wilmington nc

Meet Our Advanced M.E.L.T Instructor, Teddi!

The MELT Method® is a breakthrough self-treatment system that restores the supportiveness of the body's connective tissue to eliminate chronic pain, improve performance, and decrease the accumulated stress caused by repetitive postures and movements of everyday living.   MELT ( Stands for Myofascial Energetic Length Technique)  simulates the techniques and results of manual, hands-on therapeutic approaches—we call it Hands-off Bodywork®. MELT techniques are designed to calm and rebalance the nervous system, so most students find MELT Method classes to be deeply relaxing.New research has revealed the missing link to pain-free living: a balanced nervous system and healthy connective tissue. MELT directly addresses these two systems of your body in a way no other self-treatment can by teaching you how to rehydrate connective tissue and rebalance the nervous system.MELT now has 1,300 instructors nationwide and a following that includes the Olympic snowboarder Jamie Anderson, who used the method on her feet before winning gold in Sochi, Russia. Ms. Hitzmann’s best selling book, “The MELT Method,” was published in 2013 by HarperOne.Teddi Sharpton is an Advanced MELT instructor (Level 5). She is trained not only to use the balls and roller, but also to teach advanced techniques that are used to help stabilize the hips and shoulder girdle. MELT is appropriate for nearly all ages and conditions and has helped hundreds of thousands of people eliminate chronic pain, even when they’ve had it for years or even decades. 

The MELT Method® is a breakthrough self-treatment system that restores the supportiveness of the body's connective tissue to eliminate chronic pain, improve performance, and decrease the accumulated stress caused by repetitive postures and movements of everyday living.   MELT ( Stands for Myofascial Energetic Length Technique)  simulates the techniques and results of manual, hands-on therapeutic approaches—we call it Hands-off Bodywork®. MELT techniques are designed to calm and rebalance the nervous system, so most students find MELT Method classes to be deeply relaxing.

New research has revealed the missing link to pain-free living: a balanced nervous system and healthy connective tissue. MELT directly addresses these two systems of your body in a way no other self-treatment can by teaching you how to rehydrate connective tissue and rebalance the nervous system.

MELT now has 1,300 instructors nationwide and a following that includes the Olympic snowboarder Jamie Anderson, who used the method on her feet before winning gold in Sochi, Russia. Ms. Hitzmann’s best selling book, “The MELT Method,” was published in 2013 by HarperOne.

Teddi Sharpton is an Advanced MELT instructor (Level 5). She is trained not only to use the balls and roller, but also to teach advanced techniques that are used to help stabilize the hips and shoulder girdle. 

MELT is appropriate for nearly all ages and conditions and has helped hundreds of thousands of people eliminate chronic pain, even when they’ve had it for years or even decades. 

We Made Our First Commercial!!! Times Two!

Shine On Massage Therapy is extremely thrilled to announce that we shot our first commercial today! With some help from our friend, Kylie and a couple of our wonderful clients, Nicolette and Emily, we were able to make two fantastic commercials! Keep a look out on Instagram and Facebook!

Shine On!

Winter Time Deals!

Right now until December 5th, we are offering a Buy 4 Get the 5th Massage Free! That is 5 massages for only $300! You are saving $75! We even gift package them with a beautiful wax seal and write any note you choose on them! Give us a call today to order your gift cards and give the gift that keeps on healing!

Shine On!

10 Reasons Why every Home Should Have Essential Oil Diffusers!

1. Relaxation and Sleep

One of the best and most well-known uses for essential oils is their ability to help you unwind at the end of a hard day. While there are several other methods for getting your soothing oils from the bottle into your blood stream where they start to work their magic, the diffuser is by far the easiest and longest-lasting of them all. Keep one at the office to help you relax on your lunch break. Have a diffuser ready to go with the push of a button when you get home from work in the evening. Set one on the bedside table to help your mind and body relax so you can sleep better at night.

Recommended oils: chamomile, lavender, clary sage

Get more expert tips on how to catch some high-quality zzz’s (from a former insomniac) with these 11 Natural Sleep Remedies That Really Work!

2. Mood Elevating

Just as a diffuser can help you to de-stress, they can also be used to create an energizing mood. This is not only great for when you’re feeling sad or depressed. You can use your diffuser to inspire high spirits during the holidays, to set a positive atmosphere for business meetings and social gatherings, to help you get moving on a slow morning, or even to create a romantic atmosphere for that special someone in your life.

Recommended oils: sweet orange, jasmine, rose, scotch pine, sandalwood, vanilla

3. Ward Off Illness

Using a diffuser in your home or office is a great way to keep cold, flu, and other nasty illnesses at bay that works on three levels. First, many essential oils are powerfully anti-microbial and when introduced into the air in vapor form, the organic compounds within the oils come into direct contact with airborne pathogens before they can invade your body. Second, essential oils can also be used to boost the immune system. Last but not least, some diffusers also double as humidifiers which will help to keep your airways moist and healthy so you are less susceptible to any microbes that do make it into your body.

Recommended oils: tea tree, sage, rosemary, grapefruit, lemon, thyme

 

 

4. Helps You Breathe Easier

Essential oils are great for reducing inflammation and congestion in clogged airways to help you breathe more easily. If you are prone to allergies or other breathing disorders, try diffusing essential oils in the room (or rooms) of your home where you spend the most time. Just remember to keep a box of tissues handy as your nose and sinuses begin to open so you can also avoid that mad dash to the bathroom!

Recommended oils: peppermint, rosemary, lemon, eucalyptus

Want more tips on how to naturally improve air quality so you can breathe better and be healthier?  Our wildly popular 10 Reasons To Have A Himalayan Pink Salt Lamp In Every Room Of Your Home is an absolute must-read!

5. Pain Relief

While most people will tell you to apply essential oils directly to the body for pain relief, you can also use a diffuser to extend their effects. This method is an excellent way to combat persistent pain such as that caused by headaches, sore joints, and overworked muscles.

Recommended oils: ginger, chamomile, lavender, eucalyptus, clary sage, rosemary, bergamot

Also, be sure to check out these 14 Effective Natural Remedies To Relieve Joint Pain to learn more about using natural home-remedies in lieu of chemical-laden pain meds!

6. Improve Cognitive Function

Using essential oils in a diffuser is a highly-effective way to super-charge your brain cells. Again, this effect works on multiple levels. First, many essential oils have adaptogenic qualities – meaning that they are soothing when you’re stressed, but they can also give you a pick-me-up when you’re feeling down or sluggish. By leveling out your mood, the oils in the air will help you to focus. Also, there are several essential oils which are known for their powerful ability to balance the body’s hormones. With regular use, these oils can actually help to heal the underlying causes responsible for hampering cognitive function.

Recommended oils: peppermint, eucalyptus, lemon, pine

(Further Reading: 9 Essential Oils For Hormonal Imbalance & How To Use Them)

7. Safer Alternative to Candles & Incense

If you have pets or small children, burning candles or incense can be a potentially hazardous practice. With an essential oil diffuser, you can reap the benefits of aromatherapy – and to much greater effect – without the risk of burns, wax spills, or other accidents.

Recommended oils: any

 

 

8. Repel Insects

Whether your problem is mosquitoes, house flies, fruit flies or moths, you can use essential oils in your diffuser to deter these critters from entering your home.

Recommended oils: clove, lemongrass, rosemary, cedarwood

Arm yourself against the swarms of creepy crawlies this spring and summer with these 6 Fragrant Herbs & Plants That Repel Flies and 13 Natural Ways To Keep Mosquitoes Away!

9. Keeps You Cool

(While it might make you appear more eco-savvy to your friends and family, that’s not the kind of ‘cool’ we’re referring to.)

In the heat of the summer months, running the air conditioner all day and all night is a surefire way to send your electric bill through the roof. Instead, try diffusing your favorite crisp, cooling minty essential oils in the rooms where you spend the most time to help you beat the heat.

Recommended oils: peppermint, eucalyptus, spearmint, wintergreen

10. Saves Money

So far we’ve covered the top nine reasons that owning a diffuser is an investment in your health and well-being, but it’s more than just that. With all of the versatile uses for essential oil diffusers around the home which ultimately lead to less doctor visits, lower electric bills, fewer cups of coffee and better productivity; you will soon discover that this handy little device is a money-saver as well!

A GREAT repost from Zeel.com about the affects of drinking alcohol before or after massage!

We all deserve the chance to relax after a long week, and a beer (or three) followed by a soothing massage might sound like a perfect recipe for relaxation.

But if your daydreams of unwinding at home involve both a few stiff drinks and a massage therapy session, you should understand that massage therapists don’t approve of combining booze and massage.

While there are varying opinions on how long you should wait after drinking to get a massage, massage therapy experts agree that it’s not safe to massage a client when they’ve recently been under the influence.

 

Why can’t I get a massage right after drinking?

Why is it so problematic to get a massage after drinking? Alcohol, like massage, has a powerful effect on your body, and the two don’t mix together in a healthy manner.

Let’s dive in to the simple facts about the effects of both alcohol and massage on your body.

 

How massage affects your body

  • Massage boosts circulation, pushing the body’s lymph fluid around and helping you to shed excess fluids more quickly. (This is why your therapist will encourage you to drink plenty of water after a massage.)
  • Massage creates a state of deep relaxation, lowers your blood pressure, reduces levels of stress hormones like cortisol and increases pleasurable hormones like dopamine and serotonin in the body.
  • Massage releases toxins from the muscles into the bloodstream, which can heighten the negative effects of alcohol.

 

How alcohol affects your body

  • Alcohol, a diuretic, is well-known for its dehydrating effects, as anyone who’s ever had a hangover headache will tell you.
  • Alcohol causes your blood vessels to dilate, moving the alcohol through your bloodstream and increasing your blood alcohol level.
  • Alcohol impairs cognitive reasoning. Alcohol consumption can impair reflexes, limit motor control, and reduce coordination.
  • Drinking too much weakens the body’s immune system, and a single event of binge-drinking can limit your body’s ability to prevent infections for up to 24 hours.

 

How massage interacts with alcohol

  • Numbed senses. Alcohol and massage are both relaxing. But the deep relaxation of massage, combined with the numbing effect of alcohol, means that you may not be in touch with your body during your massage. This makes it difficult for both you and your massage therapist to judge the best level of pressure for your massage. You want to feel the massage, don’t you?
  • Amplified drunkenness. Alcohol travels through your bloodstream. (We know, it doesn’t sound as much fun when we say it that way.) Massage increases circulation and flushes toxins from muscles, which means that alcohol both hits your bloodstream more quickly and remains there longer. Some massage therapists have seen customers become more drunk during a massage because of this amplification effect.
  • Intensified hangovers. Both massage and alcohol can have a dehydrating effect. This doesn’t just make you thirstier – it can intensify hangover symptoms. (That said, a massage can help cure hangovers.)
  • Canceled-out positive effects. Massage strengthens the body’s immune system, but drinking too much weakens the body’s immune system – meaning that you lose this important health benefit of massage, essentially canceling out the positive effect.

 

Best practices for massage and alcohol

Licensed massage therapists will typically refuse to work with a customer who is visibly intoxicated. While they will work with customers who have had a glass of wine but are not drunk, massage experts recommend that you wait at least four hours after drinking alcohol before getting a massage.

Long story short, alcohol and massage don’t mix well. Keep the beers as an after-massage treat for maximum massage and alcohol enjoyment.

Benefits of Myofacial Release!

Reduce muscle soreness. With better circulation to your muscles and connective tissues, you'll experience less muscle soreness. Maintains normal functional muscular length. Self-myofascial release relieves tension in the myofascia network and helps your muscles return to their normal length, improving muscle function.

Water After Massage? It couldn't hurt!

After most massages, you will hear your massage therapist say "Drink a lot of water today!" The reason that we tell our clients this is because there is belief that the manipulation of muscles causes a release of toxins in the body. Whether people want to believe this or not, what could it hurt to have a glass of water!?

The most important glass of water is first thing in the morning. Your body has been dehydrated while you’ve been sleeping, so start your day with a tall glass of water. It’ll boost your metabolism.

Water is the most important nutrient for health, growth, and development and it’s the most abundant nutrient in the body. Although water does not provide energy in the same way carbohydrates and fat do, it plays a very important role in energy transformation. Water is the medium in which all energy reactions take place. Water also helps out with the lubrication of your joints. It’s an ingredient in the makeup of the synovial fluid, which is the lubricating fluid between your joints. If your body is dehydrated, even for a brief period, less fluid is available to protect these areas.

Muscles are 70% water. Your brain is 85% water. Just imagine how fatigued or tired you might feel during the day because you haven’t replenished your body’s water supply. Drink more water and you’ll feel and see the difference in your body’s health.

Benefits of Prenatal Massage!

Studies indicate that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health. Massage therapy addresses different needs through varying techniques, one of which is called Swedish Massage.

Swedish Massage aims to relax muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation through mild pressure applied to the muscle groups of the body. Swedish Massage is the recommended massage method during pregnancy because it addresses many common discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts.

Hormone regulation

Studies done in the past 10 years have shown that hormone levels associated with relaxation and stress are significantly altered when massage therapy is introduced to women’s prenatal care. This leads to mood regulation and improved cardiovascular health.

In women who received bi-weekly massages for only five weeks, hormones such as norepinephrine and cortisol (hormones associated with stress) were reduced, and dopamine and serotonin levels were increased (low levels of these hormones are associated with depression).

These changes in hormone levels also led to fewer complications during birth and fewer instances of newborn complications, such as low birth weight. The evidence strongly suggests there are maternal and newborn health benefits when therapeutic massage is incorporated into regular prenatal care.

Reduction of swelling

Edema, or swelling of the joints during pregnancy, is often caused by reduced circulation and increased pressure on the major blood vessels by the heavy uterus. Massage helps to stimulate soft tissues to reduce collection of fluids in swollen joints. This also improves the removal of tissue waste carried by the body’s lymph system.

Improvement of nerve pain

Sciatic nerve pain is experienced by many women in late pregnancy as the uterus rests on muscles of the pelvic floor and lower back. The pressure of the uterus spreads tension to the muscles of the upper and lower leg, causing them to swell and put pressure on nearby nerves.

Massage therapy addresses the inflamed nerves by helping to release the tension on nearby muscles. Many women have experienced a significant reduction in sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy through massage.

Other potential benefits of prenatal massage:

 

Source: "americanpregnancy.org"

Kicking the Flu Without the Shot

Flu season is coming around and if you are anything like us, you are scared of all the weird things that could be in a Flu shot. When we become ill with a cold or the flu, our lymphatic system works overtime to increase the delivery of infection-fighting cells, and to clear away waste and toxins. Manual lymphatic drainage helps to increase the circulation of lymphatic fluid, increase immune cell production, and enhance the removal of toxins.

There are plenty of other home remedies that you could practice before getting a Flu shot. One of the most obvious ones is staying hydrated. We know for most people, remembering to stay hydrated is like remembering that you need to floss. Put up a sticky note on the fridge that simply reads "Chug a glass of water!!!"

One thing that we swear by here at Shine On are diffuser's. Doterra Essential Oils actually makes an amazing oil called "On Guard" and it contains Wild Orange Peel, Clove Bud, Cinnamon Leaf, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Leaf, and Rosemary Leaf/Flower essential oils. These are all known to be helpful with keeping the common cold and the Flu at bay. A basic diffuser does not cost more than $20 and you can get these essential oils all over the internet for very reasonable prices. Why not naturally medicate the air you breathe!?

Last but not least, take your vitamins! Echinacea root is one of the herbs we swear by. Echinacea encourages the immune system and reduces many of the symptoms of colds, flu and some other illnesses, infections, and conditions. Echinacea is a perennial plant, meaning it lasts for many years. And of course, you have your vitamin C that you should always remember to be taking plenty of during Flu season. Elderberry is another incredible Flu fighter. 10mg of Elderberry combined with 1,000mg of Echinacea a day is a great way to kick start keeping the Flu away.

We hope that this has been helpful for everyone and we also hope that everyone stays Flu free this winter and continues to Shine On!

25 Reasons to get a Massage!