Theresa Davella

Toothbrush Tell-All So how many of us know the age of our toothbrush? I do; it’s one month and one day old. Don’t be too impressed; I only know because I mark it in my calendar. It may seem insignificant to some, but it’s actually pretty important. It’s the first thing you put in your mouth in the morning, and the last thing at night (in an ideal world anyway). Thinking about morning breath, and all the things I put in my mouth in an average day makes me shudder. And p...lenty of other things go into our mouths involuntarily; airborne germs, viruses, spiders (yes it’s true) and all kinds of yucky stuff. So if you can’t remember when you last replaced it, it’s definitely time to. A new toothbrush can keep you healthy. Not to the extent of a Massage obviously . But it really can. It should be replaced every 2-3 months. Or in my case, every month and a half. It’s one of many things that I’m anal about. And yes; I do need a life. Anyway, there’s more. Not only should you replace it more frequently than you likely do, but you should tap all of the water out of it after you use it. Moisture harbors germs and bacteria. And definitely replace it after you’ve had a cold or been sick. You could potentially re-infect yourself if you don’t. And this part is really important; store it as far away from the toilet as possible. I keep mine at the farthest distance, and I ALWAYS flush the toilet with the lid closed. Toilet spray can travel a lot further than you may think! For some strange reason, electric toothbrushes creep me out. If that’s your bag, by all means go for it. But I try to keep a multi pack of toothbrushes at all times. They don’t have to be outrageously expensive either. (I think that the toothbrush operator and their technique is more important than the brush). By having a multi pack on hand, I don’t have to stress when it’s time to replace it. And I always have a spare if the Fam spends the night and they forgot to bring theirs. It’s a win win! Bottom line is; replacing your toothbrush more often can improve your health. So feel free to kiss your mother with that mouth more often. Enough said

The Truth is Beyond Belief I watched a special last night on PBS about Global Warming. I know; here I go again but just indulge me. I was reminded of the line from the movie in City of Angels, where Nicolas Cage says to Meg Ryan, Some things are true whether you believe in them or not. Our earth is in dire straits, and very few people believe it. Belief can be a good thing, but it’s also very subjective and can even be destructive. What we all believe defines us, but ...Continue reading

The Kindness of JP This post has nothing to do with massage, but it is definitely worth writing about. Last month, two of my sisters and myself were out to dinner. Three young men came up to our table to chat. They had likely been there all day; the Ravens had played earlier and they appeared to be feeling no pain lol. They were all very friendly, but JP in particular sat with us for a bit. He seemed to take a genuine interest in us , and in what we had to say. When th...e time came to square our tab, JP placed his own credit card on top of our check! My sisters and I questioned this, and told JP that we couldn’t allow him to pay our check. But he insisted, and told us that the only condition was that we pay it forward. We were astounded by this; here was this man that we had never met before adamant about doing this good deed. We thanked him incessantly, and we still hope that he had enough wits about him to not regret it the morning lol. We vowed to do as he requested. The next day, we talked about how we had to keep our promise to JP. But we got side-tracked with shopping and other sisterly stuff. As our visit was winding down, and I was getting ready to head back to PA we once again recalled our need to pay it forward. And we finally did; at a Wawa as I gassed up to leave MD. We gave some money to the cashier, and asked him to put it towards someone’s check. My one sister commented to the cashier that he shouldn’t take it for himself. But I rebutted this, and said if he’s the one in need then to take it. We left the store feeling vindicated. We didn’t even come close to the dollar amount of generosity that JP did, but we did as he had asked and that felt really good. We were blind-sided by JP’s kindness, and we hope in some small way that we did the same for someone else. Every once in a while, a JP comes into our lives. And when they do, it makes us realize the blinders that we mostly go through life with. I want to be a better person, but most of the time, I’m really not. I mean; I was only kind to someone else because someone asked me to be. I wished I could do it without being asked; like JP. So help me, I’m going to try harder to get out of my own head and open my eyes a bit more. And wherever you are JP; thank you

The "Skinny" on Skin I sometimes wonder about the reasons why people are hesitant to experience a massage. Clients who finally relent, confess some of the funniest excuses as to why it took them so long. With that in mind, I wanted to review a few things that seem to prevent potential clients from getting on the table. Most of these things don't matter to massage therapists at all, so let's set the record straight: 1) Unimportant: Shaved legs, faces, pedicures or even show...ers-you're not coming in for a massage to impress anyone! You're coming in for maintaining your good health and well-being, or for pain relief. I am focused on your muscle groups and tissues; not whether your nails are polished 2) Unimportant: Non-contagious skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis-if your are in the middle of an outbreak, I can avoid those areas if it's painful, or if I could cause bleeding. Otherwise, massage actually increases blood flow and tissue oxygenation. It's believed that massage could actually help rather than hinder many non-contagious skin issues 3) Unimportant: Excessive sweating or oiliness- Some people obviously sweat more than others. Despite how it makes the "sweater" feel, it means your Integumentary system (your skin) is doing its job. I can adjust the amount of product used to accommodate this issue; problem solved 3) Very Important: Contagious skin conditions such as poison ivy, oak, sumac, ring worm-not only can I contract it, but I can spread it on you as well! Since no one can pinpoint exactly when any contagious skin condition is well; contagious, it's best to avoid massage altogether until your skin is completely clear Your skin is one of the most amazing parts of you. And since massage should be a relaxing experience, don't sweat the small stuff (no pun intended). Trust me; your skin will thank you for it!

ICE ICE baby Ice is an under-utilized, and frankly an under-appreciated form of pain relief. Yet it costs less than most of the pain relievers that we all reach for. Applying ice properly to a painful or sprained area of the body can produce an analgesic effect. Ice also causes vasoconstriction to limit inflammation (a fancy word for swelling). The time it takes to achieve pain relief varies from person to person. The first sensation is that it's cold; pretty predictable.... Following the cold sensation, there could be discomfort or even pain, aching or burning. And finally, pain relief! Remove the ice, and allow the affected area to reach normal temperature on its own. You can repeat this cycle every hour. And you don't even need a fancy ice pack; a freezer bag (sans any holes) filled with ice works just fine. I keep one in my freezer at the ready. So next time you reach for the pill bottle, re-direct to your freezer instead. Enough said See more

I'm excited to take my massage career in a new direction! I am incorporating more chair massage, and would love to come to your place of business to perform chair massage for you and your colleagues! A 15 minute chair massage is only $15 per person. And for groups of 5 or more, I provide a discounted rate! Chair massage is ideal for those who've never experienced massage before. And for massage veterans as well. It provides a mini escape from your hectic workday, and ea...ses what I like to call our "technology" muscles in our necks and shoulders. Most employers welcome the opportunity to incorporate chair massage; it improves overall work performance and concentration. I can also accomodate a massage party; why not host one soon? Feel free to message me for additional information, and to set up an appointment. I can visit for a one-time, weekly or monthly schedule. It will give you and your co-workers something to look forward to! See more

HEART MATTERS I really AM going to try to do this more often. Recently, I watched a special about heart transplant patients. The fact that this technology exists is fascinating enough. But even more intriguing to me, was the fact that many of these heart transplant recipients claim to have taken on both physical and emotional characteristics of their donors! Since the beginning of time, poets and lovers have written of the heart's ability to move us emotionally. With the... advent of science and technology though, the brain took the prize for being the source of our emotions. Now, science is re-visiting the possibility that the heart may do WAY more for us than just pump blood around. Some speculate that the heart may be the key to who we really are at the core. Even though the heart can be physically doing it's job quite well, it could still fail if it's emotionally broken. At least that's what many believe. Maybe the heart matters much more than any of us realize. One thing's for sure; we only have one. Which is true of so many of our vital parts. So why not take care of it; both emotionally and physically. How ironic is it that having regular massage can do just that. It's a fact that massage slows heart rate. And massage also releases endorphins. Which makes everyone's heart a little happier. Enough said See more

My beautiful granddaughter and sister

Please everyone; take a moment to read this. We'd all be much better off taking it seriously rather than finding out too late that it's true. Without clean water and a healthy environment, NO SINGLE OTHER CAUSE will even matter......

As 2014 quickly approaches, I am looking to expand my massage practice to better serve clients in their home. I am still practicing at Destinations in Leola, b...ut I have now secured a second position at Blossom Medical Spa in Lancaster. At Destinations, the cost for a one-hour Swedish massage is $85.00. It is a beautiful and completely relaxing environment and will provide the optimum pampering experience. Destinations is part of the Inn at Leola Village; an amazing destination resort right on Route 23/New Holland Pike. The Inn houses two incredible Italian restaurants; Avanti Osteria and Te (pronounced Tay). Te is one of the few five-star dining experiences in Lancaster, and features multiple courses and an impeccable dining experience. The Inn rooms are breathtaking. If you are looking for a truly unique getaway (that rivals Hershey Hotel and Resort in my opinion) and is close to home, I strongly encourage you to experience the Inn At Leola Village and Destinations for yourself. The Inn offers couples getaway and girls/guys getaway packages that are both affordable and all-inclusive. I can offer 20% if you book just a massage; which reduces the one-hour price to $68; worth every penny! In addition, after five sessions with me I can offer the sixth one free! I also travel to clients' homes at $50 per hour and $30 per half hour for a Swedish massage. Imagine an hour of relaxation without ever having to leave home! Lastly, I can provide services to you at Blossom Medical Spa on Embassy Drive in Lancaster. Blossom offers all types of medical and non-medical skin therapies; from chemical peels to permanent make-up and everything in between! Blossom is expanding its massage services, and although the cost for a one hour Swedish massage is $60, they often offer monthly specials. Whether I pay you a home visit, or you come into Destinations or Blossom I can perform all types of massage. Deep tissue/therapeutic massage, prenatal and sports massage, Swedish and Healing Stone massage and many other services including all types of body treatments such as wraps and scrubs. There are many reasons why I embarked on this new career, but the most important one by far is to assist you in being the best YOU possible. Make it your New Year's resolution to partake in regular massage. The physical AND emotional benefits are endless, and I promise you will feel better, stronger, and clearer-headed than you ever thought you could. May your holiday season be filled with all of life's best, and may your new year be the happiest and healthiest ever!