Outdoor Adventures – Fun and Healthy

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Outdoor Adventures – Fun and Healthy

In the dark, cold winter, it’s easy to stay cooped up and fall out of our exercise routines. However, the longer days and budding trees are sure signs that spring has arrived.

And, as the world starts to crawl out and bloom, take the opportunity to get some fresh air and explore your area. This doesn’t mean you have to start training for a marathon or become a mountaineer — just make a few small changes to your routine to get some extra exercise and spend some more time outdoors.

Here are some ideas to help you get started:

  • Go on a hike: From a three-day backpacking adventure to a casual stroll, work different muscles by going on a hike. It doesn’t even have to be on a mountain –just find a trail nearby and take a friend for a few hours. Make sure to bring water bottle or two, as well as snacks and a First Aid kit. In addition to a good workout, a hike is a great opportunity for self-reflection and to have some alone time.
  • Ride your bike: When it’s too nice to drive your car and too far to walk, hop on your bike for a powerful workout and an eco-friendly mode of transportation. Enjoy the fresh spring air and tone your legs and rear-end in the process. If you’re a beginner cyclist, get a proper bike fit and avoid riding with headphones. And, most importantly, don’t forget your helmet!
  • Garden: Working in the yard is an easy way to burn calories and tone your muscles (think of all the squatting, lifting, walking, and digging!). If you don’t have a plot available in your backyard, or aren’t up for a big project, you can get a small planter box or flower bed to start. If you’re feeling more ambitious, get involved with a community garden, which is a great way to connect with people in your neighborhood and get fresh produce.
  • Meditate outdoors: If you don’t feel like working out, move your other hobbies outside, like meditation. The calming sounds of nature can help clear your mind and truly relax. It’s also a great opportunity for you to catch some extra rays and get out of your house, even if it is just on your deck.

Even if you don’t think you have the time to be regularly active this spring, try to move outside as much as possible. If you do regularly exercise, get out of the sweaty, crowded gym and take it outside! Just spending an extra hour each day outdoors will clear your mind and boost your overall wellness.

 

Photo credit: blisstree.com

How Mess Affects Stress: Why Spring Cleaning Matters

Spring cleaning, stress relief article by Dreamclinic Massage, Redmond, Bellevue, Seattle

How Mess Affects Stress: Why Spring Cleaning Matters

This year, more than 72% of American households will participate in spring cleaning, according to the American Cleaning Institute. And while everyone can appreciate a clean, organized house, these people may be on to something else.

Studies show that this springtime cleanse can improve mood, decrease stress, and heighten creativity. Why? A cluttered home makes us feel anxious and overwhelmed. Plain and simple, mess causes stress. And when we partake in spring cleaning, we’re finding some order in the chaos and significantly improving our overall wellbeing.

Here are three ways spring cleaning can boost your wellness:

  • Reduces anxiety and stress: For women, the stress hormone cortisol is directly related to clutter, and studies have found that women with a higher density of household objects have much higher cortisol levels than women with less objects in their homes. By purging and organizing, you can actually set off a chemical response in your brain that reduces anxiety.
  • Frees up your time: We spend so much time looking for lost car keys, phones, papers, and wallets — and that time adds up. According to the US News and World Report, average Americans spend one year of their lives looking for misplaced items. By staying organized, you can spend more time with your family and friends — time that would otherwise be spent rummaging for your keys.
  • Improves your health: Clutter collets dirt, dust, and germs, which can put you and your family at perpetual risk of illness. By organizing and keeping your home clean, you will lower your chances of sickness and decrease the severity of allergies, particularly to dust and pet hair.

And, because we understand the value of a healthy home and how it can improve wellbeing, we’re excited to announce a new partnership with Zerorez, a leading eco-friendly carpet cleaning company.

logo We chose to partner with Zerorez because we both share a core philosophy of helping people live a healthy lifestyle and we’re both extremely focused on the customer experience. Zerorez, another local company, offers the most environmentally-friendly, chemical-free clean that no other carpet cleaning company in the Puget Sound can match. With their patented “Empowered Water” technology, Zerorez cleans what others have left behind, in a safe, effective way.

Together, Dreamclinic and Zerorez are offering a Spring Cleaning Special. When you clean your home with Zerorez, you’ll receive a 30-minute massage from Dreamclinic. Book a Zerorez cleaning today, for $46 per room plus hundreds of tiles cleaned for free.

Please visit www.zerorezpugetsound.com for more information on how Zerorez can help clean your carpet, tile/grout, upholstery, granite and other hard surfaces.  Or give Zerorez a call at 425-453-9376.

 

Photo credit: hercampus.com

 

What Dreamclinic Clients Love About Vibroacoustics

For some people, de-stressing is as simple as going on a jog or watching their favorite show after a long day. But for most of us, it can be much more difficult to get rid of all the stress we carry on a daily basis. Even if we do find something that calms us down, it can be a whole other struggle to find the time to actually do it. The good news is that we know how fast-paced life can be, and that’s why we’re proud to offer vibroacoustic therapy. It may sound like a mouthful, but this revolutionary technique is incredibly simple and effective, and takes no more than an hour. 

So, what is it exactly? Plain and simply, vibroacoustics is the process of passing soothing sound vibrations through your body. These vibrations are picked up by all of our organs, harmonizing our cells and bringing our body back into sync. Because of its unique combination of sound and vibration, vibroacoustics provides a relaxing experience completely different than any other stress therapy. 

Our satisfied customers have described it as “Relaxing, reflective, and an interesting way to access binaural sound for healing.” 

Vibroacoustics provides the relief that many people simply can’t otherwise get in their busy lives. One woman commented, “As a person who has a lot of trouble sleeping, one Tranquility Session has been extremely effective in rejuvenating me to feel more rested and energetic for the rest of my day.” This is one of the best parts about vibroacoustics — because it targets your body with sound and vibration, it penetrates deep into your muscles, tissues, and bones, rejuvenating you to your core. 

It seems pretty obvious, but stress therapies shouldn’t stress you out. Even still, some techniques involve long, arduous processes and cost large amounts of money. Luckily, vibroacoustics doesn’t involve any of those things. 

People love it because it is simple and scientifically sound. Gretchen, a cellist and Dreamclinic client, said, “I was really impressed and moved by the use of sound. To sit in that specially designed chair, with the surrounding speakers, feeling the music, and hearing about the science and research behind that healing, was an amazing experience.” 

Now it’s your turn. Experience firsthand how vibroacoustics can reduce stress, improve sleep, and re-energize you, in as little as 20 minutes. 

Book a tranquility session. 

Now 50% off when you schedule in combination with massage or acupuncture.

 

Partnership with ErgoFit Offers New Way to Improve Employee Well-Being

51ba7a5ddbd0cb034600054b._w.540_s.fit_Employees who de-stress together, work better together.

We know this for a fact — the combined symptoms of stress cost business $200 billion a year due to decreased productivity and increased health and medical expenses. On the other hand, when employees are healthy and stress-free, they’re more productive, feel happier, and have more energy.

So, how do you decrease workplace stress? It can be as easy as a 15-minute massage.

At Dreamclinic, we understand the importance of a healthy team in any organization, from a small, local business to a Fortune 500. That’s why we offer a range of Dreamlinic Workplace Massage services to enhance company wellness, including onsite chair massage or clothed table massage, on a recurring basis or for one-time events.

And now, we’re offering one more easy way to stay healthy at work, thanks to a new partnership with ErgoFit.

ErgoFit provides expert ergonomic consultations and assessments in offices, laboratories, and industrial workplaces. Services range from workstation evaluations to providing employee education about office well-being to design consultations during construction projects. ErgoFit has worked with companies like Facebook, Safeway, Woodland Park Zoo, and other clients around the world.

This new partnership is an added benefit of our workplace massage services and gives our customers yet another way to de-stress at work. Just like massage, the correct ergonomic setup at the workplace can increase productivity, help employees feel better, and save companies money.

The ErgoFit team is committed to advancing workplace productivity so clients can have healthy and vibrant businesses. Founded by Deborah Read, an occupational therapist with over 25 years of fitness training experience, ErgoFit’s services provide immediate relief and help prevent long-term injuries.

“A true professional, Deborah is passionate about safety in the workplace. Her assessment and product recommendations were timely and cost-effective, her manner upbeat and positive. Deborah’s occupational therapy perspective ensures business owners focus on the proactive goal of injury prevention, ” said ErgoFit client, Kathryn Barrett, president at Aging Matters LLC.

We’re very excited about this new partnership — our workplace massage services combined with the expertise of ergonomic consultants at ErgoFit makes Dreamclinic the go-to place for total wellness. Massage is already a great way to reduce stress and anxiety in the workplace, while also treating aches and pains that are associated with repetitive work. And now, being able to refer clients to an ergonomics consultant offers even more solutions to alleviate common workplace injuries.

To learn more about what Dreamclinic Workplace Massage and ErgoFit have to offer, contact us.

How to Create a Stress-Free Workspace

548a04dbb0ae2_-_rby-desk-03-makeover-after-s2“Stress-free” is usually not the first thing that pops into our mind when we think about our workplace. Long meetings, hard deadlines, and dozens of distractions make work feel like, well, work.

As a result, we become more stressed. And as our stress levels increase, our productivity falls lower and lower, which only stresses us out even more! This vicious cycle can seem unavoidable, but in actuality, a few small changes to your workplace can make a profound difference on your attitude and stress levels while in the office.

Here are some 5 easy, DIY tips to create a stress-free workspace:

  • Personalize your space. Decorate your desk, with favorite pictures or mementos. This way, you’ll feel less like you’re at the office and more like you’re at home (or at least, in a space that feels like yours).
  • Organize. A messy desk is the number one cause of workplace stress. Start by keeping small garbage and recycling cans underneath your desk, so that it’s easy to get rid of trash and unwanted papers on a regular basis. Figure out which items you use most often, and sort them so that they are easily accessible. Make sure that you minimize the amount of papers out on your desk, because visual clutter can cause clutter in your brain, making it harder to focus.
  • Take five. It’s important to give your brain mental breaks, especially when working on something stressful and complicated. Short breaks between 1-5 minutes are incredibly helpful for reducing stress, and the aches and pains you may feel from long hours at a desk. Studies have shown that taking just one break, for less than five minutes, improves mental sharpness by an average of 13%, and that regular breaks of two minutes increase productivity by 11.15%.
  • Become one with nature. Add some plants to your office space, like a succulent or a houseplant. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, working in an environment with plants has been proven to lower stress, and decrease noise, room temperature, and humidity, ultimately creating a calming and cool space.
  • Make sure to stretch. It’s important to get regular exercise outside of work, but during the workday, you should also do small exercises to reduce your fatigue and stiffness. Oftentimes, we subconsciously tense our bodies when we’re stressed, so working out our knots is an important part of staying healthy. Try standing and stretching your arms over your head, resting your eyes on something calming, stretching your fingers, and slowly rotating or massaging your temples, neck, and forearms.

It’s no surprise that most people think of the workplace as a stressful environment. Our bodies are not made to be stationary for long periods of time, and stacks of clutter only add to our stress levels. In order to keep a positive mindset, it is incredibly important to listen to your body. Make your office space clean and let it reflect your personality, and you’ll be on track to a healthy and stress-free workday.

Photo credit: redbookmag.com

Meditation – The Challenges Can Be Overcome

seattle meditation class

For those of us who are constantly in motion and juggling work, family, and a social life, the idea of sitting still can seem ridiculous. Many people try meditation and find themselves feeling like they’re wasting time, or like they can’t stop thinking about all of their responsibilities. Others think they’re doing it wrong because they don’t feel peaceful or enlightened, even after several attempts.

If you feel like you just don’t “get” meditation or can’t understand the value of sitting silently for an hour, don’t worry. These doubts make sense, and are actually quite common. Although it’s true that meditation comes easier to some, anyone can become a mediation master.

If you feel like meditation is a daunting task, check out some of our expert tips to better understand this ancient practice:

  • Don’t try to imitate Buddha. It’s important to remember that your meditation is solely to help you de-stress and focus on yourself, so make sure that your style of meditation works for you and your lifestyle.
  • Good posture is key. Listen to your body, and if it’s uncomfortable, don’t hurt yourself trying to fold your legs into the traditional meditation position. Sit with a straight back, crossing your legs or sitting in a chair. If this is uncomfortable, you can try lying down.
  • Bring it back to your breathing. Breathe normally and regularly, simply focusing on the rhythm of your breath rather than trying to control it. You can experiment with deep breathing as well, but many people are able to relax with normal breaths.
  • Find a focus point. Closed-eye meditation can be disorienting for beginners, so if you’re having trouble, try lighting a candle or picking one stationary point to focus on.
  • Make it short and sweet. Start by meditating for shorter periods of time, generally five to ten minutes. Increase the duration as you get more comfortable with the concept, adding five minutes every week.

The key is to take meditation in small steps and work your way up to a 45-minute session. But, remember, even if you’re experienced, meditation can still be difficult. Sometimes, you may feel relaxed and enlightened, while other times, it may take extra focus and attention to empty your mind. Make meditation a priority, and you’ll soon notice your practice and diligence paying off.

Photo credit: meditatebeherenow.com