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Psoas Massage + Bodywork Newsletter  


 
Greetings!

Co-Owners, Scott Schwartz and Jenny Lightstone, give you a holiday greeting...
(click here or picture for video)



In addition to information about holiday discounts and information about Insurance in this newsletter, this month you will find stress busting stretches to keep your holidays pleasant, information on our corporate bonus program, as well as some holiday specials from some of our partners.

Happy Holidays,
Psoas
December Discounts

Holiday Package Discount - Starting Today!

All 5 session packages will be discounted 15% instead of the normal 10%.

Savings of up to $83! Purchase up to 2 packages.

Gift Certificates


Looking for the perfect gift to give this season? Why not give a gift everyone can feel great about!

Buy your holiday gifts at Psoas!

$10 off all gift certificates
$15 off each gift certificate when you buy 3 or more

Discounts valid now through December 31, 2009.

6 Ways to Save Year-Round

1. Work and Training Teams ---
You may be eligible for a Psoas discount through your company or training group. Ask the Psoas reception if you are part of one, or introduce us to yours!

2. Use your Flexible Spending ---
Did you know that you can save as much as 40% on your bodywork by using your flexible spending account?
Check with your provider to find out if massage therapy is covered by your plan - it usually is.
Find more information below.

3. Purchase Packages ---
We offer packages in series of 5 or 10 sessions. You save 10% on each session when purchasing packages.
*Discounted packages through the end of December.

4. Friends & Family ---
When you make a referral, we would like to show our appreciation by offering you 20% off your next massage. Make sure they mention your name when booking.

5. Weekly Available Appointment and Discount Email ---
In this weekly email we provide you with a list of available timeslots and a discount specific to that week.
Only those on this list are able to receive the weekly discount.
Click Here to Join

6. Become a Member on Facebook and/or Twitter ---
Not just fun facts and helpful information, discounts are provided to members from time to time
Stress Busting Stretches
For all you holiday travelers, or those just stressed from trying to pick the perfect gift, (stress no more - remember to get your gift certificates while at Psoas) here are 6 great stress-busting stretches.

1) Suboccipitals --- more detail
Adductor StretchSimply use hands to gently tuck head forward chin to chest.
  • Exaggerate tilting head on neck.
* To help tilt the head, place one hand on neck and one hand on head, thumb side down. Move hands away from each other aiding the tilt of the neck.

For Posterior Cervical exaggerate neck flexion.

2) Angel Stretch --- more detail
This is a stretch/exercise to get movement and blood flow through your upper back muscles - rhomboids/ latissimus dorsi / and trapezius.
  • Lean against the wall with your legs slightly bent.  You want to keep your hip, back, shoulders, and arms pressed against the wall through the entire movement.
  • Place the back of your arms against the wall in 90 degree angles.
  • Bring your elbows down towards your body in a smooth, slow motion as far as you can while maintaining contact with the wall.
  • Now, slowly bring arms over your head, still in 90 degree angles.
  • Repeat several times. 
3) Psoas --- more detail
  • Psoas Stretch #1 - 3Place right knee on the ground, right foot, top of foot and toes down and left foot lunged forward
  • Make sure left ankle is in front of left knee - allow for more room to move knee forward later to increase the stretch, without the knee moving over the ankle (this is protective of the knee)
  • Draw right foot and leg back, stretching the front right side of the body
  • Move left knee forward, leaving right foot and knee in place, increasing the stretch
  • Suck in belly, extend torso upwards using extended right arm, pointing upwards to help torso extensionBreathe
All stretches for the right side --- reverse for left side.

4) Scalenes --- more detail
There are 3 separate scalenes muscles, all needing individualized stretches.
  • Scalene StretchNeutral position (middle Scalene) shown here.
  • Sit up straight with head facing forwards. (Neutral position)
  • Stabilize shoulder down on right side by holding onto a chair or sitting on hand.
  • Placed left hand over head above right ear and gently flex neck to the left by bringing left ear to left shoulder.
  • Hold for 15 - 60 seconds.
5) Rhomboids --- more detail
Seated:
  • Lie straight right arm across left knee, palm up
  • Grasp right wrist with left hand gently pull away from right shoulder (think about pulling right shoulder and right wrist in opposite directions)
  • Use knee to move right arm closer to body

6) Erectors --- more detail
(all forward bends will stretch the erectors)
A Psoas favorite for deep erector pain - must be done very slowly, using deep breathing. Remember that the bend at the hip will cause the erectors to be stretched but the head tucked to the chest is the key to this stretch
  • Start seated with knees slightly bent, legs about 12 inches apart. Use a bolster, pillow, rolled blanket or towel, foam roller or anything else that will provide support to allow relaxed, bent knees for a prolonged period.
  • With straight back (not rounded), bend forward until minor stretch is felt and STOP moving and breath.
  • Gently and slowly tuck chin towards chest until erectors begin to feel a slight stretch and STOP moving and breath. Go slowly - people with tight erector muscles will feel a very sudden onset of pain from the stretch - moving too fast will cause a tightening in the erectors - this is a protective response.
  • Remain still and breathe - allow the pain from the stretch to melt away. This could take 30 seconds to a minute.
  • When the stretch melted away, tuck the chin gently and slowly further towards the chest until minor stretch is felt and STOP moving and breath.
  • Breath and allow the stretch to melt away and repeat. Repeat this a maximum of times or when the stretch pain does not disappear.
Could you be saving money at Psoas?

Flexible Spending/Health Savings Accounts and Insurance Reimbursement


As the numbers of people that have Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) rise, we have been searching for the easiest way for you to be able to use those accounts towards all sessions here at Psoas.

Do you have a flexible spending account? Do you know what one is? It allows you to save up to 40% on health related expenses not covered by your insurance plan. You can use your account for a variety of things...including therapeutic massage! According to the federal tax code, a qualified expense "must be to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental defect or illness". The majority of the clients at Psoas seek our bodywork for help in conjunction with training injuries, chronic pain, stress, and other issues, which all qualify!

For those of you who haven't started reaping the benefits, an FSA is a tax-advantage financial account designed to help pay for qualified health-related expenses, offered through your employer's benefits package. The money you designate for your FSA is taken from your check, before taxes. This can create a 40%+ tax savings! Check with your provider to see if you have a Flexible Spending Account option.

Getting coverage through your Insurance company takes a little more finesse, but is possible. Clients that have had success getting their claims covered have received reimbursement for 50% - 100% of their total out of pocket expense.

You also may want to talk with your representative of your plan to see if a doctor's recommendation/diagnosis is necessary (which documents medical necessity).
Some plans need it - some don't.

The codes we charge under are medical massage codes.
Following are the 2 codes we are allowed to charge under for different modalities/specialties performed here at Psoas. Check with you insurance providers to see if they may apply to you.

97140- Manual Therapy techniques: mobilization, manipulation, manual lymphatic drainage, manual traction, one or more regions, each 15 minutes.

97112- Therapeutic procedure, one or more areas, each 15 minutes: Neuromuscular re-education of movement, balance, coordination, kinesthetic sense, posture and proprioception.

If you have further questions on getting your sessions covered, need receipts from 2009, or which code would apply towards your sessions please do not hesitate to contact us.
We are trying to learn more about this process to make it easier for our clients to get their sessions covered. If you are able to take the time to provide feedback on your individual experiences with insurance companies, we would greatly appreciate the information you could provide.

415.227.0331 or helene@psoasbodywork.com
A Gift Everyone Can Feel Great About - Corporate Giving Package

In 2008, we started a Corporate Bonus Program with local stores, restaurants and small and medium sized businesses in San Francisco. The program was well received as it was a great alternative to large bonuses that many businesses could not afford during the beginning of the 2008 financial crisis. While many businesses are still feeling the impact of the economy in 2009, they want to recognize and thank their employees for their hard work and bring positivity to the workplace.

Psoas is offering an excellent way to keep your employees happier and healthier, with special rates for you to give the gift of massage this season. 

Click here for more information.

Forward this on to your company and/or friends/family that own businesses in the Bay Area to help them with good gift ideas for the Holiday Season.
Gift Certificates for the Holidays!
New Year's Resolutions!

 
Need the perfect, timeless gift of health?
 
Choose from FIVE healthy gift certificates for a holiday gift.
Or, choose all five for the ultimate in Massage, Nutrition, and Training!

Psoas Massage + Bodywork  ---
See gift certificate discounts listed above 

DIAKADI Body ---
10% off your choice of Yoga, Pilates or Personal Training
 
Lilah Belle's ---
Special $50 value for $40! Balanced and nutritious meals on the go!
 
MV Nutrition ---
5% off 3-4 Month (8 Session) One-on-One Nutrition Program
 
Nutrition for You ---
3 Months of Expert Online Nutrition for $29
3 Months of Expert Online Nutrition + 6 Coaching Sessions for $250
 
Achieve the perfect balance of body, mind and spirit this holiday season with a Holiday Health Package of gift certificates for your loved ones.
 
Available at any of the following locations.
December 2009
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The Psoas Newsletter
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In This Issue
December Discounts
Stress Busting Stretches
Flex Spending/Health Savings, Insurance Reimbursement
Give the Gift of Health
Psoas Partner's Holiday Discounts
Disk of the Month

Disk of the Month


You won't hear whale sounds or rustling leaves at Psoas. We take our music almost as seriously as our bodywork.
Almost!

Best of 2009

Artist: Various

Genre: Various
 
The end of the year means "best of" lists, and while they're wholly subjective, I'm gonna do one anyhow.  Here we go:

#5.  "The Rain" by The Swell Season.  Listen Here.  Did you see the movie "Once"?  Musician Glen Hansard, who played the lead, ended up forming The Swell Season with his female co-star Marketa Irglova. They fell in love on set, and the rest is history.  They've since ended their romantic relationship, but the music continues.  "The Rain" is a perfect example of a great rock song: and it rocks, truly.  I've been humming this one since last Wednesday.  I wish I was kidding about that, but I'm not.

#4.  "Islands" by The XX.  Listen Here.  A relatively new find, these kids hail from England and are bringing a new take to the "Nu 80's" genre that bands like Interpol pioneered.  Using tons of reverb and not a lot of instrumentation, the songs speak for themselves.  And this one, a sexy little ditty, will ring around your head, begging you to spin the record one more time.

#3.  "Winter" bu U2. 
This track, unavailable on any album, is in the new film "Brothers".  Whether or not you've seen the film or are a particularly big U2 fan, this song will move you.  Keeping in line with U2's political/war based lyrical theme, this song is a beautiful song, reminiscent of their tracks from way back.  Even if you've given up on this band (which I can understand after their last couple albums), you should listen to this track a few times.  Earnest and sad, this track has been in VERY heavy rotation with me ever since I saw the film.

#2.  "Private Hell" by Alice In Chains.  Listen Here.  You guys know how I feel about this album by now, but I can't stress this enough: for a seminal band like Alice in Chains to take almost 15 years off and come back-with a different lead singer-and an album of this caliber, staying so true to their original sound yet not sounding tired...well, I just have to tip my cap.  I'm not sure I've ever seen it happen before.  Regardless, "Private Hell" is a sprawling, plodding rocker that has the components of all the best AIC tracks from the past-amazing verses, great harmonization, and a chorus that just insists that you raise up your fist, or at the very least bang your head (a little bit!).

#1.  "1901" by Phonenix.  Listen Here. "1901"-right from the first notes-is a rave-up song if I've ever heard one.  This French band's breakout album "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" is littered with dancy upbeat songs, but this won is the clear standout.  Sure, it's already been co-opted for a car commercial, but...do you really care?  I'm not sure I've ever played this track for someone who didn't like it.  It's catchy, fun, and it rocks. 

There you have it.  I'm sure there's tons of tracks I'm forgetting, but if you haven't heard these 5, this is a good list to start from.  See ya in 2010!

-- DJ Split   

Have any questions or suggestions for
DJ Split?

Contact DJ Split at
djsplit@psoasbodywork.com
 

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