Thursday, October 15, 2009

Reducing My Business's Carbon Footprint


For "Blog Action Day", the topic was Climate Change.

Granted, Blog Action Day has passed, but with world leaders meeting in Copenhagen, I thought I could still take this opportunity to share how I have managed to reduce my company's carbon footprint.

As a mobile massage therapy company, Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy is occasionally required to have the therapist drive to clients' homes or offices and sometimes the "office" is a community event or movie location. When I started my massage business, I drove as far east as La Canada and north to Sunland, south to San Pedro, and west to Woodland Hills. Even with a well maintained Honda Civic, that's a lot of miles and far too much time on the L.A. freeway.
  • By limiting my service area for individual massages to a 6 mile radius of Studio City, I have been able to reduce my driving and provide BETTER SERVICE to my local clients.
  • By offering DISCOUNTS TO COUPLES and GROUPS, I am able to help more clients more efficiently and cost effectively.
  • By encouraging clients to buy their own table and linens, I reduce the amount of items I need to carry.
So, those things are a benefit to me, but how do they benefit you?
  • Reduced time driving: creates a MORE FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE so I can accommodate last minute bookings more easily.
  • Group Discounts: YOU SAVE MONEY! At home spa parties are fun and relaxing and a great way of getting the benefits of a professional massage in the privacy and comfort of your own home. Chair massage in your office makes for energetic, less stressed, more productive employees.
  • Owning your own table reduces the amount of gear I have to gather together and transport and set up which allows me to SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOU. (I also offer a discount to clients who do this.)
How much time your massage therapist spends in her car may seem minor to some, but a relaxed therapist is a ready therapist, prepared to help you reduce stress, relax, and improve your general well being.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

My LA Marathon Page Just Needs You

So my first official group training is this Saturday in Pasadena but I already went to Runyan Canyon last Saturday with my friend Keri. We did ok!

If you can't join us for training, click the FirstGiving badge and sponsor me! I need to raise $1000 before January 4, 2010 in order to participate in the group training and run in the L.A. Marathon.

I've thought up some incentives to encourage you (which would encourage me). I've chosen incentives that require effort and/or courage on my part and would be beneficial/entertaining to you. Please remember any amount you can donate is greatly appreciated as it helps provide much needed patients services here in Los Angeles.
You donate - I provide:
  $  250 - 1 hour table massage
  $  500 - 90 minute table massage or
              up to 2 hours chair massage at your work or event
  $1000 - 2 hour table massage or
              up to 4 hours chair massage at your work or event
The first 3 people to donate over $100 can choose what I sing (or don't sing) at Kareoke at the Brass Monkey on my birthday November 6.  Please realize, I am a Massage Therapist, not a singer, but hey, it's for a good cause!

My Team Life Without Lupus fundraising page is http://www.firstgiving.com/stefanielmt. Any amount you donate is greatly appreciated.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

The Big 26.2

In honor of my 40th birthday, to honor my friends Liz and Elyse who are living with Lupus, and in memory of our friend Tara, who passed away 1 year ago from complications due to Lupus, I am training for the 2010 Los Angeles Marathon to be held Sunday, March 21, 2010.

I will donate 10% of all regular price massages to Lupus LA, the West Coast division of the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation founded by renowned physician and author, Daniel J. Wallace, MD. My goal is to raise $1,000.

As many of you know, last year I walked the NY Marathon in 9 hours 25 minutes. This year I will run/walk the complete Los Angeles "Stadium-to-the-Sea" course in 4.5 hours. I have 5 months to train and I am using the Jeff Galloway book Marathon as my guide again but instead of working out 2 days per week, I will walk 2 days per week, run one night per week, and train with the Lupus LA team on Sundays. Think of how much longer and stronger my massages will be with all that cardio!

I will post periodic training updates on my Bodywork Blog or you can follow me on Twitter @StefanieLMT.

If you would like to join Team LA Lupus as a runner or sponsor, please contact me via email at StefanieLMT@gmail.com. The team is also accepting walkers and runners for the 5k Saturday, March 20, 2010.

Stay healthy!
Stefanie Ibanez, LMT
Los Angeles, CA

http://www.lamarathon.com/charitylist.html
http://www.lupusla.org/about-us/
http://www.twitter.com/StefanieLMT