Taking Care of Yourself

While you’re getting your home squared away, don’t forget about taking care of your most valuable asset: You. Whether you’re looking to get in shape, find a life coach or just be pampered, local professionals are ready to help.

Acupuncture

Jennifer Baust (1708 Lovering Ave., Ste. 201, Wilmington, 723-0185, www.jenniferbaust.com) is one of 14 acupuncturists in Delaware vetted by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. “The particular style I practice treats the individual as a whole,” says Baust, who sits on Delaware’s Acupuncture Advisory Council to the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. When seeking an acupuncturist, she says, it’s important to ensure they are certified (find a practitioner at www.nccaom.org). An initial, two-hour diagnostic visit to Baust is $190; subsequent one-hour sessions are $95.

A sampling of others: 1st State Health & Wellness (several locations including Christiana and Rehoboth Beach, www.firststatehealth.com), Active Life Acupuncture (28312 Lewes-Georgetown Hwy., Milton, 827-2691, www.activelifeacupuncture.com), Gong Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs (161 S. Dupont Hwy., New Castle, 328-6288, www.gongacupunctureandchineseherbs.com), KC Acupuncture (35252 Hudson Way, Unit 2, Rehoboth Beach, 249-0143, www.kcacupuncture.net), Oriental Medicine and Health Services (1201 Philadelphia Pike, Ste. D, Wilmington, 792-2831, www.omhs.biz), Pure Wellness (550 Stanton-Christiana Road, Ste. 302, 365-5470, www.purewellchiro.com).

Fitness

Nic DeCaire, founder of Fusion Fitness Center (280 E. Main St., Newark, 738-4580, www.fusionfitnesscenter.com) has one word for you: Outdoors. “Weather is a huge motivator,” he says. “Once it gets warmer, we think summer and clothing for the beach, pool. People are very motivated to get into shape. It might be the jumpstart of something.” His advice: Start walking or running outside. Go to a local park. If you always go to one park, try another. It’s also the season for fundraising races, he adds—so you can do some good for others while you’re taking care of yourself.

Life Coaches

“Coaching takes you from being functional to optimal,” says Caroline Large of A La Cart Coaching (Wilmington, 652-1668, www.alacartecoaching.com). “It’s very action-packed and sustainable.” But, she cautions, it’s not for wimps. “You really want to have the courage to look at yourself, and that’s not always an easy thing to do,” she says. “It takes guts to do that.” A standard agreement is about three months, she says. She charges $300 monthly for four sessions of about 45 minutes. Also try: Renewal Counseling and Coaching (Greenville, 888-2345, www.renewalcounselingcoaching.com), Wholehearted Well-Being (Wilmington, 477-0340, www.helensamsonmullen.com).

Massage

Looking for a massage? You’re in good hands: Atlantic Bodywork Center (32895 S. Coastal Hwy., Ste. 202, Bethany Beach, 539-5099, www.atlanticbodyworkcenter.com), Body, Mind & Spirit Massage Therapy (1215 Janice Drive, Newark, 453-8151, www.bmsmassage.com), Massage Envy Spa (5615 Concord Pike, 478-3689, www.massageenvy.com). ABC and BMS offer pregnancy massage, and BMS provides infant massage.

Meetup

If you just can’t muster the motivation to get going on your own, go to www.meetup.com. You’ll find groups to exercise with, others that will spur you to finish that novel and some that will tempt you to try something new—like under-water hockey, pickleball or role-playing games.

Organize

Fixing yourself often means fixing your surroundings. These folks can help you bring order and calm to your home, especially if you are faced with a life transition such as downsizing or starting a family: Clearly in Place (334-4109, www.clearlyinplace.com), Contemporary Organizing (753-8311, jenbowen.vpweb.com), Declutter Enterprise (339-3830, www.declutterenterprise.com), Helping Hands Professional Organizing Services (388-2551, www.helpinghandspro.com), Organize My Life (415-2317, www.organize-mylife.net), MK Organized (650-7721, www.mkorganized.com), Simply Organized (897-9638, www.nowsimplyorganized.com).

Spas

Maybe pampering is what you need. Men, don’t skip this section: Check out Studio One-Eleven Day Spa for Men (111 W. 11th St., Wilmington, 225-8365, www.studio-one-eleven.com). In addition to the services you’d expect, Studio One-Eleven offers ear candling, waxing and scalp treatments. Other top spots for rejuvenation: Bling Salon and Spa (17644 Coastal Hwy., Lewes, 644-2580, blingsalon.com), Pagavé (1601 Concord Pike, Independence Mall, Wilmington, 765-0134, www.pagave.com), Toppers Spa/Salon (1131 N. Dupont Hwy., Dover Downs, 857-2020, www.toppersspa.com/location_dover.aspx).  

Volunteer

If helping others feeds your soul, there are plenty of agencies out there. More than 700 organizations have posted their needs to www.volunteerdelaware.org, says New Castle County coordinator Clare Garrison. “It’s a giant preview of everything you can do,” she says. “You don’t have to start knocking on doors and finding out about an agency. You can whittle down to what type of agency you want to work with. It saves you so much time.” The state recently merged its Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) with Volunteer Delaware to create Volunteer Delaware 50+. Among other projects, the group is looking for volunteers to become coaches for its Matter of Balance classes, which teach older adults how to manage concerns about falls.

Yoga

Let’s end on child’s pose. If you want to center yourself, you can easily find a yoga class at Yoga Finder (www.yogafinder.com/yogacity.cfm?yogalocation=DE). Among them: Bethany Beach Yoga, which offers sunrise classes on the boardwalk, (Bear Trap Dunes Pavilion, 1 October Glory, Ocean View, 448-0563, www.bethanybeachyoga.org), Empowered Yoga (several locations, including 2000 Pennsylvania Ave., Wilmington, 654-9642, www.empoweredyoga.com), Hot Yoga Delaware (18466 Plantation Blvd., Lewes, 645-9100, www.hotyogadelaware.com), Higher Power Yoga (4164 N. Dupont Hwy., Ste. 9, Dover, 536-8373, www.higherpoweryogadelaware.com), Serenity Yoga Studio (5244 Summit Bridge Road, Middletown, 373-7538; 226 W. Park Place, Ste. 11A, Newark, 373-7538, www.serenityogastudio.com).