2/1/2021 0 Comments Is the Jar Full...?An instructor sets a jar on the table. He places chunky rocks in the jar until no more can fit. He asks the class if the jar is full and they agree it is. “Really?” He adds small pebbles to the jar, shaking it a bit until they fill the spaces between the rocks. Again, “Is the jar full?” The class agrees it is. Next, he adds sand to the jar. The sand fills space between the pebbles and he asks the question again. This time, the class hesitates. Some are feeling the jar is obviously full, but others are wary of another possible alternative. The instructor then takes a pitcher of water and tops off the jar. He then says, “If this jar is your life, what does this experiment show you?” One student answers, “No matter how busy you think you are, you can always take on more.” “That is one view,” replies the instructor, then says “The rocks represent the BIG things in your life – what you will value at the end of your life – your family, your partner, your health, fulfilling your hopes and dreams. The pebbles are the other things in your life that give it meaning, like your job, your house, your hobbies, your friendships. The sand and water represent the ‘small stuff’ that fills our time, like watching TV or running errands.” Looking out at the class again, he asks, “Can you see what would happen if I started with the sand or the pebbles?” This parable is always in the back of my mind. It is an epic visual of what is important, what we perceive as important and what happens when we confuse the two. What I find most interesting is the number one value of the BIG rocks should be YOU. Even in this example the first, most important things in life are listed as family, partner, health and hopes and dreams. I say YOU are most important. For without an emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally healthy and centered YOU, there can’t be a healthy relationship for others and other things in your life. Are you feeling off? Can’t keep up? Frustrated? Stressed? Others have expectations of you and your abilities for them – family, work, community. What are your expectations for yourself? Are you trying to keep up with the pebbles? What if YOU are the largest of the rocks? YOU come first into the jar. Everything else will follow and flow and have room in your life. If YOU are second or third or many times last, and YOU put those other rocks and pebbles and sand first, YOU won’t fit in the jar. YOU are outside the jar. YOU aren’t a priority and aren’t fulfilled with the others in the jar. Don’t resent or stress. Make YOU the priority and fill the jar accordingly. What does it mean to put you first? We are all different. For me it means I find time for something I enjoy. Many days I am caught up in phone calls and emails and massages, then walking the dog and laundry and cleaning up, then, then, then… and I don’t feel I have time for something I truly enjoy. I must make time for ME. YOU must make time for YOU. It is YOUR life and YOU have one shot to enjoy it not just get through it. So it’s February. The month of loooovvve. And though there are many we love, I say we choose ourselves to love first. Show yourself some love. Be kind to yourself. Give yourself a break. Speak kind words to yourself. Don’t treat yourself, put yourself first. BE THE ROCK. Loooovvve yourself first. I challenge YOU to choose YOU. Stacy Ford is a Certified Athletic Trainer, Licensed Massage Therapist and Co-Founder of Complete Wellness. Her mission is to help people feel & function better so they can live their very best lives. Stacy is available by appointment Monday - Friday. To schedule text/call 267-509-7717
0 Comments
Oooo. Ahhhh. A hot stone massage automatically conjures the concept of relaxation. Imagine the soothing warmth of the stones, the glide of those warm stones over tense muscles, the comfort of the heat seeping into the body allowing all things stress to melt away. Having a skilled massage therapist can take your massage to the next level with hot stones adding the benefits of heat and weight. By placing hot stones over tension areas, the heat begins the relaxation process by seeping into the muscles allowing the therapist to use less pressure to dissipate those trigger points. Although the stones are not heavy, the added weight brings comfort and awareness to body areas. Benefits have been touted as better sleep, reduced tension and anxiety and increased circulation. New to hot stone? Wondering what to expect? A hot stone massage is exactly that – the use of various sized smooth, stones to perform the massage. Basalt is the stone of choice, a volcanic rock that retains heat well. Most hot stone massages begin with the placement of the heated stones on specific areas of the body. They can be placed on the face, arms, chest, palms of hands, arches of feet, legs, and along the spine. As in a traditional Swedish massage where the focus is long strokes, kneading of muscles and firm pressures over tense areas, the therapist will use similar techniques alternating using stones and their hands. Everyone has different sensitivity and tolerance levels. It is very important to communicate with the massage therapist if the stone temperature is too warm and if the pressure is a good level for you. Comfort and relaxation is the intention. In need of some deep relaxation. A time to totally shut off your mind and let your body release the stress it holds. It is time for you to schedule a hot stone massage today. You deserve it. Mindy & Lori provide Hot Stone Massage at Complete Wellness Appointments are available Monday – Saturday. Text/Call 267-509-7717 to schedule your appointment. 1/18/2021 0 Comments Relax - and prevent illness“A relaxing experience that can also prevent illness.“ I recently came across this quote referring to reflexology. “A relaxing experience that can also prevent illness.“ I really wish I knew who to attribute it to, but I do not. But I share it with the deepest gratitude. Reading this made me think two thoughts… 1. “Eat your veggies first“ popped into my head. That implies that you don’t like your veggies. That you want to eat them first and get them out of the way. Implying that we are not necessarily going to enjoy the things that are good for us. I have happily discovered that many things we can do that are good for us, are truly enjoyable experiences. 2. The words “prevent illness“, I feel like it sounds like such a simple, maybe not as important as it is statement. Reflexology, as a holistic modality, cannot diagnose, cure, prescribe or treat a specific illness. However, Prevention - yup - that it can do. Doesn’t that seem like an even more powerful tool? How much better would it be to prevent the things you could rather than have to go about diagnosing them, curing them or prescribing something for them? An added perk for reflexology, it’s reparative. Your reflexologist can’t label what you have, but they can inspire your body into doing some amazing repairative healing work. Conclusion of two thoughts… The Magic of Reflexology
*Apologies. Would love to give credit for the quote above. Author of the quote above is unknown. Tracy McGovern is co-owner of Complete Wellness Quakertown, llc, a Nationally Board Certified Reflexology Practitioner and instructor. She has been a practicing Reflexologist for 20 years. Appointments with Tracy are available Monday - Friday. To schedule text/call 267-509-7717 Happy New Year to All!! I’m not sure about you, but I am so very ready for a new year. I love the holidays, but I am super excited to put my focus back where it belongs, back on to the focus of this wonderful “CW” endeavor - on you. You are the reason Complete Wellness was created. To help you feel better, connect with new information, experiences & community. To find the perfect combination of things to experience and do to unleash the whole, actual, vibrant - you. Over the holiday season I’ve been blessed to hear a lot of feedback from people of their experiences at Complete Wellness. I’m not usually a weepy person - but that’s where it took me. So many expressing gratitude for this space that helped them reach goals, move better, feel more grounded, connected and experience some pretty profound personal growth. Ahhhmazzzing!!! It is my intention this year to be focused on you. To share more information & insights about the impact of all the things we offer, more stories of what has helped who and how. To continue to grow this wellness community...and of course to have fun doing it. I’m excited and so very grateful to have you as part of our community. Please share any of your experiences, what you’d like to know more about, what you’d like to see offered at Complete Wellness - we’re here to help. Let us know what you need. Here’s to a magical, healthy, joy-filled and prosperous new year. New Decade-wow! Happy to share the journey with you. Good Thoughts Always, Tracy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hello CW Community! 2020 is here! Where does the time go? We say this all the time. Well, for us the time was spent expanding our offerings of classes, services, events and community interaction. Spent getting to know you, each of you. Sharing in your journey of wellness lifts our hearts. We have grown emotionally, socially, intellectually (no giggling) and have more insight and wisdom, and we thank you for being with us, helping direct us. We are grateful for the beautiful, talented and exceptional people who work with us, offering diverse classes and services. Hearing how each provider makes a difference in someone’s life always gives me a full cup of happiness. Fortunate to have each one of them for all they share, and thankful for each of you who patronize us. People who visit say they feel so comfortable in our space. Yay, we worked hard for the feelings of belonging, welcoming, and calm. I tell the story of my friends always wanting to hang at my house when I was young. My parents made our home comfortable and safe for my friends to be welcome. That has been our goal with CW, the place people want to be, want to visit. So where does the next year take us? Well, we have ideas, but mostly this concept revolves around you. What would you like to see us offer? What do you like best about CW? We have many of our goals but know we have a long journey ahead. And, we look forward to that journey as a way of growth. Thank you, all, for taking the journey with us and seeing what this new year, new decade has in store. Happy New Year!! Love and Hugs, Sincerely, Stacy Just 5 Words As the new year approaches and people start talking about those “resolution” things (gave them up years ago-only one I ever kept! lol) I wanted to share something I read yesterday. It’s a list of “Self-Care Opportunities “. I love how that is phrased - opportunities. Most are free and not exactly what you’d think. Being a fan of Self-care (which you may have figured out by now) I love this. There are 100 items on the list. My plan is to use a couple a week to spark some conversation-and maybe ideas for even more SCO (OH! We’ll have our own special acronym! Can’t have enough of those!! “Self-Care Opportunity”) An important note. This list I speak of came from the seriously brilliant and soul-nourishing minds at @simplifymagazine If you’ve not checked this out-do it today. They have an amazing offer going till tomorrow (12/31). The Mag is ALL online. Nothing to clutter your house or make trash and it has no ads. Filled with insightful and useful material - this list being a case in point. It is quarterly and I read it all the way through. That in itself is a grab-a-cup-of-tea, relax, me-time SCO! And after all that - here we go…. #1 Articulate Five Core Values This is a FREE SCO. And it’s only 5 right? Easy Peezy. Get clear on what means the most to you so that can always be your guide. Simple. RIGHT. This is asking you to sum up what matters to you most…..in 5 words. Words. Not sentences. Not paragraphs. Not novellas (clearly an issue for me). Wow. You may need more than one cup of tea for this one. But what a worthy task - and one that feels PERFECT to me as we are wrapping up one year and starting the next. Like a nice blank sheet of paper. I’m going to work on this list. When I’m done I will share. Will you? What are your 5 words that express your 5 core values best. We'd love to hear… Author: Tracy McGovern, Co-Founder Complete Wellness 12/30/2019 10/30/2019 1 Comment Gratitude starts at homeNovember is here and that means you’ve probably already seen about 942 memes or posts about having an attitude of gratitude... and you know what? We say, bring it on! It’s pretty much impossible to overestimate the power of gratitude, so in our book, 942 is just a start. At Complete Wellness, one of the things we’re most grateful for is you. And us. Together. In this space. Complete Wellness is like a second home for us. It’s a home for the magical, inspiring, talented, loving community that gathers here to share and heal and express and grow and give. We are thankful for the clients and for every person (human and canine) whose presence makes this space a home. And not just any home, but *the* home-- you know, the one everyone wants to come to because it’s always full of cool people doing cool stuff, and when you walk in you know you’re part of a family whose connection mends hearts and bodies and uplifts spirits. This November, we invite you to join us in an exploration of what it means to be grateful. What are you grateful for? What do you share that brings out gratitude in others? Where do you find a space for expressing your gratitude? Let’s find out together! AuthorComplete Wellness' blogs are written by Marissa Polselli of Wordtree, LLC 9/30/2019 1 Comment The beauty of letting goIf it feels like just last week that you were packing up for a last minute day trip to the shore, that’s because it probably was! The suddenness of red and gold and brown where mere days ago there was only green seems to have caught even nature by surprise, as the temperature scrambles to catch up to the expected crispness of the season. But since Autumn is all about letting go, we’re thinking that makes sense. The trees have to let go of the idea that flourishing green lasts forever. Summer has to loosen its grasp, reining in its balmy days so swirling winds and lengthening shadows can come out to play. And we have to let go of… so much. It would be easier if all we had to release was our attachment to long, bright days and warm starlit nights, but life gives us far more to consider. It also gives us the best kind of teacher--one who instructs by example. Nature shows us the grace of letting what is no longer ours find its way free, on a different current. She shows us that the parting can be graceful, even beautiful. And she shows us that when, like her trees, we are firmly planted, the places that “lost” don’t stay bare for long. This October, we invite you to join us in an exploration of what it means to let go. What is no longer serving you that can be released? What does letting go look like? What does it open the door to? Let’s find out together! AuthorComplete Wellness' blogs are written by Marissa Polselli of Wordtree, LLC 8/22/2019 1 Comment Back to SchoolYou see it start mid-summer. First it’s an ad in the paper. A commercial. A tastefully arranged display at the supermarket showcasing pens and highlighters. In August it picks up in volume and intensity, and by the time the first pumpkin spice latte makes its cinnamon and nutmeg infused appearance, it’s everywhere: Back to school! The phrase elicits an array of responses, from the reluctance of students and the eager anticipation of parents to the particular mixture of both known only to teachers. This year, it also got us thinking... What does ”back to school” mean for us? Most of us reading this blog are no longer in school in any official capacity, but does school always coincide with learning? What other ways do we learn? What things do we focus on learning? And how do we tend to the expansion of our mind, imagination, and spirit when it’s left entirely to us to manage? This September, we invite you to join us in an exploration of what it means to be a student...of life, of the Universe, of all that IS. We invite you to embrace the lifelong learner in you--the part of you that gets curious, fascinated, excited, and motivated to know more. We invite you to go back to school with us, and to share what you learn. Also feel free to share your pumpkin spice latte! AuthorComplete Wellness' blogs are written by Marissa Polselli of Wordtree, LLC "One must maintain a little bit of summer, even in the middle of winter." - Henry David Thoreau At Complete Wellness, we’re all about being in the moment... which is why this month’s blog might seem a bit strange at first, but hang in there with us for a moment to explore an idea… Every season has its gifts and beauty and purpose, and we’re all for going with the flow and embracing them as they happen. But as we get ready for the last month of summer, we’re thinking that it’s possible to enter into each season fully while still treasuring the best feelings and lessons we’ve experienced so far. What does that mean for us right now? It means that the warmth, freedom, and joy of summer can remain as a spark in our hearts as we prepare for quieter seasons, keeping the embers lit until it is their time to blaze again next year. This August, we invite you to savor the remaining days of summer with us, and to join us in an exploration and celebration of the ways we can keep just a bit of its light and warmth with us to tap into whenever we need it throughout the year. AuthorComplete Wellness' blogs are written by Marissa Polselli of Wordtree, LLC 6/30/2019 0 Comments Declaring Our IndependenceWith the 4th of July around the corner we’ve got independence on our minds. Just a tad over 200 years ago a bunch of scrappy colonists gave the boot--and probably a few other gestures--to King George. And just a just a few blocks away, at Liberty Hall, stands a replica of the Liberty Bell, which the citizens of Quakertown helped to keep safe during the Revolutionary War. From this we learn two things: First, don’t mess with Quakertown. And second, freedom is possible anywhere, if you declare it and take action. At Complete Wellness, we’re using the month of July to focus on freedom, and asking ourselves the question, what am I ready to declare my independence from? Maybe it’s a nutritional habit that doesn’t serve our well-being. Maybe it’s the tendency to put our own self-care on the back burner. Maybe it’s a limiting belief that’s holding us back from being as happy and healthy as we can be, Whatever it is, overthrowing it has got to be at least as doable as defying the might of the British Empire. This July, we invite you to join us in an exploration of freedom, and a declaration of independence from whatever is keeping us from the fullest expression of our sovereign right to be ourselves, free, happy, and well. AuthorComplete Wellness' blogs are written by Marissa Polselli of Wordtree, LLC |
Stacy & Tracy Blog on Complete Wellness Quakertown, llc...We can't WAIT to do blog posts!!!! Archives
January 2024
Categories |