem for you but rather guide you to a space that will allow the wisdom to reveal itself. I want to hold that sacred space for you through the process of the massage session.

This may mean a mindset shift. Instead of thinking about the pain or just release this muscle or fix me, shift it to how can we bring in awareness so I can start to process and listen to my body. The pain is secondary, it is no longer the cause of your problems it is the voice of wisdom. Aren’t you tired of coming to me for the same issue and nothing really seems to change? Maybe you feel better for awhile but the pain comes back? We need to shift our focus. Health is not a destination, it is a daily practice and each lifestyle decision you make is a step in that journey.

The next big change in my practice is I’m focusing on providing services for women. I will no longer be accepting any new male clients. This is nothing against any men out there and if you are a current male client then you are grandfathered in. You are still welcome in my space. In general I’ve found that men just need deeper pressure because their muscles are just thicker and firmer than females. As I’ve said, I need to listen to my body and I no longer can give deep enough pressure to effectively serve the majority of male clients.

I’m sharing this with you because I want you to know where I’m coming from and where the direction of my practice is headed. Please know none of these decisions where taken lightly. If you feel that this new direction isn’t for you I totally respect that and I understand. I don’t take anything personally. I can only help so many people in a day and I want my time spent to be the most effective it can be, so I am focusing on the type of massage and clientele where I can be the most helpful. If you have any questions please reach out.

Sincerely,

-Hannah

Face Friendly Business

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 16:03:19 GMT

Masks are optional to wear in the office or during the session. It is up to the individual client and massage therapist if they would like to wear a mask. Our staff doesn't wear a mask.
If that makes you uncomfortable we understand and can refer you to a massage therapy practice that does wear a mask.

If a client chooses to wear a mask during the session we strongly encourage you not to have them on while you are face down (prone). If the client prefers to have a mask on at all times, then face up (supine) and side-laying positioning will be used instead of face down (prone).

-Hannah

Being Busy Does Not Mean You're Successful

Mon, 05 Aug 2019 16:06:42 GMT

Time is a common complaint. But most of us don't know what to do with the time when we have it so we fill it back up. In this episode of the Inner Health Project, we talk about the importance of self-awareness in order to enjoy the time you have.

"Grow Thicker Skin" Is Bad Advice

Sun, 14 Jul 2019 16:22:29 GMT

Has anyone ever told you that you should grow thicker skin? Yeah, they may mean well but have you ever wondered if it's really is good advice?

So, I understand the intention behind telling me to grow thicker skin, they want to spare me discomfort, but at what expense?

You see I tried to on. I tried to be tougher and act like things don't bother me, just let them roll off my back, but it really didn't serve me. I wasn't being authentic or addressing the real problem as to why I was bothered by a situation in the first place.

Discomfort is just a doorway into a deeper conversation with your-self. If we choose to ignore or pretend that we don't feel the emotional hurt and discomfort from things that are unfolding in our lives then we miss an opportunity to tap into our inner wisdom.

I'm not going to apologize for the feelings I get from different situations that come up in my like. They are there to tell me to stop and process this in a deeper way. If I choose to grow thicker skin then I'm choosing to ignore rather than learn.

Find out more in the latest episode on why I think Growing thicker skin is bad advice.

Holistically Healthy

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 16:37:57 GMT

Most people think of physical health when they think of the word "Healthy". But there are so many other aspects of health that go beyond the physical. In this episode of The Inner Health Project, we talk about being holistically healthy and how to find balance in all areas of life.

The Energy of Shutting Up

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 17:00:55 GMT

Have you ever been in a situation and really wanted to speak up but didn’t… and it really bothered you that you said nothing? I think we’ve all been there. Have you ever wondered what that does to you energetically, mentally, emotionally? Sometimes we stop our voice from being heard out of fear, limiting beliefs, or don’t want to be rejected for our different way of thinking. It can feel uncomfortable; we may avoid conflict, or worry about what others will think. Truth is, you are really hurting yourself.

You can actually feel worried, stressed, or anxious when you bottle up what you need to say. This stress chemistry in the body can affect your health. You also waste energy on what you should have said or all the what-ifs scenarios swirling around in your head. You might even start to build resentment towards the person you need to speak to.

Physically you can feel heavy, a tightening in the throat; maybe you avoid certain people or situations because it’s too uncomfortable. These are signs of your personal power being drained by SHUTTING UP. So why should I even bother saying anything you might ask? Well, besides the symptoms already mentioned, the energy of shutting up holds you back. People can't read you mind and although you think it’s easier to avoid conflict or go along with the flow- stating what you want/need/think tells the universe who you are and people know where you stand.

By you speaking your truth it gives others a voice and permission to do the same. Other people may think the same as you or have a different point of view to offer, but they are also afraid to say something. Sometimes you are the only one who can see the truth and express it in a way that, that person will receive it. They need to hear the truth and they can only hear it from you.

Here are a few pointers to help you speak up and not shut up:

Get clear on what you need to say and speak your truth. Try to speak in a more factual tone and less emotional. It's ok to feel emotions around what you need to say but if you want to be heard, speak from a place of love and kindness. Be gentle. The truth isn't always easy to hear.
How to have the conversation. In person is best or the primary way that you communicate. But if you need to, writing a letter or email can be helpful so you have time to think about what you need to say. If you are really nervous or uncomfortable, write down things you want to say before having the conversation in person.
Try to be unattached to the outcome because you have no control over how others will respond. All you can do is stay true to yourself and control your reaction. Use this as a learning opportunity. Stay in the present moment because worrying about the future and endless outcomes drains your personal power.

It can feel like a huge mountain to climb and overwhelming to speak your truth. I understand why shutting up is so appealing. Speaking your truth is more about you then it is about them. Once we speak and say the truth that energy that’s been holding us down can be released into the universe. The heavy weight of fear will be lifted. You will come out the other side a stronger and wiser person.

Create Your Self-Care Routine

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 18:12:33 GMT

Your performance in work and life is often hindered by stress, busyness, and fatigue. In this episode of the Inner Health Project, we share how to create your own self-care routine so you can build a rhythm that supports your goals in work and life. Finding the right self-care routine is an experiment. What works for you may not work for others. Be open and keep learning.

Steps:

Be open to trying new things
Go towards what appeals/inspires you
Give it an honest try.

How to find what works for you:

Know yourself: sit down and figure out what you want to accomplish with self-care
Ask what do I want to accomplish from self-care?
Ask what don't I want or like with self-care?
Take suggestions but keep what inspires you and let go of what doesn't
Tweak things to your liking

This is all a journey to discovering what works best for you. It may take some time, trial and error, but don't get discouraged enjoy the adventure or trying new things!

Love Your Anxiety

Mon, 20 May 2019 18:21:16 GMT

Sometimes we feel pain, shame, and stress around the challenges that we have in our lives. We even judge ourselves for it. We need to honor the pain, stress, and anxiety because it’s there to show us something. It is there for a good reason. There's a deeper lesson for you, this is just a doorway. You are being invited to take a deeper look at your inner health. There is something to learn through the pain. There is wisdom in your challenges, you just have to allow it to be and not fight it.

Steps you can take:

Observation: Bring your attention to the discomfort and be in the moment with the discomfort. How do you feel, what emotions come up, what thoughts do you have around the anxiety?
Relax into the discomfort, wishing for it to go away only brings on more stress. If you've ever had a massage and there is an area that feels painful what I tell my clients is to relax and breath into it. Why? Because tensing up and bracing yourself only holds onto the tension. When we breathe through the pain and relax into it the stuck places they can release more easily. The same can be said for emotional pain or energetic discomfort. Breathe deeply and relax the body into the challenge so it can surface for you.
Seek a different way of looking at the challenge. Change your mindset. Talk about it with someone you trust. Getting a different perspective can make a huge difference. Just having someone sit with you and be present with you during the anxiety takes away some of that power. Honor the message. Honor the lesson.

Let’s stop feeling shame and judging ourselves for having anxiety or being faced with an uncomfortable challenge. Let's not avoid the "ugly" parts in our life because that is a form of self -rejection. Love all of you even the anxiety. You are not the only one who experiences these feelings. We need to embrace each other and embrace the gift that is our anxiety.

How to Protect Yourself From Negative Energy

Sun, 05 May 2019 18:24:09 GMT

We are not just physical being but also energetic beings who can pick up on the vibes of other people.

Sometimes we pick up energies from people at work, from a client, family, or friends, but it isn't ours to hold on to.

Sometimes it's hard to know if it belongs to us or not. In this episode of the Inner Health Project we discuss ways to protect yourself from taking on other people’s energies.

Steps to protecting yourself:

Take time to reflect and ask yourself is this really my stuff? Breathe and notice how you feel in your body. Do you feel tense, anxious, heavy, angry, exhausted, not uplifted?
Talk it out, right it out, and get it out of your head. Get a different perspective from someone else. Sometimes it’s good to speak out loud how you are feeling to a friend, therapist, or confidant.
Take your power back. By that I mean set up boundaries, like how much time you spend with them, where or what you talk about. Send their energy back to them with love after meeting with them or when the day is over. Sometimes you might have to take them out of your life. Look at this uneasiness as an opportunity to learn from them- don't see people as good or bad just not right for you at this time.
To keep your boundaries, imagine there is a bubble of white light surrounding you and protecting you. It holds and keeps the boundaries that you've set.
Clear your space, physically, emotionally, your mind. Imagine things becoming lighter and brighter. Cleanse your space with a prayer, mantra, burning sage, or focusing on your breath.
Give yourself grace and don't judge yourself for taking on someone else's baggage or not recognizing that you need to set better boundaries.

Quality Relationships Elevate Us

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 19:05:54 GMT

Have you taken inventory of the quality of your relationships lately? Have you noticed that some relationships drag you down more than others? In this episode of the Inner Health Project, we look at the power of quality relationships and how they elevate us.

There is a spectrum, people aren't good or bad but rather who is the best option for you in this moment on your journey? Take out the judgment and look at it as an opportunity to learn.

Some questions to ask yourself about the relationships in your life:

Do they inspire you; do you inspire each other?
Do they challenge you to be a better person?
Do they uplift you?

Signs you can look for in yourself to give you more insight into the quality of your relationship:

Ask yourself how do you feel around them?
Really tune into yourself and bring in awareness when answering this question.

How to tune in: Stop, relax, and breath.

Ask your body, check in with any sensations, emotions, and feelings.

Signs the quality of the relationship isn't what you need in this moment:

You want to avoid them or dread talking to them
You don't fully trust them
You don't feel at ease, can't be yourself around them
Your body isn't fully relaxed
It’s not fun or joyous. It doesn't flow easily

Just remember that your inner wisdom is there to guide you, the answers are there just become present so you can listen

Why You Should Be a Leader

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 20:01:01 GMT

In this episode of the Inner Health Project we talk about why you should be a leader.

So you may be thinking well, yeah why should I be a leader anyway? This is how I see things. It's an opportunity for you to grow and to lift others up along the way. You can create connections and an environment for people to thrive in. You can help elevate others while doing the purposeful work of your soul. You get to shape the world and bring something positive to it.

Steps to Being a Leader:

Accept that you are a leader. I was reluctant to see myself as a leader. I had a lot of self-doubt and limiting beliefs that kept getting in the way. I was suppressing my ability to lead out of fear.
Find support to help you grow. Sometimes we need that extra push and to get outside our comfort zone. Find someone who can hold you accountable like a business/life coach, other leaders, pod casts, people who inspire you, surround yourself with like-minded people.
Take action. Embody the leader that you already are. You may have to learn a new skill in order to become a better leader. Keep your heart and mind open to all possibilities. This probably means changing your mindset. Then you’re probably going to have to look inward and be honest with yourself for personal growth to happen so the leader can immerge. Push yourself to explore the uncomfortable and rise to the challenge.
Change the world. Change your world the one you live in. Your community, family, friends, you can make a difference and an impact on them and eventually the world

How to Tune Into Your Body

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 20:05:55 GMT

Our bodies give us feedback. Learning how to tune into our bodies allows us to adjust what needs adjusting to promote our inner health. In this episode of Inner Health Project, we talk about how to tune into your body.

From Drained to Fulfilled

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 20:08:39 GMT

Are you feeling drained?

Or like your keeping all the moving parts together?

Do you feel alone? Are you lonely at the top in your business, or at work?

Has work/business or one aspect of your life taken over your entire life?

In this episode we talk about how to go from feeling drained to nurturing yourself back to a balanced life.

Are You Afraid to Get a Massage?

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 20:39:00 GMT

In this episode we discuss some fears about why someone might choose not to get a massage but they would like to. How do you know the difference between a healthy amount of apprehension versus total avoidance? A lot of times people can feel self-conscious because you are letting a stranger into their space. It can be scary to allow someone who you don’t know that well to see you.

Some common fears are:

Afraid you will be judged
Self-conscious about your body
Can’t trust the massage therapist
You’re afraid that your body or certain parts aren’t good enough to get a massage

How I approach massage

I want to take some of the mystery away, so you know exactly what you are getting into if you decide to receive a massage from me. There is the common approach to massage, probably the one you think of from movies or a spa. This would be laying on a massage table, undressed under the sheets and having oil massaged on the skin. While I do most of my massages this way, it’s not the only option. Let me clarify how a session goes.

First of all, I never see you totally naked, I only undrape the part that is being massaged at the time and I will avoid any area you don’t feel comfortable being massaged. That being said if the thought of being undressed and massaged on the skin is not relaxing for you, I can always massage over the clothes. It’s just as effective. The session doesn’t have to be a total body massage. In fact, I often just spend time on neck and shoulders, or the back, or the arms. If you would like to try massage for the first time you can always come in and we can just work on the feet or hands. I want you to be able to relax and feel comfortable, so if that means you are fully clothed, and we work only on your hands then that’s what we will do.

Often times I hear clients apologizing for their toes not being perfect or not shaving their legs or feeling self-conscious for a hairy chest. I know this can come from a fear of judgment. To put your mind at ease I’m not really paying much attention to that. What I’m focusing on is finding tension in the muscles and that focus is at a deeper level then the skin or appearance. Sometimes I’m working on muscles that are 3 or 4 layers deep to other muscles so how your body looks are the furthest from my mind. I’m looking at how your body feels or how things are in relation to each other. I see a lot of bodies and they are all unique and different, no one is normal or perfect, there’s just too much variation for that.

Massage brings forth body awareness and has the potential to help you zone into your body. If there are parts that you are ignoring or are afraid of addressing, then it can be a very vulnerable experience. I totally understand the apprehension. I think massage is an opportunity to help you through this process of self-awareness if you would like to lean into the sometimes-uncomfortable things that come up. But it can also be a very beautiful experience gaining more confidence and insight into yourself.  

You are more than your physical body. There’s an emotional and energetic body as well but they are all connected and with massage we are touching all three. Your essence is greater than your body, you are not just your body but it’s like a car you are using for a while. So, take care of your body and take time for yourself to tune into all of the beautiful parts of you. Embrace yourself, own it, and be kind to your beautiful body.

Thriving vs Surviving

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 20:11:53 GMT

What you focus on expands. In this episode of the Inner Health Project, we talk about how to move from surviving to thriving in work and life.

Signs you're just surviving:

Low energy physically, mentally, and emotionally
You aren't excited or on fire about what you are doing, maybe it feels draining. Maybe you are going throughout the day wishing you were somewhere else or just trying to get to the weekend.
Are you mindful about what you are doing or more like a zombie? For example, are you intentional about what you are eating or just grabbing something quick? Are you stressed out in certain areas of your life?

How to thrive?

Stop, slow down, observe. Look inward and feel any tension in the body. Do images or thoughts pop up? Explore them but don't judge. Discover what’s going on in your life and try to see the bigger picture, how is it all connected and related to how you feel right now?
Imagine how you want to feel or want things to be and see yourself thriving in whatever aspect of your life you feel is lacking. Tell yourself how you want your life to be, don't judge or put down your ideas: let yourself dream big. Put "reality" aside. Write it down, speak it out, create a vision board, be creative and have fun.
Commit to doing 1 thing that will take you from surviving to thriving. For 3 weeks be consistent about it. For example, you could take more time for relationships, or stop eating processed sugar. Be more mindful in all aspects of your life
Accountability. Do this with a friend or have someone who can hold you accountable like a therapist, life coach, health coach, personal trainer, massage therapist. Having accountability keeps you on track and remind you of your goal. It also gives you support. You are not alone.

How to Self-Massage Anywhere

Mon, 14 Jan 2019 20:14:32 GMT

Self-massage is helpful when you are consistent with it because it takes time to release tension and trigger points- they didn't happen overnight and they won’t go away in one treatment.

How to:

Use a tool. Tennis ball, la cross ball, foam roller, rolling pin, or bouncy ball work well. (Just remember to be gentle and don't bruise yourself.) The intensity should be a 5 or 6 on the pain scale if 0 is no pain and 10 is severe pain.
Stretch. After massaging an area stretch the muscle out gently. Tells your brain that there is a new range of motion and connects the body and brain. Remember to always stretch when the muscle is warm like after massage or exercise. If you stretch before with a cold muscle it will be counterproductive because the muscle can tighten to protect itself.
Frequency over force. The less pressure you use in an area but more frequently massage, will give better results. The body needs time to process and heal, when you massage any area you are helping the body move stagnant lymph and allowing better circulation of blood that carries nutrients. But if you do this too much or too deep it can overwhelm the area and then the body will try to protect itself. Three times a day with light to moderate pressure is better than once a day with deep pressure. Start out massaging one time per day for 10-15 minutes 3 to 4 days per week. Once you’ve mastered that increase self-massage days per week or increase the frequency to 2-3 times per day for 10-15 minutes.
Go slow. There is a learning curve for self-massage and you also don't know how your body will respond to massage at first. Until you become familiar with the tension in your muscles and how they react, error on the side of caution.
Keep it moving. Light exercise helps move lymph and improves circulation. When things become stiff or painful, we tend to stop moving. If you can take 5-10 minute breaks to loosen up and move the body around that can help the muscles from getting over taxed by staying in the same position or doing the same motion.
Call a professional. If you aren't getting anywhere on your own or would like to be educated on what muscles you should be focusing on and how to self-massage then come get a professional massage. After you receive a massage, I can show you specifically which muscles you should be working and how to do it on yourself. This will help increase the effectiveness of your massage session and help your body heal faster.