themassagemuse

Just Breathe

2010-04-08T05:06:00.000-07:00

Each client I work with is a little different. Some prefer lighter touch, others want me to go 'as deep as possible.' Heat gets turned up for several clients, but a few prefer no heat, blanket, or anything else that makes them hotter. I have a few clients who ask for a particular CD every time they see me, and one who almost always brings in her own music.

But all my clients have at least one thing in common -- they breathe.

I can't overstate the importance of breathwork and massage. A simple thing like taking a big breath and letting it out goes a long way into deepening your bodywork without creating pain or discomforted. I may have asked you at one time or another to 'let me do the work,' or ask you to 'breath into that part.' Both of these help my clients focus a little more on where tension is in their body. And hopefully this awareness helps let go of the problem, whether it’s physical, emotional, or spiritual.

While I love catching up on all the comings and goings with my clients I encourage everyone to use the time on the table as quiet time. I've found that talking during a session keeps the body tense, preventing it from returning to an open, calm state. This doesn't mean don't talk at all. Rather, share the details of your life before or after the bodywork, and save the 'contact' time for mind, body, and spirit stillness.

Here’s an example. During her massage, EB was having trouble relaxing, continually talking about all of the stressors in her life. I took a deep breath and asked her to do the same. Suddenly, her body relaxed and I finally felt her respond to the work I was doing.

So, what shifted with that simple suggestion? EB was thinking about the stresses in her life instead of where she was at the moment. She was in a safe space, receiving gentle, supportive bodywork. And yet she couldn't relax. By simply asking her to be mindful of her breath, she immediately felt her body and became present with me in that space.

Many meditation traditions use the breath to quiet the mind. With mindful breathing, we're suddenly thrust into an awareness of our inner spaces and a feeling that we actually do live in a body.

One of the first things expectant mothers learn in natural childbirth classes is breathing techniques to help control labor pain. By consciously breathing during contractions, they learn to shift the feeling of pain to just sensation.

EB came to see me because she had chronic pain in her foot, knee, and hip. Often chronic pain sets up as a vicious cycle of muscle tightness, impaired blood flow, and more pain, even in areas distant from the original problem. When I asked EB to send her breath to the foot, she changed her feeling of pain to simply sensation and this opened a door that allowed me to change the holding pattern in her tissue.

Of course she couldn't physically breathe into her foot, but the imagery of sending warm, healing breath into her foot from the inside while I worked on it from the outside changed her relationship to the pain.

Try this simple technique yourself. As you tune into your breath, notice your body. Is there discomfort or pain? Breathe in, and think of filling your lungs with healing oxygen. Now breathe out, and imagine sending this warm, healing oxygen directly to the place that hurts. Continue gently breathing into the area for a few minutes. What does it feel like now?

When I worked with EB, I noticed that the more she talked about her stressful life, the shallower her breath became. She was breathing high in her chest in short, rapid breaths. Her mind had transported her back to her stressful life, even though she was in a place where she was supported and encouraged to take a break from that stress, putting her body into a fight-or-flight response.

One clear manifestation of this is rapid, shallow breathing. While stress can produce this breathing pattern, the good news is that we can consciously change the breathing pattern and reduce the stress. It works both ways.

As I asked EB to slow her breathing and take deeper breaths, the tension in her face softened. Her body relaxed on the table as if she were sinking into the padding. Her feet became warmer, a sure sign that her circulation had changed and that her nervous system had switched from fight or flight to the calming mode of rest and digest.

Try this for yourself. The next time you're feeling stressed, stop for a moment and notice how you're breathing. Is your breath high in your chest? Is it fast and shallow? Now, gently invite your breath to slow down. Start to pull breath into your lungs by letting your belly relax and expand as you inhale. Spend a few moments with yourself and your breath and look at the stressful situation again. Does it seem so bad now?

Receiving a massage does involve participation on the client's part. While the practitioner is the expert on the bodywork, the clients are the experts on their bodies. In our culture, the client/therapist relationship is often a check-your-body-at-the-door affair. But so much more can happen when the client works with the therapist.

The next time you go for a massage, try these suggestions to achieve mindful breathing and enhance the benefits of your session:

- As you settle onto the table, feel the weight of your body on the table and begin to notice your breath.

- Feel your breath moving of its own accord. Where is it most noticeable? Bring into the spaces that feel less full (without effort--just invite).

- When your therapist starts working, notice the pressure and rhythm. When your practitioner lets up on the pressure, breathe in. When she/he applies pressure, breathe out.

- Enjoy the silence. One reason I like working at Westglow Spa is they discourage therapists from talking with their clients during treatments. Sounds rude, right? Actually, turning off the dialog (both inner and outer) and focusing on breathing helps your entire body relax, making the experience more powerful.

- If your practitioner comes to a tender area, pay special attention to your breath. Work with the tenderness on the exhale, imagining that you're breathing out the pain.

- As your therapist works on different areas, imagine your breath moving there to meet her. Send your breath wherever she is working. Let her work on the outside, you work on the inside.

- Notice the changes as the massage progresses. Notice your thought patterns. Notice your comfort level. Notice your stress (and how it melts) as you send breath to the various areas of your body.

- When your session is complete and you sit up, notice how your breath feels. What do you notice about your body, the room, the light?

Why not use the lifegiving force of breath to make your next massage an even more beneficial experience. Just Breathe.

The Sound of Music

2010-03-02T06:51:00.000-08:00

Most of you know I’m a musician. I grew up in a very musical home, with a piano and organ in the living room. All 6 of us kids were ‘strongly’ encouraged to play some type of band instrument. I personally played the French Horn for a few years before switching over to the more ‘vocal’ side by joining the choir. And so music has always been an important part of my life. Right now I’m looking at a keyboard, fiddle, and Bodhran (Celtic drum) sitting in the corner of this room.

We were lucky. My mother was a classically trained pianist so we often heard Chopin, Mozart or show tunes (like the Sound of Music) playing as we tried to sleep. My father also had a fine tenor voice, but leaned more towards Big Band and pop music. We all watched Ed Sullivan each week, hearing some of the latest bands, including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones (yes, I’m that old).

So what does this have to do with massage and energy work? Everything. The more I learn about music specifically and sound in general the more I realize the importance it has on the healing process.

Some researchers now say that sound is the first of our senses to be developed as a child. Babies recognize their mother’s voice long before they can focus their eyes and see shapes and colors. Do you remember seeing the movie “Three Men and a Baby?” There was a great scene where Tom Selleck read the sports page to his baby, say ‘It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.’ Tone and volume play an important part of what we hear, and what’s the emotion behind the words.

Sound is vibration. Try this. Put your hand on your throat, then hum a little tune. Do you ‘feel’ the humming with your hand?

To me, any and all parts of a living system, including human and non human forms, is simply vibration made visible. And vibration travels easily through all body tissue, removing blocks and restriction with little or no effort. I can work much more deeply using Matrix Energetics, Tuning Fork Therapy, or Ultra Violet Frequencies than I can with just using my hands.

As a musician I was raised on playing scales on the piano. But I didn’t know then that each part of a human body ‘vibrates’ to the same frequency as a note on the scale. Take ‘G,’ the fifth note. This vibration connects directly to the 5th Chakra located in the throat, and can influence your thyroid, breathing, creativity, and ‘speaking your mind.’

Some of you may have seen me pull out tuning forks and place them on specific parts of your body to help realign structure or release tension. But did you also know I specifically pick background music to go with my client’s needs? I might put on a crystal bowl CD which helps align Chakras and energy systems in the body for someone feeling depressed. Often I’ll play Dean Evenson’s flute music when my clients just want to relax. One of my clients specifically asks for Afro Celt Sound System, a very upbeat CD with lots of drums and soaring vocals.

I also play around with a high frequency ultra violet wand. I’m seen some amazing result from placing this tool on a restricted area and letting the tool help release whatever restriction there is.

When I attend Matrix Energetics seminars or workshops there’s often the Beatles playing in the background – Dr Richard Bartlett, founder of ME, says it helps bring the energy into the room and focuses people on the process. It also creates a ‘sound memory.’ When you walk into a seminar and hear ‘It’s Getting Better All the Time’ by the Beatles, it triggers a reminder about another seminar or other positive experience.

Several musicians currently have ‘enhanced’ CDs out, some that have embedded Alpha waves which help produce sleep states, others with specific tones and sounds that mimic the vibrational tones of body parts and systems.

Tibetan monks chant to very low tones, repeating sounds over and over again to help deepen their meditation.

Do you have a particular type of music which creates a sense of wellbeing or empowerment? I encourage my clients to bring their own CDs with them, ones they personally enjoy. Bring whatever music ‘sings’ to you to play during your session.

But the opposite is also true. Think of types of music or sound which grates on your nerves – I personally turn off atonal screeching because, well, it makes me angry! Likewise, I can’t stand ‘elevator’ music because it’s too bland, a pale imitation of a more complex sound.
What I’ve also noticed recently is that I’m jamming more to the music that’s playing, incorporating themes and phrases from the music directly into my massage strokes and techniques.

As a regular client I’m offering you a chance to experience sound vibration more deeply. During the March, ask me to demonstrate either my Tuning Forks or Ultra Violet wand at no additional charge. Remember, vibration goes deeply into the body, and often has a profound effect with no effort.

Music enhances bodywork.

Cars vs Massage, or Being an Informed Consumer.

2010-02-08T13:30:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know I’ve been looking for a new or gently used car. I’ve read all the reports on Kelly Blue Book and JP Powell, studied autotrader.com and cars.com to find the best value. I’ve test drove at least 10 different models, including ones I knew weren’t quite the right one for me. I’ve had sales men (they all seem to be men) try to pressure me into buying something I knew I couldn’t afford. After going through a lot of sticker shock ($25000 for a car?), I think I’ve finally found the one that I want. And I’m sure that I’m getting a good value for the money too, and plan to keep this one running in top form for as long as possible.

First, I took pretty good care of my old car. It’s lasted me almost 10 years, and has had only minor problems until recently because I made sure to keep up with all the maintenance.

When it was time to look for something else I did my research. I asked a lot of my friends for referrals and opinions about what was good and what I should avoid. A couple suggested I make a list of what I had to have, and what were options to look for. This helped me narrow down exactly which models might be a good fit.

Then I checked the internet and the dealers to find out the true value of the car. I was an informed consumer, and knew to say no when I wasn’t happy with the selections the sale men tried to persuade me to buy. I also found that the model I was looking at seriously was available about 30 minutes away, but not in my own town.

I got the car I wanted for the price I wanted.

So what does this have to do with massage?

The best way to take care of your own personal ‘vehicle,’ your body, is to maintain it. Keeping yourself healthy and happy goes a long way making your life better. Eating right, exercising, getting plenty of sleep -- you know the drill. And regular massage is a great and enjoyable way to prevent health issues (especially those related to stress) and to let injured, sore, or tight muscles heal quicker. Medical experts, including Dr. Andrew Weil, are now estimating that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress related. This include all ‘signs’ of aging.

My professional massage organization, ABMP, lists over 20 medically proven benefits of therapeutic massage. These range from simple things like increasing joint flexibility and resiliency to the more complex – decreasing depression and anxiety, enhancing the immune system, relieving migraine pain, lessening labor time for expectant mother.

Regular massage, like changing your car’s oil every 3000 miles, is important for keeping your body systems functioning at its peak performance. Regular maintenance increases your health, saving you money by keeping problems in check, and keeping you out of the doctor’s office. It’s fun to think that something as pleasurable as massage really does save you money in the long run.

Massage is also a good way to get to know your body better. Many times my regular clients tell me, ‘I didn’t know that hurt until you touched it.’ But massage isn’t only about working out muscle tension. Arthritis sufferers note fewer aches and less stiffness and pain. High blood pressure patients demonstrate lower diastolic blood pressure, anxiety, and stress hormones. Premenstrual syndrome sufferers have decreased water retention and cramping.

I also encourage all my clients to do their own research. If you’ve got a specific problem, disease, or disorder please be sure you’re aware of all ‘contraindications’ or ‘ no nos’ surrounding these conditions. For example, some essential oils, like pennyroyal, should not be used during pregnancy. I do keep pretty up to date with most medical conditions and how massage affects them. Each day brings more and more information about what’s good, and what’s not so good. I’m always happy to look something up for my clients, and many times have learned new things because my clients have asked about them.

Most importantly, listen to your body. When you car’s making a funny sound, don’t you try to isolate what’s really going on with it before you visit your mechanic? I was taught that people with Fibromyalgia were not supposed to want deeper pressure during massage. But what I’ve found out from my clients is that deep work actually feels good. And now research is proving them right, that deep tissue massage does help to release the adhesions and ‘densities’ associated with this disease.

There’s another reason you want to do your own research. You might find that a specific treatment or ‘modality’ works really well with whatever problem you may have. Each massage therapist has their own specialty and training. But not every MT does every treatment. Got scoliosis or other back problems? You may want to try Raindrop Therapy. Having a lot of ‘one sided’ problem, like everything on the left side hurt? How about Craniosacral work.

Don’t be shy about telling your MT that something isn’t working, doesn’t feel right, or in any way is uncomfortable. After all, we’re providing a service for you, not to you. You are in total control! Fire your MT if they’re not meeting expectations, and hire a new one who fits better. After all, you’d find a new mechanic for your car if they went fixing the problem, right?

Ask your MT questions. And if they don’t know, or won’t find out, well, maybe you need another therapist.

Which brings me to the next point. Every massage therapist is different. Most people who come to me know I use firmer pressure than many other MTs. In fact, I make sure to state this right up front, and put it on my website just so all my clients are aware of this. And I’ve referred people to other MTs because I think that they can have their needs met better by someone else.

So if you’re looking for a specific feeling, pressure or modality you may need to try a couple MTs out before you find the right fit. It’s OK to take us for a ‘test drive’ to see if you feel comfortable with everything you’re exposed to. Starting with 30 minutes on the table is a great way to find out just want kind of service your MT provides.

And of course, like sitting in your new sweet smelling car, massage just feels good.

Stress, Posture and Massage – we are how we stand

2010-01-27T08:03:00.000-08:00

90% of the people who walk in my door have the same problem – their shoulders and neck feel tight. Whether this is from stress, posture, or some other issue, massage helps release those muscles in your upper body, relieving headaches, encouraging sleep, and promoting a sense of well being.

But is there anything we can do in our daily life to prevent this from happening? Of course! Most of this week’s blog is about stress and tension relief from the shoulders up.

First let’s take a little self test. Grab a couple towels or small pillows, and find a friend to help. Then locate a wall or door which has free space around it – no furniture or pictures nearby. Take off your shoes and put them aside. Then lean back into the wall, aligning your ankles, bottom, and head up so they are all touching the surface. Do you feel like you’re going to fall over, or that you’re out of alignment? Roll your arms back and down so the entire back of the arm (shoulder to elbow to hand) is touching the wall, then release your body into a resting position.

As you relax ask your friend to place the towels or pillows behind one of your shoulders until the space between your shoulders and the wall is filled. They can roll the towels if needed. Then step away from the wall while your friend in still holding the towels against the wall. Notice how thick those towels are?

Now repeat this with your other shoulder. Notice any difference? Did you need more towels under one shoulder than the other? What does this tell you about how your shoulders ‘sit.’

We live in a world where our activities encourage our shoulders to roll forward. Sitting at a computer, desk, cash register causes this, along with carrying heavy pack backs and purses. Living in our cars also keeps our shoulders in a less than optimal position. Women often have one shoulder more out of alignment than the other due to carrying children. Even one of my daily pleasures, reading in bed, puts my body in an abnormal position – neck extended forward, arms rotated into my chest.

No longer are we ‘hunters and gatherers,’ spending most of our day outside doing physical labor. We’re not looking into the woods for danger or food. We’re not even looking into the horizon. Our focus is often a few feet in front of us – a computer screen, a TV, a phone, the dash board in a car.

I also think that people often have this issue because they’re physically protecting their heart.

Anatomy wise several things are happening at once. All muscles have their counterpart or antagonist – some muscles make a fist (protagonists), while others perform the opposite motion and open up your hand (antagonists). But when a muscle or groups of muscles are kept in the same position for a long period of time they stay contracted. It feels ‘normal’ for them to be this position, and so when they’re ‘at rest’ they return to what’s normal. The opposing muscles, the antagonists, are then stretched out, creating tension or tightness in these areas.

So when people come to me with problems in their shoulders it usually (but not always) signals to me that their pecs, biceps, scalenes, and other muscles on the front side of the shoulders, neck, and arms are tight. And their back muscles are stretched out like a rubber band that can’t be pulled any further.

If you’ve had a massage with me you may have noticed that I tried to get your shoulders to move back by releasing your shoulder blade through movement, pressure, and massage. But I also spend time getting those ‘front’ muscles to relax, stretching out areas of contraction around your collar bone and upper arms.

What can we do to fix this problem? Here are some simple suggestions.

• Adjust your chair, including the one in your car, to the proper position. Your arms should rest at your side with no tension in them. This means that you may need to move the steering wheel closer to you or raise your chair up higher. If you can’t adjust it any more, try sitting on a small pillow, adding several if needed.
• Lower your computer monitor. Are you looking ‘up’ into your screen? Well, you’re compressing the muscles and nerves in your neck! Your eyes should be looking slightly down into your screen, not so your head is resting on your chest, but enough that it releases tension and lets it be in a relaxed position.
• Get up and stretch every couple of hours. I recently read that exercise physiologists are now recommending that we stretch twice as long as we exercise – for every 1hr we’re working out we should stretch 2! Well, when you’re holding that same position for a long time you’re actually doing passage resistance exercise. Gravity is trying to return your arms, shoulders, and neck to their optimal position while we’re ‘resisting’ by keeping the muscles tense. There are several simple stretches, like rolling and shrugging the shoulders, which are easy to do anywhere.
• Activate the antagonist. This may sound counter intuitive, but anything you can do to strengthen those muscles in your backside is going to help your shoulders. One simple exercise involves grabbing a light weight (a large soup can or half gallon of milk works), grab it with both hands and raise it over your head, then lower the can behind your head, being careful not to drop it on your head.
• Stand tall. Visualize a steel rod, beam of light, or other straight object connecting the top of your head to your tail bone. Think of how a dancer stands, shoulders back, head up, eyes forward. Or notice how anyone who’s been in the military stands, straight as an arrow. Walk like you’re carrying a book on your head, not the weight of the world on your shoulders.
• Massage massage massage!

One yoga instructor I know tells her students to ‘walk with your belly button first.’ This forces your attention to your center, your core, and helps you keep balanced in all areas of your life.

I’ve got a great diagram about how you should set up your office or work station, and several suggestions for easy stretches you can do anywhere. Just ask and I’ll email or give you a copy of each if you’d like. I also particularly like the books ‘Stretching,’ and ‘Stretching in the Office,’ both by Bob Anderson.

Enjoy and relax!

Living in your skin – glowing during the winter

2010-01-14T10:12:00.000-08:00

This winter has been harsh. Record cold, big snows, icing on trees, electricity and water out for days have stressed everyone out.

One thing I always notice during this time of year is how the texture and resiliency of my client’s (and my) skin changes. Gone is the softness and smooth texture. Feet are chapped and cracked, scaly patches are everywhere, our poor skin even looks ‘tired’ and ‘dull.’ Stress and cold have effect on this important part of your body.

Most people take their skin for granted, thinking about it only when there’s a problem or concern. If you find a strange irregular shaped bump on your arm you’ll probably head for the doctor. Or if your sunscreen wore off too soon and you ended up with a burn you may grab the aloe lotion in your medicine cabinet. But, just like with everything else, prevention and awareness actually keeps everything healthier (including your skin) and helps problems heal faster.

Your skin is the largest ‘organ’ in your body, about 18-20 sq ft for the average adult, and weighs around 6 lbs. There are 3 layers of skin cells (and many sub-layers within each layer). Cells ‘grow’ away from the outside surface, and shed every 2 month or so.

Healthy skin has three purposes. This is pretty amazing, since most skin it only .07 inches (about 2mm) thick.

First, it protects your body, creating a barrier from pathogens and disease. Think of what would happen if every time you touched someone else you immediately picked up whatever virus they had. We’d be sick all the time! We’re constantly being exposed to dirt, pollution, chemicals, and other environmental toxins. But the skin keeps all these away from our ‘vital’ organs, giving you an opportunity to clean up before your body is compromised.

Second, skin helps regulate the temperature of your body. We all know that we sweat a lot more when we’re hot. Our skin keeps our internal temperature constant, releases fluids to cool our body when needed, and holding moisture in to help us keep warm.

Finally, skin, and it’s nerves, are responsible for the feeling around our beautiful sense of touch.

Winter creates special problems for skin. Outside temperatures and wind draw moisture away. And then we go inside and our heated houses also dries out our skin. Skin gets no relief!

The Mayo Clinic lists several ‘symptoms’ of dry skin on their website, www.mayoclinic.com:
 A feeling of skin tightness, especially after showering, bathing or swimming
 Skin that appears shrunken or dehydrated
 Skin that feels and looks rough rather than smooth
 Itching (pruritus) that sometimes may be intense
 Slight to severe flaking, scaling or peeling
 Fine lines or cracks
 Redness
 Deep fissures that may bleed in severe cases

So what can we do? Here are some simple things to help keep this important organ healthy and happy.

• Hydrate and rehydrate. Good water is best, but juices, tea, soups, milk, or any other fluids count too. Remember, tap water is sometimes healthier than bottled water, and it’s right there in the next room. Avoid or limit dehydrators – caffeine, alcohol, any drink that lists ‘sodium laurel sulfates’ as an ingredient.

Do you have a humidifier? I’ve notice striking improvements with both my skin and my allergies since I’ve been turning a cool steam humidifier on for a few hours a day. Adding a few drop of your favorite essential oil gives a healthy dose of fragrance and helps prevent bacteria growth.

Hydrating to me also means bumping up my ‘fatty’ vitamins – E, Omega 3s, and similar.

• Clean. Time to really look at what kind of chemicals we’re putting on our skin. Most have some type of chemical which removes oil, which is great if you’re 15! But most of us need the extra oil in winter. Find a gentle cleaner, like the Dr. Bonner products, and use smaller amounts – less is more. Consider using warm instead of hot water, because hot water ‘evaporates’ oils in your oil, increasing dryness.

Also, consider exfoliating a couple times a month. This helps remove dead skin cells, letting the ‘younger’ cells come to the top. You can make a simple home remedy with Dead Sea salt and good quality cooking oil, like grape seed. Or you can buy ready to use products in most stores.

• Protect. Be sure to use more moisturizer, or try a ‘thicker’ formula. I personally like a lot of the lotions that contain collagens. In fact, keep a bottle of lotion or oil by your shower, and apply a thick layer before your dry off. Then wait a minute or two, and pat dry your skin. This one thing can seal in lots of moisture, creating a barrier keeps your skin healthier.

I’m not a big fan of sunscreen during winter, except when I know I’m going to be outside for more than 30 minutes. Pay special attention to lips, eyes, hands, and feet. These spots are often where I see the first signs of problems.
So, keeping your skin healthier actually keeps your body healthier. It’s simple to do, too!

Paraffin wax treatments

Ok, I’m the first to admit that I was a little skeptical (well, more than a little) about this treatment. Maybe it was the way it was explained to me — relief for tired, aching feet, soothing to dry and cracked skin. But I tried it, and found I really like it!

Here’s the process. While paraffin wax is heating up, I massage a rich oil into your feet (or hands). Then a little hot wax is scooped into a plastic bag, the wax is swished around to coat the bag, and the whole thing is slipped onto your foot. The bag is pressed into your skin, helping to seal in that oil. Your feet are then wrapped in a warm towel to keep that heat in.

A few minutes later (while I’m massaging other parts of your body) I pull the baggy and the extra wax off your feet. Then a little more oil is massaged in, making your skin feel elastic and smooth.

And the heat from the wax helps with muscle aches and pains. I have one arthritic client who loves this treatment, saying it provides almost instantaneous relief!

Why Deep Tissue

2009-08-25T12:29:00.000-07:00

Many of my new clients come to me for 1 reason -- deep tissue massage. I have a reputation -- my hands are strong from years of playing the piano and working in the garden! But what really is deep tissue massage? After talking with my clients I realize that many are really asking for is deep/firm PRESSURE, not deep tissue.

Here's the difference.

DEEP/FIRM PRESSURE is usually what I describe as integrated massage. It's basis is Swedish or relaxation massage, with long stokes moving tissue and lymphatic fluid towards the heart. This is the kind of massage that makes you 'feel good,' releases tension, promotes healing, etc. When I give a firm pressure massage I usually incorporate DEEP TISSUE work with my firmer massage. In a typical 1 hour massage I may use DT for 5 - 10 minutes where I and the client feels it needs to be used. The rest of the session focuses on firm Swedish massage to include all body parts.

Do you work out? Well, deep tissue is not the answer! Muscles that are dense and tight need to be stretched out, not forced apart. Here's an example. I had a recent client who wanted DT, complaining on a 'knot' near his right shoulder blade. But when I started working on his back I found that his entire scapula was frozen -- the muscles in this area were so tight that they wouldn't let this bone move at all. It was only after doing some passive stretches and movement that the shoulder blade freed up. And guess what -- the 'knot' disappeared.

True deep tissue massage can do more harm than good on overworked, overextended muscles. I can suggest stretches which are easy and effective, but only work if you use them! We should be looking at strength AND flexibility, not just bulk.

DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE is almost the opposite of Swedish/Integrative Massage -- instead of long strokes, specific points are held until that point 'releases.' Often DT focuses on one muscle or muscle group (like the muscles surrounding a shoulder). Reasons for using DT include injuries/scar tissue buildup, chronic/repetitive muscle issues, and trigger point therapy. Usually this technique includes warming up the muscle tissue with gentler strokes before moving forward. Only after the muscle has loosened is deeper pressure apply. In fact, using deep tissue techniques without warming up muscles first can injure tissue. One of my massage instructors nicely called it 'being invited into the muscle' (thanks Julie!). All of this takes time. My 1 hour DT massage focuses on 1 or 2 specific areas -- say, the shoulders, or lower back. Other areas of the body do not receive massage at all.

So if you're looking for a full body Deep Tissue massage, please be sure to schedule at 1 1/2 or 2 hour session!

Many other Massage Therapists advertise they do deep tissue massage. Be sure to ask for their definition before you make an appointment!

www.themassagemuse.com

How to save $$ on medical bills.

2009-08-17T11:39:00.000-07:00

Some of you may remember that I give chair massages on Sunday afternoons at The Mast Store Annex in Valle Crucis. I usually set up my chair and a small table with brochures and a tip jar back near the 'Sale Room.' I'm always amazed at the number of people who walk by and haven't had any type of professional massage before. The expressions of bliss I see on their face after the 10 minute massage are priceless!

About a week ago a tall young man walked up to me and asked me to 'work' on him. I knew him by site -- he's a local 'foodie' who sets up popcorn and hotdog stands around the area for special events. Some staff at Mast kept telling him to come see me, since he sets up right across the street from me every Sunday. Finally he shows up, and tells me he's had a persistant problem underneath his right shoulder blade.

Well, little did he know that shoulder and neck issues are my speciality. You see, almost 90% of my clients have some problem there -- 'computeritis' (rounded shoulders from being on the computer too long), bursitis, rotator cuff injuries. And the reason why I know so much about this area is because I've injured my right shoulder several times, and learned what worked to help my own problems.

So, this gentleman tells me about his problem, which has been going on for several years. He was having stabbing pains between his right shoulder blade and spine, strong enough to keep him awake at night. He's had xrays, cortisone injections, chiropractic adjustments, etc. etc. to the tune of over $10000. Nothing seemed to work. One doctor thought he had an 'impinged nerve' and suggested surgery

After working a little to loosen up his entire shoulder girdle I told him what I felt. His rotator muscles were very tight, tense enough to pull his entire shoulder blade forward towards his chest. The corresponding muscles along his spine were also stretched out as far as they could, and felt like they were pressing on several nerves. The spot he told me about was completely frozen and inflamed, restricting freedom of movement of his shoulder.

I told him I could work on this area, but it would probably be very uncomfortable. But he was willing to try anything, and gave me the go ahead.

I did several loosening movements of this shoulder before pressing very firmly on the restricted spot, moving my thumb very slowly over the sore spot while pushing the shoulder blade back with my other hand. The spot throbbed and spasmed, but I kept holding it until I felt it release. He got up from the chair, moved his shoulder around, and tipped me $10.

Yesterday, I was surprised to see him walk up to me and start talking. I thought he wanted to get back on the chair, but he said he just wanted to tell me something. He didn't know whether it was coincidence or not, but the day after I worked on him all his pain went away!! This was the first time in over 10 years that he was pain free. And he told me that he would come to see me first if he ever had that problem again.

If he would have come to me first, I would have saved him more than $9990 and a lot of his time.

Massage isn't just about feeling good. It's also about letting the body be all that it can be, and return to it's correct and natural state.

The power of Community

2009-06-24T15:20:00.000-07:00

Francis Bacon - "A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds."

Some of you may know that I have a small organic garden (less than an acre). This year my gardening partner Willy and I decided we wanted to try to find 1 buyer for our produce instead of going to farmer's markets, restaurants, stores, etc. And so I contacted a local summer camp in March, telling the director what we were thinking of doing. He was very enthusiatic about it, wanted to know if we could grow EVERYTHING for their camp. Well, no, we couldn't, but we limited to greens, onions, tomatoes, and a few other misc. things.

But the director also said they were getting 2 new cooks this year and wanted me to talk directly with them too. And they wouldn't be there for another 3 weeks.

Silly me, I didn't get a written contract or down payment.

Willy and I did what any grower would do -- bought seeds and fertilizer, tilled the soil, added compost, and planted early crops like spinach, peas, and onions.
Everything was brilliant! All the veggies looked and tasted amazing (of course we were sampling them!).

When I finally did talk with the cooks they were also enthusiatic. They said they would take everything we grow. I asked, 'how many people and what dates are you looking at?' and only got vagueness.

So when the first week came around I emailed a list of what we had, and the quantities that were ready. The only message I got was the cook would pick it up on a Sunday. Willy took what we had picked, less than what we said we would have because they didn't give us any idea of quantity and we didn't want our good produce to go to waste.

The response from the cook was favorable. In fact, he said he wanted 2x more of everything for the next pick up. He and Willy came up with 'tentative' dates for pickup.

The next pick up day came. We picked, cleaned, and processed double the amount of the week before. I called, I emailed, I did everything I could to connect with the camp -- no response. Finally I went to the pick up site, and sat for 1/2 hr waiting. After getting frustrated by no response from the cook, I asked Willy to come sit at the pick up spot to wait for them (I had to be somewhere else). 1/2 later the cook drives by, Willy recognizes his truck and calls him right them, asking what's going on. Well, the cook says, we didn't need anything this week, but if you wait until after I have lunch with my friends I'll see what I can do.

An hour later the cook and Willy finally get together. And, of all the nerve, the cook tries to negotiate -- he's wants us to come down on the price of lettuce because Earthfare is selling it for $2 a head (ours was $2.50 a pound, a better price). Then he didn't want the radishes, onions, or several others things we brought for him. And he didn't have any money with him -- kind Willy told him to take everything and they could send up a check.

The cook said the next big pick up day would be Sunday, June 21st. Wise Willy said we wouldn't pick anything until they called us with an order. We called, emailed, etc. etc., and still haven't heard anything.

What does this have to do with community, you ask? Well, as soon as this happened I started selling whatever we had. People from a local co-op I belong to bought most of my extra lettuce from last week. I sent a mass email out to all my friends and 7 and counting are willing to buy directly from us. One of the stores I do chair massage with told me I could put a flyer up about the veggies, and 3 employees also want produce. And the manager of the store told me about a once a week Farmer's Market that's just down the street. The coordinator for the market decided to let us set up FOR FREE.

So, in the long run, we're making more money now for a longer period of time than we would have just working with the camp.

And I still haven't gotten a check from the camp for last weeks veggies!

Mentors -- a key to success as a Massage Therapist

2009-06-22T17:32:00.000-07:00

"The ordinary literary man, even though he be an eminent historian, is ill-fitted to be a mentor in affairs of government. For ... things are for the most part very simple in books, and in practical life very complex."
Former President Woodrow Wilson

You’ve got your certificate from your massage school. You passed the national certification test. You’ve got your state license. And now you’re pushed into a new career, not really knowing anything but the most basic guidelines about how to succeed.

Who you gonna call? Your mentor. Every successful massage therapist I talked with said they’d be lost without one.

What is a mentor? Basically, it’s someone who has more experience than you and can answer questions about how to do modalities, improve techniques, solve ethical issues, or just give moral support. They’re guides, gurus, teachers, friends, and antagonists. They’re your guardian angel and your big brother at the same time, someone who can pat you on the back with one hand and give you a push with the other. If you meet someone who you’d ‘want to be like when you grow up,’ then consider this person as a good candidate to become your mentor.

They’re also often experts with advanced training and accomplishments in a particular field. Is there someone that you know who has a long list of clients and does great marketing? Or an MT who’s well known for a particular modality? How about a financial planner or banker who sets up accounting systems and explains complex money issues easily? Or a nurse who impresses you with their ‘bedside manner?’ They can be older, younger, the same age, the same sex, the opposite sex, live next door, live across the country, work for a competitor, work for the same employer -- mentors can be any one you know who can help you accomplish any goal you may have.

Most importantly, a mentor is someone who you can feel comfortable with, someone you can trust.

Right now I have two mentors. One has been a MT for 15+ years and can answer questions that I have about unfamiliar situations (like can you use essential oils during a prenatal massage) or ethical boundary issues (like how to talk with a client about being consistently late for their appointments). The other is a member of my local Small Business Association, and gives me feedback on my business plan, marketing, and accounting.

Here are some tips about where to find a mentor, how to develop your relationship, and when to move on.

Where to look

· Teachers
This one is probably the easiest place to find a mentor. Did you connect with one of you massage school instructors? Did a guest lecturer surprise with their insights? Or did someone presenting a CEU class peak your interest in the subject?

· Coworkers
Again, a great place to look for a mentor because you see firsthand what they do. Some businesses team up new employees with more seasoned ones to help the transition into a new place. This is a formal arrangement that is often short term. I’ve also have a mentor who I used to work with, but though I’ve moved on I still keep in touch with her.

· Spa owners
Thinking about owning your own spa? Someone who’s doing it can be a great mentor. Since they’ve already ‘been there, done that’ they can give great insight into the ups and downs of the business.

· Small Business Association and Chamber of Commerce
I’m a really good MT, but definitely flounder when it comes to anything financial. So I contacted my local Small Business Association who teamed me up with Steve, who had run his own business for 30 years before retiring. No, he wasn’t a MT, but he knew the ins and outs of developing plans, setting up marketing strategies, and how to ‘package’ my business. And most Chambers have monthly ‘meet and greet’ networking opportunities – this is a great way to connect with people in your community and find someone who could be a mentor.

· Competing Massage Therapists
You’ve heard about this modality and found out someone in your community practices it. Or there’s a MT you know that’s been in the business for a long time and is well respected. Why not approach these experts about being your mentor? They may be happy to share some of their secrets (and maybe not).

· Professional Associations
Are you a member of AMTA or ABMP? Have you gone to any of their regional or national conferences? These give you an opportunity to meet like-minded people, and opens up the possibility of finding a mentor.

Characteristics to look for in a mentor

· Experience or skill in something that you’re interested in. The more your mentor knows, the more they can teach you.

· Ability to both lead and follow. Good mentors can teach, but are also open to learning new things too.

· Good communicator. I had one mentor who did all the talking. The only time he listened to what I had to say was when I’d ask a question. And then he’d go off on another story, blah, blah, blah. Good mentors listen as much as (and sometimes more than) they talk.

· They use many different ways to teach. They may know books or articles you can read to help you understand what they’re talking about. They can show techniques and describe what they’re doing clearly, then they step back and let their ‘trainee’ try it themselves. They may feel comfortable with you ‘shadowing’ them for a day. They act as a sounding board for any ideas you may have. And they have infinite patience with all your big and small questions.

· Gives good feedback. This can be both positive and negative, but both are presented compassionately, not critically.

Developing the relationship

· First, you need to feel comfortable with your mentor. This means you feel OK about talking with them, that you don’t feel intimidated or in awe. Mentoring is about building connections, not hero worship.

· Approach your potential mentor gently. Say you noticed they are really good at something (massage, business, etc.) and ask if you can ‘pick their brain’. Most people are flattered when asked for their opinion, but some aren’t. Be prepared to hear ‘no’ from them

· Set up boundaries. This doesn’t have to be formal, like ‘we’re meeting for coffee every Monday morning at 6 am.’ If you work with your mentor try getting together sometime before or after work. If it’s someone in the business community be prepared to work around their schedule. Mentors may not be available the moment you have a question, but they’ll always get back to you. Also remember this does not mean you become their ‘slave’ and do all the things your mentor doesn’t like to do (could you please do my laundry?). You’re creating a supportive relationship, so no backstabbing, stealing clients or ideas, or doing anything to undermind your mentor. Be sure you know what your boundaries are, and be willing to talk about them.

· Don’t be a pest. There are appropriate times to talk with your mentor, and times to back off too. I had one MT who would wait outside my massage room to ask me questions, even when I was with clients. Another would follow me around like a puppy, mimicking everything I did. That’s both unprofessional and annoying.

· Show appreciation. This could a simple ‘thank you,’ a small gift (like massage oil), or an occasional meal out. A couple mentors I’ve talked with said they become leery when someone walks up to them and says, ‘Hey, would you be my mentor?’ Too often these become ‘give and give relationships,’ where the mentors give but never get anything back. Be sure your mentor know how much you’re grateful for their help

· Long or short term relationships are OK. For instance, I had one mentor who worked with me for six weeks, showing me the way the spa we were employed by wanted certain modalities done. After that I saw him maybe twice in six months. I also have a mentor whose was one of my first coworkers from five years ago. I don’t talk with her often, but I know that she’ll always contact me when I need some insight.

Ending the relationship

There’s often a time when either you or your mentor will dissolve the relationship. Maybe you’re leaving the area, or have been offered another job. Or maybe you’ve found that you’ve gotten everything out of the relationship that you can, and need to move on. Maybe you discover that your personalities don’t mesh, and that the relationship creates more problems than it solves. It’s OK to let your mentor go, graciously thanking them, but explaining why it’s time to go. It’s also OK for a mentor to ‘fire’ you, even if things seem to be going along well.

And finally

Be sure to grab the baton when it’s passed and become a mentor yourself. Is there a new employee who seems lost most of the time? Or someone you’re heard negative feedback about from clients? Offer to take this person under your wing and support them in their career as a massage therapist. It’s following the Golden Rule, knowing that what goes around really does come back to you.

welcome

2009-06-22T07:54:00.000-07:00

Hey there, welcome to my blog! Check me out for weekly info about:

massage therapy
matrix energics
organic gardening
environmental education

and whatever else comes up!