Instead of wishing each other blessings of health and happiness throughout the holidays–while simultaneously ingesting sugary, gluten and leptin-laden “goodies” that cause inflammation and immune system suppression–why don’t we encourage health?
- Instead of sharing baked goods with our neighbors, why not share baskets of Florida citrus chock-full of sunshine and Vitamin D?
- Instead of making poor health decisions for party foods, why not ask guests to bring healthy snacks and canned goods for a local food pantry?
- Instead of buying Black Friday sale items that no one really needs…
Give the gift of peace, relaxation, wellness, and health
I’d like to introduce you to some of the best natural healers in Charlottesville. I personally use their services or frequently refer my friends, family, and patients to them for care. Many of these health practitioners have gift certificates available.
Herbalist – Mary Michaud, RN, MSN, FPN
Mary is wise and skilled with years of experience in both western medicine and eastern herbalism. For 10 years, she diagnosed and prescribed medications as a family nurse practitioner with a master’s degree in nursing. After multiple patients presented with conditions to which she had nothing to give to them to feel better, she began to studyherbalism. She’s been practicing as an herbalist since 2005. Her private practice in Charlottesville, BE, is based on the traditions of Western, Chinese, and Ayurvedic herbalism.
Being grounded in two philosophical approaches toward health, Mary has helped numerous patients overcome food allergies, regain strength and stamina, and actualize health and wellness. Mary also serves as a guest lecturer at the Sacred Plant Traditions clinical program.
Massage Therapists
Grace Webb Hays, CMT
With over 15 years of experience, Grace is a very talented massage therapist, and she’s my friend. Grace particularly enjoys and specializes in gentle therapeutic massage and assisted stretching for children with special needs, and injury/surgery recovery aid.
Additionally, she provides stress alleviating relaxation massage, and prenatal massage, and chronic pain relief. Grace utilizes gentle, highly effective neuromuscular modalities to include myofascial release, visceral manipulation, craniolsacral therapy, lymph stem, joint compression/ release, assisted/ resistance stretching, deep tissue massage, and acupressure. Grace enjoys working with people of all ages and abilities to help them achieve improved over all health, and physical ability.
Bodylogic Therapeutics | Grace Webb Hays
Located in Clay Fitness
233 Douglas Avenue, Charlottesville VA 22902
(434)961-6111
E-mail: givepeace@gmail.com
Sarah M. Handley, CMT, NCTMB
Although Sarah offers therapeutic massage, her niche is Thai massage. She trained in Virginia and Thailand, including work at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Thai massage begins with a warm moist towel wrap on your feet coupled with massage. Sarah uses her hands, elbows, knees, and feet to work on clients who are fully clothed on a Thai mat. After working along Thai meridians to warm up the entire body, she passively stretches clients into various yoga poses to help with flexibility and balance.
I loved my 90 minute Thai massage–a very interactive type of massage that helps with relaxation while simultaneously re-energizing and re-setting the body.
Fire & Water Therapeutic Massage and Thai Healing Arts
313 2nd Street, SE; Suite 118; Charlottesville, VA 22903
smh2ss@yahoo.com
(434) 962-2532
Chiropractic | Dr. Dolly Garnecki
Yes, it’s me. Besides writing about health and parenting on Traveling with Baby, I provide health care services, nutritional counseling, ergonomic counseling, and teach therapeutic exercises to patients of all ages. My specialty techniques include corrective treatment for scoliosis, maternity care and Webster technique for breech birth positioning, and pediatric care for newborns and children.
With an emphasis on posture and biomechanics through spinal adjustments, patient-specific therapeutic home exercises, and neuromuscular re-education, my goal is to meet each patient and help her on her journey toward optimal health.
By the way, I do make house calls in Charlottesville and Albemarle county, and can be available to treat a laboring mother at a home birth, and for post-partum care and newborn examination. I have made house calls for patients suffering from H1N1 as well as acute relief for injury or post-surgery.
Spinal Health & Wellness | Dolly Garnecki, BA, DC
679 Berkmar Circle
Charlottesville, VA 22901
(434) 566-0126
This year, consider gifting a friend or loved one with a gift certificate toward health, and support small biz in Charlottesville.
WIN IT!
Sarah Handley of is offering a gift certificate for a Thai massage. Thanks, Sarah! If you win, the difficult choice will be whether to keep the massage for yourself or to present it as the champion of all gifts for a loved one.
One (1) winner will receive a gift certificate for a 90-minute Thai massage with Sarah Handley of Fire & Water Therapeutic Massage & Thai Healing Arts (retail value $110). To enter, leave a relevant comment on this post prior to December 15th at 11:59 p.m. That’s it! Please follow the contest rules and avoid any generalized comments, or you will be disqualified. U.S. only mailing addresses are eligible.
*Note: I did not receive any compensation for this post. These are health practitioners that I personally see or to whom I refer–and they are excellent!
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