Reduce Stress & Absenteeism –Improve Job Performance –Save on Health Insurance
Eric Smith, MassageSmith • July 2, 2018
As a manager or business owner, it can be incredibly tempting to believe that you understand what your employees want from their workplace. After all, deep down, we all want the same perks and benefits – right? For most companies it’s a common dilemma: offer lavish employee benefits and forgo profits, or penny pinch and risk losing your best employees.
With escalating health-care and insurance costs, finding the right balance is difficult. You want to provide great benefits, but you cannot afford to waste money on benefits that do nothing to recruit and retain a competitive workforce. For the investment to work, you must offer benefits employees want.
So, what are the most important benefits to employees? According to a recent study:
- Health Care
- Retirement
- Paid Time Off
- Workplace Flexibility
- Wellness Program
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Flexible and Family-Friendly Schedules
- Pay Raise or Performance Bonus
- Life Insurance
- Telecommuting
- Workplace Perks
- Professional Development & Training
Stress-related employee turnover, absenteeism and waning moral all affect the bottom line. Based on information from the American Institute of Stress and the American Psychological Association, job stress and related problems cost companies an estimated $200 billion or more annually.
A recent study in American Phycologist showed that workers who received just 15 min of massage performed significantly better performing complicated tasks such as math problems than workers who received 15 minutes of rest. Massage relieves fatigue and improves creating thinking. In addition, by lowering stress, massage can help reduce absenteeism, making your team more competitive.
The purpose of yoga is to create strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body, as well as focus on the body’s natural tendency toward health and self-healing. Improved flexibility with stretches is key for people who spend most of their day in a seated position. Aside from the physical benefits, one of the best benefits of yoga is how it helps a person manage stress, which is known to have devastating effects on the body and mind. Stress can reveal itself in many ways, including back or neck pain, sleeping problems, headaches, drug abuse, and an inability to concentrate. Yoga can be very effective in developing coping skills and reaching a more positive outlook on life.
Yoga’s incorporation of meditation and breathing can help improve a person’s mental well-being. Regular yoga practice creates mental clarity and calmness; increases body awareness; relieves chronic stress patterns; relaxes the mind; centers attention; and sharpens concentration.
There are countless benefits to working out with a personal trainer. People of any age and experience level can see better results and live a healthier lifestyle. A personal trainer will help create a unique workout plan to fit your individual needs, goals, and can accommodate an injury or other obstacle that might otherwise prevent you from exercising.
A session for a work environment can be customized to focus on the day to day activities that can create health issues by properly strengthening the targeted muscle groups.
Most of us want to eat healthy but don’t know how. Just like exercise, it’s a habit that must be formed with the proper guidance. A registered dietitian or dietitian nutritionist is the highest level of nutrition counseling. They possess the education and training to help keep your employees at their best with personally tailored recommendations. They can also help manage chronic diseases, food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances with practical lifestyle advice.
Can a wellness program really save me money? The answer is yes and the article linked below is an unbiased review of how certain programs can differ.
https://hbr.org/2016/04/meet-the-wellness-programs-that-save-companies-money
Intuitive Touch Massage Therapy
“We feel your pain”
Weekly Newsletter Week of August 11, 2019 What’s Happening: School is starting soon. Parents, are you ready to get relaxed with a massage? Gift certificates are also great for summer child care providers or as a way to relax before diving back into our busy schedules. Fun Holidays this Week: August 12: Middle Child's Day – If you are a middle child, today is your day. Celebrate. August 13: Left Hander's Day – Only about 10% of the population is left handed. If you are a leftie, be proud and give a shout out to any other lefties you know. Hydration Recipe Keeping hydrated is an important part of staying healthy. Water promotes cardiovascular health, keeps your body cool, helps muscles and joints work better and keeps skin supple. Here is this week’s hydration recipe: Vanilla Orange Water Ingredients : 1 large orange, sliced 1 vanilla bean, sliced open (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract) Water Instructions : Add orange slices and vanilla to a pitcher of water and chill until cold. Outdoor Fun We are now in the middle of August and summer is rapidly slipping away. Soon school will start and the leaves will begin to turn. Here are a few suggestions on fun ways to enjoy the great outdoors. 1. Go for a hike/walk/bike ride – Get outside and stretch your legs. You can invite friends, make it a family event or go solo. Whatever you decide, snap some pictures to remember the fun during the long, cold winter months. 2. Pack a picnic – There is something about throwing out a blanket and munching on yummy snacks that says summer fun. You don’t have to go far. In fact, it can be fun to picnic in your own backyard. Once you’ve eaten your goodies, play a game, read a book or just watch nature all around you. 3. Outdoor concert – Find an outdoor concert online and plan to attend. Music under the stars can never be bad. Special Offers : Purchase a gift certificate or book your next session at www.intuitivetouch.us
What’s Happening: Do you feel stressed out or overwhelmed? Taking time for yourself to decompress and rejuvenate is very important to your physical and mental wellbeing. Schedule a massage. Just block out an hour or so, you are worth it. Massage is a great way to relieve stress and find a sense of peace. I hope you will find the message below about how to “simplify your life” beneficial. Fun Holidays this Week: August 5: Sisters Day – Today celebrates being or having a sister. That means a lot of us will be celebrating. August 7 : National Lighthouse Day - There are numerous local and national lighthouse preservation societies and lighthouse organizations. They serve to preserve and promote lighthouses, and their historical. Enjoy today by visiting a lighthouse, or learning more about your local lighthouse preservation society. August 9 : Book Lover's Day – Here’s a great excuse to find a place in the shade to relax with a good book. August 10: National S'mores Day – Gather round a campfire and roast up some of these tasty treats. Don’t have access to a fire pit? Here’s an indoor s’more recipe. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/indoor-smores-recipe-1941607 Hydration Recipe: Keeping hydrated is an important part of staying healthy. Water promotes cardiovascular health, keeps your body cool, helps muscles and joints work better and keeps skin supple. Here is this week’s hydration recipe: Apple Cinnamon Water Ingredients: 2 medium apples, sliced 2 cinnamon sticks Water Instructions: Add apples and cinnamon sticks to a pitcher of water and chill until cold. You can refill the pitcher several times using the same ingredients. Simplify Your life The first week of August is Simplify Your Life Week. So here are some things you can do this week to make life a little easier. 1. To Do Lists: Often we feel the most overwhelmed by our to-do lists. They sit in the back of our mind and drain our energy. A valuable exercise to eliminate this feeling of overwhelm is to write down everything you want to get done. Writing them down has the psychological impact of getting it out of your head and this will immediately help you feel less stressed. Then pick 1-2 items that you can accomplish without much effort and complete them. Then physically cross them off the list. You will feel a sense of accomplishment. Continue working through your list, a little at a time. 2. Email: Clean out your inbox. If you have unread messages, delete/mark as read anything older than 30 days. If you haven’t read them in the last 30 days, they probably aren’t important. Go through the remaining unread emails and unsubscribe from any providers you no longer wish to receive email from. Set aside 1 hour for this task. Having a clean inbox will immediately make you feel less anxiety. 3. Clean out your closet: Go through your clothes and get rid of anything you no longer wear and donate them to a local charity. It will feel great to have a clean closet and those less fortunate will be grateful for the clothing. Be sure to get a receipt from the charity organization if you itemize your taxes. 4. Eliminate the extras: Carve out 1 hour this week to spend time reflecting on what is most important to you and what you can eliminate from your life or ask for help accomplishing. We often take on too many tasks. Many of us find it hard to say no. Once you have spent time reflecting, make 3 lists. The first list should be what needs to be done that you enjoy doing. The second list should be what needs to be done that you don’t enjoy doing. The third list should be things that don’t need to be done. Keep the first list for yourself. Recruit help on accomplishing the second list and eliminate the third list. 5. Me time: Often we feel stressed and overwhelmed because we feel like there are so many things to get done that we don’t take any down time for ourselves. It is very important to carve out some “me time”. Here are some suggestions on things you can do: Watch a favorite movie, take a walk around your neighborhood, call an old friend, take a long bath, schedule a massage. By taking time for yourself, you are creating the space to continue giving to those around you. Special Offers: Take advantage of my buy 5 get 1 free special that you can share with friends and family. Simply call 562-528-0558 or book on my website at www.intuitivetouch.us
July 22: Hammock Day – If you have a hammock, grab a good book and a pillow and go enjoy some down time. July 24: Tell an Old Joke Day – How much did the pirate pay to get his ears pierced? A buccaneer! Hydration Recipe Keeping hydrated is an important part of staying healthy. Water promotes cardiovascular health, keeps your body cool, helps muscles and joints work better and keeps skin supple. Here is this week’s hydration recipe: Mixed Berry Lemon Water Ingredients: 3 lemons, sliced 1 pound bag of mixed berries Water Instructions : Add lemons and berries to a pitcher of water. Refrigerate overnight to fully infuse. Stretching Before Bed Can stretching before going to bed help you sleep better? Many experts agree that it can. Stretching not only makes you more relaxed, but it helps keep your muscles flexible so you're less apt to experience discomfort. You don't have to devote too much time to stretching. Plan for about 5 minutes of stretching prior to climbing into bed. Many stretches can be performed anywhere. Use these guides to help you establish a regular bedtime stretching routine. https://www.pinterest.com/explore/stretches-before-bed/?lp=true Special Offers : It’s a great time to take advantage of my specials. New clients get 20% off. Not valid with any other discounts or promotions. Buy 5 get 1 free package that can also be transferred or gifted. Save with a monthly membership entitling you to 1 massage and hold your membership rate for additional services. You can schedule a massage 24/7 via our Online Booking Tool . Then, you will receive a confirmation message shortly afterwards.
What is cupping therapy? Cupping therapy is an adaptation of ancient techniques and possess the benefits of traditional use. This therapy utilizes glass or plastic cups and a vacuum pistol or machine to create suction on the body surface. These cups are moved over the skin using gliding, shaking, popping, and rotating techniques while gently pulling up on the cups or are “parked” for a short amount of time to facilitate joint mobilization or soft tissue release. This suction reaches deep into the soft tissue, attachments, and organs. It also has a sedating effect on the nervous system. Another benefit is to pull inflammation and toxins from the body tissues so that the skin and lymphatic system can eliminate them. One of the most amazing aspects of this technique is the “separation” that the vacuum produces in the tissue layers. This enables water absorption and renewed blood flow to undernourished and dehydrated tissue. It is evident that separation of fused, congested soft tissue and increase in tissue function can be a catalyst for change in many current health conditions. What are the benefits of cupping? Increased circulation Increased joint range of motion Reduced muscle tension Increase lymphatic drainage (detoxification) Increase connective tissue mobility What conditions can be helped by cupping? · Poor Circulation · Sciatica · ITB Syndrome · Low back pain · TMJ Dysfunction · Chronic Pain · Arthritis · Muscular Aches · Neuralgia · Trigger points · Carpal Tunnel, Tension · Pre- & Post-Operative Conditions · Athletic Stress & Injury · Bursitis/Tendonitis · Plantar Fasciitis · Scoliosis · Scars & Adhesions · Myofascial pain syndrome · Fibromyalgia · Migraine-tension headaches How close together can I get a cupping session? Typically, it depends on how the client reacts to the treatment. It should not be done every day. It is important to give the body time to process. In general, a minimal wait of 48 – 72 hours is preferable. Will I have marks or bruises after treatment and how long do they last? While they technically aren’t bruises, the marks may last 3-7 days dependent upon the skin, stagnant matter being released , and length of time left in place. What does cupping feel like? People describe the sensation differently from soothing, stimulating, energizing, warming, tingling, and separating to comparing it with deep tissue. Cupping does should not hurt if done correctly. Can I get a cupping session if I am pregnant? Prenatal cupping is indicated if the cups are not placed on the abdomen or lumbar areas.
What’s Happening: I hope you all enjoyed a fun, safe St Patrick’s Day. ( I know I did) Fun Holidays this Week: March 17: Happy St. Patrick’s Day! March 20: Spring – Spring is finally here! March 22: National Goof Off Day – A day to just goof off. Find a fun, silly activity you enjoy! Hydration Recipe Keeping hydrated is an important part of staying healthy. Water promotes cardiovascular health, keeps your body cool, helps muscles and joints work better and keeps skin supple. Here is this week’s hydration recipe: Lemon Water Ingredients: 2 lemons, sliced Water Instructions : Place lemons and water in a large pitcher and refrigerate until cold. If you want extra lemon flavor, squeeze the juice from some of the slices directly into the water. Beware of seeds. Fun Facts About St. Patrick’s Day Sunday was St. Patrick’s Day so I thought I would tell you some fun facts you can use to impress your friends. Have fun and be safe out there. · Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional St. Patrick’s Day dish · Irish soda bread gets its name from the use of baking soda rather than yeast as a leavening agent · The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in the United States on March 17, 1762 · More than 100 St. Patrick’s Day parades are held across the United States · There are 34.7 million U.S. residents with Irish ancestry. This number is more than seven times the population of Ireland itself. · There are approximately 144,588 current U.S. residents who were born in Ireland. Special Offers : You can subscribe to my newsletter though my website at MassageSmith.com and receive 10% off your next service.
What’s Happening: Spring is next week and I know I’m excited. How about you? If you are gearing up for spring cleaning, build in an incentive. A massage is a great way to reward yourself for getting your house in order. I just cleaned and organized my office, planted a garden and made time for an excellent massage. Fun Holidays this Week: March 12: Plant a Flower Day – To celebrate, here’s a how-to on planting flowers. https://www.wikihow.com/Plant-Flowers March 14: National Pi Day – Why today? Because today is 3.14, the value of Pi. March 16: Incredible Kid Day – If you know an incredible kid, let them know how special they are. Hydration Recipe Keeping hydrated is an important part of staying healthy. Water promotes cardiovascular health, keeps your body cool, helps muscles and joints work better and keeps skin supple. Here is this week’s hydration recipe: Cantaloupe, Honey, and Mint Water Ingredients : ½ c water ½ c honey 4 c (about 2 lbs) cantaloupe cut into 1 inch pieces ¼ c fresh lime juice (about 2 limes) 2 Tbsp fresh mint leaves ¼ tsp salt sparkling water or club soda mint sprigs for garnish Instructions : • Combine honey and water in a small saucepan and heat over medium low heat until water and honey are combined and beginning to boil (about 2-4 minutes). Remove from heat and cool slightly. • Combine honey syrup, cantaloupe, lime juice, mint leaves, and salt in a blender and puree until smooth. • Using a fine meshed sieve or a piece of cheesecloth, strain the cantaloupe mixture into another container. Discard solids. You should end up with about 2 cups of liquid. • In each glass, pour ½ c of the cantaloupe juice over ice. Fill the rest of the glass with sparkling water or club soda and stir to mix. Alternately, you can mix equal parts cantaloupe juice and sparkling water in a pitcher with ice and pour into glasses as needed. Garnish with a mint sprig and enjoy! Reflexology While not technically a massage, reflexology uses pressure on the feet and hands with various pressure techniques. It’s based on a system of zones and reflex areas that reflect different parts of the body. Benefits include increased energy, better circulation, and deep relaxation. Special Offers : Now is the perfect time to take advantage of my buy 5 get one free offer. This means you get 6 sessions at my office for only $375 (that’s $62.50 each) Service charges may apply. These sessions are good for 12 months from the time of purchase and they are yours to use or to gift as you choose. Simply go to MassageSmith.com and reach us via the Contact link.