Happy Thanksgiving

It has been a year of giving at Body & Soul: In February we donated massages and blood at the Salem So Sweet Blood Drive. In March we held a fundraiser for ALS in memory of Lisette's mom. Our 6th year of donating massage for the walkers in the NSMC Cancer Walk took place on a beautiful, sunny day in June at the Salem Willows by Tina, Kasey, and Linda.

To honor Everybody Deserves a Massage Week in July we collected diapers and wipes for the St. Joseph's food pantry Baby Blues program. We cheered on Ann Sept. 27 as she ran 13.2 miles in Salem's Wicked Half Marathon, while Bo, Linda, and Sophie and Rey massaged many sore runners at the finish. Ann and Rey then went on to donate their time to the runners and bikers at the Down N Dirty Duathlon in October. This November a holiday meal was donated to NFI Family Based Services for a family in need.

As the holiday season approaches Body & Soul is is proud part of the wellness community. We are grateful to share our time and talents with our many loyal clients and the community that allows us to be part of their lives. Thank You!

10 Natural Ways to Relax and Rejuvenate

By Monique N. Gilbert

Originally published in Massage & Bodywork magazine, April/May 2005.
Copyright 2005. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights reserved.


Protecting the immune system and managing stress are vital aspects of living longer, feeling younger, and being healthy. Here are 10 ways to reduce stress, boost your immune system, and slow down the hands of time.

Physical activity. Regular exercise -- whether it's walking or dancing -- strengthens your cardiovascular system, heart, muscles, and bones. It also stimulates the release of endorphins, improves mental functioning, concentration/attention, and cognitive performance, and lowers cholesterol, blood pressure, cortisol, and other stress hormones.

Yoga and stretching. The slow movements and controlled postures of yoga improve muscle strength, flexibility, balance, circulation, mental focus, and calmness.

Hand hygiene. The most effective measure in preventing the spread of germs is good hand hygiene. Washing your hands as soon as you come home, and always before you eat, greatly reduces your exposure to bacterial and viral infections. Carry alcohol-based hand wipes to control exposures away from home.

To read more of this article please go to www.massagetherapy.com

Prepare For Flu Season Now!

Get Ready for Flu Season

Posted by Andrew Weil, M.D.

The November-to-April flu season is almost here. The 2006 – 2007 season was relatively mild, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it's impossible to predict how a future season will play out, so it pays to be prepared.

Keep in mind that influenza is not just a bad cold. It means a few days of misery with aching, chills and fever. Worse, the flu can lead to pneumonia, which can be deadly. Each year, more than 100,000 people are hospitalized and 20,000 die as a result of the flu and its complications.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone over age 65 get a yearly flu shot and a one-time dose of pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine as part of their adult vaccination schedule.

Those with compromised immunity, anyone with a weakened immune or respiratory system, nursing home residents, and health-care workers who have regular contact with patients are particularly vulnerable to complications from influenza and should also receive annual flu shots.

The pneumococcal vaccine will not prevent the flu, but protects 70 to 90 percent of healthy adults from common pneumonias, and is 50 to 60 percent effective in preventing pneumonia in the elderly and the immune-compromised.

As far as children are concerned, parents should discuss the flu shot with their pediatricians. Children aged six months to two years are hospitalized with the flu as often as the elderly are. However, the safety and efficacy of the flu vaccine has not been proved for this group, and young children require two shots, not one.

In addition, pregnant women whose last two trimesters fall during flu season might also consider getting the flu vaccine. Expectant mothers are just as likely to suffer complications from the flu as other high-risk groups.

To reduce your chances of getting the flu, take these precautions: Click to read the rest of this article at http://health.yahoo.com/experts/weilhealthyliving