We are honored to have Alex, a Licensed Massage Therapist and owner of Massage Oasis on the blog today, chatting about self care and giving us some great techniques for massage, whether you have a partner or not! Massage is such an amazing and truly beneficial way to practice self care. 

Here is what Alex has to say!

     What is self-care?  Self-care is anything that we do to take care of ourselves in order to preserve or improve our own health and mental well-being.  While the details of what this looks like are different to everyone, one thing that stays consistent is that is important for all of us.  Self-care plays a large role in reducing overall stress and increasing happiness. Too often we think about everyone else in our lives and forget about ourselves, but the key thing to remember is that self-care is not selfish.  After all, you can’t pour from an empty cup!
    One way you can show your body some love is through massage techniques that can be performed either on yourself or a partner.  I personally enjoy using Herbesque’s Massage oils. They are high quality and handcrafted with no artificial fragrances. My favorite is the lavender which helps to relax and calm the mind.
    #1 Massaging the feet is a great way to not only relax but also reward your body. Each foot has nineteen muscles and up to 200,000 nerve endings.  Those muscles and receptors are in charge of making continuous adjustments so that the body can stay balanced. Keeping the feet in good condition is one great way to help keep your entire body feeling good.  
    Using your thumb, try starting at the base of the big toe and running your thumb down the arch towards the heel.  Repeat this motion separating the sole of the foot into three segments. An alternative way of doing this would be to use a tennis ball while seated or standing apply tolerable pressure and slowly rolling the foot forward and backwards over the ball.   With this motion we are targeting the plantar fascia. By repeating this exercise daily not only can it improve how the feet feel, but also help to release tension through the calves and hamstrings.
   #2 Taking care of our hands is not something we often consider however, we SHOULD!  There are 34 muscles that contribute to the movement of our fingers and thumb. Who would have thought!  So try this.
    Use your thumbs, to trace heart onto the palm of your partners hand.  Repeat this motion 3-5 times. From there use your thumb and index finger and wrap them around the base of one of your partners fingers using a moderate amount of pressure, and pull away from the body.  Repeat this until you have done each finger. You can easily do these two techniques on yourself, repeat all of the steps just using one hand.
     Receiving professional massage on a regular basis can be beneficial for most people.  Through various massage techniques, therapists are able to customize a session specifically to the needs of each client.   Your therapist will be able to help you decide how often you should come in for a professional massage session based on your body’s specific needs.  Talking to your therapist about what your main areas of concern are and how you are feeling both before and after your massage will help determine what would work best for you.  Benefits of regular massage include reduced stress, improved range of motion, better sleep, increased circulation and many more.

If you have any questions for Alex or want to book an appointment (she's amazing!) visit her website or check her out on Facebook! 

Thank you SO much for these amazing tips! I hope you all enjoyed this! Let us know if you want to see more blogs like this. Email us here with your thoughts and ideas! 

If you want to check out our line of natural Massage Oils, those are available here. Just in time for Valentine's Day. ;) 

Also, be on the lookout on our Facebook page as we will be giving away a massage treatment by Alex and some Herbesque goodies as well. Worth over $100! 

Until next time!
Nicole

Let's talk about Clay for a minute. No, not Clay Matthews. (I know my local friends too well...) Clay, you know, the stuff that is found in our beautiful earth. 

You will find clay in a few of my products, and for a good reason. The skin loves it! Not only is it detoxifying, it can also smooth skin and replenish it with several key nutrients the skin and our bodies may be lacking. 

There are several varieties of clay. I use mainly kaolin, bentonite, rose or red, and french green. They have key differences, but are also very similar to each other. 

From a skin care standpoint, clay is safe for most skin types. It isn't an irritant, making it safe for even sensitive skin. Some clays aid in moisture retention, and some absorb excess oil, making it amazing for oily skin. Using a clay masque, for example, draws toxins out from the skin, which in the long run, is what is best for our skin and bodies. Our clay masques are also smoothing and soothing for the skin. They are a great addition to your weekly routine. 

Some nutrients found in clay are magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium, and other minerals. 

If you are going to buy clay yourself, please be mindful and research the companies you are purchasing from. Some clays are not safe or contain unwanted ingredients that simply aren't needed or can be toxic. Here at Herbesque, we always, always look into the companies we purchase from and try to buy as direct as possible. So you can trust and know what is in your products! This is important to us. 

If you have any questions on our clay products or want to know which facial masque is best for you, send us an email! I can't wait to chat with you! 

Until next time, 
Nicole

          As I was sitting on my patio doing some work this morning and drinking my morning coffee, I was enjoying the freshly cut grass and noticed the little yellow blossoms that had popped back up overnight. The grass was cut just the night before, it had been just over 12 hours later, and they were all standing high in the lawn once again. And I couldn't help but think, why cant we be as determined and steadfast, trustworthy or stubborn even, as the spring dandelions? We cut them down and they were right back up again, like nothing happened.
​          What is something you are struggling with in your life and it's just kicking your butt? Physically or emotionally? We tend to mull over things that really don't need mulling. We focus on the negative or the small things. How can we put a positive spin on it? Being positive, even in the toughest of times, really makes so much difference. What is your favorite or most trusted way to remain positive or to bring more positivity in your life? We all have rough days, but if we practice having a positive mindset, the rough days won't last as long and they won't be as miserable as they could be. I'm always looking for new techniques or methods, inspirational quotes or music, or just ways to be happier in life. I'd love to hear your ideas or methods! 

​            I don't know about you, but I need these reminders more often then not. We let the craziness of life take over some days. And the fresh dandelions re-popping up, bright and early in the morning during my coffee time, gave me just the reminder I needed for the day. 

Until next time, 
​Nicole

I don't really want to promote actual product here much, but I wanted you to know about our huge giveaway going on right now! It is definitely worth a look, especially if you love our aromatherapy products! It is worth over $100! So feel free to enter now below, and share with anyone who would want to enter! Super simple too, as simple as signing up for our Newsletter or commenting on this blog post! So, enjoy! (Giveaway will be open until May 15th)

And I hope you are having a lovely day! 

Till next time,
Nicole

Yesterday we lost a member of our family, our sweet pup, Bow. He has been with us for over a decade, and it was a sudden loss. And it's been a tough 24 hours. But with this sadness, comes the reminder to not take things for granted, and while I can feel sad, and maybe even lost, I can also feel joy in the people and pets we still have in our lives, in my life. 

I look at my life, in pieces and as a whole, and I often let things pass by without realizing the depth of them. The meaning of them. But each moment means something. Even if it just means another chance to take a breath on this earth. This beautiful earth. Really, so many things to just sit back and think for a moment. We take for granted the "good mornings" we receive each day, the first breath of fresh air we inhale as we step foot outside, the warm hugs of our loved ones, and the pure joy that can we can take in, even on days of solace. 

Sometimes it feels strange and almost not right to want to see good in even terrible situations. But we have to, I feel. Our day goes on, and while we can be easy on ourselves in this time of loss, we have to be able to keep going. And for me, that needs to include gratitude and joy, even if it is small. 

I also teach self care, the importance and necessity of it. So, with that, today I will dedicate some time to myself. To grieve, but also to try to renew myself, so tomorrow can be the best it can be, even in these circumstances. I challenge you to also take a few moments today in self care. Do something to take care of yourself, renew yourself, get to your roots, and just enjoy the moments for what they are. 

Rest easy, sweet boy. You will be missed. 

Until next time,
​Nicole