Nature - Gratitude Week 1

Health Gratitude Challenge - Week 1 - Nature

In 2023, we are challenging ourselves to find something something we are grateful for each week that can change/improve our health. This week we are grateful for the healing benefits in nature.

Our 2022 goal was 50 outdoor adventures and we achieved it! Each time we got out of the house and into nature, we felt better. Studies show that most Americans spend more than 10 hours a day staring at a screen. Studies have also found that people who spend two hours a week in nature report significantly greater health and well-being. This can be a long hike or broken up into smaller increments.

Being out in nature can:

  1. Boost your mood and self-esteem

  2. Lower stress levels

  3. Help you feel more relaxed

  4. Encourage you be more active

  5. Improve your memory and help you concentrate

  6. Lighten feelings of depression

  7. Strengthen your immune system

  8. Helps your body create vitamin D

Even a few minutes of green can perk you up. Please join us in our Health Gratitude Challenge and share your own stories in the comments, on our Facebook & Instagram pages, or create you own method to improve your health this year.


2023 Health Gratitude Challenge

We are what we think!

Rather than focusing on what is wrong with our health this year,

we want to focus on what it right.

Since 2019 we have been setting Create Your Healthiest Self goals. It began when I wanted to do 50 hikes the year before I turned 50. We’ve generally focused on goals to keep us physically fit, however this year we wanted to try something new. Our goal is to share things that we are grateful for that help build our health and stamina. Research has shown that expressing gratitude can improve mood, sleep, and immunity. Each week in 2023, we will be sharing things that we are grateful for with this Health Gratitude Challenge.

Please join in with us and share comments on our blog posts, on our Facebook and Instagram sites, or start your own blog. Let’s all start talking about things we can do to create our healthiest selves!

Freeing Our Bodies from Stress and Trauma

Freeing Our Bodies of Stress and Trauma

This weekend Jeremy and I will be speaking at the Be Healthy Utah Natural Wellness Conference. We wanted to create this blog post so that attendees as well as others can have the information we talk about at their fingertips. So what are things we can do to free our bodies or stress and trauma? Here are a few recommendations that we have.  



  1. Hydration

    1. One liter of lemon water 30 minutes before eating flushes toxins from body

    2. Chronic dehydration causes blood & other fluids to move slower

  2. Healthy Foods

    1. Omega-3’s have a strong relationship with cognitive function - fatty fish, omega-3 eggs, walnuts, flax seed, mangoes, brussel sprouts

    2. Magnesium rich foods lower cortisol levels - avocado, banana, broccoli, spinach, dark chocolate, pumpkins seeds, 

  3. Breathwork

    1. Deep breaths into abdomen moves diaphragm that is perforated by aorta, thoracic ducts, vagus nerve (3 major fluids of the body get movement)

  4. Massage

    1. CranioSacral therapy - improves mental clarity

    2. Lymphatic drainage - removes toxic substances

    3. Foot zone - resets all systems to homeostasis

  5. Acknowledge feeling

    1. Recognize they are something we are experiencing, not who we are

  6. Meditation/practicing stillness

    1. Lowers blood pressure, improves concentration & focus, calms racing thoughts

    2. Present state is where healing occurs

  7. Making intentional movement/Qigong

    1. Movement moves lymph

Lymphatic Drainage Massage Post Surgery

Lymphatic Drainage Massage Post Surgery

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After undergoing elective surgery, we are eager to get back to our normal routines without compromising results. Many surgeons are now prescribing lymphatic drainage massage to help reduce swelling and discomfort.

During cosmetic surgeries like liposuction and tummy tucks, or joint replacement surgeries like knee, hip, and shoulder, the lymphatic system can become disrupted and may take several months to make new connections. Lymphatic drainage massage can help speed up recovery time and improve results by helping to pump fluids along the lymphatic channels, thus decreasing congestion in the tissues.

The lymphatic system carries fluid, nutrients, and waste materials between the body tissues and the bloodstream. A healthy system is essential for fluid circulation and immune functions of the body.

Lymphatic drainage massage uses a gentle rhythmic touch to help detoxify the body. Lymph vessels are found throughout the body, with 70% of them found within the subcutaneous layer of the skin. With light pressure, toxins, cellular waste, and harmful substances are removed from the body tissues and neutralized in the lymph nodes.

Although each case is different, most doctors advise their patients to start lymphatic drainage massage 3-5 days post-surgery. Some also recommend lymphatic drainage massage 1-2 times pre-surgery to help prepare the body. You will generally be able to notice a difference after the first lymphatic drainage massage, however, it is recommended to have at least 4-6 treatments post-surgery to remove the excess fluid.

Here is what Claudya D. says about her experience:

After my surgery (tummy tuck) in September 2020, I had extensive swelling and discomfort due to hardening scar tissue. I researched online and found out about the benefits of lymphatic massage so I googled for places near my area that will offer them and that’s how I found Amy.

Initially, I booked five lymphatic drainage massages with Amy, all between 60 and 90 minutes long. The procedure itself was very gentle and thorough. Time flew by! I went in with bad swelling in my stomach, but by the end of the session I could see a big change, proof that the lymph fluids had been redirected. Amy also performed cupping, and the scar tissue on my stomach was less noticeable after just one treatment.

Amy herself is very welcoming, knowledgeable and professional. She took the time to listen to my specific needs and concerns. I would highly recommend going to Amy over a traditional massage chain, as the quality is exceptional and her experience and devotion is unbelievable.



Create Your Healthiest Self Goals

Last year I set a Create Your Healthiest Self Goal of going on 50 unique hikes before my birthday.

500,000+ steps, 200+ miles, and 4400 staircases later, Ii was proud to say that I achieved my goal.

Jeremy decided that each year we should set a goal to stay active and healthy. This year it will be to have 50 adventures. It’s been just over a week and we have already gone paddle boarding and walked our dog at a new park. It’s been fun thinking up all the active adventures to go on and we have plans for kayaking, hiking, and river rafting. What fun types of things do you do that we should add to our list?

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2 New Locations

We have been operating out of our new Sandy office for the past month.

9176 South 300 West, Suite 5

Sandy, UT 84070

We are thrilled to be opening our Lehi office as well.

2426 North 4060 West

Lehi, UT 84043

We will now be able to offer our Therapeutic Massage and Health Coaching services out of both offices.

Our software is only allowing on-line scheduling for the Sandy office at this time. We are there on MWF.

To schedule at our Lehi office on TTh, call Amy at 801-631-1499.

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Lymphatic Drainage

Intro to Lymphatic Drainage - Join AJ Bodywork for a free Facebook Live class on Tuesday March 24th at 6:00pm to learn about the lymphatic system, how it stimulates our immune system, and a few simple steps you can do at home to help filter toxins from your body.

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The lymphatic system is an integral part of our immune system. It helps the body to defend against pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The system supports immunity by making and storing lymphocytes that produce antibodies to defend the body against disease.

The proper functioning of the lymphatic system is critical to our body's ability to detoxify and regenerate tissues. Lymph nodes function as cleansing stations to filter out germs and other harmful substances, and to recover crucial substances like water and proteins. It works tirelessly to remove waste products from our cells and to maintain the purity of the internal environment.

If the lymph circulation stagnates due to injury or infection, toxins accumulate and cellular metabolism is compromised. The result is an increase in acid and toxins within the tissues causing pain, tension, and edema. These need to be removed quickly from the interstitial fluid to promote proper tissue healing and restore pain-free movement.

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Be Healthy Utah

Join AJ Bodywork at the Be Healthy Utah - Natural Health & Wellness Conference on Friday August 28th from 2-9 pm and Saturday August 29th from 10 am - 6 pm at the Mountain America Convention Center in Sandy, UT. You can choose classes from over 25 speakers on natural care and visit over 60 vendors with natural products & services. Hope to see you there! Tickets can be purchased at www.behealthyutah.com

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Foods that Heal

Clients have been asking what foods they can eat to help certain conditions. Here are some suggestions:

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Utah Infertility Conference - Saturday October 26 9 AM to 3:30 PM

Rise Above Infertility

The Utah Infertility Resource Center is hosting the Utah Infertility Conference “Rise Above Infertility” on Saturday, October 26th. Don’t let fertility challenges consume you. Check out the line-up of this year’s informative and amazing conference. I am excited to have the opportunity to present a practical experiential Qigong class for pelvic health. Life is about movement, when our body's aren't moving they are losing their life. Through surgery’s and trauma, the organs in the pelvis can become restricted creating distress and discomfort. With qigong and fertility massage you can restore blood flow and improve mobility to the pelvis and pelvic organs. I will also be part of a six person holistic health provider panel answering questions about fertility. Come ask questions, find out answers about your fertility needs, and mingle with others on the same journey.

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CST for Expectant Mom's & Newborns

Jeremy and I had the opportunity to attend a an advanced CranioSacral therapy class this past week designed for conception, pregnancy, and birth. It was a wonderful class to learn about all the amazing changes that take place in an expectant mother’s anatomy as well as the growth of the child. We were able to feel both mother and childs CranioSacral rhythm both in utero as well as in newborns. I had the opportunity to work with a mom 15.5 weeks pregnant with her 4th and on a 4 month old, Jeremy worked on mom 22 weeks along with her 8th child who hadn’t connected to her child because she has been so busy with the others and on a 6 month old. It was incredible.

This past Monday I had a client come in that I’ve worked on for several years. This was the first time in to meet her cute daughter that was born 6 weeks ago after I assisted in inducing labor through a foot zone. What a blessing to work with these brand new spirits. It is beautiful to see how moms and babies respond so favorably to CST. The central nervous system is very accepting of this gentle therapy, especially in regards to baby’s still-developing central nervous system.

Even a single session can help baby achieve priceless benefits. Additional sessions can extend and strengthen the results. Common phrases used by mothers after the first few treatments include: “good baby, alert, not fussy, at peace, and calm.” Breastfeeding seems to be more easily accomplished and parents seem to enjoy their children more.

If you are curios to see how CranioSacral therapy might help you through your journey, Jeremy and I will be offering a 50% discount off our regular prices for women trying to conceive, expectant mothers, and babies up to one year of age from now through Dec. 31, 2019. Just mention this post to receive the discount.

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This button takes you to the brochure from Upledger International that explains crainel for conception, pregnancy and birth. Feel free to look it over and pass it along to someone you know that might need it.

CranioSacral Therapy for Conception, Pregnancy, and Birth

Jeremy and I will be attending a CranioSacral Therapy training for Conception, Pregnancy, and Birth next month. They need 13 pregnant women and 13 women with babies under 6 months of age for students to work with during the class. If you are interested in participating, please contact Colleen at the Upledger Institute (colleen.russell@iahe.com) or the teacher Kimberly Painter (kim@healtheself.net) to get registered.

Location: Hotel RL-Salt Lake City 161 West 600 South Salt Lake City, UT 84101 (Red Lion Hotel)

Pregnant women - Oct. 12 from 10-12 am

Moms with babies - Oct. 13 from 11:45 - 1:45


More details on the benefits of CST can be found at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b6cf1f2aa49a1ee0d0118a3/t/5ce71b01a4222fee19b177ca/1558649615403/CranioSacral+Therapy+for+Conception+Pregnancy+and+Birthing.pdf

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Merciér Therapy Fertility Blog - My Natural Healer

Our good friend Laura Como has a new series on her blog called “Ask Anything”. This weeks post is on fertility where she talks about IVF & Merciér Therapy. My Natural Healer has directory for natural healing practitioners. Each Monday she does an Instagram video series where people write in and ask questions.

Natural Health & Wellness Conference

Join AJ Bodywork this Friday, May 10th and Saturday, May 11th at the Salt Palace Convention Center for the Be Healthy Utah Natural Health and Wellness Conference. They have a great line-up of speakers and vendor booths. Check out the details at https://www.behealthyutah.com