General Relaxation

Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to a healthy mind and body. Of course with hectic schedules, kids, and many other distractions, getting enough sleep is easier said than done. Here are some tips on how to fall asleep from the National Sleep Foundation.

Keep a Standard Bedtime and Wake Up Time
Yes, even on weekends. Standard bedtimes and wake up times help keep your body’s internal clock regulated.

Practice a Relaxing Bedtime Ritual
Stress, excitement and anxiety make it tough to fall asleep; try doing an activity that will help you relax and unwind before bed. Make sure the lights are dim to help you relax even more.

Avoid Naps, Especially in the Afternoon
A good nap may get you through your busy day, but if you cannot fall asleep at night, you should get rid of your napping routine.

Exercise Daily
A good workout will help you sleep better at night. The harder, the better and you can do it at any time of the day – just don’t let it get in the way of your sleep.

How’s Your Sleep Environment?
Take a good look at your bedroom. Is it ideal for sleeping? Make it cool — between 60 and 67 degrees. Is there noise? Too much light? Electronic devices within easy reach?

Avoid Alcohol, Cigarettes and Heavy Meals
These things can all disrupt your sleep. Eating a big and/or spicy meal can cause indigestion that could keep you up or even wake you up in the middle of the night.

Having a relaxed body and mind is an extremely important element when getting a good night’s sleep. Regular massage can help relax your mind and your body. Call Jodi at Inner Focus Massage for a truly relaxing massage. 701-238-8257.

Summer is here, and your days are filled with nothing but hammocks in the warm breeze, tall glasses of iced tea sipped in the afternoon shade, and a towering stack of novels to be devoured, one by one. Right?? Ummmm, no. The truth is that summer can be hard work. If you’ve got kids, while your days are fun, they’re not quite of the relaxing variety. You spend a lot of time slathering sunscreen on squirmy and unwilling limbs, driving to summer camps and sports, carrying coolers packed with snacks for, what seems like, miles, playing at the park, and giving piggy-back rides. There are plenty of sweaty days at the zoo where, after 25 minutes, you end up carrying, pack-mule style, 3 hats, 4 water bottles, an insisted-upon superhero toy and his accompanying vehicle, some granola bars, and a helium balloon.

Kids or no kids, your evenings, and weekends are likely comprised of plenty of weeding, mowing, and group sports. Add a few hiking or camping trips, with the required hauling and carrying, loading and unloading of needed items. Indeed, these are fun, exciting activities that many wait all year for, but it’s no wonder that summer can leave you feeling a little tired and sore.

In order to keep summer in its proper place of a much-loved and much-anticipated season, it’s important that you keep your body and mind in the best possible condition.  In order to do that, regular summer appointments with your massage therapist will be exactly what’s needed.

Here are just three benefits of regular therapeutic massage:

• Cell Recovery
  As you toil, play, and carry, your muscles get strained and develop tiny tears. As your body works to repair these tears, what you feel is sore, aching muscles. Sure, ice can help with the pain and inflammation, but a massage is key to promoting more effective cell recovery and can lessen inflammation more permanently.
• Self-Care
  After the playground visits with the kids, your neighbor’s BBQ, your sister’s yard makeover project that has somehow become your project, and all of the other endless things you do for others, it’s time to take care of yourself. YOU sometimes become the lowest thing on your priority list, because it seems that the only one impacted is you. However, as you make the time for regular massages, you’ll find that you will be a much better (and happier!) employee, parent, friend, and family member. Self-care is critical for people who care for everyone else.
• Quiet Time
  Wouldn’t you love an hour of uninterrupted quiet? When you’re on the massage table, there are no lawn mowers, no kids splashing water on your sandwich, no laundry piles in front of you, and no computer. There’s just the sound, perhaps, of soothing music, and the knowledge that you are exactly where you need to be, doing exactly what you need to do.

Summer is wonderful, without a doubt.  Make yours even better by taking care of your muscles, your mind, and your well-being.  A massage can help ease those sore muscles. Schedule an appointment with Jodi at Inner Focus Massage by calling 701-238-8257.

As you watch your children or grandchildren grow and begin a new grade at school this year, it’s only natural to start thinking of how you’ve aged over the years and what your future holds as you and your family progress in life. To help slow down some of the effects that naturally occur as you age, Inner Focus Massage offers the following tips to keep your mind and body feeling young.

Stay Active

As you age, you might think you’ll naturally slow down. But, the more active you stay as you reach milestone birthdays, the healthier you can feel physically and the happier you can live mentally. Regular cardio exercise, like walking and riding your bike, not only helps keep your body active and strong, but it can also be great for releasing stress and promoting a more positive attitude. Regular strength and flexibility training is also great for helping keep your posture in line and your mobility flexible, both of which are important factors to aging gracefully.

Keep a Positive State of Mind

Your mind can be one of the weakest muscles in your body if you leave it to wander into negative feelings of self-doubt, self-defeat and low self-esteem. You can only experience true piece of mind when you learn to let go of the negative thoughts and influences in your life. To keep your mind free of negativity and full of youthfulness, take notice and appreciate all of the little things in life. And, remember that age is only a number. You’re only as old as you think you are, so throwback your attitude to your earlier years when you found pleasure in the simpler things in life.

Take Time Out for Yourself

Whether you have children or not, adults are notorious for putting the needs of others before themselves in both personal and professional situations.  It is only a matter of time before you’ll experience total burnout if you don’t take time to focus on your own health and well-being. To be the best version of yourself for you, your family and your career, it’s important to designate regular time in your life that’s dedicated to refueling and reinvigorating your mind, body and soul. Monthly massage sessions are great times to do this as massage helps relax and repair your mind and body so you’re prepared to continue running strong in all aspects of your life today and as you age. Call Jodi at Inner Focus Massage and begin a program of goodness for yourself: 701-238-8257.

For many people, the highlight of their year is the summer vacation. Spending much needed time with loved ones and visiting places that get crossed off bucket lists. Whether you’re sitting on a beach, on an adventure or unplugged in some far-off place — it should be the most relaxing, stress-free time of the year.

Unfortunately, there can be a ton of stress involved with vacations. There’s the planning, the packing, making sure the world does not end at work while you are gone — there’s a lot that goes into taking a vacation. While you are on vacation, there can be the stress as well. You must make sure you do everything, and try endlessly to please everyone in your party. If you have kids, keeping track of their whereabouts is a chore that a vacation should never have. When you think about it, a stress-free vacation doesn’t seem very realistic at all. In fact, the phrase “I need a vacation from my vacation” is often a reality. If this is the case for you, take these few steps to help you enjoy your vacation.

Take a Minute and Breathe 
The key is to slow down. You’re on vacation, just slow down and take a breath. You’ve waited months for this moment. Be in the now, take in the scenery around you and just relax. Anytime you feel yourself itching to reach for the to-do list, check yourself and take a big deep breath.

Plan to Do Nothing
Rather than think about the “should dos” and “must dos” think about doing nothing. You are on vacation after all don’t get stressed. Doing nothing is what you wish you were doing at home, so make it a reality and an important aspect to your vacation.

Do what You Love to Do 
It is your vacation. You should take some time to do what you want to do. Doing nothing is necessary, but eventually you may get the itch to get out and get after it. When that itch shows up, scratch if off with an activity you love to do or a place you have always wanted to see. Think about what refreshes you, what do you like to do. Each person on your vacation should be doing something that they love. This satisfaction will help relieve stress.

Get a Massage 
Massage is a great relaxer. Whether you get one before you go to reward yourself for planning and preparing, or you get one once you arrive at your vacation spot. Nothing completely relaxes your mind and body like a massage.

A relaxing massage from Jodi at Inner Focus Massage will help relieve any stress in your mind and your body. Call Jodi today for an appointment soon @701-238-8257.

As we move into summer, temperatures start soring and can make for some uncomfortable nights. Seriously, there’s nothing worse than not being able to sleep because you’re too hot. Lack of sleep is never a good thing for your physical or mental health. Yes, you could simply open the window, but we all know, sometimes the breeze just isn’t blowing. Use these tips to stay cool and sleep better.

Cotton is Cooler 
When it is hot, light-weight colored cotton sheets tend to be cooler than silk or polyester. They tend to be breathable and allow for a little ventilation if a breeze happens to blow through.

Freeze the Sheets 
Most people probably wouldn’t think of placing their sheets in the freezer; however this works. Fold your sheets and place them in a plastic bag a few minutes before bed. Right before you hop into bed, make your bed with your cold sheets. This will give you a quick cool down as you jump into bed.

Hydrate 
If you are tossing and turning at night, you could be a bit dehydrated. Try drinking a glass of cold water before bed. Be careful not to drink too much or you might have to wake up for a bathroom call.

Shower Before Bed 
Usually, you would not think of a cold shower as a way to relax and fall asleep. However, when temperatures reach scorching and unbearable, a cold shower will bring down your core body temperature and rinse off any sweat. You’ll be more comfortable throughout the night.

Camp at Home 
A fun family activity is to pitch a tent in the backyard. It’s a great way to have a little family adventure and keep cool.

Move The Cooking Outside 
When it’s hot, the last thing you want to do is heat your house with a warm oven. Try cooking meals outside on the grill. This will help keep your home cooler in the evenings.

Use Natural Light 
Reducing the use of lights will help your utility bill and help cool down your house. It is best to let natural light in and use as little electricity as possible.

Another way to make sure you are getting a long comfortable night’s sleep is to get regular massage therapy. Calling Jodi at Inner Focus Massage to make an appointment should be on your “to do” list. Call 701-238-8257.

At last. Summer is here, and your days are filled with nothing but hammocks in the warm breeze, tall glasses of iced tea sipped in the afternoon shade, and a towering stack of novels to be devoured, one by one. Right?? Ummmm, no. The truth is that summer can be hard work. If you’ve got kids, while your days are fun, they’re not quite of the relaxing variety. You spend a lot of time slathering sunscreen on squirmy and unwilling limbs, driving to summer camps and sports, carrying coolers packed with snacks for, what seems like, miles, playing at the park, and giving piggy-back rides. There are plenty of sweaty days at the ball field or on hikes where, after 25 minutes, you end up carrying, pack-mule style, 3 hats, 4 water bottles, an insisted-upon superhero toy and his accompanying vehicle, some granola bars, and a helium balloon.

Kids or no kids, your evenings, and weekends are likely comprised of plenty of weeding, mowing, and group sports. Add a few hiking or camping trips, with the required hauling and carrying, loading and unloading of needed items. Indeed, these are fun, exciting activities that many wait all year for, but it’s no wonder that summer can leave you feeling a little tired and sore.

In order to keep summer in its proper place of a much-loved and much-anticipated season, it’s important that you keep your body and mind in the best possible condition.  In order to do that, regular summer massage appointments will be exactly what’s needed.

Here are just three benefits of regular therapeutic massage:

• Cell Recovery
  As you toil, play, and carry, your muscles get strained and develop tiny tears. As your body works to repair these tears, what you feel is sore, aching muscles. Sure, ice can help with the pain and inflammation, but a massage is key to promoting more effective cell recovery and can lessen inflammation more permanently.
• Self-Care
  After the playground visits with the kids, your neighbor’s BBQ, your sister’s yard makeover project that has somehow become your project, and all of the other endless things you do for others, it’s time to take care of yourself. YOU sometimes become the lowest thing on your priority list, because it seems that the only one impacted is you. However, as you make the time for regular massages, you’ll find that you will be a much better (and happier!) employee, parent, friend, and family member. Self-care is critical for people who care for everyone else.
• Quiet Time
  Wouldn’t you love an hour of uninterrupted quiet? When you’re on the massage table, there are no lawn mowers, no kids splashing water on your sandwich, no laundry piles in front of you, and no computer. There’s just the sound, perhaps, of soothing music, and the knowledge that you are exactly where you need to be, doing exactly what you need to do.

Summer is wonderful, without a doubt.  Make yours (and your loved one’s) even better by taking care of your muscles, your mind, and your well-being.  Call Jodi at Inner Focus Massage today for some YOU-TIME. 701-238-8257.