Summer is fast approaching and most of you will be enjoying Memorial Day Weekend outside, I know I will. The summer is such a fun time, outside events, getting together with family and cook-outs, however don’t ruin the fun by getting a sun burn – use your sunscreen and re-apply throughout the day.

May is a busy month for us, with several outside events. Last weekend we volunteered at the May Ride, a motorcycle ride event with proceeds benefitting Homefront San Diego. This weekend we’ll be giving free back and neck massages at the Santee Street Fair (the Spa will be closed that day) and chit chatting with our friends and I know a lot of our loyal guests will come by to say ‘hi’. The Street Fair is a great event for local small businesses to meet new customers, but also to network with other small business owners to increase your ‘know how’. We really enjoy being a part of these community events, it reminds us what a great community we live and work in.

Next month we’ll also be having several other outside events, including volunteering at a Golf Tournament/Fundraiser for the Santee School District Foundation at the Carlton Oaks Country Club and an event benefitting the East County Boys & Girls Club.

So yes, we are keeping busy over here (and out there), but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Hope to see soon, whether it is here at the Spa or out there at an event.

Have a great week & remember to take time for yourself, you deserve it!

Caroline

P.s. If you are interested in getting our newsletters announcing our specials, just contact me at caroline@simplyspasantee.com

I’m amazed at how often my work reminds of this saying. Dealing with people on such a personal level as a massage therapist really drives home the fact that the way people come across at first may not be an accurate picture at all. I have guests with disabilities who are still very capable of doing things and most of all they often have the most amazing personalities.

Recently a new guest came in to book an appointment. She was in a wheelchair and dressed very casually. We made the appointment for a few days later and during our introduction time she shared with me that at another place she was made to feel very uncomfortable. Now granted, we do have a policy that the person coming in for a massage needs to be able to get on and off the table by themselves or bring assistance, but we also know that massage can be extremely helpful to persons that spend most of their day in a seated position. I was so glad that she came to us and she really enjoyed her massage that day, she was even talking about coming back soon.

I’ve had guests come in all happy and cheery, however when they are in the treatment they start talking about their feelings and problems. Some even shed tears and apologize for it and my usual answer: it’s called massage therapy for a reason. So just because people look happy all the time, doesn’t mean they don’t have their own fair share of problems, they just choose to not throw it out there.

I find that each time I stop myself from judging a person or catch myself doing it, I learn so much more about life. I know that sounds very ‘Dalai Lama’-ish, but it feels great and I highly recommend it. Just because something is normal to me, doesn’t mean that something outside my way of normal is wrong. What is right to you may be completely wrong to another person. And honestly, how boring would life be if we all liked the same things and did the same things all the time. So get out of your comfort zone and explore the world! Go to a restaurant and try a cuisine that is completely new to you, go watch a foreign movie, book a trip to a place you’ve never been before, go volunteer for a cause you’ve never put much thought into, be adventurous.

Have a great week & remember to take time for yourself, you deserve it!

Caroline

P.s. If you are interested in getting our newsletters announcing our specials, just contact me at caroline@simplyspasantee.com

Do you ever get frustrated or bored with your job, even though you know it’s the best job you’ve ever had?  I guess we all have those days.  This week I needed some motivation and so I decided to go to a new networking group.  It’s nice to meet other business owners and exchange experiences and get new ideas.  I find that when I go out and meet new people I get excited again, just by talking about my job. 

Another great way is to go take a class or seminar, even if it is a home study course, it reminds me of the things I love about being a massage therapist and the benefits I provide to others.  I also like looking at new products to use and sell at the spa.  There are always new products coming out and some are good and some not so much, but it’s fun to read and keep up with the ever changing market. 

Although we like to keep things simple here at Simply Spa, we do like to spend time doing some more special things.  A few times a year we will come up with special limited time treatments that relate to the season.  It keeps us interested by doing new things and not just the same treatments over and over.

So if you need some renewed motivation for your job, get out and remind yourself why you started your job in the first place, or how you can move onto something better – Take charge!

Have a great week & remember to take time for yourself, you deserve it!

Caroline J

P.s.  If you are interested in getting our newsletters announcing our specials, just contact me at caroline@simplyspasantee.com

So I was home alone for the week. My boys all left for a camping trip, so my plans included cleaning, clearing clutter, getting stuff ready to give to the Goodwill, studying for my continuing education…

Well not so much. Instead I took advantage of the empty house to catch up on chick flicks and to just lounge around eating some easy quick home cooked meals. Even though I missed my boys, it’s been therapeutic to spend some ‘me’ time.

I also got some exercise in. We are a one-car family and the boys took the car, leaving me with my trusty bicycle. Riding my bike to work has actually been fun for me. Growing up in Holland, land of the bicycles (and cheese) I rode my bike everywhere, including a daily 5 mile ride to and from high school. Needless to say I never felt like I was out of shape, because I would get a work out every day.

It is a little different riding here, more hills, ups and downs and not as many safe bicycle paths. Nonetheless it is definitely doable to ride a bike to work. I get a work out and enjoy the sun and fresh air. Plus it forced me to eat healthy at home and save money on eating out. Not sure how the folks at the drive-thru would react if I showed up at the window with my bike.

I may just have to keep this up for a few days a week while the weather permits. Have a great week & remember to take time for yourself, you deserve it!

Caroline

As I celebrate another birthday I look back at the changes I’ve made in my life over the last year. My family and I have really tried to improve our diet and lifestyle. We recently started buying our produce from a local farm and it has been an amazingly positive experience.

We joined a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)*. The basics premise of the program is to purchase a ‘share’ in a local farm and in return you receive a box of fresh produce each week. It is like Christmas every week to see our ‘harvest’. The items vary each week depending on the season and what fruits, vegetables and herbs are ready to be harvested. They are fresh, grown locally without pesticides, in season and they taste amazing!

I have to admit there are some fruits and vegetables that throw us for a loop: “What is this and what the #@*% are we going to do with it?” This is also part of the adventure to try new items we would otherwise not purchase or even see at the store. We go to Blue Sky Ranch and they are good about posting each week’s items on their website so we just go on the internet and find recipes for the items we haven’t used before.

I also like the idea of our kids growing up knowing where their food comes from and that there are choices beyond the usually canned corn, green beans and peas or even the standard carrots, tomatoes, cucumber, apples, bananas etc. that are available at every grocery store.

This week I left a cumquat on the counter and my 4 year old said “that’s a cumquat mommy”. Thomas and I looked at each other in amazement. When I asked how he knew that, he told me he saw it on Sesame Street. So if he is learning that from the TV, the least I can do is show him in real life.

So, if you are into healthy food and a little adventurous check out www.healingfromthegroundup.org. We arranged for a tour before signing up, so we could see the farm and it really made the difference to see how our food is grown.

*For more information and to find a CSA in your area check out www.localharvest.org/csa/

To make an appointment or for more information call us at (619) 258 5810 or e-mail us info@simplyspasantee.com

*Other plans include Alliance Health Card, Clarian Health Plan and Healthyroads Collection. Check your insurance provider’s website for alternative health discounts as more insurance companies are realizing the health benefits of massage they may join the Affinity Program through American Specialty Health.