A long week. A rough day. Bumper-to-bumper traffic. A two-hour, fog-delayed flight. The final exam. Trying to run on four hours of sleep. A barking dog. The last piece doesn’t fit.
Sometimes, the challenges of everyday life can be quite overwhelming and take a toll. No matter how 
hard you try or how well you plan, life doesn’t always follow the script that you have written for it.
These obstacles, these challenges or demands of daily living, often produce the feeling known as stress. This feeling can be mental, physical or both. The practice of meditation or yoga can help alleviate or diminish stress levels.
Massage therapy is another way to help reduce the tension produced by stress. If one is unfamiliar with these practices or not quite sure where to seek guidance, Renew U, an independent, women-operated business in Knox, tries to meet your wellness goals and give you the best possible outcome from a holistic standpoint.
Usually the first step on a path to holistic health is a massage by a licensed therapist, which will provide a familiarization of the body, or simply a baseline from which to proceed on a personal wellness plan. One can act upon and choose from the many services, methods or classes provided by Renew U.
Massage therapy involves the manipulation of muscles or other soft tissues to alleviate tightness and stiffness, thus aiding in the reduction of stress. Its lesser-known counterpart, cupping, involves lifting layers of soft tissue, providing a healthy blood flow to aid in healing. This procedure is often used by athletes who have the desire to get back to their game quickly. Both massage therapy and cupping are available to aid in one’s physical well-being.
Hot stone or bamboo, both forms of massage, are offered to help diminish the aches, pains and tensions of everyday living. Heat, when concentrated to a specific area, is well-known to help ease discomfort. Heated stones are applied to specific areas and manipulated to provide relaxation. Bamboo provides a deeper form of heat therapy, taking full advantage of the physical qualities of the plant to retain heat. Bamboo rods, better known as canes, are pressed or rolled on the body, allowing for a specific concentration and deeper penetration of heat.
Another specialty provided is the seaweed wrap. Seaweed is applied, then one is wrapped to allow the body to detoxify itself, thus providing better health. Dry brushing is a method that also assists in detoxification of the body, along with the exfoliation of the skin.
Yoga and meditation classes are available to promote mental well-being, along with the physical. A seated yoga class provides strengthening and stretching of the body in a relaxed setting, so even those with limited mobility are able to join the class. Mental well-being can be aided through meditation. Dim lights and tones from sound bowls along with guided meditation provide an environment to unplug, and relax. To ensure quality attention to all, classes are limited to six clients.
BEMER (bio-electro-magnetic-energy-regulation) and reiki are also provided. BEMER involves the use of a PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field) device that safely stimulates healthy muscles to temporarily increase blood flow, which in turn improves disbursement of oxygen. Reiki is a technique in which the energy of the body is balanced, providing relaxation and reducing stress. During the process, the hands of the reiki master are placed above the body. This technique is used to channel the energy of the body.
“Besides personal attention, we strive to help the community by providing wellness and health,” says Proprietor Gina Bachmeier. Various
benefits and fundraisers are also hosted by Renew U, showing their devotion to the community. Along with Bachmeier, there are two other licensed massage therapists, a yoga instructor/BEMER representative, and a reiki master/teacher on hand, to provide you with the services you need to get or stay on the right path to a holistic lifestyle. In addition, a licensed chiropractor is on hand to keep the body in proper alignment.
Service is provided by appointment only. Renew U is located at 11 South Main Street in downtown Knox. To schedule an appointment, they can be reached by going to renewullc.com, or Facebook @RenewUKnox. Give them a call at 219-680-6362.
With the holidays fast approaching, gift cards are available to assist in a little stress-free shopping.
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