There are days when the body seems to be keeping a ledger of everything the mind has been trying to do. A long journey to work, hours hunched over a desk, the sheer volume of domestic chores, and the general demands of the day can leave the body with a lot of tension. It can take a long time to actually unwind even when you do get the chance. The shoulders will be tight, the mind will still be running, and the body will take a while to actually get into the slower tempo of the moment.
Intentional self-care is the chance to deal with that gap between the need for rest and the ability to rest. It’s about using restorative massage, mindful self-care routines, and products that engage the senses to turn the ordinary into an opportunity to slow down and re-establish a connection with the body.
Sense Bodyworks, a Virginia-based company, brings all of these things together in the form of therapeutic massage and handcrafted personal care products. Their approach is to use massage, sensory elements, and thoughtfully selected ingredients to encourage a more mindful relationship with our bodies.
Beyond Muscle Tension
Massage is of course frequently used as a way of relieving muscle tension after a tough week’s work or to alleviate the physical discomfort that can result from sitting for long periods or acting out repetitive movements. It can also be a way of getting away from the everyday distractions and having some time to listen to your body.
Sense Bodyworks, also known as Sense LLC, is based in Haymarket, VA, and provides massage at clients’ homes as well as in spas throughout Northern VA. The approach is very much in keeping with that of founder Joshua Fowler, who is a licensed massage therapist, a manual lymphatic drainage practitioner, and a Reiki master.
Rather than think of the body as a series of individual muscles to be worked on, Fowler’s approach to massage is to take into account the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the person. That broader perspective informs the way each session is planned and delivered with a real emphasis on presence, intuition and the relationship between the practitioner and the client.
The aim is to create an environment in which the client can step away from the day-to-day demands and just be with their body. The pace of the session, the ambiance and the opportunity to have undisturbed attention are all part of the experience.
This philosophy also makes a very clear distinction between the techniques employed in a massage and the experience in which those techniques are delivered. The pressure, the movement, the work on the muscles all have their own purpose, but the environment and the tempo of the session can have a huge impact on how comfortable and relaxed the client is throughout. For Sense Bodyworks, this is all part of a more considered approach to body care.
Giving the Body More Time to Relax and Reset
Every session is different. Some are very focused on specific areas of discomfort; others are more general. The Sense Bodyworks Full Body Massage is a 150-minute session which is designed to allow the therapist to work through the body in a more gradual manner.
The session starts with an emphasis on creating a relaxed atmosphere. Music, scented candles, and natural massage oils are all used to establish a sensory environment which is intended to support relaxation prior to the actual hands-on work.
Gentle gliding strokes are used to introduce the body to the experience, and the session can progress at a very measured pace from there. The therapist will then go on to use a range of techniques, including autogenic inhibition and trigger point therapy to deal with muscle tension. Deep tissue massage may also be used as part of the treatment depending on the approach.
Fascial release is another element of the experience. Fascia is the connective tissue that surrounds and supports the muscles and other structures throughout the body. Massage techniques that work with the fascia are often used to deal with areas of restriction and to facilitate comfortable movement.
Assisted stretching and traction add further elements with the aim of promoting mobility and a greater sense of ease. A smoothing technique brings the treatment to a close through a series of movements across the body and acts to gently transition the client out of the more targeted massage work.
The length of the session is what sets it apart. It’s not just a session focused on one area; it’s a session that allows for a range of techniques to be woven into a more holistic whole-body approach. The time allows for the various stages to be properly sequenced with time between them.
For people whose lives leave them with very little time for uninterrupted rest, an extended massage can provide a block of time away from the normal demands of the day.
The Value of Intentional Ingredients
Fowler’s interest in personal care obviously goes far beyond the massage table. His foray into making his own products started with a very simple question from a client having a massage as to what lotion they were using.
The product was well-known at that stage. Fowler had used it for years as part of his massage training and had used a host of similar products. The question did prompt a re-examination of the ingredients that were being applied to his own skin and to his clients’ skin.
That curiosity led to two years of research into oils, butters, waxes, essential oils, ingredient chemistry, packaging, sourcing and product regulations. It was a very deliberate process, and it did in fact change the kind of personal care products he wanted to make.
Sense’s handmade range comprises massage oils, lip balms, candles and a variety of other massage-related products. All are made in small batches and reflect Fowler’s own hands-on involvement in the making of the products and his desire to understand the ingredients that go into them.
Ingredient selection is important as different formulations will give you different textures, smells, and skin feel. Oils and butters will contribute to the richness and softening of the skin; aromatic ingredients will have an effect on the overall sensory experience. Your individual preference and skin sensitivity will be a factor in determining which product you use on a day-to-day basis.
For Sense Bodyworks, the attention to formulation is in keeping with the philosophy of the massage services themselves. Massage is a dedicated opportunity to focus on the body. The handmade personal care products are in the same spirit, offering a similar level of care and attention to the body in the context of the more everyday routines you do at home. It’s about making care more considered without necessarily making it complicated.
A Softer Side of Self-Care
Self-care doesn’t necessarily mean you need a long appointment or a full routine. Often the simplest habits that just slot in naturally to your day are the ones you’re most likely to stick to. A quick application of lip balm before you go out, having one in your handbag and perhaps just taking a moment to smell a familiar scent can go a long way to adding a touch of sensory pleasure to an otherwise very ordinary day.
Sense’s Chocolate Lip Balm takes this concept and turns it into a simple everyday essential. It has a milk chocolate flavor and aroma and a buttery texture, which is designed to help soften the lips and keep them comfortable all day.
It has a distinct chocolate character, which gives it a very different sensory profile from the more conventional lip balm flavors. For the person who likes a little bit of indulgence in their everyday life, it provides a fun twist on a very common personal care habit. The Chocolate Lip Balm can also be used in conjunction with Sense’s Chocolate Massage Oil, which contains real chocolate oil, sacha inchi, and cacay. That gives you a complete gift offering that takes the chocolate theme through different areas of body care.
Beyond the two products mentioned, the range also includes the handmade massage oils and candles through the Meadow and Fountain Massage Oils and the Lotus Collection. These are products that contribute to the sensory aspect of self-care through their individual formulation and function within a self-care routine. The oils are for use in bodywork, and the candles are for creating a particular ambiance at home.
These are products that embody the notion that practicality and the pleasure of the senses can go hand in hand. A product can be of use in the everyday world and at the same time provide a more considered experience of use. The trick is to find products that are appropriate to your individual requirements and which you can easily fit into your current lifestyle.
Making Space for Everyday Well-Being
Self-care in a more mindful way doesn’t necessarily require a complete overhaul of your current routine. For some, it might be as simple as booking in for a full-body massage. For others, it could be as straightforward as instituting a small self-care ritual that provides a moment of respite at the start of the day or a quiet moment at the end of the day.
Whether that’s 150 minutes of focused massage or simply the habit of applying your go-to lip balm before you go out the door, the principle is the same. Meaningful self-care starts with making time for the little things that would otherwise go unnoticed.
