Did I ever tell you when I started massaging?

It was already 22 years ago when I lived in New York at age 19 and 20! I was studying acting and theatre and at the same time I needed a job to support my living and studies there, so I got a job in a wonderful little hairsalon in East Village called RIAH (hair backwards). I was their schampooer!

As an actress I could study all the wonderful New York characters coming into to this special hairsalon having their hair done. It was a dream. Everyone had an amazing ‘story’ to tell. I could have written a film/book about their lifes and emotions.

During this period I started to realise how fun it was to give people good scalp massages in my schampooing, it made it all creative and I would get big tips which was great!

I developed the scalp massage more and more but eventually after two years I left New York and continued working as an actress in London, but my time in the hairsalon in New York had grown a little seed in me about learning about massage, but it wasn’t until 7 years later when I was fed up with my life and wanted to change my career that I decided to do a proper massage course – I did it!

I have never looked back! It’s my life! It’s my passion. And now 20 years later when I visited New York this Spring I found my old hairsalon and my old boss & friend Ann who had moved the hairsalon to the area of Soho/Nolita – it was amazing to see it again.

Thank you New York and people for starting a massage seed grow in me 22 years ago!

Thank you for listening to my story.

Much love Nunu

It was Barcelona Marathon last weekend and I massaged a few marathon runners,two sisters from Estonia in their 20′s who were running their first marathon and who made the 42km but who couldn’t get on and off my massage table the day after the marathon – What pain they must have had in their legs. I was glad to be able to help them release and soften the mucle ache and tension. One of them was working in South Sudan for the UN peace committe to help this African country – what a challenge! And living in one of the harderst places on the planet, no food, no water, the heat etc. It was fascinating to hear and learn about her life there. Thank you Kat!

I also massaged Nigel, a lovely Aussie man from Perth, who was 57 years old and ran his 10th(!) marathon! What an achievement! And he ran it in 3.38min – which is a fantastic time! An inspiration. He had massage with me 2 days before the marathon and 2 days after – he was in perfect shape! Thank you Nigel!

Here is to remind you why a good sports massage before and after a marathon is a good idea:

After an exercise session, massage speeds up the elimination of waste products(in particular lactid-acid) by stimulating the lymphatic system. The accumulation of these waste products during exercise is the cause of much of the stiffness and pain experienced afterwards.

A routine of pre-exercise massage and limbering will help to prevent strains.  Most sports also put increased strain on the legs, buttocks and back. Previous injuries can make the back prone to recurrent pain. With regular and thorough back massage (particularly before exercise), the likelihood of injury is reduced.

I have just finished a very successfull week of on-site chair massages for 2 multi-national companies – I am so excited that I got these two jobs! It has strengthened my beilief in how brilliant the chair massage works for events and congresses.

So our first job was with Fujitsu. A very deep rooted traditional Japanese company – at this event their California Lab were experimenting with a device which connected to a mobile and which was showing in real-time your stress levels. Wow! The experiment was to see how much your stress levels lowered in a 4-min back massage.In real-time.  It was fantastic to watch how much people relaxed in 4-min! Substantionally. I wish I had one of these devices in my clinic to show people how much they relax in a fullbody massage – Imagine!! The idea one day is that we can download one of these apps to our phones  and people are able to have a Personalized Stress Management Service.

What do you think about that?  I like the idea and I guess I have to accept that this is where the world is going but I can’t help but think of how far remote we are these days from connecting with our bodies and that we need a device to tell us how stressed we are, isn’t that crazy!? We live so far removed from nature that we are loosing more and more touch and connection with our mind/body.

This saddens me abit but at the same time if this is the direction we are moving towards then I’d rather people have an app that tells them their stress levels are high and that they can stop for a moment, breathe deeply and become aware/consious of what is going on in them. So maybe it will help people to connect with their bodies! What about that thought?!I loved working with Alex and Fred from Fujitsu Lab California and we all learnt alot from these event. Thank you.

From one extreme to the other – on the Thursday we had a chair massage job with American software company INTEL. All the bosses were women, everyone dressed nicely but relaxed. The energy wasn’t so serious. We massaged for their VIP back room where they had a party with Dj’s from Razzmatazz club in Barcelona, lots of food, beers, robots dancing, 3D digital photo badges on offer and our 10-min back massages. It was a fun, lively, wild, young energy and all the Intel staff were dancing around the stand – I felt like I was massaging at a disco! It was fun!

In general what struck me was how many people from all around the world come to this event, I loved finding out where people were from and taking care of their stress levels for just a moment! And I’m super grateful for my teamhelpers Paulina and Valle who did a fantastic job with me. I love my team! Thank you people of the world for this experience!

Stay connected with your bodies!

Nunu

1)Liz, tell me about who you are, where you are from & what you do?

-I am a Canadian living in Barcelona since November. In Canada, I was an event planner and yoga teacher and a mom. Here in Barcelona, I am trying to learn Spanish and offer private yoga lessons to individuals or groups, and blogging about our adventures here. Meanwhile, my kids are still in Canada at university reading my blog.

2)You’ve recently arrived to Barcelona, what was your first impression?

-Vibrant and full of life. That was my first impression. Plus I cannot get enough of the Mediterranean blue skies and sunshine, even when the temperatures are cooler, the weather is always gorgeous to me. Oh, and the abundance beautiful architecture. I’m still getting to know Guadi and Picasso and have fallen in love with them both.

3)Your have a passion for yoga & you are a teacher in Ashtanga yoga, how did this interest start, how has it affected your life, how does it make you feel?

-I stumbled onto yoga over 15 years ago. While I was waiting for my son to finish his karate class and my daughter her tap dance class, there happen to be a free Ashtanga yoga class at the community centre that I dropped in to try. I loved it. It was my oasis in a busy life. It was for only once per week then because that’s all the time I had. Now I practice 6 days a week and it is still my oasis.

4)What would be your advice to someone starting out to do yoga?

-Be realistic with your commitment. Find a place to go to and timing that works with your lifestyle. I have seen many people make big resolutions to go from zero to one hundred; thinking they should go this many times per week. Then they stop completely because it was too much or their body was too achy rather than better. The reality is you will benefit a continued commitment at a sustainable pace.

5) You are also vegan, have weekly massages & lead a very health conscious life, why?

-I have been so fortunate to meet many inspiring role models who thrived on a plant based diet. We were a meat eating family for a long time and one day, my daughter who was fourteen years old at the time decided she would no longer eat animal based foods. Suddenly, I had to learn  how to prepare healthy vegan meals for her. We were amazed by how good the food could be and how wonderful we felt. My husband became vegetarian and soon after I was vegan. It is a compliment to a daily yoga practice because everything is digested much faster which allows for easier twists and lifts. We are thrilled to find how easy it is to be vegetarian or vegan in Barcelona. The restaurant options are even better than in Canada!
As for regular massages, I used to think that it was an indulgence until someone asked me me how often I get my car tuned up. Do I wait for it to break down before having the oil changed?That shifted my thinking completely. Why should we treat our cars better than our bodies? Regular massages are the much needed tune ups for our bodies to avoid injuries and pain. Plus massages with Nunu are simple a little bit of heaven.

6) What has been the most powerful moment in your life, which changed your life?

- Having children. I think all mothers of the world are Wonder Women. There is no greater power and strength than that of a mother protecting her child. Look at the animal kingdom too! We’re the same fierce protectors.

7)Last but not least what makes you tick?

- To live life in the moment. There’s a quote I love;

“Life is not measured by how many breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.”

Liz can be reached at liz@greatevents.ca and www.chocolateandtravel.ca

I’m sitting in bed on the computer, resting, but also feeling a little bit wintery, tight in my shoulders & neck, poor posture and closed in my body, do you?

So.. I suddenly remembered how immediate and powerful reflexology points in the feet can be so I’ve thought of a quick cure all for you all….hihihi

Listen up…The reflexology points that treat the spine also have an effect on the whole nervous system. Working these points may help to shift a headache, backache or shoulder tension, and it is a great way to give yourself a general boost.

Remove your shoe and bring one foot to rest on your left knee. Turn the foot to expose the inner edge. Starting at the base of the big toe, walk your thumb along the bone and down to the heel, using caterpillar-like crawling motion. Now thumb walk back towards the toes, but this time press up into the bone as you go. Repeat the movements on the other foot.

The spine reflexes run along the inner edge of each foot. As you work the points, try to be aware of any areas of tenderness, and give them a gentle massage.

Giving yourself a quick treatment can be a great way to revitalize body and mind!

Happy Weekend Beautiful People!

Nunu X

Hope you are all well – How was your Christmas?

I had a magical, idyllic Christmas at my mum’s in the north of Sweden – lots
of snow, mountains,sunshine, pure air, elks, cross country skiing, eating
lovely Swedish food and playing in the snow! I feel re-newed……so……..

….why not start 2013 with one of my massages filled with pure Skandi
energy, warmth, calmness, bliss & with a touch of glittery snow!

It will help your face, body & mind to feel fresh & ready to go – to become
a peaceful warrior for 2013!

Email: nunu@thevitaltouch.es  for an appointment or call 659 995 657

If you want to know more about my therapeutic massage please check:
www.tvtbarcelona.com

Happy Healthy 2013!
Love Nunu

Well I am excited to share with you that I have teamed up with Personal Trainer Daniel Benites to offer you all some exquisite, fun, caring discounted health mini packs to give away to your family and friends for X-mas to kick-start 2013!

• 3xpersonal training sessions,PLUS a 30-minute back massage at 120eu!(value 160eu)

• 2×1-hour fullbody massages, PLUS one personal training session at 120eu! (value 165eu)

• 3x private football skills lessons for kids at 75eu! (value 90eu)

• 1x 1-hour fullbody massage at 48eu (value 60eu)

• 1x personal training session at 38eu (value 45eu)

It’s easy & simple to arrange, call Nunu on 659 995 657 or email nunu@thevitaltouch.es  and we can email you the giftvouchers/or you can pick them up from our Central Barcelona clinic, our websites:

Massages: www.tvtbarcelona.com
Personal Training and Football For Kids: www.personaltrainerbcn.com

Sending you Happiness & Good Health!
Nunu x Dany

Esther, where are you from and how did you end up in Barcelona?

-I grew up in a small town in Yorkshire, England. After university in London I lived in Italy for a few years, where I met my (Argentinian) partner. He was living in Barcelona and I’d always loved the city so I moved here. That was about 17 years ago.

You’ve lived in Barcelona for a long time, how has it changed for you?

-The biggest change I see is how international the city is now and how it has changed to fit its role as a major tourist destination. Depending on my mood I either find it invigorating or I feel nostalgic for that less-gentrified, seedier, city that oozed charm and mystery.

What do you love and dislike the most about living in Barcelona?

-I find Barcelona to be an easy-going city to live in. It’s creative and dynamic and there are just so many different people flowing through – I think everyone can find their tribe here. On the downside, there’s a lot of traffic and I worry about the air we’re all breathing.

You run Barcelona-Metropolitan – tell me about your job and the magazine.

-I set the magazine up in 1996. Barcelona was just becoming a popular destination for foreigners and I’d seen this model of magazine in Paris and Rome, so I thought, why not Barcelona? It took a couple of years to really get off the ground. There was no free press at that time so people found it hard to understand what we were or to categorise us. We were lucky to catch the boom time when Barcelona just became more and more popular. Also, this was before the internet, so people really came to rely on us for information about the city and events. We’ve changed a lot since then, but our goal has always been the same  – to help people make the most of their time in Barcelona. I’m still very involved in the company but my role now is mostly focussed on strategy and future projects. I have a great team of people who take care of the day to day.

To me you are a very grounded, centred and calm person, but you are a mum of 3 small children, you have the responsibility of a magazine, have a travelling husband, how do you cope with all of it?

-I’m a very optimistic person so I usually manage to see the bright side of whatever is going on. I also try to keep things in perspective and if it’s not important then I won’t worry too much about it. I try to make sure that there’s some downtime each day, when I can just unwind.

How do you find a balance between work/life/family etc? Any recommendations?

-I don’t see it so much as work versus family, but rather just as a need to blend it all together as best as I can. I have a lot of freedom as to when I work so that’s helpful of course. I think that the flexibility and the fact that I can have my four-month old baby with me while I work, whether at home or in the office is key to keeping things balanced.

You come for regular massage, do pilates and you teach women about hypnobirthing – why and when an interest in all of this? How does it help you?

-I was brought up in a very health conscious family, so my health has always been important to me. Rather than develop an interest in holistic care, it’s just something I’ve never really questioned. I believe that our minds are a very powerful influence on our physical state so to really achieve some kind of harmony in life, we need to pay attention to our mind and body.

Last but not least what makes you tick? What’s your passion?

-I’m a childbirth educator and advocate for improving the understanding of women’s needs in childbirth. I run a website called www.barcelonabirth.net, which provides information for English-speaking pregnant women in Barcelona and I co-run a monthly meetup group for pregnant women. My professional life so far in both Metropolitan and Barcelona Birth has been driven by the desire to share information and to create supportive communities.

Thank you soo much  Esther!

You can find Esther at:

www.barcelonabirth.net

www.barcelona-metropolitan.com

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How are you feeling? I feel like I need a little detox so today I’ve started a gentle autumn cleanse for a month. Nothing extreme or intense, here is how it goes:

I’ve cut out alcohol, less black tea & more herbal teas, more water, less sugar,salt & dairy and only wholemeal bread, pasta and rice(always more of the vegetables & salads than carbohydrates).

I try and start the day with nuts & dried fruit or yoghurt with musli or a juice smootie

Lunch: Brown rice or quinoa with steamed vegetables or fish or tofu

Dinner: salad with beans, or tuna, or hard boiled eggs, or a vegetable soup

Inbetween snack in the late afternoon maybe some more fruits or nuts

You can also go to your local healthfood shop and buy a detox tincture to take during the first week. Something that cleanses and helps your liver.

Enjoy!

Xnunu

The ingredients of Salade niçoise: vegetables, tuna, hard boiled eggs, anchovies. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Beetroot soup with vegetables and hard-boiled eggs, Sanok (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Dried fruit and nuts on a platter, traditionally eaten on Tu Bishvat. ???????: ?????????? ? ????? ?? ?????, ??????????? ????????????? ?? ????? ????????? ?? ??-????. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is so much fun and great experience massaging performers from around the world – here is a link to our page with more info: Pro-Performance Package info…

Have a fab day!

Much Love Nunu