
Olympic fever is sweeping the globe, and Steamboat is no exception. Since I am "athletically declined" (as I like to put it), the closest I'm going to get to the Olympics any time soon is the annual Best of the Boat survey.
Winning Best of the Boat has helped my business immensely--and in turn, has allowed me to help support Chelsea and Rachel in their dreams of a full-time massage career. And this year, I'm up for TWO categories!
So please, won't you cast your vote? All you need is an email address (or two ;) ).
- Go to www.bestoftheboat.com
- Verify your email address.
- Go to "Business and Community" and click on "Heartfire Massage" under Best Spa
- Go to "Professionals" and write in "Erica Olson, Heartfire Massage" under Best Massage Therapist
- Bask in glory!
Olympic hickeys

Cupping uses suction to lift fascia and open tight, compressed tissue. It pulls stagnant, deoxygenated blood out of the targeted area and allows fresh blood to enter. The increased blood flow brings oxygen and nutrients to tired muscle tissue, helping the body recover faster. Cupping also helps loosen connective tissue adhesions, improving the body's ability to move freely and without restriction.
But what about those bruises?
The darker the "cup kiss," the more restricted the blood flow is in the area. Blood gets its red color as a result of the interaction between hemoglobin and oxygen; the more oxygen, the brighter red it is. Frequent cupping can reduce the amount of dramatic marking, as the tissue continues to open and circulation increases.
What are the benefits of cupping?
Is it better than massage

Cupping utilizes a wide variety of methods, from gliding to rolling to frictioning--and yes, "parking," the technique responsible for leaving those distinctive circular marks. A good practitioner--particularly one who uses pneumatic cups rather than traditional "fire cupping"--can also vary the amount of vacuum and change the level of intensity.
Do you do this? Can I try it some time?
