 Traveling to Dallas for Ashiatsu or Fijian Barefoot Class? Read here...Training Location 1721 W Plano Parkway #217 Plano, Texas 75075 map this address before you come in and get a lay of the land. My Studio is in Plano, Texas which is a suburb of Dallas. I have a lot of students coming in from everywhere to take ashiatsu classes so i use "Dallas" as a regional city because more people know where its located over "Plano, Texas," Classes are intense and long days for your teacher so I kindly ask that you don't arrive any earlier than 8:45 AM the mornings of the training, buuuuttt don't be late! The class starts on time at 9:00 AM each morning and ends at 6:00 PM. We have so much to cover during our time together, so don't be late Accommodations: Choose hotels off PGB tollway (190) and Cental Expressway (75) for best experience. Many students love the Drury Inn Plaza Richardson, The nearby Holiday Inn, or finding a great deal on Airbnb - Just search the Zipcode for 75075. Things to do: Dallas area has several Korean style saunas, the King Spa and the Spa Castle ( with a hotel onsite.) Please note: These are not close to the studio and also not high-end day spas but traditional style bathhouses. If you love trying something new, these are great to experience. The Russain Banya and The Hamam in Frisco are all really different places to soothe your body and mind after a long day in class. Coffee + Eats Enjoy Dallas's own Eiland Coffee house. Their Canyon Creek Shop is close. I also stop at Pax and Beneficia and Rifle Coffee or trusty Starbucks. there's no shortage of great coffee near the training site. Texas BBQ: Head over to Lockharts in Downtown Plano or Ten50 BBQ for the best selection. TexMex: Don't miss Urban Rio, and Chuy's for Mexican food. We have a Jason's deli just down the street and a Whole Foods nearby! See the sights Any Dallas fans? Check out South Fork Ranch. It's about East of us in Parker, Texas. Take the nearby DART rail to Downtown Dallas, Klyde Warren Park, Uptown, Lower Greenville and Deep Ellum for city nightlife. Directions to the studio.If you're flying, I suggest flying in to Love Field airport. From Love Field, take the Dallas North Tollway (North) to George Bush Turnpike East, Exit Custer Rd. Turn Right on to Plano Parkway and I'm a few blocks up on the left in a office building, Suite 217. More Questions? Look over our foot notes first! (https://barefootmassagecenter.com/footnotes/ ) if your questions are still unanswered, send me an email at hillary@barefootmassagecenter.com See you soon!   Herbal Healing Salves with CBD isolate pack a major punch against inflammation.By Hillary Arrieta Dreaming up a superior herbal product that could help my clients with some of their most common complaints, and also delighted their senses was my goal! As a massage therapist, aromatherapist, and herbalist, I've been dreaming about creating a product for many years that could help my clients with their muscle, joint, and nerve pain. During my herbal training, I discovered fantastic infused oils and botanicals that inspired me to create these three formulas, which help address many of the common issues for which my clients are seeking help. While Hemp CBD is an exciting ingredient to share, I'm most excited about the way these ingredients work together in harmony from the botanical infusions, to the pure essential oils, to the healing carrier oils and the CBD isolate. These one ounce salves are small but mighty! Herbal Healing Salves with Hemp CBD isolate pack a major punch against inflammation. Each formula is handcrafted in small batches. Cooling + Circulating I love this combination of herbal botanicals. Arnica Montana, St. John's Wort, and Calendula flowers have been used traditionally for helping with both acute and chronic pain. The essential oils work in synergy to help cool and soothe. Warming + Circulating This balm acts similarly but opposite to the cooling salve. Arnica Montana, St. John's wort, and Calendula flowers are praised in the herbal world for helping with both acute and chronic pain. The essential oils work in synergy to help warm and move circulation and stagnation. Arnica Healing Salve { Lavender + Peppermint} Arnica Montana is a great anti-inflammatory flowering herb, and works well combined with Hemp CBD isolate and pure essential oils of Lavender and Peppermint. I see this as a great overall wellness balm. What is CBD? CBD stands for cannabidiol, a naturally occurring compound found in the cannabis plant. CBD has been valued for being non-psychoactive with promising medicinal effects. From a 2013 review in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, CBD has a wide range of medical benefits. The ones that inspired me to create herbal balms containing this compound are:
What is the difference between marijuana and hemp products? There are many difference between hemp and marijuana products, but the greatest difference is their breeding, based upon how the cultivators plan to use it. My healing salves contain an isolated CBD compound derived from Hemp, which contain zero percent of THC (the psychoactive compound in marijuana that causes the “high” feeling.) Hemp and marijuana are closely related, but, marijuana is for medicinal and recreational use, while hemp is grown and farmed for a much broader use. In fact, hemp has many practical uses, such as cooking oils, nutritional supplements, paper, concrete (called hempcrete), and several variations of fiber materials. Can I use your healing salve without a prescription? Yes, my salves are not considered a medical product so there’s no need for a prescription. They are handmade with botanicals, Hemp CBD isolate, pure essential oils, and carrier oils to support your health and well-being. Hemp is very different from marijuana. The Healing Salves
I love hearing about how people are enjoying their salves!
 Cupping therapy is coming to Gaia Bodywork this fall. I’ve been working with this new technique and I am loving the results and feedback I'm getting from clients. They're saying great stuff! One of the best comments that a client shared was that he felt like the relief from muscular tension and other positive effects of the massage were lasting longer. So far I've only been using my silicon styled cups on long-time clients. I'm excited to get all of my cups going soon! I'll be offering full cupping sessions as well as cupping in specific areas during regular massage sessions. I'm also working on a new signature wellness package that combines barefoot bar therapy and cupping so I can smoosh and compress everything with Ashiatsu and then lift the tissues up with cupping. I'm absolutely loving the opportunity to play with these two opposite techniques. Cupping is one of the oldest, and most widely used wellness treatments in human history. You can find evidence of cupping therapy in some variation in most cultures around the world. Ancient cultures would use anything from bamboo cups to animal horns to gourds in order to create therapeutic suction. It wasn't until the late 1800s when the westernized medical community considered cupping to be "folk medicine" and beneath the new medical paradigm. How does cupping therapy work? Cupping works by creating negative pressure (suction) above the surface of the tissues, the decrease in atmospheric pressure allows the tissues below to be lifted upwards, increasing the space for the underlying structures to move into better alignment. Myofascial release techniques and manual lymphatic drainage is easy to accomplish with cupping therapy. The suction in cupping rapidly releases tight and rigid soft tissue by pulling it up and away from underlying structures and loosening areas of restriction or adhesions. Are the cupping marks left after a session harmful? Marks left on the body after cupping session are not harmful. The Western term for cupping discoloration is petechia. While they may look like bruises, they're areas under the suction cup where minor, superficial capillaries have broken, bringing fresh blood to the local area. They don't hurt and they have a different healing process then a bruise from an injury. Many times the cupping marks will go away immediately but they can last up to two weeks. There are a few reasons why you might “mark up”’during a cupping session. Some reasons could be the presence of scar tissue from a past injury in the local suctioned area, tissue adhesions, and stagnant blood or body fluids. As you continue to get treatments, it's common to stop experiencing discoloration all together. List of therapeutic benefits of cupping.
Cupping therapy is very beneficial for many conditions such as poor circulation, swelling/edema, sports injuries, high blood pressure, sciatica, anxiety, nervous tension, chronic headaches, fibromyalgia and many more! Truly, the list goes on and on. Who should avoid cupping therapy? Cupping is contraindicated in cases of severe diseases like cardiac failure, renal failure, and severe edema. This is also true for diseases such as hemophilia and leukemia, and clients with dermatitis or allergic dermatitis. Cupping should not be applied on the area where hernia exists or has occurred in the past. For pregnant women, some areas of the body are contraindicated. Also, women should not start cupping therapy treatments during their first trimester but are fine to continue treatments in their first trimester if they've had cupping sessions regularly before getting pregnant. Some clients have asked if they can cupp themselves at home ao it's good to mention here that while there are great benefits to cupping therapy, there are some adverse effects as well which is why cupping is not a good DIY option. Cupping should be done by someone who has had some formal training or experience. Jerome Matthews, a certified cupping educator at International cupping therapy associations mentions this on facebook. “People need to know that there are several areas on the body that if cupped, can cause serious harm. Possibilities include interfering with blood flow, damaging nerves, tearing lymphatic webbing, tearing moles or skin tags, making various skin conditions worse (the list goes on). Also, if used with inappropriate pressure and/or left on the body for an inappropriate amount of time, severe blistering is possible. There are also many other health conditions that could be negatively impacted by cupping, which you as a trained professional are aware of. People really need to see a qualified practitioner to avoid the possibility of injuring themselves!”  Have you tried cupping? Share your experiences in the comments section of this blog and let us know your thoughts! AuthorHi! I’m Hillary Arrieta and I help people improve their lives by offering holistic solutions to ease stress, eliminate pain, and inspire self care practices. I own Gaia Bodywork in Richardson, TX.  Have you been considering Reiki training but don't know where to start or what to expect? Maybe you've taken Reiki in the past but it's been a long time and you need to refresh your memory and skills. Also, you might be looking for more guidance and support after your classes. Great news! You've come to the right place. I've got plenty of options for Reiki practitioners at all stages of training. In order to get off to the right start, I require a pre-class preparation appointment. This is a MUST whether you're taking private training or a group workshop. During this 90-minute appointment, you will have one on one question/answer time and will receive a full Reiki session with a special healing attunement and a Reiki blessing (Reiju.) You will get preparation details and a full understanding of the Reiki attunement process. By the end of the session, You will be fully prepared to sign up for a workshop. Pre-class Preparation Appointment. *Required* Email to set up pre-class appointment | Purchase pre-class appointment Reiki Level One class is the beginners course. Level one will teach you the very basics of using reiki therapy for yourself, your family and friends, your favorite animals, and professional clients. Hand placements with focused intentions effectively help you care for those who trust you with their well-being. Relaxing, non-intrusive touch can now be offered as a tool to self soothe or help others towards their health and wellness goals. Email for the latest Reiki One Class Schedule or Set Up Private Instruction. The Reiki Level Two workshop is the intermediate course and dives deeper into the Metaphysical side of the Usui reiki system. Here we learn the three Reiki symbols, which helps us focus while working with clients specific intentions. We learn other methods of using reiki and some treatment protocols for specific intentions. This class also includes hands-on time to hone your skills. Email for the latest Reiki Two Class Schedule or set up private instruction. The Reiki Master workshop is an option once students have completed level one and two and have finished all of the required reading, practice sessions, and have attended required reiki share and fellowship events. Students become the teachers and learn the master symbols, how to teach the curriculum, how to do master healing attunements, and how to attune others to Reiki energy. Email for the latest Reiki Master Workshop Schedule or set up private instruction. Before you take the leap into reiki training, you might be wondering how you are supported and empowered as a student after you've taken your trainings which is a common question for those who really want to make reiki a priority or part of a successful career in holistic wellness and natural health. Additionally, as your Reiki Master, I offer one-on-one trainings for practitioners to get detailed feedback, as well as monthly Reiki meet-ups (which we call shares.) #DallasReikiCollective Your Reiki Master || Hillary ArrietaHi! I’m Hillary Arrieta and I help people improve their lives by offering holistic solutions to ease stress, eliminate pain, and inspire self care practices. I own Gaia Bodywork in Richardson, TX.  By Hillary Arrieta, LMT, MTI, and Certified Aromatherapist. It's summer, and I love walking and hiking in nature on warm, dry days. If it were up to me, I'd probably spend most of my time outdoors. However, mosquitoes are a problem everywhere you go. Sometimes these Texas summers require early morning or evening hikes, which can be an issue because those are the times of the day when they are the most active. A few years back, I was at an outdoor meditation retreat where I forgot about these pesky and unrelenting creatures. I came away with welts that were so itchy and miserable that I decided to blend something that could take the sting out and give me some relief. This aromatherapy recipe worked like a charm! I always make sure to have some of it handy for the summertime. For this recipe, you will need to gather essential oils of: Four drops Spike Lavender (Lavandula latifolia) Four drops Blue Tansy (Tanacetum annuum) Two drops of Tulsi (holy basil) (Ocimum sanctum ct eugenol) Three drops of Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) One ounce PET plastic flip-top bottle. One ounce of any of the following: Organic, unscented lotion, aloe vera juice (an excellent, cooling option), or your choice of natural, cold-pressed seed or vegetable oil. Fill the bottle almost to the top with your carrier product. Drop by drop, add your essential oils. Shake to mix and apply to the itchy bites as needed. Avoid the area if the skin is broken and bleeding. Pro tip: Add your blend to a glass roller bottle for on-the-go convenience. I find glass roller-ball bottles at Natural grocers for a very reasonable price. If you don't have any of this stuff and aren't interested in blending oils, try an old folk remedy of using a banana peel! Just peel the banana and place the inside part of the skin on the bites. That should ease the itch. If you tried this recipe, Leave your results in the comments section! I'd love to hear how it worked for you. AuthorHi! I’m Hillary Arrieta and I help people improve their lives by offering holistic solutions to ease stress, eliminate pain, and inspire self care practices. I own The Heeling Hut in Plano, Texas and specialize in unique and effective massage and meditation techniques such as Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage and iRest® Yoga Nidra. At The Heeling Hut, You'll find the Best Massage and Ashiatsu in the Dallas area for pain and stress management.  This summer has been a hot one. Yes, it’s Texas but the humidity and heat takes it's toll on me every year. It's nice to have refreshing beverages and a cool place to retreat to in the height of the afternoon. It's a perfect time for Hibiscus berry sun tea. I learned about this delicious treat during an aromatic beauty care class at The Barefoot Dragonfly in Austin. The Barefoot Dragonfly is owned by Amy Kreydin, one of my favorite aromatherapists. Amy Is an ARCB Board Certified Reflexologist and CCAP Clinical Aromatherapist, who specializes in working with pediatrics, women’s health, autoimmune conditions, and chronic health issues. We had a wonderful afternoon learning and sipping on this really delicious tea. I’m so thankful that she shared her recipe with me so that I could enjoy it all season. Let's learn more about these herbs first before diving into the recipe. We're using Hibiscus flowers, Hawthorn berries, Elderberries, and some raw honey. Adding the frozen berry mix adds to the refreshing qualities of this tea and makes it takes really great!
*loose herbs can be found at natural grocers or ordered online from Herbiary or mountain rose herbs.* You will need: •1 part dried hibiscus flowers, •1 part hawthorn berry, •1 part elderberry, • Filtered water, •1 cup frozen berries, • Raw honey to taste, • Glass pitcher, •Cloth tea bag or cheesecloth. Directions: Place the dried hibiscus, elderberry, and hawthorn berries in the tea bag or cheesecloth and float them in a pitcher of filtered water. Set the pitcher out in the sun or a sunny window to brew for an hour or two. Bring the pitcher in and remove the tea bag/cheese cloth. Pour the frozen berries into the pitcher and place in the fridge to chill. Drink over ice and add raw honey to taste. Miss Luna guarding my brew!  Did you try the recipe? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
 Guest Blog Post By
Michele Miller Cook of Body Ache Escape Massage Center in Pickerington, OH. As you all may have figured out, I am an avid reader. My latest read is Sleep Smarter: 21 Proven Tips to Sleep Your Way To a Better Body, Better Health and Bigger Success by Shawn Stevenson. I wanted to do a run down of the points here. It’s some really good stuff! 1. Know the Value of Sleep– It is proven that lack of sleep actually makes you dumber and slower. 2. Get more Sunlight during the day– best sunlight is between 6-8:30am. This helps produce melatonin, the sleep hormone. 3. Avoid any screens before bed– Don’t look at your cell phones or computers for 90 minutes before bed. If you must, download an app designed to block the blue light. One is f.lux. 4. Have a caffeine curfew– If you want to be asleep by 10pm, avoid caffeine after 2pm. 5. Be Cool– Ideal sleeping temperature is 60-68 degrees. 6. Get to Bed at the Right Time– Ideal bedtime is 10pm. 7. Rub the “anti-stress” Mineral into Your Skin Each Day- 80% of the population is deficient in magnesium. Get a magnesium spray and use it before bedtime. 8.Create a Sleep Sanctuary– Only sleep and sex in your bedroom! Get a air ionizer or humidifier. Get a plant…like a Snake Plant. 9. Get it Blacked Out- Get Blackout Curtains. Block all your electronic lights. It made a big difference in my room when I unplugged my alarm clock. 10. Train Hard– Workout in the morning. Morning exercisers had up to 75% more time in the reparative stage of sleep. 11. Get your “friends” out of your room– get your ipads, cell phones, tvs, laptops, etc. out of your bedroom. 12. Lose Weight & don’t find it again– Insulin is a huge factor in getting the right sleep. 13. Go easy on the bottle– when you drink you don’t go through the full cycles of sleep. This is part of why hangovers occur. So have an alcohol curfew and drink lots of water! 14. Play your position– There are pros and cons to every sleep position. Figure out which one is best for you. 15. Calm your inner chatter- Practice Meditation! 16. Use Smart Supplementation– Chamomile, Kava Kava, Valerian, 5Htp, Gaba and L-Tryptophan are all supplements to look into to aid in sleep quality. 17. Be Early to Rise– Humans are not nocturnal creatures. Rise early to set the right circadian rhythm. 18. Dress for the Occasion- Wear fewer and looser clothes to bed to help with temperature control. 19. Get Grounded– Get your feet on the earth as much as possible. Getting grounded helps prevent free radicals which causes inflammation. 20. Ritualize your night– A bedtime routine will help you fall asleep faster. Read, take a bath, journal or meditate. 
Reiki Students sharing their natural ability to soothe and nurture.
Over Memorial Day, I held my first Reiki level one class of 2017 in Richardson, Texas and it feels good. We had a great day learning about the reiki principals, the three reiki pillars, and how to give hands on treatments to ourselves and to friends, family, clients. We even talked shortly about reiki for our beloved pets. I feel privileged to know these six ladies and I'm so proud of how quickly they picked up the technique. I'm looking forward to seeing how their practice grows over time.
Level two is just a few weeks away! A few months ago, I decided that it was finally time to get back to teaching and holding workshops. I've been so in love with massage and bodywork for these past fourteen (!) years. It's so natural to teach and share our passions. And it's always a lot of fun. My next level one class will be in September. I'm taking a little break over the summer because my schedule has gotten so hectic but I think the fall is a perfect time to get back into it and I'll be offering a Master class in December! 2017 Reiki Schedule. Level Two: Prereq. Level One (any teacher) Monday, June 26 Sign up Level One: Monday, September 25 Sign up Level Two: Prereq. Level One ( any teacher) Monday, October 23 Sign up Master Class: Prereq. Level one and two ( any teacher) Monday, December 18 Sign up I have big plans to teach more than just Reiki. I'll be adding more classes here and there so If you'd like to keep up with my classes, I have a special email list that you can join. Sign up below and you'll be the first to find out about any new additions!
AuthorUpdate: Gaia Bodywork is now The Heeling Hut Barefoot Massage and Wellness.  By Hillary Arrieta Ayurveda is a system of ancient medicine that comes from India. In the West, Ayurvedic therapies have been integrated into many wellness practice and spas around the country. If you've been one of our clients, you know that these soothing and nurturing traditions are the perfect fit for us here at Gaia Bodywork. We love how they seamlessly allow us to offer the most relaxing and thoughtful treatments. We even offer a wellness package called Ayurvedic inspiration where we blend several treatments together into 2+ glorious hours of bliss. Of course, we also offer the shirodhara treatment or an herbal steam/dry brush a la carte, if that's more to your liking but Ayurveda is infused into every aspect of our wellness studio. Even our barefoot bar therapy comes from it's sister massage style, Chavutti Thermal, which is rooted in indian medicine. Your Dosha, or your body's unique blend of energy according to Ayurveda, tells us a lot about how to customize your appointments. Whether you like fast or slow movements, your preferred temperature of the treatment room, or what smells and oils would complement your energy. All this can be determined by what's called a Prakrit test. Ayurvedic face rejuvenation is a new treatment we'll be adding to our list of services soon. I cannot wait to start offering this face focused massage! This treatment balances your body's energy (dosha) by massaging facial marma points (vital energy points), and stimulating the scalp and and face to leave you feeling refreshed and invigorated. We also use aromatic oils during the session to calm and re-energize you and your face. As usual, I'll notify you as soon as it's added to our list of services. Are you on our email list? Sign up at www.gaiabodywork.com (surprise! You'll also receive $10 off your first session.) Here at Gaia bodywork, we're committed to offering the best so I'm still tweaking the details of the service. It's been exciting watching it come together. Do you know your Dosha? Quiz lovers should take this dosha type quiz to find out. It's fun! Post your dosha in the comments!  Image above found on Pinterest from Dr. Axe. Aromatherapy remedy for spring headaches. By Hillary Arrieta
I love this this time of year! The sun is shining, the birds are singing + the flowers are blooming. I'm a big flower person so I've spend most of this lovely weekend out in my garden weeding and feeding my roses. It's one of my regular self-care activities. I love how quiet + peaceful the outdoors can be. The sun on my skin feels so good after a long week in the dark at my wellness studio. The only thing that stops me from enjoying my time in the yard this time of year is the big oak tree behind my house. It's beautiful but it drops the biggest, yellowest pollen ever! Burning, itchy, watery eyes + usually a nice little headache comes next. It's THE WORST! After I've used my saline nose spray + tear drops for my eyes to get rid of all that gross, irritating pollen, I choose my favorite aromatherapy oils of lavender + peppermint. I also like to add few drops of lemon (I love the brightness of this yummy citrus oil.) I like to make an inhaler + carry it with me but you could use this blend in any vegetable oil carrier for massage. Inhaler recipe: 6 drops Lavender (angustifolia) 5 drops Peppermint 4 drops Lemon Massage oil recipe: 10 drops Lavender (angustifolia) 8 drops peppermint 2 drops lemon One ounce vegetable/seed oil (coconut, olive, sweet almond, or jojoba are nice.) Use as needed when headaches begin. Did you try our recipe? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! |
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Dallas Massage Blog is a written journal about Massage Therapy, Wellness, and Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage in the Dallas, Texas area. |
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