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7 smart tips for having
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Stress-Free
Season
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enlighten me |
B R I G H T I D E AS FO R A BA L A N C E D L I F E
Deb Gudowicz
How Does
She Do It?
As a massage therapist at Massage Envy
Spa Lombardi in
Green Bay, Wis., Deb
Gudowicz spends her
days helping others
unwind. But how does
Deb beat stress?
I work
out six
days a week
because I compete professionally in women’s
bodybuilding. It
re-energizes my
body and renews
my endorphins.
I also schedule
an hour-and-ahalf massage for
myself twice a
month to get rid
of any soreness
and to
feel good.
Have a Healthier Turkey Day
Many believe that if you don’t bleed gravy by the time Thanksgiving Day is over, you haven’t
done it right. But the outcome of overindulgence can be less than pretty: sluggishness, an upset
stomach, weight gain, increased blood pressure and perhaps a future aversion to blueberry pie.
Avoid the gruesome aftermath by starting one of these healthier traditions.
PREEMPT CALORIE OVERLOAD. Before the big parade starts on TV, sneak in a morning workout. An hourlong spin class will burn 475 calories (for a 150-pound person), or approximately a
cup of homemade bread stuffing.
ABANDON UNHEALTHY STARTERS. Set up a make-your-own-salad bar in lieu of high-calorie
appetizers like roasted nuts and sliced cheeses. Provide toppings such as chopped veggies and
smoked salmon, and a homemade vinaigrette.
HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT GETTING SECONDS. One piece of pie: OK. Four pieces of
pie: not stellar. If you still crave something sweet after the first piece, choose fresh fruit topped
with a low-calorie sugar substitute or low-fat Greek yogurt.
me massage envy spa magazine, fall 2013. MassageEnvy.com. Published for Massage Envy Spa by McMurry/TMG, LLC. me massage envy
spa magazine is published for the purpose of disseminating information for the well-being of the general public and Massage Envy Spa’s
members. The information contained in me massage envy spa magazine is not intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing. Please
facebook.com/MassageEnvy
twitter.com/MassageEnvy
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2 massage envy spa magazine
FdEVFA13_02-03_EnlightenMe.indd 2
consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.
Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved. Creative direction by McMurry/TMG, LLC.
fall 2013
MassageEnvy.com
10/4/13 3:52 PM
Q & Ahhh
Massage Envy
Spa expert
answers
your questions
Q: What kind of training do massage therapists receive?
Sleep Like a Baby?
A: Massage is not just about rubbing muscles; it is both an
art and a science. Professional massage therapists undergo
Getting your baby to sleep through the
night can be one of the biggest challenges
new parents face. So how can you get your
little one to sleep more soundly? Consider
becoming a baby masseuse.
The benefits of massaging your baby
include:
uR
aising the level of oxytocin in both
you and your child. This “feel-good”
hormone helps with relaxation as
well as pain relief.
uR
elieving discomfort associated with
colic, constipation or gas, especially
when you massage baby’s stomach.
u I ncreased bonding between parent
and child.
There are a lot of ways to perform baby
massage. Look online for video tutorials or
sign up for a baby massage class near you.
an intense educational program averaging about 800 hours.
During their program, they learn massage theory and techniques, as well as anatomy, pathology and kinesiology. Massage therapists graduate from school knowing more about
the physical nature of the human body than most understand
in a lifetime.
Massage education is not only practical, but it’s also life
changing. These are intense programs encompassing not only
linear thinking, but also teaching students how to move, work
and communicate from the heart and the hands.
So relax. You are in good hands at Massage Envy Spa. Our
therapists are intelligent, talented and skilled at knowing just how
to make your massage session a valuable therapeutic experience.
—C.G. Funk, Licensed Massage Therapist and Vice President,
Industry Relations and Product Development, Massage Envy Spa
Do you have a question for our experts about massage therapy?
Send an email to info@MassageEnvy.com. Type “Ask CG” in the
subject line.
Germ-Proof
Your Desk
A co-worker stops by to drop off a file and an
achoo! It’s the season of sneezing, and no doubt
some of those germs are going to find their
way to your desk. When you consider that the
flu virus can live on a surface for up to eight
hours, germ-proofing your desk seems like a
no-brainer.
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FdEVFA13_02-03_EnlightenMe.indd 3
1
2
Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer within
reach of yourself and others. Sharing, in
this case, is caring.
Get that pen cap out of your mouth! It
could be harboring germs. On a related
note, keep your hands away from your eyes,
nose or mouth.
Clean your desk daily with a disinfectant
wipe. Cover surfaces that come in contact
with your hands, especially your mouse, telephone, keyboard and the arms of your chair.
3
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rejuvenate me |
h e l p i n g yo u p u t yo u r b est fac e fo rwa r d
Cracking the
Combination
(Skin)
How to balance skin that’s both oily and dry
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fall 2013
Peanut butter and jelly, milk and cookies.
Some combinations were just born for each
other. Combination skin, on the other hand,
where your skin isn’t exclusively oily or dry but
somewhere in the middle, can be a little less
enjoyable. Here, Howard Murad, MD, founder of
Murad Inc., discusses how to tame combination
skin once and for all.
How Do I Know if I Have
Combination Skin?
There are three skin types—dry, oily and
combination—and combination skin is the most
common. “While many people may say that
their skin type is sensitive or acne-prone, those
are actually skin concerns not skin types,”
Dr. Murad says.
MassageEnvy.com
10/3/13 11:00 AM
Not sure if you have combination skin? Wait
a few minutes after you wash your face and pay
attention to how your skin feels. If you notice
shininess and oiliness in the t-zone but the rest of
your face feels dry and tight, then you probably
have combination skin.
And before you go blaming Mom for your
finicky complexion, it’s important to understand
that your skin type is determined by myriad factors. Genetics do play a role, but so do hormones,
age and the weather.
What Products Should I Use?
The good news is that you don’t need to own
multiple product lines to address both oily and
dry skin. Technology has advanced to the point
that there are products, such as the new Murad
Pore Reform line, that specifically target combination skin concerns.
Here’s what you need: a gentle cleanser,
followed by a toner with the ingredient lecithin,
which can bind water to the skin and restore
suppleness but also
promote an oil-free
glow, Dr. Murad
says. Finish with
a moisturizer that
includes shea butter
to restore moisture
to the dry areas.
What Else
Can I Do?
Caring for combination skin is
just as much, if not
more, about what
you put inside your
body, than what
you apply topically
to your skin, Dr.
Murad says.
“To achieve optimal hydration and
maintain healthy,
hydrated skin, I
always recommend
taking an inclusive health approach to skin
health and hydration.”
That means following a diet packed with
water-rich fruits and vegetables, taking time for
relaxation and treating yourself well.
“As I always say, healthy skin is a reflection of
your overall wellness.” —By Julie Wlodychak Borm
MassageEnvy.com
FdEVFA13_04-05_RejuvMe.indd 5
Get Professional Help
Need help mastering your skin type?
Book a facial at Massage Envy Spa. Go to
MassageEnvy.com and type in your ZIP code
to find the nearest location.
Ask
Dr. Murad
Massage Envy
Spa’s skin expert
answers your
questions
In each issue of Massage Envy Spa magazine, Howard Murad,
MD, founder of Murad Inc., answers reader questions. This issue, he offers advice on getting the
most from your next facial.
Q: I’ve recently made a Massage Envy
Spa facial appointment. What can I do to
ensure I get the most from my treatment?
A: Before your facial treatment begins, explain to
the aesthetician what your skin needs are and point
out any areas you’d like to specifically address. It’s
important to make your concerns known to ensure
the service is tailored to your needs so that you will
leave looking and feeling your best.
Also, make sure that you maintain your skin regimen after your facial. There are now Healthy Skin
Regimen Kits available at Massage Envy Spas that
can help you keep your postfacial glow between
appointments. There are four different kits available
to resolve multiple skin needs, and ultimately, help
you look and feel your best.
Do you have a skincare question you would like to ask Dr. Murad? If
so, send an email to askdrmurad@MassageEnvy.com or send a tweet
to @DrMurad. Your question may be used in the next issue!
fall 2013 massage envy spa magazine
5
10/3/13 11:00 AM
heal me
|
h e l p fu l h i n ts fo r yo u r g o o d h e a lt h
Time Is of
the Essence
5 simple tips to save you a few of those precious minutes
More You Moments
When you use these tips to save
time, you’ll have more minutes
to spend on relaxing activities,
such as getting a massage or a
facial. To find a Massage Envy
Spa location near you, visit
MassageEnvy.com.
More time. World peace. And more time.
If a genie appeared today, those would be my three wishes. I have to
believe I’m not alone.
Sure, we could try to work fewer hours or tell the kids to drive themselves
to basketball practice, but let’s get real. Fortunately, managing our time just a
little better and taking advantage of technology can make a difference. After
all, every minute counts!
Here are five easy ways to make your life easier.
1
Stop procrastinating.
2
Plan meals in advance.
3
Go stealth.
4
Filter your email inbox.
5
Involve the whole family in chores.
“It takes two to three times more effort and time in procrastination
than it does to get the thing done,” says Drew Stevens, PhD, the author
of Split Second Time Management. If there’s something you don’t
want to do, do that first in your day, he suggests.
Multiple trips to the grocery store during the week can
rob you of valuable minutes. Take time during the weekend
to plan the week’s meals, and hit the store once.
Between social media, texting and emails, it’s easy to
get distracted—making some tasks take longer than they
should. Stevens recommends going into “stealth mode.”
Put your phone on airplane mode, and turn off email
and Facebook (and Pinterest and anything else tied to the
Internet) to help you focus.
If your email inbox is a source of wasted time (and it
probably is), you can fight back, says Mike Song, the author of
Zip! Tips: The Fastest Way to Get More Done.
“Filter the low-priority email in your life out of your life by having
it skip your inbox,” he says.
For example, you might get mileage rewards points updates that
aren’t necessarily junk mail, but you don’t need these messages interrupting your day either. Set rules in your email program to send them to a
separate folder where you can view them at your leisure.
Sometimes taking back your time is about delegation. So whether
that’s asking a spouse or partner to pick up groceries or getting the kids to
put away the dishes, that’s time back in your day. —By Stephanie Conner
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fall 2013
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10/3/13 11:00 AM
T i p s fo r m a k i n g f i t n es s a way o f l i f e
| move me
Point Plank
Want abs of steel? Forget sitting up and back down again—just hold still
Workout
Recovery
Plan
Getting a deeptissue massage
is a great way to
recover from a
tough workout. Find
a Massage Envy Spa
location near you at
MassageEnvy.com.
The plank is known in many a fitness circle
as the ultimate core exercise. Here, Michael
Marsico, a certified personal trainer and National
Strength and Conditioning Association member,
explains what planking is and how it came to get
such a great rep.
ME: What’s the proper form for planking?
Marsico: Beginners should start on their knees.
Bend your elbows and place your forearms flat
on the ground. From your backside to your shoulders should be a straight line, so that you could
balance a broomstick on your back. Your head
should be up and straight with your spine.
Going up on your toes is the next progression,
with your elbows still underneath your shoulders
and your forearms flat on the ground. You can
start with your legs apart to make it a little easier,
but eventually, pull your feet close together.
ME: Why is planking the best exercise
to strengthen your core?
Marsico: When you’re planking, there are all
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FdEVFA13_07_MoveMe.indd 7
sorts of muscles engaged. It helps you build up
not only strength, but balance and flexibility as
well. Traditional crunches infringe on your vertebrae, specifically your lumbar spine. Planking
doesn’t compromise your back at all.
ME: How long and how often should
you do it?
Marsico: You could do planks every single day
because you’re going to use your core every single
day. I would start with holding a plank for 30 to 45
seconds. Once that becomes easy, increase the time
to a minute, up to 2 minutes. Do three to five sets.
ME: Any way to step up the intensity?
Marsico: Once you can hold a plank for a
minute, you can try something harder. Start in
a normal plank for 25 seconds, then lift your left
leg in the air for 10 seconds, then switch to your
right leg for 10 seconds, and finish with both feet
on the ground for the last 15. Another challenge
is to put your feet on a stability or medicine ball.
—By Amanda Kippert
fall 2013 massage envy spa magazine
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10/3/13 11:00 AM
nourish me |
Fo o d fo r t h o u g h t a b o u t g o o d n u t r i t i o n
Lost in
Translation
We shed light on food label claims
Check Us Out
For more tips
on nutrition and
healthy living,
head to Massage
Envy Spa’s Touch
of Wellness blog at
MassageEnvy.com/
Blog.
You’ve always heard you shouldn’t judge a
book by its cover. But what about cereal boxes,
canned vegetables or containers of ice cream?
Phrases like whole grain, organic and light can
be deceptive, says registered dietitian nutritionist Keri Gans, the author of The Small Change
Diet and the weight-loss coach for Shape.com.
Sometimes those terms aren’t regulated, while
the ones that are still might not mean what you’d
expect. It’s time to expand your label lexicon.
Organic Options
Foods that are certified as “organic” by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture may still contain
nonorganically produced ingredients. “It can be
misleading,” Gans says. “Not all organic food is
100 percent organic.”
Under USDA standards:
B Only foods labeled 100 PERCENT
ORGANIC contain nothing but organically
produced ingredients (not including added
water and salt).
B Foods labeled ORGANIC can still carry the
USDA seal but can contain up to 5 percent
nonorganically produced ingredients.
B Foods labeled MADE WITH ORGANIC
INGREDIENTS must have at least 70
percent organic content, and the nutritional
information panel must specify which ingredients are organic.
B NATURAL is supposed to mean that a food
includes no synthetic substances or added
colors or flavors, “but there’s no formal FDA
regulation,” Gans says. “The term has a connotation that ‘if it’s natural, it’s good for me,’
but that’s not always true.”
B FRESH can’t appear on foods that contain
preservatives or have been frozen or cooked.
Grains of Truth
Whole grain equals healthy, right? Not so
fast. “Turn the package over and read the
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10/3/13 11:00 AM
ingredients,” Gans says. “You’re looking for
‘100 percent whole grain’ or ‘100 percent whole
wheat.’ And the earlier in the ingredient list,
the better. If something is promoted as ‘whole
grain,’ examine the fiber nutritional information.
It shouldn’t be as low as 1 gram.”
B Foods labeled HIGH FIBER must contain
5 grams or more fiber per serving.
B This year the U.S. Food and Drug Administration specified that foods labeled
GLUTEN-FREE must contain less than
20 parts per million gluten.
B ENRICHED or FORTIFIED foods have
been nutritionally altered so that one serving provides at least 10 percent more of daily
value than the unchanged food would have.
SEE THE LIGHT
“It’s important to remember that ‘light’ isn’t always
synonymous with low calorie or low fat,” Gans
says. “A light version of cheesecake is still dessert.”
B If the original version of a food derives more
than half its calories from fat, its LIGHT
version must have reduced the fat content by
at least 50 percent.
B If the original version of a food derives less
than half its calories from fat, its LIGHT
version must have reduced either its calories by one-third or its fat by one-half.
—By Sam Mittelsteadt
Other Highs and Lows
Here are some other terms you’ll see floating around the grocery store.
B LOW CALORIE: Contains less than
40 calories per serving.
B CALORIE-FREE: Contains less than
5 calories per serving.
B REDUCED: Contains 25 percent less
of a specified nutrient, or fewer calories,
than the reference food.
B LOW FAT: Contains 3 grams or less fat
per serving.
B LOW SODIUM: Less than 140 milligrams
per serving.
B FAT-FREE: Contains less than
½ gram fat per serving.
B HIGH IN: Provides 20 percent or more daily value of
the specified nutrient.
B GOOD SOURCE OF:
Similar to “high in” but
MassageEnvy.com
FdEVFA13_08-09_NourishMe.indd 9
provides 10 percent or more daily value.
B LOW CHOLESTEROL or
CHOLESTEROL-FREE:
Less than 20 milligrams
cholesterol, and 2 grams
or less of saturated fat,
per serving.
Source: eatright.org
fall 2013 massage envy spa magazine
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10/3/13 11:01 AM
T
THE DATE IS SET. Your fiancé is busy building
playlists for the DJ, and you’ve become an expert
on invitation etiquette.
But with a wedding on the horizon, even the
most meticulous brides can forget a thing or two
in the planning process. And often, skincare
takes a back seat to more pressing details, resulting in a mad scramble to cover up problem areas
come the wedding day. Be good to your skin in the
months leading up to your nuptials, and you’ll be
beaming when you take that walk down the aisle.
6 MONTHS BEFORE: GET THE
SKINCARE PARTY STARTED
“As a rule of thumb, six months out is a good time
to start a new skincare routine,” says Michele S.
Green, MD, a dermatologist in New York City.
“If you’re having skin issues now, they won’t
necessarily go away on their own in time for your
wedding day.”
Let’s
Get
Glowing
To achieve flawless skin on
your wedding day, start now
BY E LLE N RAN TA OL SON
10 massage envy spa magazine
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fall 2013
MassageEnvy.com
10/3/13 11:01 AM
In fact, she says, the stress of planning a wedding often aggravates problems and increases
breakouts. “The sooner you can start a regimen,
the better.”
And when it comes to attaining flawless skin,
you may have to look beyond the drugstore.
Green recommends scheduling regular facials,
ideally once a week.
“A facial the day before a wedding won’t save
your skin, but preventive care with weekly treatments can do wonders.” Try to meet with the
same aesthetician every time to make sure your
routine is, well, routine.
c
Put Your Best
Face Forward
Whether you’re a bride, a future
mother-in-law, a maid of honor or a
Pinterest-wedding planner, good skin
is always in style. To book your facial,
visit MassageEnvy.com.
3 MONTHS BEFORE:
SMOOTH THINGS OVER
If your skin woes extend beyond the preventable, you may want to consider upping your
get-ready game.
“Light chemical peels are a good go-to for
improving the overall complexion,” Green says.
“They can dissolve dead skin cells, revealing
brighter skin, as well as diminish fine lines and
help the complexion become more even-toned.”
Another option is microdermabrasion, which
uses a machine to buff and brighten skin.
1 MONTH BEFORE:
TAKE A TEST RUN
Are you planning on using a new product, such
as a bronzer or fake lashes, on the big day? Now’s
the time for a trial run. Adding a new product to
your beauty mix can irritate your skin and possibly cause a breakout or a rash.
1 WEEK BEFORE:
TIE UP LOOSE ENDS
Schedule your final facial and make sure you’re
stocked up on the products you’ve been using.
Don’t risk experimenting with new products
at this point, Green advises. If you’re having
your makeup professionally done, arrange for
a prewedding trial application this week.
THE DAY OF:
BASK IN YOUR RADIANCE
It’s finally here! Remember to stay hydrated and
eat nutritious foods, and you’ll be glowing as you
greet your groom.
MassageEnvy.com
FdEVFA13_10-11_FacialFeature.indd 11
What’s Your Facial Style?
When it comes to skincare, one size does not fit
all. Find the facial that’s right for you at Massage
Envy Spa with one of our four Murad Healthy
Skin Facials.
• The ENVIRONMENTAL SHIELD VITAMIN C
FACIAL is designed to reverse the signs of aging
that result from everyday environmental factors.
• The CLARIFYING ENZYME ACNE FACIAL
improves skin clarity, reduces blemishes and
soothes inflammation.
• The ANTI-AGING FACIAL combats fine
lines and wrinkles, revealing vibrant, youngerlooking skin.
• Repair and balance easily irritated skin with the
gentle yet effective SENSITIVE SKIN FACIAL.
fall 2013 massage envy spa magazine
11
10/3/13 11:01 AM
Stressed?
An AromaTherapy
massage at Massage
Envy Spa can lower
your heart rate and
your blood pressure.
To find a location
near you, visit
MassageEnvy.com.
A
Stress-Free
Season
Seven smart tips for making
it through the holidays
with your cheer intact
BY M E LISSA LARSE N
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fall 2013
MassageEnvy.com
10/3/13 11:01 AM
F
FA LA LA LA BLAH. While the holiday season
should be full of fun and festivities, sometimes
stress can turn even the merriest into a bigtime Grinch. Follow these seven tips to ensure
a Scrooge-free season.
1
CREDIT CARDS? JUST SAY NO.
Though whipping out the plastic during
holiday shopping is easy and the allure of a
discount when signing up for the department
store credit card sounds tempting, stick with
cash and debit. “This way, you aren’t left with
a fun little letter from the credit card company
in January asking for all the good times to be
paid for now,” says Mark Asher, a partner at
Southwest Wealth Strategies.
2
GET A HEAD START.
Start stashing gifts early. “Who says we
have to wait until the local retailers tell us what
to buy?” Asher says. “However, you do need to
write these items down and include them in your
budget—and remember where you hid them for
a few months.”
Better yet, shop online to beat frenetic traffic,
packed parking lots and the germy mall (it is cold
and flu season, after all).
3
MAKE IT ONE TO REMEMBER.
4
STOP THE COMPARISONS.
Sleep by the Christmas tree. Volunteer for
the Salvation Army. Whatever the tradition, start
one this year, giving yourself something to look
forward to every holiday.
Today’s age of technology has left us with
something we’ll call “Pinterest problems”—
think of it as what happens when people feel
the need to create perfectly frosted gingerbread
men for their next holiday party because they
saw them on the popular social media site.
“The overriding factor involving
holiday stress is the problem with
expectations,” says Michael
Yasinski, MD, of Yasinski
Psychiatry in Scottsdale,
Ariz. “These are often
ramped up by comparing
to other people and
comparing to others
on social media. This
only leads to stress and
disappointment.”
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FdEVFA13_12-13_HolidayStressFeature.indd 13
So—at least until the ball drops at midnight—
stay off of Pinterest so you don’t feel the need to
spend every spare cent and minute creating justso popcorn strings.
5
YOU CAN’T SPELL “MERRY”
WITHOUT “ME.”
6
JINGLE ALL THE WAY.
7
WORK IT OUT.
Give yourself a break from decking the halls.
Whether you schedule a stress-reducing
aromatherapy massage, catch a rom-com or
light a few candles while soaking in a bubble
bath, a little “me” time can go a long way.
Studies show that music can work wonders, from pain management to stress reduction.
So turn up “Jingle Bell Rock” and turn down
the tension. Tip: Tune in to Pandora’s sweet
holiday station.
We all know that exercise can do wonders
for your stress levels. Try aerial yoga, flow-mat
yoga or tai chi to stay in good spirits.
Phone It In
A stress-free holiday is at your fingertips.
Try these three free apps for making holiday planning a snap.
{ Skyscanner allows you to get to
Grandma’s house on the cheap. The app
peruses deals on airline tickets and sorts
searches by number of stops, flight times
and more.
{ The award-winning Mint.com
Personal Finance app lets users track
their spending, create a holiday
budget and otherwise keep their
moola in check.
{ Send out postcards
using your favorite Instagram photos via Postagram—
which requires nothing more
than 20 minutes and your
smartphone.
massage envy spa magazine 13
10/3/13 3:22 PM
soothe me
|
L I V I N G EV E RY DAY TO I TS FU L L EST
Too Much
Family Time?
How to survive holiday togetherness
HOLIDAY GATHERINGS ARE NOTORIOUS for sudden detours: One minute,
you’re circulating side dishes and belly-laughing over that family camping trip gone wrong, and the next, Aunt Joan’s filibustering about her
casserole, her senator, her ex-husband … and your new haircut. Here,
Mary Anne Reed, PhD, a licensed family therapist in Dallas, explains
how to brace yourself for difficult relatives—before “pass the gravy”
becomes “pass the aspirin”!
CHANGE YOUR TITLE. Forget forcing family to fit your idea of the
holidays. “Go home as an anthropologist, not a missionary,” Reed
says. “A missionary tries to change everyone’s mind; an anthropologist is curious and takes notes. Instead of trying to change
anyone, try to be curious, connect and
have fun.”
Me First
Family togetherness
got you tense?
Unwind with a
peaceful massage. To
find a Massage Envy
Spa near you, visit
MassageEnvy.com.
SELECT A SECRET WORD. Attending
a family gathering with a significant other in
tow? Prepare a code word ahead of time. “If
one person is feeling really uncomfortable,
they use their word,” Reed says. “When the
partner hears broccoli, they know they need
to swoop in and take a walk, do some yoga
or go into another room.”
RETHINK YOUR REACTION. If you end up
in a sticky situation—say, Uncle Bob corners you in the kitchen
and demands your opinion about the latest political scandal—don’t
do what you usually do because you’ll only get the same response.
If you usually try to defend yourself, have a joke ready, or lightly
rebuff Uncle Bob with a “Let’s not get into that now!” What if the conversation gets heated? “Look at them, and touch them if possible to really
connect with them,” Reed says. “Then say, ‘This is an important conversation, and I want to have it. Let’s talk about this after the holidays.’ ”
LET GO OF (SOME) TRADITION. Just because cousin Terry wants you in
her annual caroling troupe doesn’t mean you must oblige. “Weigh the
consequences,” Reed says. “Will you hurt Mom’s feelings if you don’t go to
midnight Mass? Or would it be better for you to go, even if you don’t love
it, and watch her enjoying herself?” She suggests families focus on the top
five holiday elements essential to them. Often, the smaller, easy-to-execute
traditions—a particular cookie, an ornament on the tree—are worth keeping alive. —By Jessica Pucci
14 massage envy spa magazine
FdEVFA13_14_SootheMe.indd 14
fall 2013
MassageEnvy.com
10/4/13 3:53 PM
i n s p i r at i o n a l m e m b e r sto r i es
|
massage and me
Massage Envy Spa
member Steve
Doherty, 33, of San
Diego, has completed
thousands of sky
dives and hundreds
of BASE jumps.
Free Falling
What’s the first thing Massage Envy Spa member Steve Doherty does after jumping
off a cliff? He gets a two-hour massage
What’s
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could be featured
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FdEVFA13_15_MassageAndMe.indd 15
When I jump off a 500-foot-tall bridge, I have
just 5.5 seconds until impact. In that time, I trust
that my parachute will open. It’s an exhilarating
rush. Could you call me an adrenaline junky?
Yeah, maybe you could.
I work as a professional BASE-jump instructor. The acronym stands for buildings, antennas,
spans (or bridges) and earth (like cliffs)—all of
which are things I could, theoretically, leap off of.
I blame my dad for starting this obsession.
I had a childhood fantasy of floating through
the clouds. When I was 14, my dad said, “When
you’re 18, how about I take you sky diving?” Of
course, I said yes. I thought I would be able to
touch the clouds. Then my 18th birthday rolled
around, and I reminded my dad of his offer.
But he’d apparently thought better of it by then.
“You’re crazy,” he said. “I’m not going sky diving.”
I ended up going six months later for my girlfriend Amber’s 18th birthday. I knew right away
the sport was something I had to do again.
Fifteen years later, Amber and I are married, and I’ve done thousands of sky dives and
hundreds of BASE jumps. I just got back from
jumping off of cliffs in Norway and Switzerland,
and soon I’ll be headed to Malaysia to jump from
the KL Tower, which is 1,381 feet tall.
But the sport takes its toll, which is why I
became a Massage Envy Spa member seven
months ago. I can pull 4 to 5 g-forces when my
parachute opens. It compresses my spine and
sprains my neck. Plus, there’s usually quite a bit
of hiking involved to get to each jump point.
So at the end of a trip, the first thing I do is get a
two-hour massage to help me recover, sleep better
and ease any muscle pain. I also incorporate an
hourlong massage into my weekly routine. Now,
I’m back to normal much faster than I was before.
In BASE jumping, you do a lot of analyzing—
is the risk worth the reward? Well, with Massage Envy Spa, the cost is so worth the reward.
—As told to Amanda Kippert
fall 2013 massage envy spa magazine
15
10/3/13 11:01 AM
Put relaxation
on your holiday list.
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gift of massages, facials and more with Massage Envy Spa
gift cards. Now available–and redeemable–nationwide.
CONVENIENT HOURS · LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE · FRANCHISES AVAILABLE · MassageEnvy.com
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with the specific location or see MassageEnvy.com. Additional local
taxes and fees may apply. Each location is independently owned
and operated. ©2013 Massage Envy Franchising, LLC.
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