What’s inside... 

• Activities of Interest 

• News at Soothe 

• Plant of the Month with recipe 

• Stretch of the Month 

• Ask Alicia 

• Happy Happenings in the community 

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Activities of Interest 

I have compiled a small list of activities going on in the area that you might be interested in knowing about:

 

• On 9/9, Wilson’s Orchard is hosting a 4 course Supper located in their picnic area to honor the Full Moon.  The menu looks amazing and I am sure that it’ll be a beautiful evening.  Tickets available online https://www.wilsonsorchard.com/about/contact 

• On 9/16-/9/18 there will be a Reggae Festival in Springville with some great music. Sounds like a lot of fun! Check out the details here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/farm-fresh-reggae-2022-tickets-368927771897?aff=ebdssbcitybrowse 

• Every Tuesday in Solon, from 4-6p is Solon Farmer’s Market.  This event is located in Mushroom Park – across the street from The American Legion on Main Street 

• 9/17 is Oktoberfest in Marion https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marion-oktoberfest-tickets-383602133307?aff=ebdssbcitybrowse 

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Coming up in August at Soothe: 

*9/20-10/11, Alicia will be traveling abroad. Soothe will still be operating as usual while she is gone. Phone calls, texts, and emails will still be answered but you may notice a delay in response. For faster service, please call Mohamed Ali at 319-594-3161 and he will be happy to provide you with any help that you may need. Thank you for your support and understanding. 

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*Alicia’s husband, Mohamed Ali joined the team at Soothe on 8/26/22 after becoming fully licensed as a Massage Therapist. Ali specializes in Therapeutic Deep Tissue Massage but also has received full training in several modalities and is happy to bring his education to providing you with the best care possible. Offering hours as late as 9p, Ali brings some much-needed evening and weekend flexibility to our clients at Soothe. Thank you for welcoming him to Soothe.

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Plant of the month: Sage

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Sage has been one of the most popular culinary herbs since ancient times. It adds great flavor to many different dishes, but this herb also holds a lot of healing properties. Plus, when planted in the garden, it attracts beneficial pollinators and prevents harmful pests. The sage plant is hardy and easy to grow  

There are many benefits to sage; a powerful anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-diabetic, antidepressant, anti-tumor, and gastroprotective. I like to infuse sage into honey, add to my mashed squash or potatoes, drink fresh tea, or rub the scent in my hands while taking a break to breathe. Always be sure to double check that you are using the correct variety of Sage before ingesting anything. 

 

 

Sage Spray for cleaning your home 

Materials 

• 1 bunch of fresh sage leaves 

• 1 cup hot water 

• 1 cup white distilled vinegar 

• 1/4 tsp. sea salt 

• Optional: Sage essential oil and/or Palo Santo essential oil 

Tools 

• 1 glass spray bottle (capacity of 2 cups or more) 

Instructions 

1. Add hot water (NOT boiling just hot) into bottle (make sure it's a glass bottle). 

2. Ruffle or break up the sage leaves, to release the oils, and then add them to the hot water in the bottle. 

3. Add white distilled vinegar and salt to the bottle. 

4. Set the bottle in a cool, dark place. Let the sage seep in the vinegar solution overnight (or at least 12 hours). 

5. If desired, add sage essential oil and/or Palo Santo essential oil (both known for energy clearing properties) to the solution after it has come to room temperature. (This can either be done before setting in a cool, dark place, or after the sage has steeped.) 

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Stretch of the Month: Knee to Chest (for Low Back pain)

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1. Lie on your back with your knees bent 
   and your feet flat on the floor. 

2. Using both hands, grab hold of your 
   right lower leg and interlace your fingers, or clasp your wrists just under the knee. 

3. While keeping your left foot flat on 
   the floor, gently pull your right knee up to your chest until you feel a slight 
   stretch in your lower back. 

4. Hold your right knee against your 
   chest for 30–60 seconds, making sure to relax your legs, hips, and lower back.

5. Release your right knee and return to the starting position. 

6. Repeat steps 2–4 with your left leg. 

7. Repeat three times for each 
   leg. 

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Ask Alicia 

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Q) Dear Alicia, 

I am having trouble with getting motivated to make some much needed changes. Do you have any advice for getting willpower to last throughout the day? 

 -Claire 

 

A) Dear Claire, 

I think that motivation and willpower are an issue that many people are struggling with right now and I am glad for your question. I think that as a society, many of us are still in survival mode and it may take a while to bounce back (which is okay). 

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Without knowing what your specific goal or change you are trying to bring about; I’ll include some information about Willpower and Motivation. 

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First off, when it comes to motivation, you might ask yourself if it’s pleasure or pressure driving you? It truly makes a huge difference if you are doing something for yourself because you want to versus because you think that you should or because you are worried about the approval of others.

 

There is also a huge difference in motivation that comes from problem solving versus outcome-oriented motivation. In the first, you are taking action because you are motivated to get rid of a problem, in the second, you’re motivated to take action to bring what you truly want into being. Understand how the difference can affect your energy and drive? 

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Lastly, please know that Willpower is finite. Most people only have so much for each day. It’s kind of like a muscle and the more that you use it, the more that it gets tired as the day goes on but will eventually become stronger as a habit is gained. It’s why some people start out so strong in the morning and then end up caving by the end of the evening.

 

My recommendation is to focus on one goal at a time and to give it all of your attention until it becomes second nature and doesn’t require so much of your energy. When making a goal try to be 1% better each day. (Example: Start with 20 squats, then do 21 the next day. Keep building from there). 

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Don’t forget to be kind and gentle with yourself. Lasting change takes time. If you hit a bump in the road, be compassionate towards yourself and keep pushing forward. 

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I hope this helps and thank you for your question! 

-Alicia 

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*If you’d like to send your own question to Ask Alicia, please email SootheIA@hotmail.com 

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Happy Happenings...

 

 

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Chris writes “I was driving to pick up my kid from school the other day when I noticed a boy walking his bike with the chain off. Before I could stop to help, another boy who was going by on his scooter stopped to help him put the chain back on. Made me happy to see kids helping each other out.”

 

Katie writes “I was watching a movie when a knock came at the door. I wasn’t expecting anyone so I almost didn’t answer it. Decided to check it out anyway and a man was standing there holding a pair of sunglasses – he asked me if they were mine, that he had found them in the road. I couldn’t believe it!!! It was my new pair of prescription sunglasses that had somehow fallen out when I was unloading my car earlier (my car was parked in the street in front of my house which is why the man took a chance and knocked on my door). I am so grateful that he cared enough to knock on my door and ask!!!  

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*See or experience something nice in the community? Send your experience to SootheIA@hotmail.com  We’d love to know about your Happy Happening! 

 

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”  

– Anne Frank 

 

Have a great September everyone!!