When we find ourselves in an overwhelming state of stress, our brains naturally drift towards the idea of getting a professional massage. We already know that getting a massage is a phenomenal feeling but your brain is probably picking up on something more than just the physical sensation itself. If you’ve ever gotten a professional massage in the past, your brain is probably recognizing this practice as a true source for reducing your stress levels.

In an article posted by Livestrong, we read that, “Massage can help relax tight and painful muscles, improve range of motion in the joints, enhance circulation and lower stress levels. This is important because stress is considered a risk factor for many chronic diseases, and stress can make any symptoms you have worse.”

When you start to stress out, your brain can sense it. A number of reactions will then be set off throughout the body, such as a raised heart rate, an increase in blood pressure, tightening of the muscles and decreased activity in other areas in order to conserve energy. If this feeling of stress lasts for an extended amount of time, it can mean negative consequences for the body, which is why finding ways to deal with the stress (such as massage therapy) is so important.

This article continues on to say, “Part of managing stress is taking time to shift the mind away from everyday worries and to allow the body and mind to relax. The time spent in a massage can be used to focus on relaxing the body.” So the next time that you are overwhelmed and stressed out and feel as though you can’t justify getting a professional massage, think about it more as feel-good medicine. Massage therapy is proven to have positive effects of elevating stress from your mind, muscles and overall life. As a licensed massage therapist, Awakening Wellness owner, Laura Jachim is ready to help you take the first step towards a healthier, stress-free lifestyle today.

At first glance, it would seem as though the Awakening Wellness business is about massages, yoga techniques and wellness coaching. Now while those three components are essential pieces to the puzzle, what we are truly about is the path towards a holistic lifestyle and ways to reduce your stress level. It has always been our philosophy that prevention is the absolute best medicine.
 
Too many people wait around for their stress level  to consume them; only taking the steps towards a happier, healthier (and less stress-filled) life when the situation has gone too far. We urge you to make the change today, rather than tomorrow, to better your own life.
 
As the first step, consider taking up one of the yoga classes Laura Offer's in Glenview at Be Optimal Wellness Center  or in Northbrook at The House of Ayurveda. You may also want to consider a package of one-on-one sessions and receive personalized instruction. Overall, yoga is a great way to release your body of unwanted stress and tension. Each session will increase your ability to be more aware, more accepting and most importantly, will bring you more peace of mind. 
 
The next step towards stress prevention would be our wellness coaching programs, which are designed to help you meet your health, wellness and life goals. We consider this process to be your journey home to your best Self as you commit to creating accountability for change to happen in your life. The greatest way to get away from all of the stress is to set yourself on a healthier, more balanced path. We can help you get there.
 
And then, who doesn’t enjoy a deeply relaxing and rejuvenating massage? A therapeutic massage from Awakening Wellness reduces stress by promoting deeper, easier breathing and relieving your body from unnecessary tension. All three of these components work together to aid in your journey towards stress reduction. Trust us when we say that you don’t want to wait for the stress to consume you.
 
Make the first step towards easing the stress away and give Laura of Awakening Wellness a call today. We guarantee you’ll be glad you did.

In today’s society, we see a lot of people taking up the art of yoga solely for the fact that it has become the “trendy” thing to do. Celebrities from the world over have advocated the practice and in an effort to emulate their idols, fans fun out to the local store, buy a mat and give it a try. To them, yoga is a hobby, but for those of us in the know, we understand its greater influence – especially when it comes to the art of Classical Hatha Yoga.

As defined by hatha-yoga.org, this particular practice is “an ancient Indian system for keeping the body in an optimal physical condition. Originally developed to liberate mind from the burden of the body in order to pursue spiritual ends, Hatha Yoga is especially well suited for people doing intellectual work.”

So while you may look at yoga as just another way to stay fit and active, you’ll notice that it differs in a couple of ways from your typical workout regimen:

1. Goals – Why do you spend time at the gym lifting weights and sprinting full force on the treadmill? It’s because our culture tells us that we need to develop strength and endurance; perfect our body’s shape so that we can increase our sexual attractiveness. With Hatha Yoga, you’re encouraged to do the opposite and completely liberate your mind from body consciousness.
2. Methods – In most other physically exerting activities, you’re participating in intense cardio – constantly moving. With yoga however, you’re performing asanas, static postures in an effort to develop overall flexibility, health of the joints and strength of the spine. The positions you find yourself in during a Hatha Yoga session may not be comfortable, but you work through the negative reactions you are feeling, in order to show yourself that you can get past it on a mental level.

 
Your physical body is simply a shell for the soul on its journey to perfection, and while yoga may help to make you stronger and more physically attractive, it is certainly not its purpose. Each of our yoga classes takes complete advantage of the Classic Hatha style. Join us for one of our classes and feel the difference for yourself