Irene Gauthier celebrated her 90 year birthday June 18th in Southfield by breaking the Guiness Book of World Records for the world's longest massage chain. Over 1200 former massage students and their families participated at Irene's School of Myomassology. Festivities included free massage classes, free table and chair massages, vegetarian food, two bands, and organic birthday cake.

All massage therapists from Healing Arts Massage were part of this event to honor this incredible woman who has trained most massage therapists practicing in southeast Michigan today. Although no longer actively teaching, Irene still demonstrates her techniques to students. She has trained thousands of therapists in her long life, and touched many lives as well.

"I was in Irene's first class in 1979 before massage was popular, when she was teaching out of her basement ", says Celeste Hamilton, owner of Healing Arts Massage. "It is amazing to see what she has created now -- the Myomassology Institute -- with the help of her daughter Kathy Gauthier." All other Healing Arts therapists -- Jennifer Skidmore, Linda Dempsey and Diane Miller -- were originally trained by Irene as well, with the exception of Jennifer who was trained at the Ann Arbor Institute.

Read the entire article in the Oakland Press

Relief for Achey Feet

Are sore feet slowing you down this summer? Whether you suffer from plantar fasciatis, heel spurs, bone/metatarsal pain, or ankle discomfort, there are things you can try prior to considering surgery.

First and foremost, consider the shoes you ae wearing. Be sure they have good arch support, with plenty of room for your toes to spread out. Flat shoes are best, as opposed to high heels. Shoe inserts and orthotics can give your feet the support they lack.

Weight loss can help your feet as well. Eating smaller portions, increasing your fiber and drinking more water can help you drop a few pounds. My favorite breakfast is a smoothie blender drink, which consists of protein powder, thai go (antioxidants), fiber 3, flax oil and fresh fruits and nuts. This gives me the energy and vital nutrients I need to start my day. You might also want to consider doing a Body Cleanse, which helps promote weight loss by eliminating waste and buildup of toxins that cause inflammation.

Increase your activity level to burn off excess calories. If your feet are too sore for walking, consider riding a bike or swimming. Stretches that focus on your hips, thighs and calfs are very helpful. If unsure how to properly stretch, a good Yoga class will teach safe stretching methods.

With massage, focus on your hips, legs and feet. Sports massage, neuromuscular therapy, deep tissue techniques and foot reflexology on a regular basis can increase flexibility, range of motion and provide pain relief, allowing your feet to heal faster. Which means less down time for you!

Surgery cannot be undone , so save it for a last resort after you have tried everything else. If you would like more information, schedule a massage and/or a nutritional consultation and see what can be done for you.

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