Bodywork & Wellness with Robin, LLC

09/14/2026

Good morning! I've been still here while taking some quieter time. I have been working two days a week in massage, planning group coaching programs, getting to know new coaching clients, and more. I've also been in the garden, spent time with our kids to fish on Lake Ontario, went to the Adirondacks to a writer's retreat, upta camp, and a vacation that took us to the North Maine Woods. I have one more vacation to solo camp up north coming up next month. Balance between work and play is very, very important.

I have a few massage openings in September and October. 207-214-5194.

I cut back on massage time because of rib issues stemming from a snowmobile accident in February of 2025. I discovered that I can stack firewood and do other heavy work without causing the discomfort that stretching and bending with massage and garden work caused. I can now work full days of massage and not be sore, and that's a big relief to me! I listened to my body. Are you listening to yours to find out what it really needs? It might not be what you think!

I spent three days training to become an oncology massage specialist and then became a preferred practitioner. It was a 30 CE course that gave me opportunities to learn hands-on with people who have or had cancer. The touch is different. I've learned a lot more about appropriate massage involving lymph gland biopsy and/or removal. Scar treatment can begin early. Comfort, compassion... it's a wonderful way to practice massage.

I need to get my daily walk in, and then I'll be working on a post for upcoming functional medicine health coaching group sessions and what working with me on your own can be like. Back soon!

Be well,

Robin

08/10/2026

This is such great news for the community! Congratulations, Dayna!

Good morning! Dayna here.

I am thrilled to announce a new service that I have been working on for several weeks. I have a goal to have this available in the next few months.

Our weight loss patients are required to have lab work prior to initiating treatment and we are now proud to offer a LAB here at Magnolia. We are prepared to offer lab draws to not only our established patients, but to any patients who need a home for their blood draw needs. Blood work is costly and we hope to fill the gap and, in doing so, we will be a QUEST lab who has proven to be a more affordable option for locals. You shouldn't have to drive to Bangor and take a day off work to get lab work drawn.

More info to come. We are working through the process with Quest to allow you to utilize your insurance for their service. This will take a little time to get rolling, but I am excited to do so :) see you soon!

08/10/2026

Good morning! I was out early this morning before it gets too hot.

Basil! I'm a little late cutting this basil. Some of it was flowering, but it's still going to make delicious pesto.

I usually grow Genovese, a multi-purpose, somewhat mild basil. This year, the seeds of Genovese, Purple Ruffles, and Tulsi didn't germinate. They were older seeds I took a chance on. This is "Sweet" basil from the produce department of Hannaford. I bought a pot and transplanted it into the high tunnel. Basil likes a lot of warmth. It's not sweet. This is the spiciest basil I've ever eaten. Goodness. One nibble of a flower will do me the morning.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Hippocrates, father of medicine.

Herbs are great medicine, particularly when we use them as food to *stay healthy* rather than relying on them only when we've become sick. I've been sick once in 16-17 years. I credit this to keeping up my immune system partially by "eating the rainbow" with lots of herbs and plants in all the colors. Pesto is easy to make. If you don't have a food processor, use a blender.

Pesto Recipe

You should adjust this to suit your tastes. I'm not going to measure exactly two cups of basil and a half-cup of olive oil. I'll eye it. Close enough.

Clean the basil. All of these stems are soft. I'll use the smallest stems and strip the leaves from the larger ones. (Set the big stems aside to dry for something else.)

2 cups basil
1/2 cup pure olive oil
1-2 cloves garlic, peeled
Juice from one small lemon
1/2 cup Parmesan, finely shaved
1/4 to 1/2 cup pine nuts (traditional) or pecans (my preference), or walnuts.
1/2 tsp sea salt

Place all of the ingredients in a food processor and blend on pulse. Watch the consistency. Scrape the side of the bowl and blend again.

I fill a jelly jar to use fresh and freeze the rest in pucks. Line muffin tins with parchment paper, fill with pesto, and freeze. HINT: parchment forms to the cup better if you crinkle it into a ball and then smooth it. Later, moved into freezer tight containers.

Basil contains antioxidants, vitamins, calcium, potassium, iron, and more. Good stuff!


12m

07/24/2026

Could the way wheat is grown and processed matter as much as the grain itself? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi welcomes Jill Brockman-Cummings, mill manager at Janie’s Mill, for a fascinating conversation about organic farming, stone-milled flour, ancient and heritage grains, and the traditions that have largely disappeared from the modern food system.

Listen to the full episode with the link in comments.

07/23/2026

Hello!

I spent three days last week training in oncology massage. We completed six hours of at-home education and testing, and then 24 hours in the classroom. We held oncology massage clinics on Sunday, and I was able to talk in-depth with an incredible young mom who's been through a rough two years. She's incredible!

My Mum passed away from colorectal cancer with liver metastasis in 1999. She was only 56. I've thought a lot about what we could have done to soothe and keep her more comfortable, but back then, massage was barely recognized as safe for people with cancer.

There was an old myth that cancer could be spread through touch, which of course isn't true. People who have cancer are touched, poked, and prodded on a regular basis. Oncology massage is very different from the deep tissue work I typically do. The touch is lighter without being tickling, and the pace is slower. We avoid the port if there is one, and of course radiation areas. Every oncology massage is based on what's happening in the moment. Were lymph nodes biopsied and/or removed? Nausea today? Exhausted? Feeling great? Time is spent talking before the massage begins.

For an appointment or more information, call me at 207-214-5194.

~Robin

07/04/2026

Happy Independence Day!

07/02/2026

Change is coming, and it isn't coming easily.

At the end of July, I'll be leaving my second office at Magnolia in Houlton. It's not a decision I wanted to make. This is health and wellness related. As a massage therapist and functional medicine certified health coach, I know we *must* take care of ourselves first, especially when we're also taking care of others. Most of us are taking care of others - children, parents, friends, co-workers, clients, patients, and others on our long lists. Self-care is important.

I don't want massage clients to think they're hurting me, and I've had a hard time wording the announcements. Nobody is hurting me. Please know that. The physical work I do with massages and passive and assisted stretching (bending, stretching, etc.) along with the hard work on stacking six cords of firewood twice a year and other aspects of living close to the land is keeping my previously injured ribs from staying in place. I'm finishing out my already scheduled appointments and gift certificates through July 24.

This changes how I'll work in my studio in Talmadge. I've already stopped passive and assisted stretching for the time being. We'll see what happens as I cut back on bodywork and continue to build my core strength. I want this to be a temporary break from stretching.

Beginning in August, I'll be massaging on Tuesdays (instead of Fridays) and Thursdays. The time between massage days should make a difference for me. I am accepting new clients here.

Beginning in September, I'll be doing a lot more functional medicine health coaching, and that excites me! I'm not slowing down; I'm changing the course a bit. I'll be posting dates for group coaching programs here as the time gets closer. One-on-one coaching is open at any time, and I'll be talking more about that. If you want to know more now, please message me here or call/text me at 207-214-5194.

I'm attending an Ocology Massage course

I'll be out July 8-12 for a family getaway, July 17-20 to take an Oncology Massage course, and again August 24-30 for a writers retreat I attend in the Adirondacks each year, and a week in early October for some solo camping.

As sad as I am about leaving Magnolia, I'm excited about what's coming.

Take care of yourself, and if you need help with that, I'm a phone call or message away! 214-5194.

Be well,

Robin

07/01/2026

Habits. If only we could replace the bad habits with good ones while we sleep. I used to wish this about losing weight, too. 😊

If you were going to change one habit, what would you choose first? These are only examples. You can choose anything even if it feels impossible. I'm working on going to bed earlier. Now that it's light out so late, I want to stay up!

06/29/2026

It's Sunday night and a busy but short work week for many of us is coming. Are you ready to make it a good week?

I've made my lists.
*I've been getting a weekly vitamin B injection at Magnolia on Monday or Tuesday, and I have a lot more energy after just two weeks. It's at the top of my To Do list.
*Meals are planned for the week. I have a couple of late days this week and knowing what's for supper ahead of time helps keep meals healthy.

I'm grateful for a lot over the weekend, and thinking back will remind me of how fortunate I am.
*Sunshine
*Moose and deer photography on gravel roads
*Fresh vegetables from the garden for stir fry
*ALL of the sheets, blankets, and towels from last week's massages are folded and in their baskets, ready to go - before 6 am Monday.
*A lot of time outdoors over the weekend before I spend most of the week indoors.

Bedtime routine -
*A medication I take at night and two magnesium glycinate
*Electronics down, usually an hour before 9 pm bedtime. Quiet time to wind down, usually spent reading.
*Face washed, teeth and hair brushed, mascara off.
*Gentle stretching and deep breathing to let go of the day.
*Check lists and add anything I won't think of in the morning.

Wishing you a great week!

05/21/2026

As a functional medicine certified health coach, I spend a lot of time making people think. The questions I ask don't have "yes" or "no" answers. We might not get to the true answer in our current session. Lowering your blood pressure, reducing stress, making time for more exercise, or improving nutrition might be part of what you're working on. Those are obvious health goals, but they might not be involved in your goals in any way. A bit less obvious and equally import might be balancing work and personal life because being out of balance is affecting your health. Perhaps you need to work more or less but don't know how to find the proper balance.

My question to myself was, "Why do I feel like this?" Not how do I feel, but why. I'm working a lot. The questions go deeper from there.

Working with someone on our health and wellness requires a degree of vulnerability. A lot of people make themselves vulnerable when they're on one of my massage tables, nearly n**e and covered with a sheet and light blanket. The degree of trust between us is incredible. Others open up their lives to tell me what's wrong in their bodies, why somethings are off, and work through goals and plans to correct issues. I don't at all mind showing you my vulnerabilities.

My work and personal lives are out of balance at the moment, so I'm on a bodywork break. Mentally, I'm ready to go back to work (I'm only on day two of my 12-day break...) in massage and stretching, by my neck and shoulders are not. I absolutely LOVE what I do in massage, but my body needs a rest. I'll be touching up the paint on the studio. Later this morning, and I'll dig holes and plant perennials shrubs and flowers. These are things that make my neck and shoulders ache more. For balance, I'll see Amanda for a deep tissue massage.

I don't have a good balance of work and home life right now. That's caused me to lose a lot of the time I need outdoors to stay physically active, sleep well, and get grounded. There's a balance to this, and I'll figure it out.

Think this through. No answer required here, of course, though you're most welcome to share. In what ways are you out of balance?

Wishing you a great day!

Be well,

Robin

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