Serves 4

Ingredients for Marinade:

2 tsp curry powder

4 garlic cloves (peeled)

½ cup onion, chopped roughly

1 small jalapeno or Serrano pepper (chopped roughly)

1 T chopped peppermint

1 tsp honey

2 tsp black pepper

1/3 cup canola oil

2 T lime juice

1 lb cleaned and deveined shrimp with tails on

Skewers (bamboo or stainless steel)

Directions:

Blend all ingredients (up to lime juice) in food processor. Place in bowl and put shrimp in marinade for an hour or longer to soak up flavors. Thread marinated shrimp through skewers, and place on oiled grill. Grill for 2 to 4 minutes per side, until just cooked through. Don’t overcook. Serve skewers with coconut rice and grilled vegetables.

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Or, visit us on the web!

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/05/07/151936266/wired-to-run-runners-high-may-have-been-evolutionary-advantage

Below is a sampling of some Massage Heights moms’ thoughts on motherhood:

Heather B. from Ooltewah, Tennessee, memorialized her mom:

“My mother was my best friend.  She dedicated her entire life to taking care of her family and she managed to be my best friend, my mother, my teacher, my hero, and my motivator all at the same time.  Even though we grew up with little money I never felt deprived.  Our home was full of love and fun.  Sadly, she passed away in the year 2000 at the age of 45.  I was five days away from turning 22.  She had been diagnosed with breast cancer just 11 months prior to her death.  She spent those 11 months putting on a brave face, and she never once complained.”

Seattle, Washington Mom Juhnke B. likes the youth-inducing effects of motherhood:

“I love being an older mother with a teen-age daughter.  She keeps me young, active and in touch with the latest bands!” 

In Chino Hills, California, Cindi A. works hard for her special needs son and does it with a smile:

“I take care of my son who has Muscular Dystrophy. I love to take care of him.”

It’s all boys all the time for Melissa M. of Ankeny, Iowa, and she wouldn’t have it any other way:

“I am the mom of 3 boys, ages 8,4,and 1. The best part of being a mom is when my boys give me all their bear hugs and Eskimo kisses!”

Diapers and dirty dishes aside, joy permeates motherhood. Tell us about your mom or your experience as a mom. We will reward this week’s winner with a Massage Heights Mother’s Day Escape package (1-Hour Massage with Reviving Foot Scrub and FREE RELAX Aromatherapy) – a well-earned one!

To find a Houston Massage Height Retreat near you, visit our website.

To Request a Reservation, click here.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/therapeutic-sports-massage-052100520–spt.html

Where and how can you get Mom the feeling of euphoria? Massage Heights. Enhance Moms relaxing experience and get the “Mom’s Escape” which is a 60min experience that adds on our Reviving Foot Scrub- this Elevation involves exfoliating your feet with our Reviving all-natural seaweed body scrub, melting it all away with perfectly heated towels, and adding life back to your bases with our custom fusion Reviving Body Butter, all of this while being encompassed with complimentary Aromatherapy made from pure essential oils.  If you feel like she deserves more, then step up to “Mom’s Indulgence”, this is a 90min experience that adds on our custom Elevation, Hot Stone Therapy- Heat from the hot stones helps relieve tension by relaxing the muscles, thus allowing greater intensity than standard massage. Toxins are pushed through the lymphatic system due to the expansion of blood vessels, causing a sedative effect. The hot stones create a “thermo-therapeutic” effect in the circulatory system, allowing the body to detoxify and mend.

Regardless of which experience you pick for her, you will feel satisfied knowing that Mom is getting her much deserved Relaxing Moment.

To find a Houston Massage Heights Retreat near you, click here.

To Request a Reservation, click here.

Daniel Jaramillo-LMT, Massage Heights Corporate Lead Therapist

The statistics regarding breast cancer can be overwhelming for women in Houston and around the country to absorb. Yet, it’s not all dour news. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among American women, second only to skin cancers. Yet, the numbers are shifting in a positive direction – breast cancer incidence rates dropped 2% from 1999-2005.

As we look toward Mother’s Day this Spring and honor the moms in our midst, it makes sense to arm women with knowledge to combat the disease. You are not powerless to the disease. You can take steps to lessen your risk by addressing controllable risk factors such as increasing your levels of exercise, decreasing consumption of alcohol, bearing children, breastfeeding, and maintaining a healthy weight. Simply becoming aware of your body and savvy about your breast health will also improve your chances of good health. The American Cancer Society (ACS) actively promotes early detection as it saves thousands of lives annually. Here are a few of their recommendations:

Self-examination: Do a monthly self-exam of your breast tissue to determine what is normal for you. You can then alert your health care professional to unfamiliar lumps or changes in tissue.

Regular breast exams: During your annual gynecological exams, your health care provider will perform breast exams, providing you with another baseline of what is normal for your body.

Mammograms: Women ages 40 and older should undergo annual screening mammograms.

Always consult with your health care practitioner regarding your particular risk factors and how to best navigate your healthcare route.

For Moms battling breast cancer, massage is an oft-used healing modality as it promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety in patients. It is considered an effective complement to traditional medical care for women undergoing lumpectomy, mastectomy and breast reconstruction. Pre-surgical massage relaxes muscle tissue and increases lymph flow, while post-surgery massage can help reduce pain and swelling.

Consider getting a massage for some extra self-care during your illness or help out a Mom in your life – aunt, sister, or neighbor by purchasing a gift card for a massage. Request a reservation at a Massage Heights Houston near you, or call us for additional information.

You, and your Mom, can get involved in the battle against breast cancer in other ways as well. Join Massage Heights Houston in our efforts as a sponsor of the ACS DetermiNation Endurance Event program. You can join a team, run solo, donate money or volunteer at one of the races held around the country. Help us as we join ACS in their fight for less cancer and more birthdays.

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup (a generous handful) fresh or 1 tablespoon dried lavender blooms (culinary)
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice or a mixture of both
Ice cubes
Lavender sprigs for garnish

1. Make a simple syrup by combining sugar with 2 1/2 cups water in a medium pan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
2. Add lavender blooms to the sugar water, cover, and remove from heat. Let mixture steep for 30 minutes or up to several hours.
3. Strain mixture and discard lavender. Pour infusion into a glass pitcher. Add lemon/lime juice and another 2 1/2 cups water. Stir and refrigerate.
4. Serve over ice and garnish with lavender sprigs.

To find a Massage Heights Houston Retreat, click here. To request a reservation, click here.

It all starts with warm towels that our Massage Therapists use to soften the skin. They then employ an all-natural therapeutic scrub to hydrate and gently exfoliate – leaving the dryness of winter behind. They finish with an aromatherapy blend of lemongrass, tea tree, basil and lavender essential oils to revive the feet and lower legs.

Massage Heights’ own blend is a thoughtful collection of therapeutic essential oils. Lemongrass, an aromatic herb with a rich lemony scent, is a standard ingredient in Asian culinary dishes, yet also contains antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties. Tea tree oil, derived from a small tree indigenous to Australia, has a distinctive spicy and pungent smell that can be stimulating. It’s used medicinally as an antimicrobial, antiseptic and antifungal agent. Basil, another culinary superstar, contains a stack of essential oil compounds that exert anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Lavender, a perennial favorite, is best known for its pleasant scent and relaxing attributes. Yet, the pale purple herb boasts a stack of other traits including its antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-depressant properties.

Take care of your feet and Request a Reservation for your Reviving Foot Scrub Elevation today.

To find a location near you, click here.

Registration is Open!
If you haven’t signed up for this exciting event, you still have time. Online registration is open, and spots are still available. Right now, entry fees are $35 for the 10K and $25 for the 5K Fun Run. If you don’t get around to registering before March 10th, you can still sign up for the Fun Run for $30 on race day, buy you won’t be allowed to participate in the 10K for any price.

The Benefits of a Sports Massage
A sports massage can help both the competitive and amateur runner before or after an event. The pre-event sports massage is a great way to warm up your muscles and tendons to prevent sports-related injuries and increase performance during the race. As a post-event routine, sports massage can decrease soreness and recovery time while improving your muscle development.

While therapeutic massage on race day is invaluable to a runner, some athletes begin to prepare days before an event. A pre-race massage takes place five to six days ahead of time to reduce the soreness that most runners experience when training for a big race. This conditioning routine is designed specifically to improve circulation and boost the lymphatic system. For the best results, always use a licensed massage therapist who has extensive experience working with runners.

Remember, the Bayou City Classic is a “Run for the Trees” to preserve Houston’s natural beauty. In addition to the race, there are other wacky things to see like crazy costumes, “centipede” racers and funky art cars. This is definitely the place to be if you’re in Houston this March 10th!

1. Excellent Customer Focus – When our massage therapists are on duty, they leave all distractions and personal issues behind to focus 100 percent of their attention on the client. With this kind of professionalism, they make sure that each client receives the excellent service that they deserve.
2. Creates a Comfortable Atmosphere – Without a comfortable atmosphere and a trusting relationship with the therapist, the client won’t receive the full benefits of a therapeutic massage. The best massage therapists can quickly establish a rapport with their clients to create an environment that’s conducive to healing.
3. Tailors Each Session to the Client – We look for therapists who will work with each client to meet their specific needs whether they’re an Alzheimer’s patient or a competitive athlete. By empathizing with the individual client, they can adjust their technique, their approach and even their tone of voice to provide the best level of care to each person.
4. Strength and Endurance – Massage therapy is a very physical job requiring the therapist to stand for most of the day and use a tremendous amount of strength. We expect every massage therapist on our staff to have the stamina to perform their best throughout the day.
5. Creates a Relaxing Environment – A top-rated massage therapist will query each client to find out what they enjoy about the massage experience. With this in mind, they can add aromatherapy, candle light, soft music or any other available amenity to make every massage a thoroughly relaxing experience.

If you’re looking for a great massage therapist in Houston, call your local Massage Heights for an appointment. During your call, you can discuss any special needs you may have with our friendly staff. They’ll be happy to schedule your appointment after suggesting the best therapist to meet your requirements. See you there!

Find one of our 13 area locations here>>.