Today I received a letter from India: from body & soul's sponsor child Adity!
It's so special - starting with the envelope with stemps from India, the latest updates from her village, and: her drawing, which I just have to share with you!
She is now 3 years old, turning 4 in October - just like body & soul. It's great to be able to have her as a sponsor child, and to see the impact this can make to a whole community. Thanks to all my clients, for making it possible - this drawing is for you!...

I have to admit: I am one of them! People, who go shopping for some new cloths and end up with a pair of socks for themselves and a bag full of stuff for the kids, a friend, the partner... Who know how beneficial a massage is, and therefore get a voucher (or give one) to their child, mother, friend, partner, neighbour...
It's nothing wrong about looking after others. Actually I think that is what life is all about: people.
But I know that I have to look after myself, too. Otherwise I run empty.
Today was my day to look after myself: I had an appointment with a colleague to get a massage myself! I loved it: My body feels great. I had some time out. I recharged my batteries. And that makes it is so much easier to give to others again.
So, if you are one of us, with the best for your loved ones in mind: give them your best by looking after yourself. Recharge your batteries. Take some time out. Get a massage voucher - but this time for yourself...

There is one aspect of my work which I really like: diversity! Looking back into my diary and reading all the names of people I met, it's such a great mix: from the mum with little kids who comes to get some knots off her shoulders, but most of all some time out for herself, the sporty person who needs some focused work, the little girl who comes with her mum on her birthday for a special birthday treat, the teacher who books in towards the end of each term (and sometimes in between) , a business person with sore back/neck/shoulders and a very stressful life, the mum to be who enjoys the time to bond with her baby and at the same time getting  rid off some discomforts of her pregnancy, the young woman who got a voucher from her boyfriend, my client who comes every 2. week for "maintenance" (and still there were no two sessions the same)...
The chatty one, the quiet one, the stressed one, the one on holidays, the senior, the child, the full-time-worker and the full-time-at-home, the one who had lots of massages before, the one who never had a massage before...
The list goes on. And as every client is different, so is every massage.
It never gets boring...

Today was the final day for my raffle! Thanks to all of you who entered it by leaving a comment or contacting me. And thanks for all the great feedback!!!
You filled my bowl to the brim, and today at 7 pm was the big draw - under watchful eyes of a jury.
Congratulations to the lucky winner... ANJA! The $70 massage voucher is on the way to you, and I am looking forward to welcome you at my studio :-)
It was so hard to draw only one, and leave all you others with nothing. So I decided to add more prices  and give a $10 massage voucher to  EVERYONE who entered!
I will send your vouchers out tomorrow...

Today I had a very special commitment: I have been at the New Dowse in Lower Hutt to support the 'Big Latch On'! 
As part of celebrations for World Breastfeeding Week, La Leche League was holding the Big Latch On which is an attempt to break the world record for the most women breastfeeding simultaneously. The emphasis was on making this an opportunity for the mums to get together and have a chat, some morning tea and celebrate the relationships with each other and their babies.
There have been almost 100 mums with their babies and kids filling the conference room at the New Dowse - what an atmosphere! I was offering the mums free neck & shoulder massages - and as you can imagine they where very well received :-) 
And who deserves it more than mums?!...

Today I got an email from one of my clients, who just gave birth to her baby! She added a photo - what a cutie!! To finally get to see the baby I have been 'in touch with' during a pregnancy massage is always very special to me - a little miracle, perfectly created and absolutely unique! A very special part of our future.
And I love touching the future...

Today I have the pleasure to introduce you to Adity! When I started body & soul, I decided to give 10% of the money I earned to children in need . So with every massage I gave, I also touched the world's future.
Now the time seemed right to not only support a project, but to add a face to it - a sponsor child's face. And I thought it would be nice to have some very special connection to that child. That's why I asked worldvision if there is a child born on the 5. Oct. 2007 waiting for a sponsor.  There was: Adity!
Adity lives in India and entered the world the same day as my first client entered my massage studio in Eastbourne! That makes her very special to me.
Thank you to all my clients who come for a massage and through that help to touch Adity's life. I am looking forward to see her and body & soul growing up together...

Is exercise beneficial for your health?!? Well, I guess we all agree it is. I know that I need exercise to keep my body healthy and flexible. But what kind of exercise? Now we could start the discussion!!! But actually that's not my plan. Because everybody is different, and every body needs and prefers different exercise (just as it is with massage!): from a walk along the beach to an iron man.

Eastbourne is a great place for exercise! Plenty of outdoor opportunities, sport clubs and  exercise classes/groups! Do you know just how many exercise classes/groups we have in Eastbourne?!!
To be honest: I don't... ! I do know quite a few - but I am sure I don't know all of them. And there are probably more people out here who don't know the full range on offer! So I thought: why not use this blog to introduce the various exercise opportunities in Eastbourne, and to help you find what suits you best?! Like swissball, yoga, NIA, pilates, nordic walking, Feldenkrais, zumba...

What do you think? Would that be helpful or interesting for you?
I will need your help to find them all though! - so please leave your comment...

WOW! Thanks to all of you who have sent me your testimonial, inquired for an appointment, your 'well done' and your 'hi'! And thank you for all the comments on my blog!!! Nice to see you like it.
You all entered the draw to win a $70 massage voucher! So here the most recent filling level of my bowl - quite high already, but still plenty of space in case your name isn't in there, yet!
Oh, and if you don't know how to enter - simply click here...