Author Archives: Ashley Wolff

Those with allergies view spring with a love-hate relationship.

The weather is warmer and the days are longer, sure. But, as everything begins to bloom and grow, those with seasonal allergies battle against itchy eyes, nasal congestion, sinus pain and even fatigue.

If you have allergies, you know you’re always on the lookout for remedies to the symptoms. Would you be surprised to hear that incorporating regular massage therapy into your wellness routine can help?

How Massage Therapy Benefits those with Allergies

Adding massage therapy into your life won’t stop the allergic reaction from happening, you’ve got us there. However, it can help modify and dissipate the symptoms. The health benefits that are normally associated with massage therapy such as stress relief, enhanced circulation, and improved immunity are all beneficial to your tolerance of allergy symptoms.

There have been studies done that demonstrate increased levels of stress can worsen allergy symptoms. In 2014, Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology reported that 64 percent of the participants with higher stress levels had more than four flare-ups over two 14-day periods. Hospitalizations from fatal allergic reactions have also been shown to correlate with high-stress triggers.

Stress has been known to cause all kinds of negative effects on the body, and worsening your allergy symptoms is no different. Regular massage therapy can reduce stress, minimizing your reaction to allergens, making you more comfortable during the spring and summer months.

In addition, massage has also been known to boost the immune system by increasing the activity of the body’s white blood cells that combat viruses.

“According to research from Cedars-Sinai, participants in a Swedish massage group experienced significant changes in lymphocytes, which play a large role in defending the body from disease. A lymphocyte is one of the three subtypes of white blood cells in the immune system.”

Massage therapy also relaxes the muscles in the body, improving circulation and giving you relief to any sore muscles from coughing, sneezing, or other allergy-related pain. Specifically, those who are looking for a drug-free way to dissipate those nasty allergy symptoms see many benefits from massage.

The Problem with Western Medicine

The Western treatment of allergies relies mostly on the use of antihistamines. However, antihistamines only treat the manifestations of the disease– not the root cause.

In addition, some allergy medications can cause side effects such as fatigue, dizziness, insomnia, nervousness and gastro-intestinal disturbance. Stronger antihistamines also contain decongestants, which can create sleepiness and a cloudy head, sometimes causing an inability to drive.

It is important to note that everyone’s severity to seasonal allergies is different, so massage therapy may not eliminate your need for Western medicine. But, with massage therapy, you can reduce the amount of allergy medication you need, or even stop taking it all together, so it’s definitely worth incorporating into your routine!

Schedule an Appointment with Chante Massage Today

Don’t let allergies stop you from enjoying nice days outside. Fight against allergies and improve your overall wellness by scheduling a massage with a licensed massage therapist. We are conveniently located in the middle of Omaha and offer specialized massage sessions catered to your needs.

Contact us online or call 402-319-1845 now.

Stress is a universal feeling—I think we’ve all felt stressed now and again. Stress holds a lot of negative connotations, but it is important to realize that stress isn’t always a bad thing. 

It’s deeply ingrained in our bodies to either fight or flee during meaningful situations, which could be anything from an important meeting to potential danger. Your body sends adrenaline to boost your heart rate, and cortisol to boost your blood sugar, while diverting energy away from your digestive system and immune responses. Which in some situations, could be seen as a positive!

The problem is when there is never any relief from stress. Constant stress can wreak havoc on both our bodies and our minds. Constant stress can come from our jobs, financial issues, relationships, sleep deprivation, poor nutrition and health, or even from the media. 

When stress becomes a constant, is actually becomes distress, which can lead to physical symptoms, including:

• Headaches
• Elevated blood pressure
• Chest pain
• Problems sleeping
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Restlessness

The important thing is finding moments where you can relax and give your body a break, whether that means going for a walk, reading a good book, or scheduling a massage. 

Massage for Stress Relief 

Massage therapy is a proven way for stress sufferers to find relief. Research has shown that it can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, relax your muscles, and increase production of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine—which are all good chemicals your body needs to promote a relaxed state of mind and body. They help you feel happier and sleep better at night. 

Receiving a full body massage is also one of the safest types of complementary medicine and physical therapy. It positively affects the connective tissues, muscles, skin, cardiovascular system, digestive system, immune system, nervous system, respiratory system, and endocrine system by creating a reflexive response in the body.

Massage is beneficial for a lot of reasons, but a big takeaway is that you have to schedule it! Don’t think of that as another thing to do, but more as forcing yourself to take time for you. Daily life can get so busy and chaotic, it is so important that you make time for yourself and scheduling an appointment with a massage therapist is just one way you can guarantee that time is set in stone, without any interruptions. 

Massage for Relaxation

Massage therapy not only helps your body feel better and heal faster, but it also helps your mind too. The release of good chemicals is part of that, but it’s also about the environment and taking the time to step away from the day-to-day. 

It can help you relax an overactive mind, putting you in almost a meditative state. The space is clean, cozy, and warm, and your mind has a positive reaction to the environment. There’s also the aromatherapy, blends of smells created specifically to calm and soothe, and even the potential to reduce depression and inflammation. 

Then, there’s the addition of human touch. While massage physically works on your body to heal, there is an additional element to touch that is mental. Think of a long hug or a hand on your shoulder during a difficult time—touch has the power to mentally comfort and soothe our minds when we need it most. 

Massage Therapy from Chante Massage

When both your body and your mind are feeling stressed, overwhelmed and tired, it’s time to take some time for yourself and schedule a massage. Feel the relief and relaxation instantly and say goodbye to stress overtaking your life. 

Contact Chante Massage today to schedule your next appointment.

As we are currently in the midst of a global pandemic, nothing has become more evident than the importance of our health and wellness. In order to protect ourselves, as well as others, it’s vital that we take precautionary measures such as social distancing, disinfecting surfaces, washing our hands, and taking care of our immune systems.

Your immune system is what will protect you in case you contract the coronavirus or any other type of viruses for that matter, so it’s extremely important to always be taking care of it!

Some easy steps to take to boost your immune system include:

1. Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables
2. Get adequate sleep
3. Don’t smoke
4. Exercise regularly
5. Reduce stress
6. Try a daily vitamin
7. Get a massage

Yes, massage can help boost your immune system, as well as reduce stress, which also works strengthens your immune system.

How Massage Benefits Your Immune System

Massage therapy increases blood flow throughout the body, as well as increases the activity of white blood cells that help our body fight diseases. In addition, it reduces stress levels. High-stress levels are known for weight gain, elevated blood pressure, headaches, digestive problems, sleep problems, heart disease, all things that can negatively impact your immune system.

Regular massage can also fight more common ailments like the flu and seasonal colds. Jeff Smoot, 2015 president of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), says:

“Researchers working with patients with compromised immune systems have found massage therapy can improve how the immune system functions. Those same benefits can translate to people seeking to fight off the common cold, flu and other seasonal illnesses.”

Jeff Smoot, President, AMTA

So, in order to get your blood pumping, your stress levels down, and activate your body’s immune system to help fight off these invaders, try using massage therapy.

For all of our available massage types and modalities, check out our massage page.

Contact Chante Massage to Boost Your Immune System Today!

Spring is the long-awaited shift after winter. With spring comes new growth, longer days, warmer weather, and a new regeneration of energy.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), spring is regarded as a season of creating, cleansing, activity, movement, growth, and renewal. Those who follow the beliefs of TCM know the importance of living with the seasons and letting our bodies respond to the change of the world around us. 

But, even those who don’t follow TCM closely know and understand the energy that spring brings. Almost suddenly, you’re cleaning your house, purging things you no longer need, and being more active outside.

It is also a promising time to focus on releasing emotions that no longer serve us, specifically those rooted in anger, resentment, lethargy, and frustration.

Due to this renewed energy, spring is a significant time to clean ourselves from the inside out, whether it be our body, our mind, or our home. Just like a dormant tree beginning to grow buds and blossom, we too can harness the power of spring to bring clarity, health, and emotional well-being. 

Making healthy choices that will carry you through the rest of the year starts now. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Be honest with yourself.

Embrace yourself honestly and take a good look at all the aspects of your life. Where are the stressors? Where are your weaknesses? Are they in your diet, exercise program, your work or relationships? Focus on the ones that need improvement, and start moving away from the ones that detract from your life. 

2. Examine your personal relationships.

Whether it be your significant other, friends, or relatives. Think about how you affect each other and what you can do to make each relationship more meaningful. Schedule time with friends, contact your family more often and listen to others thoughtfully. 

3. Organize and clean out your spaces.

Get rid of clutter and the unnecessary in your home, your desk, your car, your closet, and any other spaces you use regularly. Donate or recycle anything that no longer serves a purpose. You’d be surprised how much lighter and happier you feel when you’ve cleanup and freshened up your home.

4. Make positive choices, daily. 

Surround yourself with what makes you happy. When you think about everything you take in from day to day, from TV to news, violent movies, stressful people, and sad music, it can all have an impact on your mood. Consider what makes you feel your best such as beautiful music, energetic friends, creative outlets, and spending time outdoors. 

5. Change bad habits.

Ask yourself if you can change your habits on your own or if you need some help. You can focus on forming good habits such as being more positive, exercising more, or eating healthier, but it may be easier to make changes with accountability from others. 

6. Stay active.

Exercise has so many benefits, whether to improve your health or reduce your stress. Make time for exercise into your schedule and experiment with different types to keep yourself interested! You can try yoga, go dancing, take a walk during lunch, or ride your bike somewhere new.

7. Feel your best.

There are many ways to feel your best, from exercise to eating good food, meditation, or even wearing your favorite outfit. You can also incorporate massage therapy to boost both your mental and physical best self. Massage therapy is a great way to relieve stress, pain, and anxiety so you can always feel your best.

8. Commit to your plan.

Whatever it is you want out of life, make a plan and stick to it. Writing out your goals or telling others about them can help you stay accountable. Just be sure to make your goals manageable and to be nurturing and kind to yourself as you commit to making positive changes in your life. There’s nothing wrong with starting off slow because it’s still a start!

Want Help With Your Spring Self-Cleaning?

When you visit Chante Massage, be ready to share your goals for long and short-term treatment, relax, and experience genuinely effective massage methods for healing. We offer a variety of modalities that can benefit your body, mind, and soul. Contact us today to learn more.

Hey there moms, soon-to-be moms, new moms, single moms, career moms, stay at home moms, and all the moms in between! There are a lot of roles a mother has, but one thing is for sure– adding a child into the world is no easy task.

For most, being a parent is a balancing act. It’s not a perfect one either. There are challenges, from time management to calculating expenses, and all the little things in between. The list can get long really quickly! 

With everything you have to juggle, it is quite common to burnout. In fact, A poll conducted in 2018 showed that out of 2000 parents from the United States and Canada, 60% had experienced burnout.

Have you ever burned out before? It’s okay to admit if you have. If you’re not quite sure, some common signs of burnout include:

• Extreme and overwhelming exhaustion
• Emotionally distancing yourself from the child(ren)
• Difficulty focusing at work
• Feeling like a “bad” parent; worthless, ineffective, lacking
• Intense guilt
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Emotional outburst unrelated to circumstances
• Questioning your life, your goals, your choices, your ability, your purpose.
• Dreaming of getting away from the home if you are a stay-at-home parent

Can Burnout Be Avoided?

Though many mothers experience burnout, it doesn’t have to be inevitable. In many ways, burnout can be avoided by taking steps to care for yourself and by lowering your expectations. 

Lowering your expectations is easier said than done. Society puts pressure on us moms to be perfect, but the reality is perfection isn’t attainable. You can still be the best mom you can be for your kids while realizing it doesn’t have to be perfect.

It’s important to surround yourself with people that you can be honest with. Find companionship in those who won’t judge you for not having the house clean, or the laundry done, or forgetting to send your child to school with their homework once. Confide in them about how imperfect your life is, and praise yourself about the fact that you are still the glue keeping things together. 

The only person you are harming when trying to force everything to be perfect is yourself. Stop putting the unwanted pressure on your life, and try taking things one day at a time.

Take Time to Care for Yourself

I know schedules get busy and even thinking about trying to fit one more thing in can seem impossible, but carving out time for yourself is what will keep you going for the years ahead.

Make it a priority by doing things like scheduling it into your calendar. Just like you’d put down your child’s soccer practice Saturday at 2:00, find a moment of free time and block it out for you. It doesn’t matter if it’s weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly, just find the time in your schedule and book it. 

What do you do with this time for yourself? Well, that’s entirely up to you. You can go to therapy, start journaling, going to the gym, getting coffee with a friend, going on a date with your significant other, or taking a walk. You can also try meditation, getting your nails or hair done, and massage therapy.

Massage Therapy as Self-Care

The stress we have is carried in our bodies from day today. We can feel it in the tenseness in our necks, backs, legs, and even in our heads from headaches and migraines. Stress can also cause problems with digestion, mood, metabolism, and sleep. 

Regular massage has been proven to help combat all the negative side effects of stress, which makes it sort of the holy grail of self-care. It helps mentally, physically and emotionally. 

Some key benefits of massage therapy include:

• Reduced anxiety
• Higher quality of sleep
• Decreases frequency of headaches
• Increases the immune system
• Helps with digestion
• Reduces aches and pains
• Increases “feel good” hormones
• Minimizes pain

In addition to these benefits, massage also brings us a calming sensation due to touch. It gives us a sense of comfort and caring, which all of us need, especially moms. You can enjoy a quiet time away from home while benefiting from the healing properties massage gives to us. 

On the Verge of a Burnout? 

Start taking some time for yourself, you deserve it! Take the first step and schedule a massage today, get it on your calendar, and commit to some self-care. If you have any questions, give us a call! 

Did you know only 8 percent of people achieve their New Year’s resolutions?

Researchers have found that yearlong goals are too long to really be successful. Those who set smaller goals are actually more likely to accomplish them. So how do you go about setting goals when it comes to health? With such a large, overarching category, setting health goals can pose challenging.

Quick Tips for Goal Setting

First and foremost, here are some quick tips on how to successfully set goals:

• Set goals that are specific
• Be passionate about your goals
• Track your progress
• Align short-term goals with long-term goals
• Get accountability
• Revise, Practice, Revise!

Don’t leave your health out when setting goals! If you deal with stress, insomnia, irritability, migraines, or feel that your body is out of sync, consider massage therapy!

How Including More Massage Therapy Can Improve Your Health

If you are looking to be healthier in 2020, adding a body massage to your resolution is essential. Massage has many health benefits, including:

• Boosting immunity
• Reducing stress
• Lowering blood pressure
• Improving the quality of sleep
• Faster healing
• Reducing anxiety and depression
• Promoting relaxation
• Regulating blood pressure

From helping athletes improve their performance, to managing stress and being more productive, massage can help you work toward all types of goals and resolutions. Massage therapists like Angie at Chante Massage who are versed in other modalities, such as Shirodhara and Acupressure, can also use these techniques in addition to your massage to promote healing, wellness, and health.

Make A Lifestyle Change with Massage Therapy

The best way to add massage into your life is to do it as regularly as possible for your lifestyle. To truly reap the benefits of massage, you need to be getting one more than once a year, even if that means quarterly, monthly, or bi-weekly. Once you start to enjoy massage sessions regularly, then you really begin to see major changes in your body, mind, and mood.

Don’t miss out in the new year at your chance to be a happier healthier you by introducing massage into your routine and your budget. You are worth investing in. And don’t consider this a New Year’s resolution that quickly fades, but a lifestyle change.

Call Angie Smith at Chante Massage in Omaha for a free initial consultation at 402-319-1845 or contact us online today.

Massage therapy has been around for centuries, yes centuries! And while each massage therapist is different or may have different practices, there are some elements of massage that are tried and true.

However, some things you’ve heard are just plain false. We’re here to bust any myths you might have heard about massage.

Myth 1: A massage is a massage, no matter where you go.

Fact: Not all massages are created equally. Some massages you get in a spa setting, others could be in a clinical or hospital setting. Some are full body and some are focused on problem areas. Most use different techniques, such as Swedish massage or deep tissue massage. Some are licensed massage therapists and others simply are not. With every type of massage and massage therapist comes a different result.

Myth 2: A sign of a good massage is next-day soreness.

Fact: Soreness is no indication of how good a massage is. Some may be sore after their first massage or if they haven’t received one in a while. But if you get regular massages, chances are you won’t be sore the next day. And no one should ever be so sore that it hinders you in any way.

Myth 3: I don’t have to drink water after a massage.

Fact: Well, you should. Massage releases a lot of toxins that become stagnate in the body. To flush these out, you want to drink plenty of water. It can also reduce soreness for those who don’t receive regular massage therapy.

We also want to mention that it’s probably not a good idea to drink alcohol or smoke right after a massage. Since massage increases your circulation, alcohol and nicotine can have a stronger effect after a session.

Myth 4: It has to hurt to be effective.

Fact: Wrong! This is not a case for “no pain no gain”. Your massage therapist should never hurt you. You may experience some discomfort, but you need to be able to distinguish that from pain. If you therapist in inflicting pain, you need to say so. Another myth is that clients assume a therapist knows when it hurts, but that’s not always true.

Receiving a massage, whether a full body massage, deep tissue massage, or a general wellness massage can bring so many benefits to your body, health, and overall state of mind. When you visit Chante Massage, be ready to share your goals for long and short-term treatment, relax, and experience genuinely effective massage methods for healing.

Contact us today for a free initial health coaching consultation.

Never underestimate the power of a full night’s sleep. Not getting enough sleep can weaken your immune system, lower your attention span, lead to weight gain, and decrease your sex drive. When you don’t get enough sleep, you increase your risk of diabetes, certain cancers, and even car accidents.

An estimated 50-79 million Americans experience sleep issues that affect their health. So, if you are like most of society today, you are not putting sleep as a priority in your life. If you are experiencing insomnia, you can’t solve it with a quick fix. You need to find the root cause of the problem.

Overstimulation at night, including watching television and eating late-night snacks, all serve to counteract the body’s natural rhythms. Most people are not familiar with this correlation.

Exposure to the light at daybreak and dusk helps to regulate sleep hormones in the body. Rather than embracing the descending energy at nighttime, we tend to keep our mind awake by watching television or playing on our phones. Even worse, we let our minds wander from one thought to another, staying in a stressful state that can keep us up for hours or perhaps an entire evening.

Evening is a time to allow our minds and bodies to rest and rejuvenate for the day ahead.

How Massage Therapy Can Help You Sleep

Massage has been proven to raise your levels of serotonin—those “feel good” hormones people are always talking about. Serotonin is necessary to the body’s proper production of melatonin, which causes sleepiness and relaxation. So, massage therapy helps increase production of melatonin, not to mention helps relieve pain that can keep you awake at night, so that you can fall asleep.

This effect of massage therapy has been studied and tested time and time again. The National Institute of Health has advised that massage therapy can reduce fatigue and improve sleep and, based on research gathered by the American Massage Therapy Association, massage has been shown to improve sleep in infants, children, adults, and the elderly alike, as well as individuals with psychiatric disorders, fibromyalgia, cancer, heart disease, lower back pain, cerebral palsy, and breast disease.

Try Massage Therapy Today and Sleep Better Tomorrow

What have you got to lose? Massage therapy is a smart, healthy and drug free option to overcome insomnia. Incorporating regular massage therapy can benefit your health in more ways than you realize.

To find out more on how massage therapy can help your insomnia, contact Chante Massage in Omaha today. We are dedicated to helping you feel better through massage therapy.