By Seth Johnson ​Photo by Mat Reding on Unsplash How It Started​Reflexology, also considered “zone therapy”, is a complementary practice that focuses onadding various amounts of pressure to different points on the hands, ears and feet. This holisticpractice has been used for decades, particularly based on the ancient Chinese belief that eachperson has a life force energy known as “qi” (pronounced “chee”). The idea is that ..read more

​Author: Seth Johnson ​Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash The physical health benefits of therapeutic massage practices – the stimulation of the lymphsystem, the improved range of motion and decreased discomfort offered, the increasedcirculation and release of endorphins – are often talked about because of their ability to, overtime and with maintenance, drastically improve our day-to-day lives. Many of us can attest tothe blissful feeling of dull ..read more

Author: Seth Johnson Photo by Jacob Postuma on Unsplash Massage therapy is an encompassing term for a variety of therapeutic techniques, but most people only associate massage therapy with relaxation; in fact, the “therapy” component of massage therapy can completely transform a person’s life, especially if they use it regularly to maintain their health and wellness. FST, short for fascial stretch therapy, is a massage therapy practice that is u ..read more

By Seth Johnson Photo by Naomi Hutchinson on Unsplash During the cold, jittery months of December, January, and February, Flagstaff is all about wintersports, building snowmen, passing through all of the holiday lights and gathering around withpeople we love. The holidays are truly a spectacular, magical period of time that allow us toreflect on the past year while also generating hope for the future; as we’re thinking about whattype of gift we’d like to give those we love t ..read more

By Seth Johnson Photo by Christin Hume via Unsplash If you were recently here in Flagstaff to receive a therapeutic massage at Bodies in Balance,you were probably asked if you’d like essential oils as part of your therapy session. Essentialoils have become one of the most widely talked about aspects of health and wellness lately, andit’s because researchers are finding out just how much of a connection there is between smelland emotion. Think about the last time you smelle ..read more

Author Seth Johnson Photo By Camile Kmile  ​Whew! That massage was so relaxing. The whispering sound of a flowing river in thebackground was so dreamy that it almost made you fall asleep; the subtle smells of lavender orother essential oils wafted through your nose and sent you to a magical, mystical place. Thenagging tension in your neck, the stress that had morphed into a firm knot in your back, the dullaches and sharp pains of everyday life seemed to willingly melt ..read more

I am super excited to announce our new service aimed specifically at relieving headaches!I get migraine headaches and I am really excited about how well it works.  Here's my experience.  At the start of my session, I didn't have a full-blown headache but felt "headachy".   ​ That's my term when I feel like I could get a migraine but if I manage my food, stress, and other trigge ..read more

​As a massage therapist, I have a lot of cool skills.  I can help relieve your low back pain, loosen up your legs and hips so you perform better in your next race, and even melt away the tension of a stressful day.  And while many of my clients think I know exactly where the pain is and how to make it go away, I’m not psychic. But I’m often surprised by how many people seem to think that I am. People who think I’m psychic will say things like “you& ..read more

It is possible and worthwhile to treat your own trigger points.  The Ther-a-Cane and Backbuddy are two commercial products designed to treat trigger points.  You can also use a tennis (or other slightly soft) ball, or your hands.  Experiment to find what’s most comfortable for you, and use the resources listed below to learn effective, safe techniques.  Foam rollers can help relieve trigger points, but are often not specific enough for full relief. Simply lay on ..read more

We often recommend ice to our clients to help manage inflammation and pain.  While the traditional bag of peas works well, it's not that great when your back or hip hurts and you need to lay on the ice.  In those instances, a flat gel-filled ice pack works best. And here's a simple option to make one yourself. Ingredients2 cups of water1 cup of Rubbing AlcoholOptional food coloring if ..read more