Today marks 29 years since I gave birth to THERAPEUTIC TOUCH and founded my business in Bay Head. WOW the world sure has changed in many ways since 1989! 
In taking time to pause and reflect, I came up with THE TOP 5 WAYS THE MASSAGE INDUSTRY HAS CHANGED IN 29 Years....

1. CALLING vs. CAREER 
Back in the day when Massage wasn't quite accepted and popular, it was a big deal to meet another body worker or massage therapist. There weren't many of us and we formed our own little tribe of passionate pioneers who had a calling to share the healing power of TOUCH. 

We traveled the country and around the world seeking out masters and gurus to teach us, obsessed with learning everything it takes to become a GREAT therapist. Back then, it was a calling that turned into a career and livelihood. Over time, we grew into becoming healers. 

More often today, people are entering the field seeing it as a career and sometimes just a job. When approaching the work as a technician, there is a lack of the qualities that come from a deeper calling to learn more and serve better. We can FEEL it...it's immensely different to be touched/massaged by someone just going through the motions-doing a routine and someone who truly has their heart and soul in it. 

2. Customized vs. Commercialization
It's wonderful that massage has gone mainstream and lots more people have discovered the healing powers of touch. It's downright amazing how Massage franchises have popped up everywhere in the last decade or so BUT at what cost...
It used to be that massage businesses were privately owned, solo individuals and boutique establishments with hands-on owners who knew and understood what it takes to create a truly healing experience. That's changing...

With the globalization of franchises, it's become big business and with that de-personalized. Sadly, it's losing some of its heartfelt touch and much of the essence of healing. Massaging people cannot be seen or approached as an assembly line process. It doesn't work that way. It's like comparing fast food and fine dining. 
I'll always treat my business as if we're a fine dining experience by paying attention to the very small details and offering a quality and personalized experience! 

3. 30/60/90 vs. 25/50/80 
It used to be that a one hour massage was 60 minutes. A 1/2 hour massage was 30 minutes and an hour and half was 90 minutes. It makes no sense to me that now more than ever with stress levels being off the charts higher to shorten the time on the table. One thing I will never stand for is lessening the time on the table for the sole business purpose of squeezing more treatments into a day to increase profits. I don't believe in therapists having to rush through a full body massage in 50 minutes with only 10 minutes between clients. Call me old-fashioned but I like a full hour on the table and don't want to feel rushed whether I'm on the giving or receiving end. Why can't we SLOW DOWN and not rush our massage time PLEASE! 

4. It's Harder to Find Good Massage Therapists 
There's lots more massage therapists out there today but it's not easy finding really great therapists. We've been lucky over the years and have an extraordinary team of caring and talented heart-centered therapists. It's not easy finding the "right" person who shines with positivity and fits in with our holistically minded culture. Lucky for us, many of our therapists have stayed on for up to 20 years and longer. 
Hard to believe with summer right around the corner and only a couple weeks before our busy season, I'm still looking for one more massage therapist. If anyone you know comes to mind, don't be afraid to send them my way. I promise they'll be in really good hands! 💜(wink wink) 

5. LUXURY vs. NECESSITY 
More and more people are recognizing the benefits of regular massage therapy. Even though massage has been used throughout the ages for health and healing, only recently has evidence based research help to open the doors taking Massage Therapy mainstream. It's finally time to dispense with any notion of massage as only a luxury, feel good splurge with no real health benefits. On the contrary, massage is true hands-on-healing. Scientific studies indicate that massage lowers blood pressure, boosts the immune system, lowers our cortisol/stress hormones and raises our levels of health boosting hormones: serotonin and dopamine. So yes, while massage feels like a luxury, it is also darned good medicine! 😊

Shout out to ALL the massage therapists and allied health professionals around the globe working hard to create TRUE HEALTH CARE and are committed to the EXPERIENCE vs. the PROFIT.

I'm grateful for all the teachers, mentors, healers and gurus that are helping to change the world. Thank you for answering the CALL. We sure have come a long way but we still have a long way to go! 
❤️💜💙💚💛

Heartfelt gratitude and thank you!

TOUCH is a powerful tool for healing. With intention, touch becomes a vehicle to create higher states of well being and a catalyst for personal growth and transformation. 

I founded Therapeutic Touch on these principles in June of 1989. With a pledge and commitment to share this extraordinary discovery with the world, the journey as a passionate holistic entrepreneur began. 

The path wasn't always clear but sometimes we just know when things are right. 

I knew it was time to get out of my head and into my heart. Help others. Make a difference. Live inspired. 

29 years later is a good time for contemplation...🎂

Birthdays and anniversaries are a wonderful time to reevaluate and celebrate. And we get a free pass to be sappy and sentimental too. 

How have I grown? What have I learned? 
Here are some of the important lessons and takeaways....(in no particular order) 

1. Have the courage to be real...Live authentically! 

2. There's a greater force at work in our lives. Pay attention....
Watch for the signs. Listen for the whispers. 

3. Doors will open. Doors will close. Allow life to unfold & Trust the Universe. 

4. Listen to your gut. Trust your intuition. It rarely leads you wrong. 

5. Be honest. ALWAYS speak the TRUTH. 

6. Don't quit! Never give up but know when to course correct. 

7. There will be trials and challenges. (Recessions and natural disasters) 
Hang on. Ride the waves. Don't jump out. STAY in the canoe and KEEP paddling. 

8. Let go of what you can't control. It drains way too much energy otherwise. 

9. Strength lies in BALANCE. At times, be GENTLE & other times, be STRONG. 

10. Know your purpose. Remember your mission. Lead with your values. 

11. It's the little things that matter. Take care of them and the big stuff falls into place. 

12. Presence and intention are paramount. 

13. The lightest TOUCH can HEAL. 

14. Pain and trauma (physical and emotional) are stored in the body. Create a safe space and letting go will happen. 

15. Laughter is healing. So are tears. 

16. Judge no one. Live open-minded and open-hearted. We don't always know what others are going through. 

17. Treat others how you wish to be treated. Be kind. Be cheerful. Be reverent. Every human being is sacred. 

18. Talk less. Listen more. Value confidentiality. 

19. Invest in learning. Share what you know to help others. 

20. When you are ready...the perfect teacher will appear. 

21. We can't give from an empty cup. First and foremost, TAKE GOOD CARE of YOURSELF! 

22. Stay hydrated. Often when we think we're hungry or tired, we're just thirsty. Drink plenty of water. 

23. NURTURE YOURSELF! Rest. Sleep. Move your body. Stretch. Nourish your senses. And above all else, wear comfortable shoes AND don't forget to BREATHE. 

24. Live a life of SERVICE. Ask, how can I HELP? Focus on GIVING, not getting! 

25. Don't panic- tests are for personal growth. 

26. It takes a great TEAM of heart-centered therapists and like-minded, caring individuals to create HEAVEN on EARTH! 🤗

27. Have courage and don't be afraid to DREAM BIG! 

28. What we appreciate, appreciates! Practice GRATITUDE...Everyday Be GRATEFUL 

29. LOVE Is the GLUE that holds us together! 
Love love love!! ❤️❤️❤️

By the way, did you know that it takes the planet Saturn 29.4 years to orbit the Sun once? Its hard to believe that Saturn has circled the sun only once while I've been busy living this fulfilling and adventurous life. 💫

I THANK my lucky stars, the DIVINE powers ruling this Universe and each and every person that I've met along this journey thus far. 

"Saturn doesn't ask you to give up your dreams, only to make them real" (thank you Steven Forest for this GREAT quote) 

Feeling grateful and lucky...blessed to be living my dream life. 

Thank you for your support and being part of the Therapeutic Touch Adventure! 
​

When it comes to happiness and our outlook on life, it is the WAY we are SEEING the world, and NOT THE WORLD that determines our viewpoint. Every day, it's an inside job. It's our perception that creates our reality.  I can't tell you how many times I remind myself of this truth... 

"It's our ATTITUDE that determines our ALTITUDE!"

It's so important that I'm sharing with you PAGE ONE of our Therapeutic Touch Staff Manual....

ATTITUDE by Charles Swindell  "The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one thing we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our ATTITUDES." 

We have lots of reminders pertaining to this message on our walls at Therapeutic Touch. Reminding all of us, over and over, that when we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change. (Thank you Wayne Dyer for teaching us this!) 

At Therapeutic Touch, we're here everyday to help elevate, inspire, and remind you of what you already know...

Happiness truly is an inside job! 
Just a friendly reminder because most of us get so darn busy that we forget.  And that goes for ME TOO! 
Hope to see you soon at Therapeutic Touch for an "attitude adjustment" which is always intended and included in every visit! 

​Every now and then, we hear something that sparks our attention and gets us really thinking.

Recently I was in an audience hearing Elizabeth Gilbert- best selling author of Eat, Pray, Love.  

She said something that stuck. 

Of course, we all know there's a limited number of hours in each day. 
We think and say we have our priorities strait but too often we're pretending. We make excuses why our lives don't look or feel like we say we want them to.
We blame it on all the distractions and endless things competing for our attention. 

We wake up in the morning and fill up our days with God knows what. All the while, leaving what we say is REALLY important for another day. 
We think and say there's not enough time. Something came up. We're too busy. (Blah, blah, blah...) 

We think saying NO to all the things we don't want to do is the answer. But here's the thing....sometimes we have to say NO to some of the things we want to do too. Liz asked us...how much time do you spend on Facebook, surfing the internet, scrolling social media, watching TV? 

Wow that got my attention!

If I'm completely honest, I know there's mornings that I don't get to the gym, meditate or get things done that I plan to because I get distracted. Often by plugging into technology.  Have you ever gotten sidetracked like this? Getting caught up in the mundane and lost track of time? 

My BIG takeaway has been coming back to owning my priorities AND not making excuses! 

If I know my priorities are my health and wellbeing, my family and friends- then that's where I'm putting my time and planting my attention. 

No more pretending. No more excuses. 

Daily meditation, movement/exercise, nourishing meals, and staying connected with my loved ones are non-negotiable. 

So my friend...what are your priorities? 

• How do you get distracted and what excuses have you been making? 
• What can you do today to move towards what you say is really important and nourishes you from the inside out? 

​I leave you with a quote from John Maxwell....
 "You will never change your life, until you CHANGE something you do daily. The secret of your SUCCESS is found in your DAILY ROUTINE." 

Start today. 

BLOOM or Be Pruned! 🌺
​

For as long as I can remember, I've always been a helper. Someone who felt deeply called to serve others. I was lucky to recognize my gifts, forge my unique path and feel blessed with my team everyday helping to make the world a better place. 
And some days, I wonder if I am doing enough. When I look around and see the world in so much chaos, crisis and pain.  
​
Perhaps you may wonder the same...What can you do to help? Are you doing enough? 

I'm reminded of a story by Alan Cohen from one of my all time favorite books, The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore. 

A young father was beginning to feel a little annoyed with his five year old son, who was asking him endless questions while he was trying to read the evening newspaper. Seizing on a scheme to buy him some quiet time, dad found a picture of the Earth in the newspaper, cut it out, tore it into little pieces, and gave it to the child to reassemble as a jigsaw puzzle. 

To the father's astonishment, the child was back minutes later with the picture perfectly intact. "Look, Daddy, the world is back together!" the child exclaimed. The father was amazed at how quickly the boy had finished. "How did you do it so fast?"  he asked. "It was easy! First, I couldn't fit the picture of the Earth together. Then I looked on the other side of the pieces, and there were pictures of the parts of a man. It was much easier to put the man together, so that's what I did. And when the man came together, so did the Earth." 

And so it is. Throughout the ages, the wise sages have all taught this truth. "If you want to bring about peace in the world, first bring peace within yourself" .... "Don't worry about reforming others, reform yourself!" ... "The peace that you would have others find must first be found in your own heart."

While it may seem selfish to focus on ourselves, the truth is that we can each make more of a contribution when we start living more consciously from a place of peace, kindness and compassion. First for ourselves and then all that goodness spreads outward naturally. 

We may feel that we have little power to change the destiny of our world, but it is through each of us individually that the world is changed. 

Gandhi said it best: "Be the change that you wish to see in the world!"  Together we can do this...

All it takes is one little burning match to start a forest fire.  Let's LIGHT this world on fire with LOVING❤️KINDNESS!

Hope you are well and settling into the New Year with HOPE and OPTIMISM. Not sure about you but it takes me a while to settle into the quieter winter season. 

Drawing from the wisdom of Chinese Medicine, Winter is the most YIN time of year. Yin energy is all about going inward, stillness, rest, slowing way down. Not easy for a recovering "busy bee." 

I know I'm not alone. Maybe you're an over-achiever too? There's a huge cultural resistance to slowing down and going inward. It's not easy to flip the switch in our predominately YANG culture. Yang is outward energy and all about getting things done. 
​
YIN & YANG are BOTH necessary. They're bound together and cannot exist without each other or stand alone. We need to maintain a BALANCE of both energies. Being busy sometimes balanced with rest and renewal. 

It's not easy for many of us to shift gears and move over to the slow lane for awhile but it's important and necessary. It's non-negotiable. It may appear that nothing is happening but trust me, there is. 

The following quote from Albert Camus has been a longtime favorite and I only recently discovered that there are more lines to it than the one about winter that I have loved so much. 

• In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love. 
• In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile. 
• In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.
• I realized through it all, that....
• IN THE MIDST OF WINTER, I FOUND THERE WAS, WITHIN ME, AN INVINCIBLE SUMMER.
• And that makes me happy...for it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there's something stronger- something better, pushing right back. 

​Here's to keeping your YIN & YANG energies balanced and in harmony! 

I love how Mother Theresa said that she would never attend an anti-war rally but if there was a pro-peace rally to invite her.  It's a choice whether we fight against what we don't want OR actively move toward what we're wishing for.   

A simple shift in mindset can change what we see and how we approach everything! When we focus on what we want, not on what we don't want, everything can change!  
Instead of fighting against the darkness, we can bring Light. 
We can actively be kind, supportive, generous and help whenever possible. 

That's why I enjoy the holidays. There's a shift that happens. 
​
Amidst all the hustle and bustle, shopping, baking, parties and entertaining...
We remember. We reflect. We celebrate. We see the light once again. 
I'm sharing a favorite recipe with you. Please give it a try. There's no clean up. You don't need an apron, any pots or pans or even an oven. All you need is an open heart and true desire. 

RECIPE for HOPE 
(by Maria Fernanda Smith) 

• 3 Tbsp. WILL
• 2 oz. BELIEF 
• 2 Tbsp. TRUST 
• 1 tsp. CREATIVITY 
• 1/4 cup COURAGE 
• 1 lb. WORTH 
• 3/4 cup PERSEVERANCE 
• 1/2 cup FAITH 
• Ripe WISDOM 
• Many dashes of HUMOR 
• *use SUPPORT and STRENGTH for taste 

1) Convert 1 oz. of fear and it yields 1 lb. of knowledge. 
2) Preheat your heart to the adequate setting for success. 
3) Mix the wisdom, faith, courage and creativity together.
4) Add the will, perseverance and worth to combine evenly.
5) Stir in the humor intermittently and pour the recipe into your soul. 
6) Spread the belief evenly and you'll see the measuring cup as more than half full. 
7) Bake until you create the sweet smell of victory.
8) Serve to all who need it and enjoy! 

**NOTE: There is no substitute for HOPE.

Wishing you a fun-filled peaceful holiday season and HOPE on a silver platter for whatever it is you're wishing for!

​It doesn't matter how old you are, where you live, or what language you speak....GRATITUDE is the universal language of the HEART! 

That's the big takeaway-lesson I learned twenty years ago trekking in the Himalayas. I brought it hOMe with me and try to remember to carry it with me everyday. 

It was the realization of a dream traveling to Nepal and turned out being a spiritual pilgrimage and life changing experience. I trained for months preparing for the physical demands of hiking 10 plus miles a day and sleeping in tents at high altitudes without electric and plumbing.  
 
But nothing could prepare me for going off the grid and meeting the Nepalese people. Kind-hearted. Sweet. Grateful. Simple. Reverent. Happy. Present. 

I learned a lot as I put one foot in front of the other, moment by moment, day after day....

• We have to simplify to amplify. 
• We have to train our eyes to see what surrounds us.
• Gratitude can change our lives from black & white to technicolor. 
• Gratitude is not a thought- it's a felt sense. 
• Gratitude is a verb and evokes emotion. 
• When our hearts are overflowing with appreciation- we feel joyful and happy. 
• Gratitude should be prescribed: daily dose Vitamin G- more is better! 
• Gratitude is one of the strongest energetic forces in the Universe and has the power to open our hearts, heal us and transform our lives. 
• Gratitude is a first class ticket to living in the Miracle zone. 

Mary Davis said it best: "Through the eyes of GRATITUDE, EVERYTHING is a MIRACLE!" 

Happy Fall! Roger and I recently spent a week in one of the most majestic places on Earth- Telluride, Colorado. Surrounded by mountains over 12,000 feet truly can take your breath away! We hiked, took in the sights and basked in the spectacular scenery and natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Something happens spontaneously when we deeply immerse ourselves in nature. Within a short time, our souls were singing (along with John Denver's Greatest Hits on CD) and our spirits were rejuvenated!  

We got what we needed and then some! An added bonus was a two day retreat led by my brother Todd. With the theme "KEEP CLIMBING," it was an opportunity to step back from our everyday routine, ask ourselves some great questions, reflect and go deep along with 65 passionate fitness and health/wellness pros. 

Some of my KEEP CLIMBING Retreat Take Aways....

• When we come together, we realize that we all have DREAMS & FEARS. 
• Don't allow your fears to prevent you from following your dreams!
• We're all more alike than we are different. 
• We all have challenges and mountains to climb. 
• There will be peaks at times to enjoy and sometimes valleys to endure. 
• But we gotta Keep Climbing! 
• And Never Give Up! 
• Sometimes a setback is a set-up for a comeback. 
• We don't have to do it alone. 
• Perseverance. Grit. Resilience. 
• We're stronger than we ever imagined. 

As we approach the 5th Anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, I'm reflecting on how far we've recovered as a community. 

The Jersey Shore was devastated on October 29th, 2012 and that's something I will never forget. 
But I'll also always remember how people came together.  We were knocked down and together we got back up. We're climbing that mountain together. Little by little, and still recovering....we're coming back stronger! 
Jersey is S.T.R.O.N.G! Starting. To. Realize. Our. Natural. Greatness!  Be grateful for the peaks and the valleys....
Keep Climbing!