Halcyon Bodyworks

06/08/2026

Ellie Bear: professionally swaddled, emotionally available, and absolutely not helping carry equipment.

Honestly, this level of cozy should qualify as nervous system regulation.
10/10 would book a session with her if she accepted payment in snacks and forehead kisses.

06/06/2026

Tower of London raven etiquette:
✔ respectful distance
✔ no sudden movements
✔ no unsolicited touching
✔ intense observational curiosity

Not every ache needs to be attacked.
Not every nervous system wants to be fixed.
And sometimes the most important thing we can do is slow down, stay present, keep a respectful distance, and listen to what the body is actually saying.

Even the ravens at the Tower of London seemed to understand that.

And yes, I kept my hands to myself. Consent matters in bodywork and bird diplomacy.

06/06/2026

It has been brought to my attention that we have something a little funky happening with the review link we’ve been sending out.

if you’ve tried the link and it sent you somewhere unexpected, know that you’re not imagining things. Apparently we’ve gotten tangled up with a hot springs resort in Canada. I’m currently trying to get hold of someone in tech-land to help sort it out, which may take anywhere from 10 minutes to three business years.

As you know, in this town you can throw a stone and hit either a real estate agent, a life coach yoga instructor, a contractor, or a massage therapist. Good reviews help our small little business stand out, build trust with new clients, and continue doing the work we love.

So, if you’ve had a great experience with us and would be willing to leave a review, I would be incredibly grateful. Here’s the link:

Halcyon Bodyworks Review Page: https://g.page/r/CbM3WIrKTssrEBM/review

In the meantime…

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Weekend Availability

Cathy has graciously hopped onto the schedule for Maria on Sunday, which means we now have a few more appointments available.

Saturday

Cathy: 3 PM–6:00 PM

Sunday

Cathy: 11AM-4PM

You can book online here: https://halcyonbend.janeapp.com/

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If your goal is to aggressively excavate knots that have been fossilizing since 2017, I’d recommend waiting for an opening with either Valerie or myself. Valerie currently has a 60-minute opening at 9:00 AM MONDAY, and you can always peek ahead at our upcoming availability later this month.

If relaxation, nervous system support, gentle bodywork, and wonderful energy work are more your style, you’ll likely be delighted with a session with Cathy. Her touch is lighter, her presence is calming, and the feedback from clients has been consistently lovely.

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As always, thank you for supporting our little boutique practice. Every appointment booked, referral shared, and review left helps us continue creating a space that feels a little more human and a little less corporate.

With gratitude,
Crystal & the Halcyon Team

06/04/2026

When you’re craving less ram energy…
and a little more lamb energy

Your nervous system was never meant to run like a stolen carriage through Versailles.

This weekend, let one of our therapists help coax your body out of survival mode and back into softness, breath, and actual relaxation.

We specialize in calming the nervous system, easing tension patterns, and reminding your body it’s safe to unclench.

Weekend appointments are filling:
• Friday
• Saturday
• Sunday

Book your exhale at Halcyon Bodyworks in our link in bio

06/03/2026

Hello friends,

Just a quick midweek reminder that we still have massage appointments available this Friday through Saturday.

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Current openings this weekend:

Friday
• Valerie: 12:30-60 minutes
• Cathy: 2pm–7pm

Saturday
• Cathy: 10am–6pm

You can book online here: https://halcyonbend.janeapp.com/

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NOW FOR A NUGGET OF WISDOM:

If you've spent any time on social media lately, you've probably seen someone talking about resetting your vagus nerve.

Apparently all we need to do is hum, gargle, stand barefoot in a creek during a full moon, and our nervous systems will magically return to factory settings.

I hate to be the bearer of boring news, but your nervous system doesn't really have a reset button. Can it become overwhelmed? YES. Can it benefit from support? Also yes. But the biggest improvements usually come from the least exciting things:

• Getting enough sleep
• Drinking enough water
• Moving your body regularly
• Taking breaks before you're completely fried
• Receiving supportive touch and human connection

**The vagus nerve itself is pretty fascinating. It's the longest cranial nerve in the body, running from the brainstem down through the neck and into the chest and abdomen. Think of it as a communication highway between your brain and many of your major organs. It plays a role in heart rate, digestion, breathing, stress responses, and helping your body shift into a more restorative state.**

Massage, breathing exercises, movement, and relaxation practices can all help support this system. But they aren't "resets." They're more like regular maintenance, like brushing your teeth. Nobody expects to brush their teeth once and be done forever. The nervous system works much the same way.

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Speaking of nervous system support, I've been hearing some good feedback about Cathy.
If you've met her already, you've probably noticed that her approach is very different from mine. While I tend to be known as The Velvet Hammer, Cathy works with a much lighter touch, blending relaxation, energy work, and gentle bodywork techniques.
Several clients have commented on how calm, grounded, and deeply relaxed they felt after their sessions. Her work is subtle, but the effects can be surprisingly profound, especially for people whose nervous systems are craving a softer approach.

Not every body needs more pressure.
Sometimes it is simply feeling safe enough to let go.

Take care,
Crystal "The Velvet Hammer"

& The Halcyon Team

Halcyon Bodyworks Massage Therapy

06/03/2026

Bodies are not machines.
They’re relationships.
And lately I’ve been learning that tending to mine with consistency instead of only when it feels broken has changed.

Less pushing.
More listening.
More rest.
More softness.
More moments like this.

We have got a few openings Friday–Sunday for massage, nervous system support, and therapeutic bodywork at Halcyon.

Your body does not need to earn care.

06/02/2026

06/01/2026

SARGA isn’t your average massage.

It’s slow. Intentional. Regulating.
Like a deep exhale your body forgot it knew how to take.

Perfect for:
• chronically tight bodies
• athletes + active humans
• nervous system overload
• people who want deep work without feeling beat up afterward

Honestly, sometimes the body needs less force… and more support.

05/31/2026

Hello friends,

A quick scheduling update for the week!

First things first: I have one random 60-minute opening tomorrow (Monday) at 1:45 PM for one lucky human whose body has been demanding attention.

If that's you, grab it before someone else does.

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Now, let's talk about our wonderful team and finding the right massage for what your body actually needs.

Looking for deep tissue?

If your ideal massage includes elbows, trigger point work, and enough pressure to make you question some of your life choices, book with The Velvet Hammer (that's me) or hop onto Valerie's schedule.

Current openings:

Valerie is currently completely booked this week, however cancellations do happen. If you're hoping to get in with her, keep an eye on our schedule or add yourself to her waitlist.

Looking to relax?

This is where Cathy shines.

Cathy is our relaxation specialist and has availability this Friday and Saturday. Her work is calming, nurturing, restorative, and perfect for anyone whose nervous system has been running on pure determination.

She'll help you unwind, slow down, and remember what it feels like to not be carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.

However...

If your goal is to have someone apply the approximate pressure of a small elephant standing on your back, Cathy is not your therapist, and that's okay.

Different therapists, different styles all of us with the same goal of helping you feel better.

Friday

• Cathy: 2pm–7pm

Saturday

• Cathy: 10am–6pm

You can book online here: https://halcyonbend.janeapp.com/

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One final note: Maria will be out of the office this Sunday, so her regular Sunday appointments will return in another week.

Wishing you a week with fewer knots and less stress,

Crystal "The Velvet Hammer"
& the Halcyon Team

05/29/2026

Some beauty was never meant to bloom like everyone else’s.
Some of us unfold slowly, wildly, unevenly… in our own season, in our own shape, under our own strange and beautiful conditions.

There is something sacred about becoming more yourself instead of more acceptable.