So here you are: finally you made an appointment with your massage therapist and settled in on the table.  It took you a while to shut the 1001 thoughts off, but now you start to relax... And than your tummy rumbles!!! HOW EMBARRASSING!!! - so you concentrate on tightening your abs to stop it, and with that your relaxation is gone...
Sounds somehow familiar? Well, it definitely does to me. And right now I am not talking from the therapist's point of view. I was the client...
But one day I went to a therapist, who put it in just the right words "sometimes during a massage, our tummy can become very talkative. That's perfectly fine. Just let him talk!" - well, he did. A lot. But this time I let him talk - and wasn't embarrassed...

What have I learned since than? There are different reasons why our tummies rumble. One is simply hunger. The other reason is that our nervous system switches from sympathetic to parasympathetic - or in easier words: from 'fight or flight' to 'rest and digest' mode. This reaction,  when our body starts to release different chemicals into our system, is called 'relaxation response'. Our body doesn't prepare for fight/flight any longer, but starts to concentrate on the other important thing to do: digestion. (Yes, that is one reason why people living in permanent stress often develop digestive problems)

Knowing that, you will understand why I LOVE to hear tummies talk . A talkative tummy is like a compliment to me! A sign, that I was able to help your body find back to rest and into balance. So please, let him talk...

Today we had a very relaxing family day - start of the holidays!
While sitting in the living room playing rummikub, I looked out of the window: WOW!! What a masterpiece in the evening sky! All shades of blue, and clouds changing shape and colour by the minute.
I love living here...

Breathe right...  yeah, heard it before! So what?!
Your body is an incredible design! One interesting part of it is your large diaphragm muscle - especially designed to increase the size of your chest cavitiy and therefore drawing the air into your lungs. Physics pure.
But what happens when you don't use this muscle? Well, you still have to breathe! Therefore your chest cavity still has to expand. If your diaphragm doesn't do the job - or not as much as it is designed to - other muscles will have to jump in. These are usually your chest muscles, intercostals, neck and shoulder muscles.
And they can do it. But it's not what they are good at or designed for in the first place! And you know what happens, if someone does a job he/she is constantly overworked  with or not really qualified for...

So if you suffer from regular tight muscles in your upper back/neck/shoulder or chest area - have a look at how you breathe! Changing your breathing pattern will not only help to ease your muscle tensions, but also deepens your breath, massages your inner organs through the movement of the diaphragm and increases the overall state of well-being.

Here are two videos for you: The first one explains the function of the diaphragm, the second one shows you how to practice diaphragmatic breathing. And while you are watching: take a deep breath...

I finished the last page of my website! Time to celebrate ~!!~
Hence, I had the idea to launch a raffle and give away a full hour massage voucher, worth $70!
No, you don't have to buy a ticket - just leave a comment on one of my blog posts or use the contact page to send me your suggestion ( i.g a topic for my blog) , ask a question, inquire for a massage appointment, say simply 'hi' or post your testimonial... and you will automatically enter the draw, which will be held on the
10. August 2011.

Conditions:
Although you can leave more than one comment ( and I would like that!), you will enter the draw only once. 
Everyone of your family or friends can enter - there is no age restriction. But sorry, humans only...

My very first entrant is actually just 9 years old: thanks Georgia for such a great testimonial :-))
I have already published it on my testimonials page. Look at the picture below: your name is the first in my bowl! Wish you good luck for the draw!

I'm really looking forward to filling this bowl...

Last weekend I have been to another training course - I love having these weekends a couple of times a year.
Not only to add more tools to my tool box, but also to catch up with other massage therapists. Most of
us are working on their own or in small practices, so it is a great opportunity to share experiences.

One topic that came up during lunch break was our role as educators. Not the big lectures - but the small tips, which have the potential to bring ease to your life. Someone in the group said: "I would love to change the world simply by teaching to stretch the pecs!" She is so right: the pecs (short for pectoralis or chest muscles) are tight or shortened in a lot of people - often related to work on the computer and the
way we sit at the desk. The shortened muscles draw the shoulders in, and therefore bring tension to
the upper back, neck and shoulder muscles - and they get really unhappy...

A simple pecs stretch can help ease your upper back and neck pain! It doesn't take long at all - and all
you need is a doorway! I looked for a good demo on youtube - and by putting it on my blog, I'm going to
help change the world - one muscle at a time...

I am sooo excited! Today my website got its proper name!!!
After having written most of my pages, it was time to get a domain. First of all, because I wanted a "www" at the beginning. But even more a "co.nz" at the end!!! I love NZ...
To find a good domain name isn't an easy task. I tried the obvious one: "bodyandsoul". And of course it was already registered. So was "bodysoul". "bodyandsoulmassage" was simply too long. And after some other, fancy ideas "bodysoulmassage" seemed to win the race.
But than I got a stroke of genius. Well, to be honest: my husband got it...: "gudrun"

There are times in life, when having a bit of an unusual name has its advantages - "gudrun" was still available. And now its mine!!!
You know what I really like about it? It is actually what it all comes down to. Whatever fancy and great sounding name is printed on the sign at the door - your massage experience depends on the person who is going to massage you...
I still keep "body & soul" as my business name. Because that's what we all are. And that's what I like to be and work with.

I'm really happy about my name today!!! ...  www.gudrun.co.nz

Today at church we had a great teaching about taking a rest!... it got me thinking - it is one of the first concepts God taught his creation: He stepped back from His work, looked over everything He had made and said it was very good - and than He took a rest... ! Did God need to rest? I don't think so. But He set an example for us.
Watching animals, I think they got it!  We humans struggle a bit more...

Jesus took time out on a regular basis! Even - or because - there where so many needs to meet.
He didn't burn out.  He knew how to live a balanced life!
We can learn from him - I love this verse of the bible, especially in 'the message' translation.
It is from Matthew 11.28-30, and it is one of my favorites. I like to add his signature...

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.         
                                                   Love, Jesus

Today, I took a real rest...

Who loves to read or hear about your personal matters from people you don't even know? Not me...
That's why you won't read any names or good enough descriptions of people, unless I have asked them before. Like my daughter in yesterday's post...
And of cause the same applies to your massage session: whatever personal information  you tell me or experience in my massage studio, it stays in there! I won't tell your friend about your sore back, or anything else...
Well, there are things we like to have shared. So even if I don't tell your friend how good you felt after my massage - I DO like to hear that from people I don't even know....

Today was such a stunning day! After starting off with heavy rain, we had this awesome winter weather: sunny, warm, calm, and a breathtaking view of the south island - mountains covered in snow! I took a walk along the beach, and once again knew why I was here...
Before that I had a chat with someone about a lot of things - and about children massage. And we agreed about just how much kids love massage! How the most active child becomes quiet and the anxious one relaxes...

A lot of my daughters friends think, that she is lucky to have a  massage therapist as mum. Well, she might have  an advantage - but that doesn't mean that other mums can't do it! Often we think of massage as an hour set aside, a comfortable padded table, nice oils, relaxing music and professional strokes (and yes, that's what you should expect if you come to see me). But that's not how it has to be. Massage can be as simple as a good back rub, a squeeze of the shoulders, massaging the feet while watching TV and stroking the hair at bedtime...!
My daughter doesn't get on my massage table every day - but she gets at least one massage daily.
Because it's that simple...!

If you would like to learn some basic massage techniques, have a look at this book:
Healing touch for children: massage, acupressure and reflexology routine for children aged 4-12 by Mary Atkinson.  You can borrow it from the Hutt City Library  - they purchased it on my suggestion. And it is also available at Wellington City Libraries.