My Home Massage Studio!

Massage Studio Before

Happy New Beginnings

It's a bittersweet change as I leave Vital Health and Wellness.  What an amazing group of practitioners to share the clinic with since we opened in June 2008!  I love this community because every person is so passionate and dedicated to their healing modality.  Their enthusiasm is contagious and fun, making this indeed a sad good-bye to my massage space here.  But, this isn't good-bye, I'm grateful to continue to be a part of the web of supporters that VHW has. 

It's always been a dream of mine to work from home, a dream now come true!  My husband and I purchased property in SE this year that has a 256 sf shop.  This old shop has been completely transformed into a fresh new massage studio.  Never before have I had the ability to choose every last detail that my space would encounter.  Details that I'm proud of that help our environment: Bamboo floors! High-efficiency windows! Zero VOC Paint!  Armed with a new knowledge of Feng Shui and Space Clearing skills, I've had a wonderful time with this massage studio's transformation. (New beginnings everywhere, I graduated this year from the Portland Feng Shui Institute. I'm now a Feng Shui consultant!) I'm thrilled to begin working out of the 'Soul Meets Body Massage Studio' January 6th, 2010.  What a great way to ring in the New Year! Thank you Vital Health and Wellness for your loving support. Thank you to the community surrounding VHW, your support and warmth will always be felt.   May you all be happy, may you be healthy, and may you and yours be safe.  Big love and 10,000 blessings! 

Maree Bento's clients may continue to contact her at the same number and email (503) 803-3296 or mareenatal@gmail.com  If you'd like to see pictures of the massage studio, I will post pictures here soon!

Moving My Massage Practice Home

I'm sad to leave Vital Health and Wellness because I loved it there so much but it's always been a dream of mine to work from home, a dream now come true!  The old shop has been transformed into a fresh new massage studio.  It's three times the size of my previous spaces! I begin working out of it January 2010.  What a great way to ring in the upcoming New Year!

I'll be working out of Vital Health and Wellness until the end of the year.

Blessings and Happy Holidays!!

Portland Holiday Gift Certificate Offer

"Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me"

 With every massage gift purchase, you receive $20 off your own massage!
It's December and the Spirit of giving and peace is upon us again. What you and your family need this time of year is to release the year's stress & tension with a deep, relaxing massage on a warm, temperature-controlled table!  My special gift offer for you this month is that with every massage gift certificate purchase you will receive $20 off your own massage.  Give the gift that gives back...to your back!  (For a limited time only.  Just call (503) 803-3296 to purchase your gift certificate AND book your own appointment.  You will automatically receive $20 off your massage!)

Happy Holidays to you! May you be safe, healthy and happy!

Massage Gifts Certificates for the Portland, OR area
Call (503) 803-3296 to make an appointment
or Book Online Right Now!

appointment scheduling - by BookFresh

Services include:  Traditional Thai Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Sports Massage, Therapeutic Swedish Relaxation Massage, Reiki, Trigger Point and Myofascial Therapy. 
Located:  SE 60th and SE Stark St. Portland, OR

Purell vs. Handwashing

 Most alcohol gels on the market, like Purell, follow a basic formula: ethyl alcohol, water, a skin moisturizer, and some type of fragrance. The alcohol itself kills 99% of germs on the outer layer of skin while the moisturizer ensures that the skin is not irritated by the alcohol.  The contact with the alcohol and friction of the hand rubbing allows the sanitizer to work into  the nooks and crannies of our hands. But what about the other 1% of germs?

No matter how effective hand sanitizers are, they are not intended to replace hand washing with soap and water.  They will not remove dirt and oils on your skin, where bacterias live and reproduce.
But, soap alone will not kill germs either, unless antimicrobial agents are added to it. The use of soap and water mechanically dislodges microbes from your hands, which is why 20 seconds of hand washing, followed by thorough rinsing, is recommended by the CDC. When you use Purell, the alcohol kills the germs by dehydration. Essentially, water gets drawn from the microbes, and this is what kills them. ( Ingrid Koo, Ph.D)

Washing your hands with soap and water is important not only for getting rid of germs, but also for washing away other toxic products and chemicals you may come in contact with. Purell may kill the germs, but the dirt stays.

So use Purell (or whatever brand) in moderation and don’t forget the importance of soap and water (warm to hot) with friction for 20 seconds!





Sources: Koo, Ingrid Ph.d, Infectious Diseases Blog, "Purell: Friend or Foe?" 

Traditional Thai Yoga Massage

The healing art of Thai Yoga massage is an ancient system with roots in Yoga, Ayurvedic medicine and Buddhism. It is a powerful system of therapy that combines Yoga stretches, rhythmic massage, acupressure, energy work and meditation. Thai massage stretches and balances the entire body. It is comically referred to as the "lazy man's Yoga" since the receiver just needs to relax while the practitioner puts them into Yogic stretches. This system releases stress and tension and deepens the connection between mind, body and spirit in both the giver and receiver. It is practiced on a mat on the floor with the client clothed in loose, comfortable clothing.