I’m someone who is always on the go. Recently, I hired someone to manage my social media posts—which has been such a blessing. But with that help came something I didn’t expect: extra time. Space. Silence. And I’ll be honest—I’m not very good at that. My first instinct was to fill it. What else can I do? What task can I add? But the truth is, I don’t need to fill every moment. This time can be used differently. It can be used to sit, to be still, to talk with God—or simply to

Prepare Your Body for Spring: Why Recovery Matters as Much as Movement As the weather warms and outdoor activity increases, spring is the perfect time to get moving again—whether that means a brisk 5-mile walk, a steady run, or returning to your favorite sport. But before you lace up your shoes, it’s essential to consider not just your performance plan, but your recovery strategy as well. Recovery isn’t optional—it’s a critical component of overall health, injury prevention,

Exercising is one of the best ways to clear your mind and reconnect with yourself. The good news? It doesn’t have to be intense or vigorous to make a difference. The key is finding something you enjoy. Whether it’s riding a bike, walking, swimming, or lifting weights, movement can be a powerful tool for both your physical and mental health. If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of helpful workout videos on YouTube. However, working with a personal trainer can be

Ann Riesberg: Owner & Massage Therapist in Urbandale, IA Selfcare is not selfish. Parker Palmer once said, “ Self-care is never a selfish act it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. Anytime we can listen to true self and give it the care it requires, we do it not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 “ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift y

Learn how scars and deep adhesions affect movement and pain—and how massage therapy in Urbandale can help release scar tissue and improve mobility.

Discover how stress and screen time trigger headaches and how targeted massage therapy at Active Edge in Urbandale can provide natural, effective relief.

To understand what red light therapy can do for your body, it helps to first understand the role of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system moves waste out of the body through lymphatic circulation and blood flow. Lymph nodes act like the body’s waste-processing stations. Just like a trash or recycling bin can overflow when it isn’t emptied, our lymphatic system can become congested when waste builds up faster than the body can remove it. When the lymphatic system becomes

At Active Edge Massage & Wellness in Urbandale, we see every day how shoulder pain can affect people’s lives. Early in my massage therapy career, I experienced it myself — pain radiating down my arm, limited mobility, and a deep fear that I wouldn’t be able to keep doing the work I love. Determined to heal, I committed to learning everything I could about shoulder recovery. Through specialized massage techniques, focused stretching, and support from other professionals in our

About Michelle

Everyone has heard about going for a goal, or goal setting. I would like to rephrase this idea on goals to: what is going to fulfill your...

Why do we get them? We get “knots” simply because it’s the nature of living in our bodies. I have started defining these knots as...

Every summer my family and I love to go to 141 garage sales that run on highway 141 here in Iowa. During our annual event this year I...

The last few years my husband, Jason, and I have been on a health journey. It started in August of 2021 when Jason had severe pain in his...

Why Massage Therapy is Important, In a Nutshell: Massage therapy is a holistic evidence based practice that offers a wide range of...

I love listening to podcasts on my way to and from work. Last week as I was listening I came across one that I had a hard time digesting...

Many licensed massage therapists see trends when it comes to when people get massage. For me, I see an uptick of sports massages, and a...

As a child I always loved asking my Grandmother and other people about things that were not around when they were little. Some of the...

How is sports massage is different from regular massage? Because we do entirely different work at Active Edge than most massage therapy...

It’s Our FAVORITE Time of Year! Last Wednesday, March 31, 2021, Drake University released the exciting news that the 2021 Drake Relays,...

We are so excited to have new partner-therapist Ann Riesberg join the Active Edge team. Here is a little bit more about Ann, and her...