503-705-4762

Category: Massage

Joseph Wedding, July 2011

A client of mine invited me to be a part of her daughter’s wedding in Joseph, Oregon, last month. While I love traveling to new and exciting places with my Fluid family, what I really love is how open, warm and welcoming their families are to me! It probably doesn’t hurt that I’m showing up with my massage table.

 

 

Here are some photos from my trip. As usual, I crammed the most I could into one long weekend. I saw real live cowboys, watched as deer caused a traffic jam on main street, ate some awesome food, and even got in a stand up paddle session with the group on my last day.

The bride’s style was in keeping with Joseph style: picnic tables at the reception, mason jars for glassware and flowers, casually elegant cowboy chic.

The family came from all over the country, so I decided some travel stress relief was in order. We kicked off our weekend with an outdoor afternoon yoga class with a view of the Wallowa mountains. Most of us had traveled that day, so we focused on stretching and gentle movement. We did a vinyasa-style flowing yoga series (with some Pilates moves thrown in, of course), standing balance and some twists. While the view was awesome, we did start to get munched on by mosquitoes. So for our next class, we headed indoors.

 

 

We started most mornings with a combo Pilates/ yoga class. This crew was super athletic and most had done some yoga in the past. A few of the family members were new to Pilates, and they loved it! One even asked if we could work specifically on “core strength and pelvic floor.” Awesome!

I provided table and chair massages for the wedding party throughout the weekend and on the morning of the ceremony (please note the curlers in the shot below). The bride and her crew of bridesmaids, friends, relatives and other supporters did a lot of behind-the-scenes work leading up to the big day, from arranging flowers and hauling supplies to putting together food and welcome gifts. The family stayed relaxed as they hummed around like busy bees.

 

Sweetness…

I mentioned the yummy food. First of all, there was my beloved pork. They cooked a pig roast in a pit, but this is Joseph-style, so no banana leaves. I won’t tell you the secret recipe, but I will say that it was delicious and I had two helpings.

This guy — we’ll call him the Salmon King — threw giant sides of salmon on the outdoor grill he brought with him (behind him in the photo below) and cooked them to perfection. I don’t know his magic, but this fish was ridiculous! I had seconds on the salmon too.

Want Anne to help your crew stay relaxed and stretched before or during your next party?  Contact Anne today to discuss your next party or trip! (503) 705-4762

Massage Therapy in Sellwood | Massage Therapist in SE Portland


Would you like to escape to a quiet, peaceful and warm space removed from the ringing of cell phones, returning of emails and answering of questions? A place where you can truly relax? Fluid Movement + Massage in Southeast Portland is your place.

We specialize in many types of massage and offer Pilates and yoga training from our Sellwood studio.

Massage is viewed in many cultures as part of a preventive health program. Although one massage will be enjoyable, the lasting effects of massage are cumulative and regular massage treatments are the best way to experience the positive health benefits.

At Fluid Movement + Massage, you can enjoy massage as a standalone service or in addition to strength sessions centered around yoga, Pilates and improving your core strength.

Looking for a gift? Treat your bride to be or birthday girl to some well-needed pampering. Want to reward your employees? Corporate chair massage available in 10 minute increments using no oil and working the head, neck, shoulders, back and hands.


Massage Menu

* Gift Certificates – available for thirty, sixty or ninety minutes. Ask about movement + massage packages
* Single session: $80
* Movement + Massage starter package: A six week intensive that includes five private Pilates or Yoga sessions plus a reward massage and home equipment (yoga mat, ball, or band): Call for pricing
* Corporate chair massage – call Anne for rates
* Fluid Tropical Vacations – join Anne in paradise for a relaxing week of Pilates, yoga, good food and fun.

Remind your body of how good it can feel! Contact us today to schedule your therapeutic massage.

Low Back Pain Study finds Massage Therapy is More Effective than Conventional Treatments

According to this WebMD story a recent study shows massage therapy to be a more effective treatment than traditional therapies.

The study randomly assigned 400 adults with moderate-to-severe low back pain lasting for at least three months to either weekly relaxation massage sessions, weekly deep tissue massage sessions specifically focused on the lower back and hips, or usual care.  After 10 weeks, participants in both massage groups reported reduced pain and improved function compared to those in the usual care group.

Participants reported benefiting from both relaxation massage as well as site specific deep tissue massage.  The researchers can’t explain this but I would guess that any form of positive touch encourages relaxation and reduces pain.

“I think this trial is good news in the sense that it suggests that massage is a useful option that helps some substantial fraction of these patients,” says study researcher Richard A. Deyo, MD, a professor in the department of family medicine at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.

One physician who was interviewed for this article spoke of the importance of exercise in combination with massage therapy.

“Certainly, it’s not going to hurt,” says Fredrick P. Wilson, DO, director of the Cleveland Clinic Solon Center for Spine Health, in Ohio.  “But it’s a short-term improvement, and it’s certainly not a fix,” says Wilson, who reviewed the study for WebMD but was not involved in the research.

“When we see patients, we push them toward active exercise rather than passive natural therapy kind of a thing. If they can have stronger core strength to support their spine, they’re going to be better off in the long run. So we’re trying to fix, rather than ease, their pain,” Wilson says.

Stronger core strength to support the spine.  I like the sound of that.  What can massage, or better yet the combination of movement + massage do for you?  Call Anne today and she will happily customize a movement + massage program just for you!

Love Your Mother

Treat her to a massage with Anne!

*Ok so this is actually my Grandmother but I couldn’t resist I love this photo of us:)

 

Mother’s Day massage special:  Ninety minutes of pampering for $80!

Let Mom choose from Fluid’s menu of services, thirty minutes of Pilates followed by a sixty minute deep tissue massage with reflexology sound good? How about a yoga party with three of her friends at her place? Maybe a ninety minute relaxation massage using lavender essential oils? Mom is welcome to use her time with me as she wishes. What could be more customized?

Email Anne Anne@FluidPortland.com and she will pop a gift certificate in the mail to you.

*This is a $30 savings. Must purchase by May 8th. Mom has one year to redeem her gift certificate.

Last week of Fluid’s lavender foot treatment!

This is the last week to take advantage of Fluid’s March massage special – our signature lavender foot treatment.

We start with a warm towel wrap, then smooth away rough skin with Ali’i Kula lavender foot scrub, followed by a 20 minute foot massage and reflexology treatment using lavender essential oils. Leave feeling relaxed and rejuvenated and with super soft tootsies!  Enjoy this as a standalone service, or as an add on to your massage or training session.

$40 for the foot treatment, $30 if added to another service.  Call Anne today to schedule 503-705-4762