Hollywood Body Therapy makes “mobile of the month” on The Mobile Spa Network

April Mobile of the Month: Hollywood Body Therapy

By: Ashley Charlton Griffin for The Mobile Spa Network

In any industry, marketing is a key step towards success.  So, why would a Marketing Director for a mobile computer repair company make a move to mobile spa ownership?  Because former Marketing Director Tasha Hardy, owner of Hollywood Body Therapy, has twelve years of massage therapy experience under her belt and saw a seamless transition from one industry to the next at an optimal time in her life.

Tasha Hardy, a Minneapolis, MN native, honed her massage skills at Sister Rosalind’s School of Massage and her entrepreneurial spirit developed Natural Body Therapy, a business focused on various massage modalities.  Hardy says, “I took two years off [from] massage, ironically, because of a back injury,” and found her way into an opportunity with TrustMePC as the company’s Marketing Director.  The mobile computer repair company, owned by John Feige, had developed a unique marketing structure for companies on the go.  Hardy goes on to say, “When the recession hit and the company downsized, I suddenly realized that I could use the same marketing structure to start a mobile spa.”

The realization that owning a mobile spa was worthwhile came immediately when she received her first booking–a couples massage. “It took me ten minutes to organize sending out two therapists,” Hardy notes. “[It was] just some simple coordination.  And I enjoy doing the marketing, so it’s fun all around.”  In fact, the marketing is so fun for her because it’s all about communicating with clients and their friends. “I’ve really learned that most of my business comes from referrals. So I can go out, have fun and meet people and get business more often than sitting behind a desk trying to figure out social networking strategies.”  Hardy doesn’t downplay the benefits of social networking, however, and believes that a combination of both face-to-face and Internet tactics are most effective.  She will also be sharing a wealth of knowledge on her blog, which is projected to launch within the next month.

Hardy often accepts qualified therapist’s employment inquiries, but enjoys the positive dynamics of her current team. She even still finds time to volunteer with animal rescue efforts. And, as an added perk to WordPress Blog readers, Hollywood Body Therapy offers a $20 credit for first time one-hour massage sessions (original service value is $140.00). Seeking more than a one-hour massage session?  Mention that you learned about Hardy’s company here, and a $35 credit is extended for your first 1.5 hour massage session (original service value $200.00)! To learn more about Tasha Hardy’s mobile spa, visit http://hollywoodbodytherapy.net or call 866-559-8242 and schedule your appointment today.

Reflexology: Addressing Pain and Putting Cancer Patients at Ease

Reflexology: Addressing Pain and Putting Cancer Patients at Ease

by Jack Bleeker/May 2010

With roots in ancient Egypt, China, and Japan, the art of reflexology is a healing and relaxation technique that has stood the test of time and is familiar to many today. Found on treatment menus in world-class spas and on the schedules of many hospital-based palliative care centers, reflexology is viewed by skeptics as just a foot massage, but those who have recognized the therapy’s benefits will loudly proclaim that it is much, much more.

            For patients with cancer, such as those battling malignant mesothelioma, reflexology is said to have numerous benefits. Used as a complementary therapy along with conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, proponents of reflexology note that the treatment goes a long way in addressing such issues as pain, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting. Especially upon the mesothelioma prognosis, these individuals are in dire need of therapeutic relief from the side effects mentioned.

            So how does a foot rub help eliminate the unpleasant effects of cancer? Simply put, reflexology involves applying pressure to and stretching the hands and feet in order to trigger responses in other parts of the body. Experts theorize that the pressure sends a calming message from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system, where it signals the body to adjust its tension level, therefore creating a feeling of overall relaxation, increasing blood supply, and bringing organs to an optimal level of functioning. Others say the success of reflexology relates to the “gate control” theory of pain relief, which theorizes that pain is a subjective experience created by an individual’s brain. The notion that factors like mood or stress can also affect the experience of pain enters into play here. Hence, reflexology can reduce pain by relieving stress and anxiety.

            Though there is no steadfast scientific evidence that reflexology offers an cure for cancers like mesothelioma or any other disease, numerous studies have shown that this complementary therapy improves quality of life for many cancer patients, even if just for a short time, hence, its inclusion in many complementary and palliative care programs at cancer hospitals nationwide.

            A 2000 study at the School of Nursing at East Carolina University, for example, involved 23 breast and lung cancer patients who noted “a significant decrease” in anxiety with the use of reflexology treatment. This, wrote the professionals that authored the study, “has important implications for nursing practice as both professionals and lay people can be taught reflexology.

          “Reflexology is a simple technique for human touch which can be performed anywhere, requires no special equipment, is non-invasive and does not interfere with patients’ privacy,” the study continues.

            Indeed, many medical professionals have suggested that caregivers for cancer patients take time to learn reflexology so that they can use it when necessary to help those for whom they are caring find relief from the pain and stress associated with the disease. Furthermore, noted study leader Dr. Nancy Stephenson, in the case of those caring for spouses or other family members, “the therapy provides a way for partners to get involved in their loved one’s care at a time when they may feel there is nothing they can do to help.”

*To schedule a Reflexology appointment in Southern California please visit hollywoodbodytherapy.net or call 866-559-8242.

**Sources:

University of Minnesota, http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/reflexology/how-does-reflexology-work

American Cancer Society, http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_5_3X_Reflexology.asp

Dosing, Cancer, and Reflexology (Kunz), http://www.reflexology-research.com/dosing.html