Natural Body Works: Nurturing Hands

Where to begin this new blog for the week.... I am drawn to speak more about the challenges we face in our life to create a life we desire and how to even begin to get there if we are not there. Last week I briefly spoke about finding balance, positive self speak, compassion for self and finding a way to let go of relationships that are not serving our greatest good. To elaborate a bit more, I would like to begin to share a bit about my work.  I LOVE helping people feel better. It is why I chose to become a massage therapist.  I want to help people. I want to alleviate their physical (and sometimes more emotional) pain.  I wanted to work in the health care field with out the gore and blood of the doing what the amazing nurses and doctors deal with on the daily.   I wanted to share immediate results with my clients and show them there is a life they can have with a more pain free and able body.  So, I decided to go to school at 21 years old and do the best I could to create a life wi

Sometimes it is hard to find a balance in life is it not? Among the million things we want to do, the zillion things on our to do list, and all the projects in between, how are we ever going to find a way to complete all the tasks? I used to write list after list, task completed gets a scratch off. Gold star for me right?!  Well, I used to have pretty high anxiety, being a solid type A personality.  My need for things to be done correctly and perfectly was top priority.  Growing up in a world where I could make things work for myself was simple.  I was in charge and no one was there to lay down the carpet or hold my hand.  I could only control myself and the things I wanted or needed to do. It was also pretty lonely. Here's the tricky part.  We are never in control.  Our lists help us manage our need to complete tasks for validation and worth.  We have all been conditioned to be the best person we can be, and we are driven to succeed.  These are great qualities indeed; however,

What is your self care regime? How do you take care of your body when it is healthy or when it is injured? Do you have a regular exercise practice? What are your goals for a healthy body/mind? What is your nutritional outlook? Do you rest as often as you need to? Do you over work yourself? How do you speak to your self? What is your outlook on life? These are all great questions to ask your self when considering what it means to be healthy. I have been a yoga therapist for 12 years and I love the philosophy, the physical healing properties, and the opportunities for constant learning. Yoga defines the body as yoking the entire body into one unit as a whole: body, mind, spirit.  Connecting the body on a mental and physical melding is often a challenge, then throwing in the spirit /soul/ the energy within us/ whatever you call it, is a whole additional challenge.  The lively hood of our body and our life depends on connecting all that we are meant to be to a healthy balance o

Hey everyone, here is a great topic.  How does someone pick the best massage therapist for their needs? Where should one even start to find a therapist? With technology today the internet is one of the most useful resources for one to find a business or therapist with a credible bio to check out.  Most people today have internet access as well as an online presence for their business practice.  It is pretty essential these days to have a website to describe the work they offer. Jump online in your own town, or where ever you plan to go on vacation and look for a local business if you are seeking specialty work.  If you are looking for a general relaxation massage, you can find a massage chain with more flexibility for time frames to get in for a session. There are so many differing types of massage available for one to choose from.  So how does one  know what to ask for, or what to look for with a therapist?  A few questions can help determine what the client needs and with what pr

Osteopathy by definition is the medical practice emphasizing the treatment of medical disorders through manipulation and massage of bones, joints and muscles. What does that have to do with me? Well, I am attending school to become a certified manual osteopathic practitioner. How is that different than a typical Osteopath?  Well, I don't write prescriptions. I still get to work with clientele to help alleviate pain, help with joint, bones and muscle issues of the body.  I get to work to educate clients for optimal wellness for their journey in their health. How is that different than what I do now?  I am a certified medical massage therapist and structural integrative therapist specializing in rehabilitative massage.  That's a lot of words meaning I work with the integrity of the body structure of the bones and joints to create pain free movement and help the muscles release through joint play.  I work currently with practices of Muscle Energy Techniques to stimulate b

Hey everyone, I am Shanna Arno, the owner and founder of Natural Body Works Massage and Wellness Center.  I live and work downtown Vancouver WA, in the beautiful PNW.  I have had my business for 15 years focusing my work in the field of rehabilitation massage, nutrition, natural health care, and holistic wellness as a reiki practitioner.  I am a certified teacher in various fitness education formats including yoga, barre, bellyfit, and I am also a certified fitness trainer for my clients.  I love teaching and educating my clients how to use their bodies well, how to heal themselves, and how to create a life they love. I love working in the preventative care field, as well as helping in recovery. I love being part of the community downtown, exploring the world and helping how I can by ripple effect of spreading good energy in all I do.  I love working with women especially with teaching and leading women's retreats, exploring this beautiful world we live in. I have decided recently