Keeping Up With the Pockets

We've had a few years of experience of WMF now, and it got me thinking about the state of our business, and massage therapy as a whole. What gets this industry ticking? What makes it sustain? As always, I'm giving my own personal thoughts, and these thoughts are likely, but not necessarily, shared by Bethany and Kim.

At the core of what we do, you have a problem that involves physical discomfort, and we have an answer. That goes for massage therapists, chiropractors, suppliers, herbalists, accupuncturists, everyone. Pain is the primary catalyst when we go to seek help. I am so grateful for pain personally because it is the body telling you that something isn't right. This is why nerve damage is so alarming with diabetics. Pain led you to us, and we've been specially trained, many for a number of decades, on how to help you live well (as opposed to just removing pain). And where would we be if I didn't mention that important "w" word?

Bethany is currently working on an individual project. Nothing too extensive. She's adding an elastic band to an eye pack because a customer noted that he wanted to keep the pack on his eyes while asleep. Problems lead to solutions. It is possible that this expands and becomes the norm. It's possible it doesn't, but it is an example of how we constantly search for ways to improve and help others.

You'll notice that the people who live the most fulfilled are often the ones who listen to their bodies most. So my message for Bethany, Kim, all therapists, and all clients everywhere: your body is constantly talking. Listen. Most of the time, it's saying what you need to hear. And have a wonderful day.

Hello again! We finished up day two of the World Massage Festival, and it was quite a treat. During one of the busy times of the day, I was able to jump in and get my hands busy. I'd say dirty, but that isn't true. It was a pleasure meeting so many people and getting to share what perfect pockets plus has to offer. There's something about being asked questions on the fly that makes me realize how much consideration Kim and Bethany put into each product. They really do leave no stone unturned. 

But I'm not here to talk about that.

I'm actually to talk about the first thing that comes out of your mouth in the day, and I'm not talking about air. We already know that the words you say have an impact on your wellness (and others). I've come to believe that the most vital words that you say come after you wake up and before you go to sleep. These are the words that stick with you for hours, whether you know it or not. It is more overt than subliminal messages, and at the same time, more powerful. I've actually experimented with this over the past week before we came here to North Carolina. The first two days, I began with something positive: "Today's going to be awesome". The next two, I started with something shorter: "No". The difference in my days were minimal, but my perspective held harsh differences.

If words naturally produce chemical reactions, give your brain and body the most positive reaction you can. Speak positivity in your waking moments.

After a long drive, we made it to Cherokee, NC, and Bethany and Kim are enjoying the festival with a number of massage therapists and professionals. This isn't going to be any type of formal post, like the others have been, and at the end, I'll be adding a picture that won't swallow the post....hopefully.

I've always been curious about what's the most valuble thing one massage therapist can offer to another. Is it information? Care? Exposure? Friendship? You can make an argument for any of these. Being with my children, and seeing the value that both Bethany and I bring into their lives (and they into ours), I would say the most valuble resource for massage therapists is the most obvious. Time. There are occupations out there that are naturally lonely and naturally trying when it comes to making success. Massage isn't one of them. From secondhand experience, Bethany had some of the most success when she had another massage therapist to talk to. My wife and I are best friends, but it isn't the same as someone who walks in the same shoes, more or less.

So if you're at the WMF (acronyms), the most valuble thing you can do is network. Talk to other people, share what you know, and I'm sure you'll gain something. If you aren't at the festival, find some MTs around you. It is more difficult, and nervewracking to do outside of an event, but it is just as rewarding.

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

*Eccl. 3:1-13*

I last posted about the fact that a large portion of us work too much. This verse came to mind for me because I associate wellness with balance. Bringing balance to your body can also bring balance to your mind and spirit, and vice versa. we all strive to live a life in balance, wether we know it or not. Solomon was one of the wisest men in the history of the Bible, and it struck me how much emphasis he put into this idea.

Hello all you wonderful people. Happy spring to you. At last, we can come out of hibernation and take in some sun, something I'll be doing with the kids shortly after this article. I want to talk about work and how it affects our health. Work is a part of all of our lives, and we are going to look at exactly how much of our day is consumed with our jobs. 

If you are a "typical" working adult, you work around 8-10 hours per day, not including travel. Assuming you get the recommended 8 hours of sleep, that leaves you 6-8 hours to spend time with family, explore hobbies, socialize, clean your home, manage your finances, and any other thing you have as a priority in your life. Considering the constant high stress levels many of us endure in the work environment, that is a lot of time and stress for something that you may or may not find fulfillment from. 

And we all know stress has massive impact on our overall health. 

I was listening to a podcast last week talking about how physical and mental health are the same thing. It is not necessarily something I agree with, but we will be unpacking that theory in another article. What is certain is that the work patterns of the average American has negative implications on emotional, mental, and physical health. There isn't a surefire solution to an issue like this. Everyone is their own individual with their own situation, and one prescribed alternative doesn't work for all.

But it is likely you need a day off in the near future if you haven't taken one recently, and you likely need more time away from work than you've taken. This is meant to be an open discussion, so I would love to hear from all of you what you have found that works, or that doesn't work. Are you like many, who need a well earned rest from work, or a moment to rediscover what is truly important to you?

If you are, make time for it.

Hello everyone!

From all of us here at Perfect Pockets Plus, we want to wish you the happiest holiday season. Whether you celebrate Christmas (like us), Hannukuh, Kwanza, Yule, Bodhi, or any other December holiday, we want to wish you, your family, and your loved ones all the joy and love we experience with our own families. And as a part of our family, you are loved and cherished by all of us here. Travel safely, eat heartily, and enjoy a rest that only comes after this hectic time. 

We are excited to tell you about the things that'll be happening in 2019. A new year brings a new opportunity to give you the best of us so you can give your best to your clients. Reiterating what Bethany talked about in her last facebook video, we found that we've gone far below market price with our products and features. In order to extend our business life and give you more of the things you want, we wil be pricing our products closer to market. This difficult decision reflects the hard work Kim (Master Pocketeer) has put into every product as well as the incredible feedback you've given us. This change wouldn't be possible without your love and support, and we are so grateful.

We're also pleased to announce that we will be attending the world massage festival in Cherokee, North Carolina in 2019. May 6th through May 9th, you'll have a chance to meet the team, and we're cooking up something special for that event. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more details. And as usual we will be looking to innovate our products and take wellness to the next level.

We will also be having (for the last time) a bundle with Gale Wood, so be sure to check out the link below. From our family to your table, have a blessed holiday season.

https://gaelwood.com/resources/2018-massage-and-spa-resource-bundle/

Hello! 

All of a sudden, a month has passed since the last time I posted. The holiday rush has been frantic. Between my job and kids (and preparing for the holidays), time grew short. It is a truly joyous time of year, if you allow it to be. Capitalism and things can make it easy to hate. But this is, by far, my favorite time of year.

Understanding the stress and  pressure to make someone else's holiday joy inspired this new post. This is a friendly reminder to everyone not to forget themselves this season. That doesn't mean you need to buy yourself outlandish things or gift to yourself to the neglect of others. The most emphatic advice I can give is take care of your body and mind. Get rest, relax, and take time to enjoy the snow, cold, and warmth that comes from those you love.

You know that we offer self care products that can help with that. I'm not going to talk about that here because it is one of many things you can do to ensure a happier, healthier you. Do the things you love to do, and sometimes, just sometimes, don't worry about how it impacts others. After all, if you can't give yourself care, how can you give it to others?

Just a friendly reminder this season, you matter, you are loved, and you're worth every moment you spend loving yourself.

Wellness can be depicted in a variety of ways, but a typical conversation covers physical, mental, or spiritual health. One aspect of wellness I don't hear often is social health, so I'm going to talk about it. This is strictly an opinion piece. I can't say there is research behind these thoughts, but I hope it is benefitial to you.

I would define social wellness as average amount of time spent with others and how it impacts emotional health. While it is directly linked to emotional health, it is not the same. The ability for someone to thrive in a crowded place or meeting new people are two examples of this. It is well known thatpeople fall in the introvert or extrovert category, and I would consider both of these factors in measuring social wellness. The ability for one to have company and solitude are valid. Furthermore, it is a vital part of how you develop as an individual.

So how does a person achieve social wellness, what does a socially healthy person look like?

A socially healthy person, in my opinion, is one that can function in typical manner with people and alone. It is the middle ground between introvert and extrovert, though an introvert and extrovert can achieve social wellness. I would say a socially well person has a number of acquaintences, a cluster of moderate friends, and a handful of close friends. This also means that people with Asbergers or Autism can be socially well, but admittedly, that would take more time to differentiate.

One thing a person would need to do to achieve social wellness is talk to others. For introverts and homebodies, that would mean going outside more often with the purpose of talking to others. You don't have to make someone your best friend, but it is important to weave through different social situations with minimal difficulty. Through this, a person should find a small group of people they can trust and spend time with them. But don't forget to take time for yourself. Solitude allows you time to think, to breathe. It helps you navigate through difficult social situations.

One aspect that has made this more difficult is social media. I can make another article out of this (and I may). Social media, to a degree, erases the thought of consequences for actions. Navigating through social situations is somewhat blocked when someone can erase their words. The ability to follow someone's every move without talking to them hinders whatever potential you have of befriending them on a personal basis, whether it is digital or personal. Social networking is like candy, addictive and inticing, but not something that will help you grow as a social being.

Feel free to add thoughts to this post. I mean for this to be an open discussion, and like everyone here at Perfect Pockets Plus, we aim to help you and your business achieve wellness.