Spring

Dear Friends,

Spring greetings to you all. This is the time we have long been waiting for - longer days, warmer air, and a freedom of movement in this season of hope, possibility and renewal. This time also marks a year since my family and I returned from our stay in the Chesapeake Bay region and renewed our commitment and love for Midcoast Maine.  In that time I have had opportunities to reconnect, or connect for the first time, with all of you in my massage practice.

I never forget that this path of mine is indeed a “practice.”  It is a constantly evolving set of skills affected by new findings and interpretations within the scientific community as therapeutic massage becomes better understood, as well as through working with each of you as individuals.  Although all of you come in pursuit of better health and healing, you each also come with a unique set of goals and specific needs in each session.  You all show me and teach me about the human body every week and for that I am grateful.  My greatest hope is that I am able to help you all be more at home in your bodies and continue to better understand your own mind-body connection and path to being well.
This is (hopefully) the first of a series of newsletters that I will be sending to keep you in the loop regarding any changes to my schedule and to share any bits of inspiration I think that you might appreciate.

One of my big accomplishments this past winter was to put together a small website.  Since technology isn’t my passion, this was a challenge for me to follow through with, but alas you can find out a little more about my practice at www.handsofjulie.com.  I see it as a virtual business card for now, though perhaps down the line it will become more.  Please check it out and share it as you see fit.  Word of mouth referrals are the entirety of my practice and I always appreciate it when you pass my name along to the good folks in your circle.

Because I keep up my national massage license (NCBTMB), and because I enjoy learning, I am frequently taking classes to deepen my understanding of massage.  Currently I am working with Whitney Lowe on an orthopedic shoulder massage course which has been a great review of anatomy and has brought a deeper awareness for me of the shoulder region and it’s pathologies.  Perhaps I’ll tackle the neck or lumbar spine regions next...

I also will take one last moment to share with you a book that I found some months ago entitled How To Be Well by Frank Lipman, MD. This book has tons of tips for living a life of wellness in a format that allows you to leave it on your coffee table and visit it now and again.  It is cheerfully designed and although it supplies what could feel like an overwhelming number of suggestions, he encourages a real life approach to making changes that last instead of overwhelm.  

As we settle into this new and expansive season, be mindful of taking care of your body as you find yourself more active in your gardens, yards and nature in general.  Enjoy the season!

Be Well,
​Julie