soaking away the new year....

Welcome to the New Year!!!
It's hard to believe we have already started on 2011.
sanctum is open as of tomorrow and we already have appointments booked in for the upcoming week. Very exciting.
We are looking forward to the challenges that this year will bring.
Recieved the application for the next Niche market in April and also chatted to the folks running the Design Centre Market, during Festivale, about being part of that as well. So am already thinking on my little production line here at home.
Whipped up a double batch of Olive Oil soap yesterday - using Lemongrass, Pink Grapefruit and Ginger to fragrance it with. Very zesty and uplifting aroma's. Will post some pictures when I get it out of the mould.
Also made up some detox bath salts for a promotion I am running at sanctum. Along with a great value Massage Treatment pack, I will be giving a bath salts to each person that takes part in the promotion. See the sanctum blog for more info.
The salts are a blend of: Coarse Sea Salt; Milk Powder, Green and White Clays as well as; Lavender, Frankincense, Sweet Fennel and Lemon Myrtle Essential Oils.
It's quite a stimulating blend, so caution needs to be taken with any skin sensitivities or pregnant women.
The idea is to kickstart the body with a course of Massage and support this with the bath salts used at home.
Wouldn't mind doing it myself!

introducing sanctum.....

It's finally happening....

This is part dream, part career move and all about the future.

As of Wednesday 20th October, Sanctum Body Skin Soul will be opening its doors to the world.

Or at least to Launceston and her visitors!

I think I have been planning this business for the better part of 10 years - ever since I took my first massage course.

The lease is signed and the furniture has arrived - our spare room and hallway have been taken over with chairs, tables and lamps!

I am finishing with my current work in a few days and so I can't jump right into the space and start setting up - that will come next week.

Other than some fresh paint, we don't need to do much for the fitout. I want to put a shower in one of the rooms at some point, so that I can offer spa body treatments as well - but for now, we will open with lots of massage on offer, aromatic facials and a lovely little retail area full of local designer goodies, herbal teas and comfy chairs!

We are finalising little things like a telephone and eftpos - fun fun. The stationary and website are coming together and I already have my first two bookings in on that first day! Now I just need to fill the rest of the week!

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who is going out of their way to help up make this dream come to life. Will keep you all updated as we go.

Recovering nicely....

Wow! Thank you to all who posted comments on my last blog entry - I certainly appreciate everyones concern!
So here's an update on how I am 'recovering' from my Chinese massage torture... I mean treatment!!
The bruises will be with me for some time yet I think, but I am happy to announce that I am nowhere near as sore as I thought I would be - yay me! I managed to get through my massages yesterday quite well.
However, I did wake up in the morning with a ruptured capilary in my right eye.... hmmmm. I have let the business know and will go in tomorrow to actually show them. On a curious note though, I checked my iridology charts and it seems that this spot in my eye where the capillary is, correlates to the area for the shoulder blade in the iridology eye chart! And it's definitely where the therapist was seriously concentrating on!
I agree with everyone too - I think it may have been a bit of overkill with both the cupping and the massage itself. I do feel looser, but would be hard pressed to book in again for another treatment! I know that I can get as good, if not better results by working with the clients body rather than beating it into submission.
On a lighter note, it was a bit fun to freak out all my regular clients yesterday by showing them my back!!

Equipment Malfunction.......

Ok.. here's the thing... being a Massage Therapist means that on the odd occasion, my 'equipment' can malfunction. That is, my back can ache, my shoulders can tighten up, my neck won't move and I have a headache that last for.... oooh, about a month or so!

So getting maintainance for myself, while vital, is funnily enough, often far down on my to do list. Kind of a 'do what I say and not what I do' thing. Especially since I coach all of my own clients into regular treatments!
Anyhoo... a Chinese Massage business has recently opened here in Lonnie and after hearing from one of the girls I work with that she was getting good results, I picked up the phone and booked an appointment for earlier this afternoon.
HOLY GUACCAMOLY!
I have had chinese massage before (I've studied it myself) but I have never had this much cupping ever before in one hit and although I realise that this style of treatment is not light and fluffy, there were honestly times that I was ready to hop off the table and clock the young guy digging his elbow repeatedly into my back!
It hurt to move my arms just on the 5 minute drive home - heaven help me tomorrow as I am working and have massages of my own to give!
The picture below tells the tale - these should fade in a few weeks or so! Oi!

No pain, no gain...right??

Treat for the Feet

I am just finishing up the writing of an Introduction to Reflexology Workshop. After having a few people ask me about one, I thought it was time to get cracking and put something together. I have written it with everyone from the complete beginner to the professional therapist in mind and it covers things like the history of Reflexology, benefits and precautions, basic anatomy & physiology + movements and an actual routine.
Great for anyone who even just wants to treat the other half (or teach the other half the moves and get the treatment themselves!)
I plan to go to Adult Education with it to see what they think, but also hope to be able to run the workshops off my own bat. The next thing is writing an advanced workshop as well that covers more therapeutic treatments and issues.
Reflexology is such a lovely treatment, I love performing this on my clients - it's just so relaxing! And so brilliant at helping a large range of ailments.
If you know of anyone who might be interested do let me know! I figure the introduction workshop will be a one day thing, maybe 6 hours (with coffee breaks of course!!). I don't have a cost as yet, but can get the info out to anyone who wants it. Yay!

Update from Tassie...!

Thought I should make an effort to catch everyone up with the 'happenings' down here.
After arriving early Feb, safe and sound (complete with drugged up pussycats), getting the house unpacked as much as possible was the first task. I have to say the 'Matilda' has done a wonderful job of letting us feel right at home very quickly. I spent a week here by myself before hubby arrived and she felt safe and warm every nite!
'Matilda' sits on a corner block and there is no garden as yet. That's good in that we get a clean slate to work with, the down side is you feel like a 'pimple on a bum cheek', as in you are right out there for traffic and walkers by to see. So we have planted our first hedge on the weekend and I am now willing each and every plant to grow and prosper!
We were recommended to plant Pittosporum 'Silver Sheen', as it is supposed to be fast growing. Having never had a garden before, I hope I can be patient enough to wait for it to bush out and give us some privacy and noise reduction. Fingers crossed.

I had an interview at a beauty clinic at Riverside the first Wednesday I was here and started work on the Friday! Hmmm. So much for a settling in period!
But it has been good to get back into work and keep the dollars coming in. Us new mortagee's get very nervous about these things you know.
I have been doing lots of massage treatments (especially Hot Stone Massage) and have also been lecturing in Anatomy and Physiology in the Training Academy that is part of the clinic. It has made me study up myself on all of this information I have not really thought about in around 4-5 years! It's getting more fun though, the more I do it. I am also getting back into facials and other such stuff so I am relearning lots of things. So that has been fun too.

We have been absolutely blessed to have Drew's cousin, wife and beautful daughter nearby to help welcome us to our new state. Gemma is the brains behind 'Loz & Dinny' (lozanddinny.blogspot.com) - an amazing range of handmade childrens clothing and more. Along with another crafty friend, Gem is about to open a 'den of handmade treasures' here in Lonnie and has kindly asked me to create some goodies to sell. The space they have found will also be used for craft nites and get togethers. It's all very exciting and I can't wait to get back to creating my little goodies again. I have missed them.
Promise I will have some fresh piccies to show next time!
Ciao!