Combining work and family takes military grade logistics, Mother Theresa patience, and marathon runner stamina - and that’s just for getting out the front door!

Now, I like those time management tips for busy parents that say - prepare everything the night before, lay out your clothes, make the lunches, pack the bags etc, etc.

But at the end of a long day, the last thing I want to do is think of tomorrow’s lunches and scrounge around for the library books and bag.

Sometimes, I manage it - but other times I don’t.

And even when I do, kids have a way a making something that should take a minute, take an hour.

So even the best advance preparation doesn’t always help.

Here are my tips for getting out of the house on time with your sanity - as well as the children - in tact:

1. Be realistic
You may be able to grab your bag and get out of the house within a few seconds, but your toddler will need to find his ruggie, stop to pat the cat, complain that you opened the door instead of him, and jump in the puddles instead of get in the car.

2. Promote responsibility
Your school age child may still want the star treatment, ‘Fetch my school bag, lunch box and communication book, mum. And no blue smarties!’ But teaching her a simple morning routine - get dressed, brush hair, brush teeth, and pack bag - helps you and her.

3. Stay calm
When your daughter is still playing with her ponies rather than putting on her shoes, and your son has upended a bottle of milk on the kitchen floor, it takes Mother Theresa patience not to scream and yell. Instead, breathe and think ‘I’m an absolute saint for calmly cleaning up the milk and calmly requesting my daughter to put on her shoes.’

4. Appreciate the good
In every situation, no matter how busy, stressful or frustrating, there are always pockets of good. So instead of getting irritated at your toddler for pulling off his jumper for the third time, admire, just for a moment, his tenacity.

5. Think energy not time
We all have too much to do and too little time. And there will never be enough time. But if you focus on getting out the door without feeling like you’ve been hit by a train, then that is probably more important than whether you are running 5 minutes late.

I’d love to hear your tips.

And for more info about getting out of the house on time, check out Wondertime magazine.  The Australian launch issue is available in all good newsagents now.  It truly is a wonderful read.

Jodie Benveniste, Director of Parent Wellbeing.

Yesterday I had my first day off in years.  I sent my kids off to my mum’s house, and I didn’t go straight to the office.  Instead, I had a day to myself.  It was luxurious.  And I didn’t feel at all guilty.  Well - only slightly!

Mum came and picked up the kids at 9am.  I then spent the next hour and a quarter sitting on the couch in the springtime sun writing in my children’s memory books.  I’ll write more about these memory books next week.  So stay tuned.

I then went to yoga.  I used to be a regular twice a week yoga goer before having kids. But for the last five years yoga hasn’t featured in my daily life.  And my body and mind have suffered.  So now I’ve bought a 10 week pass, negotiated with my husband to be home in time for classes on Wednesday night, and I’ve committed to going.

After yoga, I went to the pub for lunch.  All by myself.  I had a delicious ceasar salad and a virgin mary, and I wrote in my diary about everything that’s been going on in my life.  It was indulgent and highly therapeutic.

After lunch, I had a massage.  It was painful but again highly therapeutic.  My body had harboured so much stress it was overworked. The massage was only the beginning of what needs to be an ongoing commitment to my health and wellbeing.

After the massage it was time to pick the kids up from my mum and dads. 

The day was short. The day was sweet.  And like the massage, it is only the beginning.

I’m thinking that a mid week ‘me’ day should happen once a quarter.  If not, at least twice a year.

It is not the total answer.  Because the minute I picked up the kids, Jet started grizzling, and Wirra started whinging and I had to take a deep breath and deal with it - rather than react.

But it did help.  It said to me that ‘I’ matter.  I matter enough to spend time on me.

I didn’t think I had the time for a mid week ‘me’ day.  I thought I had too much to do.

But I realised that the consequences of not caring for myself were much more catastrophic than putting off today what could be done tomorrow.

Is it time for you to have a midweek ‘me’ day?

Jodie Benveniste, director Parent Wellbeing

You can make yourself happier - and this doesn’t have to be a long-term ambition.
Over the long term, habits like getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and making time for friends and family make a huge difference to your happiness. But if you’re experiencing a blues emergency, you can lift your spirits right now by using some of the following strategies. The more items you tackle, the bigger the boost you’ll receive.When you’re feeling blue, it can be hard to muster up the physical and mental energy to do the things that make you happier. Plunking down in front of the TV or digging into a tub of ice cream seems like an easier fix.

However, research shows (and you know it’s true) that these aren’t the routes to feeling better. In the next hour, check off as many of the following items as possible. Each of these accomplishments will lift your mood, as will the mere fact that you’ve tackled and achieved some concrete goals.

1. Boost your energy: stand up and pace while you talk on the phone or, even better, take a brisk ten-minute walk outside. Research shows that when people move faster, their metabolism speeds up, and the activity and sunlight are good for your focus, your mood, and the retention of information. Plus, because of “emotional contagion,” if you act energetic, you’ll help the people around you feel energetic, too.

2. Reach out to friends: make a lunch date or send an email to a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Having warm, close bonds with other people is one of the keys to happiness, so take the time to stay in touch. Somewhat surprisingly, it turns out that socializing boosts the moods not only of extroverts, but also of introverts.

3. Rid yourself of a nagging task: answer a difficult email, purchase something you need, or call to make that dentist’s appointment. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a big rush of energy and cheer, and you’ll be surprised that you procrastinated for so long.

4. Create a calmer environment: clear some physical and mental space around your desk by sorting papers, pitching junk, stowing supplies, sending out quick responses, filing, or even just making your piles neater. A large stack of little tasks can feel overwhelming, but often just a few minutes of work can make a sizeable dent. Try to get in the habit of using the “one minute rule”-i.e., never postpone any task that can be completed in less than one minute. An uncluttered environment will contribute to a more serene mood.

5. Lay the groundwork for some future fun: order a book you’ve been wanting to read (important: not something you think you should read, but something you want to read) or plan a weekend excursion to a museum, hiking trail, sporting event, gardening store, movie theater-whatever sounds like fun. Studies show that having fun on a regular basis is a pillar of happiness, and anticipation is an important part of that pleasure. Try to involve friends or family, as well; people enjoy almost all activities more when they’re with other people than when they’re alone.

6. Do a good deed: make an email introduction of two people who could help each other, or set up a blind date, or shoot someone a piece of useful information or gratifying praise. Do good, feel good-this really works. Also, although we often believe that we act because of the way we feel, in fact, we often feel because of the way we act. When you act in a friendly way, you’ll strengthen your feelings of friendliness for other people.

7. Act happy: put a smile on your face right now, and keep smiling. Research shows that even an artificially induced smile has a positive influence on your emotions-turns out that just going through the motion of happiness brightens your mood. And if you’re smiling, other people will perceive you as being friendlier and more approachable.

8. Listen to your favorite music. Studies show that listening to music is one of the most effective ways to boost your energy and mood (second only to exercise). In fact, in one study, 92% of people felt happier when they listened to music they liked. For an added boost, dance around the room, too.

Some people worry that wanting to be happier is a selfish goal. To the contrary. Studies show that happier people are more sociable, likeable, healthy, and productive-and they’re more inclined to help other people. So in working to boost your own happiness, you’re benefiting others as well. In fact, I think we have a duty to be happy.

Feel happier yet?

Thanks to Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project.  Visit her at:

http://www.happiness-project.com/

Can you feel it in the air?

The nights are crisp but already the days are getting warmer! The sun is peeking out and I can feel a tickle in my nose and an itch in the back of my throat. After a long, rainy (very welcomed of course) winter I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy to welcome hayfever!

Spring. What a fabulous time to brush off the cobwebs of a winter trapped inside and get out and about with the kids. Improve your and your children’s fitness and general wellbeing and reignite their curiosity in the world.

There are so many things to do. You can start with a simple walk in the park and a play in the playground but I’m an advocate of the slightly more interesting.

How about a bike ride? There are many bike seats out there for children, front and rear mounted or tandem trail behinds but what to do with the littler ones who are prone to falling asleep, head lolling?

Try a bike trailer. Your kids can happily potter about in the back with a few toys, a drink and a snack enjoying the view whilst you improve your fitness.

Bike trailers range in price but if cost is an issue many bike rental shops have them available for hire.

We recently hired one and rode the Riesling Trail in the Clare Valley South Australia. 20 kilometres later and we realized we could be a bit fitter but what a lovely family outing - riding through vineyards, stopping at the local pub for lunch, a few little wine tastes (in moderation of course). Beautiful!

Or how about a hike in the hills? There are plenty of tracks suitable for little legs but for babies a hiking pack is a must. Take the opportunity to teach your children to savour the great outdoors - look at the new growth, smell the air, look for animal tracks and fresh animal poo! Do a little research beforehand so you can tell your children who’s poo is who’s!

Stop at creeks and ponds and search for yabbies and tadpoles. Feed the ducklings. Enjoy the new life that spring brings to the land. You and your children will feel invigorated by it!

Again hiking packs range in price but you may like to see if you can borrow a friend’s or have a look on ebay.

An outing that is often closer to home is a trip to your local farmers market. It’s a great opportunity to talk to your children about seasonal produce and for them to learn how it all grows and how products are made. It is also a great way to promote healthy, interesting eating.

A friend’s four year old daughter Lucy picks something each week to try that she has never had before. Some items they have tried so far have been venison sausages, a runny goats cheese, sheeps milk, kumquats, pumpkin bread and silvanberries. The results have been mixed but even when the taste isn’t quite to her palate, Lucy loves the thrill of the search and the risk of trying something new.

And finally, get out into the garden!

What a wonderful time to explore the new growth and to plant some spring vegetables or flowers.
It doesn’t need to be involved, some seeds in a pot on the window sill is just as exciting as growing a large crop.

Try growing herbs - taste and smell them and talk about what food you could put them in. Make simple bottles of herb scented olive oils.

Crush lavender and rosemary in a little piece of cloth and run your child’s bath water through it for an aromatherapy bath. Sprinkle in some flower petals…And when your children are in bed, have an aromatherapy bath yourself! Bliss!

Spring presents us with so many options so make the most of it.

You and your children will feel better for it!

Emma Anderson
Childcare professional and mother

On Sunday, Kerryn, Caroline and myself, three mums, completed our first half marathon.
We ran 21 km from the beach to the city. Only a few months ago, none of us could run further than 5 km. So how did we do it?

It all began one Saturday morning in February. Coach Christine was getting a running group together. Nothing too challenging. We began with a 3 km run and walk, and our goal was to run 10 km to the beach suburb of Glenelg for a coffee. Within 10 weeks, we were sipping lattes by the seaside.

It was time for another goal. A few of us talked about a half marathon. Coach Christine devised another running schedule, but by the time we’d built up to 16 km runs, people were dropping out of the group due to busy schedules, winter rain and sore bodies.

But a few of us kept at it. We kept running 10 or 12 km most Saturdays, and we ran 15 or 16 km a few weeks before the half marathon. And even though our preparation wasn’t ideal, we decided to go for it.

The night before the race, we got the husbands and kids together for a pasta meal. Then on a blustery Sunday morning, we fronted up at the Henley Beach sailing club. We pinned on our numbers, and lined up at the start.

And we ran. And we kept on running for 2 hours and 15 minutes. Until we were greeted by our husbands and children at the finish line. My daughter had drawn a fairy path picture for me. Kerryn’s son had made her a ‘you’re my hero’ card. And Caroline’s kids had made her a trophy out of plastic tubs and toilet rolls.

We were buggered, but we did it. We set ourselves a goal. We started out slowly. We did it together. And it was exhilarating.

In an earlier blog, I talked about challenging ourselves to do something new. And not holding ourselves back by believing that what is possible is impossible.  Read more here.

So this month, as the sun reemerges, the blossoms bloom, and the air warms, what is your half marathon?

Jodie Benveniste
Director and founder of Parent Wellbeing

I went to a Business Chicks breakfast recently and the speaker was Anne McKevitt. If you don’t know of Anne, here is a short summary of her story.As a 15 year old, Anne left working class Scotland to become hair stylist to the stars in London. After surviving a horrific car accident she was told she wouldn’t walk again, that is, until Linda & Paul McCartnery sponsored alternative rehab and she made a full recovery. She then began a globally, successful interior design, property development and homewares business which included TV series, books, and lifestyle products (think a UK version of Martha Stewart, without the time in jail!). She now heads up 22 businesses, is on Bill Clinton’s Clinton Global Initiative, and leads a number of social and humanitarian projects. You can read more of her story here.

She is a success by anyone’s yardstick. So how did she do it? The answer is simpler than you might think - She believed she could.

Anne asked two important questions of her audience at the breakfast. The first question was, Where is your line between possible and impossible? Most people, she said, have a line. Unlike most people, Anne does not. She believes the impossible is possible. Where do you draw your line? How do you hold yourself back? Can you achieve more than you think?

Anne’s second important question was, When was the last time you tried something new? Most of us take the same route to work, have our coffee the same way every morning, and brush our teeth the same way every night before bed. We are creatures of habit. Rituals and regularity are, of course, beneficial. Without them, life can be chaotic. But sometimes we need to extend beyond our comfort zone by pushing and challenging ourselves to try something new.

So this month, we challenge you to try something new. Order a chai latte instead of a cappuccino. Get on your bike instead of driving to work. Start yoga, pilates, scrap booking, mosaics, Taekundo, archery - anything! And see what it feels like to do something new.

Multi-tasking. Frankly, I’m over it.

As a woman I constantly hear how I am apparently so much more superior to men because of this ability to do a hundred things at once, but I have started to wonder about the effects this skill is having on my brain…

Before having children, it was a badge of honour to have a career, renovate a house, foster an incredibly virile relationship and whip up unexpected and creatively unique social events at the drop of a hat to entertain vast bevvies of fascinating friends.

I even believed that it was an admirable skill to have after having children and beneficial too. I could put the baby down to sleep and within one hour when I knew I should have been resting too, I could tuck the phone into my shoulder and return calls whilst putting the washing away, preparing dinner and removing staples from the timber floor that I was about to sand, all under the pretence that I was actually having some ‘me’ time by having Oprah on in the background!

But the other day as I was cleaning my teeth - do you know how much you can get done whilst mindlessly brushing your molars? I cleaned the toilet, picked up the kids clothes, rescued the bath toys from the depths of the shower recess, opened all the windows in the house to let in the fresh air and started to pack the lunches…my toothbrush still deftly doing its job with the help of my free hand. This is ridiculous I thought.

I have gone mad.

I cannot concentrate on one thing at a time.

Even at work - on the computer- I am constantly side-tracked by incoming emails and requests whilst trying to get one task finished, each email leading to a tangential task that snowballs into a major project tearing me away from what ever the original task was at hand…I know that this is part and parcel of work life but I think it has multiplied since having kids and having decreased time for oneself. In that time you do have, you try to complete a months worth of desired chores in one hour to make up for lost time and so the cycle continues into every pore of my work and play.

I’m sure I would be just as efficient if I did all these tasks consecutively, but before I know it my mind and body are onto the next thing before finishing the last and then I stop mid track and realise that I have completed task 1,2, 4, 5, and 9, but am half way through 3 and 6 and can’t even remember what 8 was!

Me time, I have revised now, is the ability to do, and enjoy, one thing and one thing only.

Its not easy, because you can read a magazine or sift through the school newsletter whilst watching a dvd!…and you can get the washing up done or the skirting boards painted during the ads whilst catching up with your TV friends…and isn’t it amazing how much you can get done whilst diligently listening to your friends on a hands free phone! When will it stop?!

I am trying…to ’stop’..that is.

I do enjoy the small things but always while enjoying other things at the same time!

I stop to smell the roses whilst walking the kids and the new puppy to the park. Did I mention we have a new puppy! I am trying to do that cliched thing of ‘being in the moment’. I never knew how hard that would be to achieve after trying so hard to always ‘achieve’. But for my own well-being now, post small babies, I am practicing.

I think I’m going to try to reduce my multi-tasking down to bi- or tri tasking! - …baby steps!

Admittedly sometimes it serves me well, but there is a limit when I stop and notice the ridiculous things I find myself doing!

Am I alone in this aftermath of a multi-tasking generation!? Is anyone else being affected I would love to know!

Sarah Lamond
Designer and mother of 2

Most people would agree that organically grown food is better for you and the environment. Research shows us there are more nutrients, higher antioxidant levels, no chemical residues or artificial additives in organic food. It certainly tastes better than conventional produce and the odd insect you find indicates it is chemical free and hasn’t been in storage for many months.

As a vocal advocate of organic food the reason I hear most against eating organically is the cost. There is no doubt it is more expensive than conventionally farmed food, sometimes it can be double or triple the cost* which can be daunting for the average family.

Here are some tips to help make organic food affordable.

Consider your eating and spending habits around food
Look at the fortnightly/weekly budget and note how much is spent on packaged convenience foods, snacks, meat and alcohol. Ask yourself; could expenditure be reduced in any of these areas and reinvested into organic food? In the summer we can easily spend $15 at a quick snack stop for icecreams for our family of five. However when cherry season is here I have no qualms at buying a kilo of organic cherries for around the same price and forfeiting the snacks, the red juiced (loaded with antioxidants!) dripping grins speak more than words.

Consider the health of your family
View organic food as a preventative measure. Rather than spending money on pharmaceuticals or trips to the doctor see spending it on organic food as an investment into your health. I contribute my children’s healthy immune systems largely to organic food, with a visit to the doctor a rare event in our family. We occasionally take vitamin supplements but I prefer to ‘eat the vitamins’ within some great tasting food as well as getting the additional benefits of other nutrients at the same time. Don’t wait until you are sick or health issues arise, see preventative eating as a priority now.

Consider that broccoli is not just broccoli
Don’t be fooled by appearances of fruit and vegetables. A recent Choice magazine survey I read found that supermarket strawberries had up to 27 different chemical residues and not all of them washed off. When buying fruit and vegetables consider how long they have been in storage, what waxes or coating they have and with what and where they’ve been grown. Don’t be fooled by appearance and the cheap buy. Cheap bags of fruit and vegetables are often old, chemically grown and lacking in nutrients and vitamins.

Start small
There is no need to change shopping habits overnight, first try with buying a few organic items a week. A good place to start is buying organically those fruit that have known high amounts of chemical residues such as apples, tomatoes, pears, stone fruit and strawberries.

Consider Lifestyle
A change in not just our shopping habits but also our overall lifestyle may be required. Consider the way you live and how often lunch or dinner is quick snacks, fast food, or restaurant meals. Take a look at spending on family entertainment; are there cheaper options to be contemplated? There is no need to be purist or extreme, my family love to eat out and see a movie; these however are occasional treats not regular entertainment. Buying organically may mean more cooked meals at home, less takeaways and require a little more planning. These changes may be a little challenging at first but reduced stress levels and increased overall well being will be the long term benefits.

Look for seasonal Australian grown produce
If organic food is still a little out of reach try to look for Australian grown produce. A lot of fruit and vegetables in our supermarkets have come from overseas; in particular China. Although pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables are monitored in Australia, other countries do not have the same regulations regarding pesticide and chemical use thus there is no guarantee. Check the label for country of origin; if it doesn’t state Australia or have any label, chances are it has come from another country. Try and buy produce that is seasonal relative to where you live. This is often the cheaper option as well as superior tasting. For example; buying a peach in June in southern Australia tells me it has either been in long storage or comes from far away and will probably taste bland and flavourless.

Grow your own
Growing some vegetables in your garden organically is a good way of reaping the benefits of both the food and the gardening activity. It is a cheap option at around $2-3 for a packet of organic seed although it requires time and patience!

Consider your children
There is a wave of new parents starting their babies off on organic food. This is a great introduction to solids and support to their developing immune systems. I was saddened to learn that this dropped off dramatically once children hit the age of 2. It is worth considering that after the age of 2 there is still much crucial development and growth to happen. Studies focused on children and pesticide exposure have put them at much greater risk than adults. This is because they eat more food relative to body mass and being smaller than adults, doses of chemicals have a greater effect. I see fitting organic food into our budget as an investment into my children’s future health. Consider continuing with the great food provided for your baby into the years to come.

Check out organic and biodynamic food on the web for more information
Suggested links
www.cleanfood.com.au
www.organicfooddirectory.com.au
www.ofa.org.au

* See www.organicfooddirectory.com.au for reasons for the high costs of organic food.

Rachel Furbank
Sustainable living eco mum

We are half way through 2008 - can you believe it? - and so I have been reflecting on what I have achieved this year so far and what else I want to achieve for the rest of 2008. I would have to say my biggest achievement is the birth of my daughter Hollie. What is your biggest achievement this year?

This half-way point might be a good time for those of you who left New Year’s Resolutions by the wayside long ago, to use the new financial year as a fresh start. You could define a new vision for 2008/2009 with some new goals to see you through the rest of this year or for the entire new financial year. Just in case you want to do this, we have some information and tips for you to get to work on creating your Personal Vision Statement.

What is a vision statement?
A vision statement is a picture of what you want your life to look like in a designated timeframe, whether it is a year from now to ten years from now. It represents a dream that is beyond what you think is possible and it takes you out beyond the present. It’s a roadmap of your future and outlines the direction you are headed.

What does a vision statement look like?
A vision statement can take many forms. It can be written down on a piece of paper, it can be a collage of pictures and words on a piece of cardboard, it can be an audio or visual recording you have made of a collection of images and/or sounds.

Why create a vision statement?
Just like a street directory clarifies the direction in which you need to drive your car to get to your desired location, a vision statement clarifies the direction in which you need to move to get to your ideal place in life. It is like beginning with the end in mind - if you know where you are going you will be able to get to your destination much more quickly and easily. Would you try getting to a location you have never been before without our street directory?

How to create a vision statement?
Creating a vision statement can be an exciting and creative process and you can have lots of fun with it. Here are six easy steps to follow:

1. Set aside some quite time where you will be uninterrupted for at least half an hour.
2. Prepare all the materials you will need to complete your vision.
3. Create an ambience that will stimulate creativity with music, pictures, candles or scents.
4. Choose a date in the future, one year from now is a good start, or perhaps a special date like a
birthday or anniversary.
5. Start imagining what you want in your life, what you want to create, where you want to be, and what
you want to be doing.
6. Go for it, be creative and have fun.

Ideas for creating your vision statement
Here are a few different ways to complete a vision statement and I have listed some ideas below. Some of my clients choose to use one of the methods and some get a real kick out of using two or more.

Letter from the future
You will need a blank piece of lined paper and a pen. The letter from the future is a letter that you write to yourself one year from now (or the special date you chose). You write a letter outlining all that is happening in your life. Write it in the present tense as is it is happening in your dream life. Be as descriptive as you can and address all the senses, what it looks like, what it feels like, what it tastes like, what it smells like, what it sounds like.

Vision Board
You will need a big piece of cardboard, scissors, glue, coloured pencils and old magazines. Using pictures, letters and words from the old magazines cut them out and glue them on the cardboard to represent your dream life.

Whichever method you choose to create your personal vision, put it somewhere you can see it daily and use it as a constant reminder of where you are going. You can review it on your special date and reflect on all that you have achieved in that time.

Benefits of a Vision Statement
Vision statements create a vivid image in your head that will provoke emotion and excitement. It creates enthusiasm and poses a challenge that inspires you to take action, achieve yours goals and move forward.

Now you have all the tools you need to predict your future.

Danielle Ferris, Head Coach
ShapeShifters - supporting, guiding and motivating women to achieve their ideal weight, health and lifestyle goals

Hello Julia again….

Ever noticed how stress creeps up on you? At first it’s nothing but then all of a sudden you’re not sleeping and things snowball out of control! It seems never ending - but do you take action to do something about it?

Let me tell you from recent personal experience don’t ever, ever put off doing something about your stress levels! I have had a rather stressful week. Little sleep added to the mounting nightmare then to top it all off I missed a flight to Sydney for an important conference (big oops and massive stress!).
It was Friday night and I had 20 minutes before I had to meet friends for dinner in Gouger Street. I was at the Central Markets so it made sense to get a massage from one of the many little places there.

I got a neck and shoulder massage and OH MY ….! It was (and I don’t say this lightly) better than Haighs chocolate! My left shoulder had tightened up so much it was causing a massive headache and I felt like my shoulders were around my ears! But after that simple 20 minutes on my neck and shoulders it was as if a world of pain and stress just melted away and I could see clearly, think clearly and just felt HUMAN again!

As a Remedial Massage Therapist I could talk for pages about the HUGE rang of benefits of massage but really when it comes down to it, it makes you feel good! And when you feel good that spreads to everyone around you!

The endorphins you get from massage are the same as when you exercise; not to mention the toning and toxin removing and a myriad of other health benefits. And there are so many types of massage out there for all types of price ranges!

Go to the Central Markets or any of the Westfield shopping centres and get one of the Chinese massage quick fixes! The only problem with that type of massage is it’s a one size fits all type approach - and it can be quite painful if you haven’t had a massage in a while.

Then there are day spa’s. They are awesome when combined with a facial or a pedicure but you pay for the ambiance and the products so it tends to be a once off or special occasion. Not to mention that the beauty therapists aren’t often trained extensively in massage, so it tends to be a light, fluffy ‘put you to sleep’ kind (which means you may miss out on the therapeutic experience but the perk is you might catch up on missing sleep!).

The dream person to find is a massage therapist who is in between. The benefit of these people is that they are mid priced and they get to know you and your body.

They will tailor the massage to just what you need and want which can change each time you get a massage, due to a number of different reasons.

The massage is more than just removing the knots from your body - or at least it’s more than that for me as a client on the table. It’s a chance to “let go” both emotionally and physically in a safe, warm place.

This advice is not just for mothers but fathers as well! You both need to be on the same page to be able to communicate well as partners and parents!

Bottom line - Get a massage! It makes you feel so good! Get them regularly as it helps to keep that good feeling lasting longer in the body. Speaking professionally, a lot of people wait until they are in pain before getting a massage and it takes so much more time to undo that damage than if you get a regular massage before there is a problem. Besides, prevention of stress and pain is always better than cure!

Julia Fry
________________________________________________
monsoon massage & infant massage centre owner
certified infant massage instructor
trainee doula
secretary of Future Families Inc

040 77 24 628
www.monsoonmassage.com.au