A Postcard from Hawaii
Photo by David Meredith
A message from Dr. David Meredith, D.Ac.
Aloha from Hawaii!
As I write this, it is 6:00 in the morning, local time. I am sitting on a sofa next to an open patio door, its curtains swaying in a slight breeze. From outside, I hear the sound of a fountain splashing. It is 74 degrees.
This email isn’t to rub it in! I hope things are going great for you all in Maryland, too, and I hope you’re able to get away soon for a vacation of your own. But until then…
I’m writing because this little pause in my daily routines has given me some time to think about life and what I’d like to contribute to the world. I’ve shared the story about how the major expansion I did to Very Well over the past year has its origins in a January 2023 trip to Portugal, and a challenge I got from a fellow entrepreneur to bring back the vibe of that vacation and infuse it into my business for my clients.
As we come up on the end of the first year of the relaunch, it’s really starting to sink in… I actually did that!
Getting real about healing…
I’m going to be honest, this has been one of the hardest years of work in my life. This is something I often downplay because people see my sort of profession as one that has “has all the answers” about stress relief and life balance… and it’s true, I do! Ha ha… But that doesn’t mean I always remember to do so, or have the luxury of choice in how I spend my time.
Further, I guess I operate from the unspoken assumption that, because I’m operating from my passion for bringing to healing and peace to my community, that it should somehow appear effortless. But passion isn’t always easy; in fact, I’m not sure it would always be authentic if it were.
So it’s very convenient that I happen to own a wellness center that can offer us all a sort of “mini vacation” whenever we need one. If you’ve only come in for acupuncture, you may not realize how truly relaxing and energizing all of our other services are, too. My goal for choosing those was their capacity to offer peace of mind while you heal. Don’t underestimate what that can do for your life.
This time of year, Red Light Therapy is a warm, bright spot in the darkness. Our Salt Room Therapy + Infrared Sauna is truly a retreat from the stresses of the world. Some settings on our PEMF bed are calming and grounding on such a deep level. Vibroacoustic Therapy can take you anywhere you want to go, mentally or emotionally. And these are just the side effects of these powerful modalities. When was the last time a health intervention made you feel like you were on vacation?
A message about massage…
Now that I’m actually on a vacation, trying to unwind a bit after this difficult year, it’s becoming clearer to me just what Very Well can offer a busy, stressed-out Marylander… how similar the state of mind we can generate in Baltimore is to what I’m trying to find near Honolulu. I guess I needed the perspective.
For example, I’ve been thinking of getting a massage in the hotel spa downstairs. I think it would be just the thing for relieving some muscle tension, soothing my aches and pains, and bringing some peace to my spirit.
The problem? With all of the taxes and fees, it’s well over $300 for 50 minutes. And the last time I got a hotel spa massage, it was much more concerned with what kind of products it could upcharge me for any therapeutic value. The technician would waft something under my nose, whisper something unintelligible in my ear, and suddenly the bill was $100 more.
Oh wait, I just remembered that we just started offering Massage Therapy at Very Well! In fact, it worked out timing-wise that the celebrated therapist Erik Graham had his first day this week, while I’m away. Erik charges $110 for a 60-minute massage, $165 for 90 minutes, and $220 for two hours. (If you’re so moved, he does accept gratuities in cash, or we can put them on your credit card at the time of service.) But no hidden taxes or fees or uncharges or sales pressure. It’s all about focusing on your needs, helping you feel better, and giving you the peace of mind and body you need to accomplish your own great things… or just to get through another week.
Click here to schedule any service at Very Well!
With love, and I hope I see you soon…
David