Metta Wellness, Ayurveda, Massage & Wellness

#03 Self Care: Self Abhyanga Winter is here! Snow, ice, warm fireplace, cozy blankets, hot cocoa and dry skin, oh my. This is winter here in the New England area, dry, wet cold and is a challenge for our skin over the long winter months. What to do? Well Ayurveda has this under control!  A few ways Ayurveda helps in the winter: Eating warm grounding foods                    Do you remember when you where young and your mother or grandmother would make a stew or pot pie and left you feeling full and loved. Relaxing with warm foods in the cold dry weather helps keep you feel comfort, grounded and nourished through food. Nourishing foods keep the body strong,healthy and balanced the immune system. Add ghee to your diet                    Ghee is the perfect winter soother. Ghee can...

Do something nice for yourself. Sounds easy, right. How often have you given a friend, co-worker or partner some good advise, to only not follow it yourself? It just had this happen this week. My client came in, we were talking about self-care, I had suggested that she take some time and do something nice for herself. The next afternoon, I had a client come in for a massage, when I asked her what brought her in, she said," My body was telling me this is what it needed". She took the time to listen to herself. It seems so simple. I do my mediation, and do my herbals, for me its keeping up with my yoga and doing the gentle pampering s of taking time that I forget. So for me, it was a foot scrub! I am either on my feet or using  my feet in my Thai yoga massage, and they sometimes yell for a nice foot scrub. So that's just what I did, a nice eucalyptus sugar scrub followed up with a tea tree lotion bar. My feet have been saying thank you all day. So...

Creating space for self care, connecting to your true self, simply being present. These are just some of the benefits of meditation, and the focus here at Metta Wellness . Invest in your self, taking time for self care like mediation is investing in your future.  We hear so much about stress, auto immune disorders, chronic fatigue, due to the modern lifestyle. This is where doing some self care is key to your long term health. Start your self care off with a guided mediation here at Metta Wellness! Join our classes or book a one on one mediation to get started on your self care.

Massage is one of the best ways to relax the body, and the mind. In this world of busy, fast pace, high stress day to day life we live, having ways to relax is key. Relaxing the body seems simple, but the effects on the mind and body has a ripple effect. The impact of our daily lives can cause the body, mind to be overwhelmed or feel tired. The long term stress can cause other issues for the body, headaches, auto immune issues, problems with sleep, moods can be off. This is where the power of relaxation tools come in. Doing daily meditation, healthy eating, herbal teas, exercise and yes, massage. Giving the body this space to calm brings in a natural healing, a balance allowing the system to come back into its whole(whole= mind, body, spirit connection) self. A regular wellness routine is key, so look at your wellness tools and see if you are working in balance. Do you need to add or adjust your wellness routine? Its always good to check in. At Metta Wellness I work on guided ...

As we come to the end of the year, we welcome in a new beginning. This past year has been such an adventure, with much change and growth. Every year I take this time to reflect, on where I am, and  what my life has placed in front of me and  I ask," Am I being my true self, inside( to myself) and to the world". This is the best time of the year, to take stock in self and set my intentions for myself, my work and look at the new year. This has been an incredible year for Metta Wellness , the opening of a second location and  the launching of Metta Herbal to local fairs. It has been a year of movement, transformations and learning, about myself and the ones closest to me. So as we see the end of this year approaching, and enter a new one, its a time of learning, growing and finding balance. I am looking ahead, setting my intentions and taking the time to breath, and find a space of calm in a new year. #mettawellness #mettaherbal #newyear #newbeginning #intention...

Hi everyone, Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) teacher Rick Rocha here at Metta Wellness. Start the New Year off with something new. If you have ever been curious about what Taijiquan is, this is a good place to begin. I will be teaching a course for beginners at Metta just after the New Year. This is a 6 week course, held on Saturdays from 10am to 11:30am. The course begins Jan. 5th through Feb. 9th. All adults welcome to register. The classes are simple to understand and you do not need to be athletic. Taijiquan uses gentle, simple movements to improve the body as well as the mind. You will learn a short Taijiquan form, Meridian Qigong and maybe even a little Mandarin Chinese. Register with Heather or contact me at Rickthemage@yahoo.com 774-245-5487 #mettawellness  #mettaherbal  #paxtonlocation #TaiChiChuan  #Taijiquan  #TaiChi #Qigong

 Third eye meditation is one of the tools that I work with and teach in my wellness couching to activate self awareness. Over my years of work and practice it is easy to see and feel that we all have our struggles, our personal weights that hold us, block us from our full potential, our true self. Third eye meditation awakens the pineal gland activating  the body and expanding your spiritual awareness. This meditation allows us to go inward and touch on our true self, soothing the edges, loving who and where we are right now. In this practice you will find increased happiness, focus, feelings of peace and centered in self. Lets start with a warm , safe space to sit comfortably and prepare for our meditation. Taking your left index finger to your third eye and right hand to your heart or belly, breath in, relax breath out and settle into this space. Bring your focus to your third eye, allowing yourself to feel and move through the wave that comes in and out. Gi...

So what is Ayurveda? I get this question a lot, or I hear - Ayurveda is to complicated. Yes, Ayurveda can be complicated, but I don't feel it should be and doesn't have to be. Lets dive into Ayurveda. First, how did I get to Ayurveda, lets go back a little ways. In 2006, I started my training at the Maharishi Ayurveda Center in Lancaster, MA. I had just finished a program at Dana Farber with Energy work and massage for cancer clients, when I started the training at the Ayurvedic center. The similarities between the two made for the perfect transition. Both looked at the importance of balance, digestion, proper sleep and the positive outlook of the emotions. As I dove into Ayurveda it was clear that being in balance with yourself and your environment effected every element of health. This was the beginning of a path in a  holistic lifestyle. Ayurveda, lets dive deeper. Ayurveda is one of the oldest known healing systems dating back thousands of years to India. This sy...

This is the time of the year we take a moment and reflect on the past. This has been a powerful year for me at Metta Wellness. Looking back at this past year, I am honored and grateful to everyone that is on this journey of wellness with me here at Metta Wellness. This past year I have focused on slowing down, adding in a daily meditation and sharing what I love with you. Taking this time to focus in what is important to my self journey, this has given me the space to bring these skills into my work. This past year I have had the opportunity to do lectures at the Wellness space, presentation at St. Vincent Hospital, Guided meditations, teaching classes at Assebet , and brought Metta Herbal to Start at the Union . Looking ahead into this New Year, working to share, learn and grow as each day is a new day. Happy New Year to you and your family.

Good Morning! Yes, starting the day with pranayama then meditation is my key to moving through this hectic world in a calm peace. When I work with my clients I am always looking at ways to find balance in the busy life we live. Starting your day off with pranayama( breathing technique) then into a mediation to start out in the day ready for everything. My meditation is the mantra, So Hum, as I sit and relax, I breath in So out Hum and find myself settling in, the energy balancing out and the thoughts and worries floating away. Find the way to start your day, creating an open space to relax and breath.

Waking up, feeling energy, openness, clear breath and a calm mind. I have found over the years that a routine, a practice of pranayama and meditation helps me prepare for the day ahead and be able to move through this world without feeling the weight from outside stress. Start by setting some time aside every morning to focus on you, on waking and entering into this space in a calm open breath.  What is pranayama? Simply, paranayam is a breathing practice, in this you open the airway allowing for a clear mind, stronger energy and a balance of the spirit with an opening of the third eye.Their are many different kinds of pranayama, try a few and find one that fits your needs, your routine your body - mind. For me I have found the Mrigi Mudra( deer-seal ) breathing to connect for me, it was also one of the first techniques I had learned when I started out in Ayurveda. Mrigi Mudra: it is an alternating breath pattern. Sitting comfortably, bringing the right hand into a relaxe...

Fall is here, and so are the Holidays. With the holidays comes family gatherings, work parties,busy stores and change of food and drink. This time of the year can be exciting, and fun, but can be tiring and somewhat stressful on the body. This is where taking some time for yourself daily can help. The last few months I have been going to and part of conferences all related to self care, meditation, massage, yoga all to keep the mind and body relaxed, lowering the stress response. Stress is a part of our daily life, it can be the thing that pushes you to work harder to change your lifestyle, but it can also be causing you stagnation.Feeling heavy, or disconnected from self, family, or work can be signs of imbalance due to a build up of stress. Their are many ways to bring the balance in and calm the system. Starting with the breath is a quick and easy way to feel the body reboot and see the calming of the system in a short time. When I am teaching, working with a client o...

Finding Balance Life can be hard, and finding balance can be a challenge some days. For me finding peace, finding time to meditate and checking in with healthy eating. I struggle some days, with the news of violence, devastation from natural disasters and the anger we seem to have towards each other are heart breaking. How do you find balance in a world in chaos? I am no different then anyone else, I have work, kids a partner, our home, all need attention. So how do I find balance? Everyday, everywhere we can find simple signs of gentle loving and carry. Adjusting the way I look at things. When we look at everything with an eye of clear, calm and caring, we see things in a different light. This has for me been the best way to bring in a balance, it removes the frustration and anger and replaces with a heart felt appreciation for everything around me. Looking at my world through the eyes of positive light, allows me to take the time to give to my family, time to meditate ...

When you start out in the work world, you just never know where you may end up. I was lucky to find what I love, go to school for it, find a job and now my work my passion are the same. I would tell you, it was not an easy start, many hours looking at the phone, working on web sites, finding the right fit of massage, energy balance and marketing myself. It took time to see how it would work and if I could make it work. Their is nothing better then working with a client and seeing them get some relief, whether it's through the massage, meditation or finding a balance in their routine. Massage can do all this, it relaxes the body, brings relief to the muscles and calms the mind body connection. It is also the perfect companion to your wellness routine, helping strengthen the immune system over time. For me, learning ways to work with many different clients, understanding the mind body connection and working with my clients to find balance is so rewarding. I know that when I a...

Study after study is showing that mediation effects pain. This past May the International Ayurveda & Yoga(internal yoga - meditation) Convention was dedicated to pain management, research and what we can do. Lets take a quick overview of what meditation does.         Simply put, mediation help calm the signals to the brain, thus allow the system to calm, over time the body slows down on the signals of "fight or flight", in return decreasing the inflammation the the body. Over time as the inflammation decreases, the pain signals are less and you are able to lower or deal with the pain easier.These results are noticeable in the first few weeks, months, and then after two years of practice. This research shows that over time, adding this into your healing routine builds up the benefits. So how does this connect with massage?          During a relaxation massage your body mind connection is settling, or c...

Time to Awaken, Revive... Yes, another month is coming to an end, and we soon enter into a space and time of seasonal change, a cleanse in the air, dampness as the ground is melting and spring arrives. We have changed back the clocks and entered into spring, and it's time to cleanse the body and balance the mind. In Ayurveda we look at the seasons, and our body type, and how we can balance through change. I love this time of the year, listen in to the body, doing a gentle cleanse, stepping back into my meditation, can give you an open feeling, a lighter, free yet grounded and balanced. As I take time this month to walk outside, breath and meditate in the fresh  spring air, I feel awake, I feel revived. I will see you outside, in the fresh air, with a calm meditation. Join me for Guided Meditations, a simple way to settle into your space before your massage at Metta Wellness.

Meditation as a healthy routine, is an easy way to keep the emotions of the Holidays in balance. Meditation is also a simple and easy approach to calming the mind body connection and can be done anywhere. Their are many options out their when you start to look into meditation, find the one that connects to you. Lets look at some of the benefits of adding meditation into your healthy routine:                             with regular meditation, these are just some of the ways you will see change in your day to day.  Increases joy, peace and energy levels in the body Decreases tension in the body, helping with pain, insomnia Improves the immune system Anxiety decreses Balanced emotions Problems become smaller Clearer focus as the mind increases through relaxation So, lets make a nice cup of Meditation Tea and find our space.

Breather in, Relax, breath out and unwind. Tap into your vast internal resources through breathe, through daily practice of letting go of what holds you. Together, you, your breath become a natural, powerful tool, beneficial to your health and emotional balance. No, find your space, breath in, relax breath out and unwind.