Take a deep breath through your nose. What scents are you picking up right now? How are those smells affecting you? As I write this, I inhale the scent of my coffee sitting next to me, and sweet orange from the diffuser across the room. These smells combine to make me feel cozy, happy, and safe. Our nose and brain are very closely connected, as evidenced by specific smells that evoke particular memories. The smell of basil immediately transports me into my grandmother’s kitchen and the memory of chopping away at the bright green leaves as I helped to make her incredible pesto. Just like basil, there is an endless list of plants whose essences can be extracted into fragrant, healing oils.

One of the most iconic and most often requested essential oils in our massage therapy sessions is Lavender (lavandula angustifolia).  It is obtained through steam-distillation of the flowers of the Lavender plant.  Clients who are in need of relaxation often request it as their go-to oil for massage sessions.  Certainly, Lavender is best-known for its relaxing properties, but there are many other uses for this classic oil.  Here are seven of the myriad of benefits of Lavender oil:

In a typical Reiki session, the client is fully clothed and is seated in a chair or reclined on a treatment table. A Reiki practitioner first assesses what areas in the energy field are imbalanced. Then, using a technique called palm healing they transfer "universal energy" through their hands to the patient through the light laying of hands or hovering of hands above the body. The recipient of the energy simply rests and receives the energy Recipients of Reiki often report feeling…

What is it about a hug that feels so good? Why is a warm touch on the hand or arm so comforting? Why is receiving a massage one of the most calming and beneficial things we can do?

Touch, especially skin-to-skin contact, releases a beautiful hormone called oxytocin. Oxytocin has been dubbed “the hormone of love and bonding”. While it is often thought of as a female hormone, known for its role in labor and lactation in women, oxytocin offers a whole host of other beneficial effects for both women and men alike. Oxytocin reduces anxiety, blood pressure, cortisol levels, fear, and even decreases pain sensitivity.