Musings from the Massage Room

From Elephant Journal

2012-02-01T22:42:00.003-05:00

Eight Things I learned from 50 Naked People

A wonderful blog on massage from Kate Bartolotta:

In the past year, I’ve touched more than 50 naked people.

Don’t worry though—the fancy parts were covered—I’m a massage therapy student. They have you start on friends and family, other students and then the general public. Some people are silent during a massage; others can’t stop talking in a nervous attempt to clothe themselves with something, even if only words.
Despite our obsession with sex, American culture doesn’t really encourage nakedness (physically or emotionally). And if all the pleasantries and social constructs we use weren’t bad enough, we add social media into the mix and distance each other even further. When we’re naked and silent, all of that falls away. What I learn from what a person tells me is miniscule compared to what I learn by feeling his skin, muscle and bone. By watching him move. By listening to his breath. By feeling his pulse. So, in case you didn’t know:
1. Your body doesn’t lie. You might say, “I’m relaxed!” or, “That pressure is great, you can work deeper,” but your body may tell a very different story. What goes on in your muscles, with your breathing, with your pulse is the truest you: the you that even you might not know yet. It’s a good thing to get in touch with. You’d feel much better if you listened and let your words match up to what your body was saying.
2. When you stretch, you open up space. This is physically true, and emotionally true. When you physically stretch (or allow yourself to be stretched) you create space and allow for greater movement, greater vulnerability and more growth. It’s the same when you stretch yourself emotionally, too. Your physical and emotional selves aren’t separate––stretch one, and you usually stretch the other, too. It isn’t always comfortable at first, but it’s a wonderful thing. Surrender to it. You won’t regret it.
3. That thing you’re embarrassed about? That you don’t want anyone to see? That you tense up and hold your breath over? The part of you that you wish were different? It’s ok. Let go. Enjoy it. It’s part of what makes you so beautiful.
4. Everyone has body hair in various places and amounts. There’s no one right amount. It’s all good. Same goes for moles. Even models don’t look like they do in the pictures. Smooth and hairless is a Fifth Avenue invention designed to create discontent (and sell grooming products).
5. Everything you’ve experienced is stored in your body at a cellular level. Each cell is a record of all of it. I’ve felt it in your skin. Being born. Being held. The time you fell off your bike and weren’t that hurt but very scared. That brutal sunburn on your shoulders at 14. The time you fell out of a tree and broke your collarbone. The first time you felt deeply loved. The person who hurt you so badly you thought you were broken for good. Your muscles remember it. They remember it like it happened 10 minutes ago.
Your successes hold your shoulders high. Your losses pull your chest inward. You hold your sadness in your throat, your anger in your jaw and your fear in your belly. Your happiness rises and falls in your chest. Love rolls in and out on the tides of your breath. It’s all there, all the time. {You can release the parts that hurt, if you want to. Yoga and massage are the best ways I’ve seen.}
6.   Your weight is the least interesting thing about you. I promise.
7.   Your skin, however, is fascinating. Every line, every freckle, every scar tells the amazing stories of your life. Please don’t Botox, bleach or sand it all away. They’re all beautiful.
8.   Your body is a f*cking wonderland. You are amazing just as you are, right now.

Versatility of massage, from another LMT's blog

2011-08-17T20:14:00.000-04:00

The airport massage & being a conduit

by Allissa on August 11, 2011

in Massage

I’m heading out to North Carolina today. I had a few errands to run on the way to the airport, (had to pick up my Darth Vader cookie jar at the UPS center) so I got here a bit early. I had time for a quick breakfast and a chair massage. I’ve never actually done that here at the airport, I usually fly at ungodly hours when nothing is open. But today is different, and I am sore from a long, difficult few weeks.
From beginning to end the massage experience was fabulous. The therapist, Linda, greeted me with a smile, affirmed that she could accept a credit card, guided me through the sign up sheet and settled me in the chair. She asked me where I was from and when she heard I was local, she let me know the same company that she worked for at the airport had 2 local facilities. That was it. She didn’t oversell, she didn’t push. She just made me aware. I asked her where she went to school, and told her I was also an MT, she asked me where I went school, and when I told her, she was complementary of my alma mater. (I always like that, some people get so snooty about certain schools.) From then on there was silence and she gave me the best chair massage I’ve ever had. It was awesome. Perfect pressure, she backed off when she felt me flinch and sunk in exactly where I asked her to. At the end of ten minutes I felt entirely new. (This is no small feat considering how sore I’ve been lately.)
Ten minutes in an airport.
Sometimes I forget how versatile our profession is. We can work anywhere. We can treat pain and stress and depression in nearly any setting. We can affect speech issues and movement disorders and fertility. The modalities of hands on work are infinite and the indications are endless.
Oddly enough, while I was sitting at the gate starting this post, I ran into a friend of mine. He was my boss ages ago at a college job, he is a friend and client (it is with his permission that I reveal this, as he is in the seat in front of me on the plane right now). He is a minister, working in end-of-life care. It strikes me that our work is so similar in so many ways. Often people come to us looking for help, answers, healing. More often than not we are simply conduits for the healing their bodies already know how to do. We are guides on the path to equilibrium, we nudge in the right direction. He does it with words, we do it with touch. Most often, I think, we both do it by simply being there, with a person, giving undivided attention and care.
Either way, it’s a blessing to be able to do this work.
PS- Thank you Linda, I feel great.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Hawthorne-Massage.html?soid=1103172936421&aid=ftcm60_4WIs

2011-07-29T19:36:00.000-04:00

August newsletter posted:

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Hawthorne-Massage.html?soid=1103172936421&aid=ftcm60_4WIs

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Hawthorne-Massage.html?soid=1103172936421&aid=X7DTzuB7FIs

2011-06-02T23:11:00.000-04:00

June Newsletter for Hawthorne Massage, including info on Healing Touch, New credit cards accepted, wi-fi, hours, and coupons

Here's the info on Healing Touch, please connect via link to see the rest:

Healing Touch--

In May I attended a class in Healing Touch, a gentle practice that complements massage and will enhance my work in Oncology Massage. For those of you unfamiliar with this work, here is an explanation from the Healing Touch International website:

Healing Touch is a relaxing, nurturing energy therapy. Gentle touch assists in balancing your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Healing Touch works with your energy field to support your natural ability to heal. It is safe for all ages and works in harmony with standard medical care.

HOW CAN HEALING TOUCH BENEFIT YOU? Click on the topics below for a detailed description of each benefit.

Healing Touch research suggests that there are many benefits. Individual experiences will vary.

WHERE IS HEALING TOUCH USED?
Healing Touch is used in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, long term care facilities, private practices, hospices, and spas. Janet Mentgen, RN, founded Healing Touch in 1989 as a continuing education program for nurses, massage therapists, other health care professionals, and lay persons. Today Healing Touch has spread internationally and is taught in universities, medical and nursing schools, and other settings internationally.

WHAT HAPPENS IN A SESSION?

The first session involves a consultation as well as the energy session itself. The provider will ask a series of questions about the individual's physical, mental, and emotional situation, and will answer any questions. Then the individual will lie fully clothed on a massage table while the provider gently places their hands slightly above or on the individual. The session generally lasts 40 to 60 minutes, and people frequently report feeling deeply relaxed and peaceful during and after the session. There is a cumulative effect of using Healing Touch over time and regular sessions are recommended.

I plan to become certified in this modality. Right now I am a student of Healing Touch, and can incorporate it in a massage session but cannot charge for it separately.

For more information on Healing Touch, I recommend the Healing Touch International website.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Hawthorne-Massage.html?soid=1103172936421&aid=X7DTzuB7FIs

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Hawthorne-Massage.html?soid=1103172936421&aid=ofo7rvbtBF4

2011-03-01T22:23:00.000-05:00

New Newsletter from Hawthorne Massage now posted.

Includes new hours, article about improved immune system after massage, and more...

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Hawthorne-Massage.html?soid=1103172936421&aid=ofo7rvbtBF4

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Hawthorne-Massage.html?soid=1103172936421&aid=WlMSKfeS8qM

2011-01-08T11:49:00.000-05:00

Here is a copy of my January newsletter: Enjoy

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Hawthorne-Massage.html?soid=1103172936421&aid=WlMSKfeS8qM

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Hawthorne-Massage.html?soid=1103172936421&aid=V9IjOTGuCXw

2010-11-21T22:51:00.000-05:00

Newest newsletter for Hawthorne Massage, includes my favorite Thanksgiving essay.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Hawthorne-Massage.html?soid=1103172936421&aid=V9IjOTGuCXw

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Hawthorne-Massage.html?soid=1103172936421&aid=x_ZIXZEb47Q

2010-10-05T08:26:00.000-04:00

October Newsletter posted!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Hawthorne-Massage.html?soid=1103172936421&aid=x_ZIXZEb47Q

'News from Hawthorne Massage'

2010-08-23T15:13:00.000-04:00

'News from Hawthorne Massage'

Vibes - Massage For Musicians

2010-06-25T21:07:00.001-04:00

Rub It Away
How Massage Can Help Musicians Feel and Play Better

by Cherie Yurco
massage for musicians

Guitarist, singer, and massage therapist Lucy Allen of Greenville, South Carolina, became interested in massage while trying to heal carpal tunnel syndrome in both arms. The problem generated numbness from her hands to her elbows and made it difficult to play guitar.

Allen never considered surgery. She explains, "I knew from talking to other people, that surgery often doesn't cure carpal tunnel because the problem is actually in the shoulders and neck." Seeking an alternative solution, she turned to massage.

Massage therapy not only cured her problem, but her massage therapist also showed her stretches she could do to prevent its recurrence. She was truly amazed by the results. "If you think about the cost of surgery, versus the cost of massage, it's a no brainer!" she says. "For most problems, massage treatments would run around $200."

A couple years later, Allen was laid off from her job and ready for a change. Recalling how massage therapy had helped her, she decided to study massage at Greenville Technical College.

Since graduating with honors, she has been treating musicians, athletes, and others. One of her passions is attending music festivals, where she gives massages to musicians and teaches them how to avoid injury, or even cure themselves. She also spreads the word about proper posture and techniques of active isolated stretching, following the guidelines of massage therapist Aaron Mattes and his website StretchingUSA.com.

"Musicians tend to have tendinitis in their forearms; neck and shoulder problems; and lower back pain," says Allen, who usually focuses on those areas when she's working with musicians. Issues can also be instrument-specific. "For example, for fiddlers, it's often the left shoulder and arm. A lot of it has to do with posture, as well."

The most rewarding part of her career is helping others. One time she was at a festival and competition where a fiddle player was unable to play anything because of numbness in his hand and pain in his elbow. "I stretched him out in the parking lot for 15 or 20 minutes," says Allen. "He played in a competition a few hours later and won a ribbon. Now he knows how to stretch himself."

"I try to do a lot of educational stuff because, if people can do things to prevent getting injured�keep the body relaxed, and active isolated stretching before and after a performance�I am happy," she says. Allen would also like to see more musicians look to massage to relieve their all too common overuse injuries.

"Unfortunately," she explains, "musicians don't often seek massage therapy. If they have extra money, they are more likely spend it on something music-related. They only look for a solution like massage if the pain prevents them from playing."

Aside from relieving specific pain and discomfort, massage can promote healing and lower your heart rate and blood pressure. "It actually helps to increase circulation and gets a lot of the natural waste products out of the system," says Allen.

Through her outreach at music festivals and other events, she hopes to change the mind-set of musicians when it comes to massage. "Musicians should try not to think of massage as a luxury, but as something that will help overall health and performance," she explains.

If you would like to give it a try, she says that one of the best ways to find the right massage therapist is through word of mouth. Another option is to go to the website of the American Massage Therapy Association
and click on the "Find a Massage Therapist" link. Also, hospitals and chiropractors often have massage therapists who work with them.

Call and ask some questions before making an appointment, Allen advises. Find out where the therapist was trained, and what experience he has treating musicians. If you have a particular problem you would like to treat, ask about his experience in treating that condition.

Benefits of Massage for Diabetics

2010-03-04T21:45:00.002-05:00

In some informal studies on blood sugar before and after relaxation techniques and massage, blood sugar levels typically dropped anywhere from 20 to 50 points.Â While not a substitute for relaxation techniques (meditation, deep breathing, stretching, yoga, and biofeedback), massage is a useful addition and has other benefits as well.

Lower Anxiety-- Overall massage reduces anxiety and stress, leaves you relaxed.

Increases circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs.

Pain Relief--Gentle massage of muscles relieves pain

Improves skin tone--”Massage increases surface circulation which can help skin tone and elasticity.

Reduces spasms and cramping. May help with restless leg syndrome if used on a regular basis (at least once a month)

Provides exercise and stretching for atrophied muscles and reduces shortening of the muscles for those with restricted range of motion.

Precautions:
The relaxation can mimic hypoglycemia, so it is important to measure blood sugar before and after for a few sessions so that you understand how your body responds to massage. If lower than 100 points, see the following guidelines.

Blood sugar levels 70-100-----eat 15 grams of a complex carbohydrate such as 3-4 peanut butter crackers or cheese crackers, or a small apple.

Blood sugar level < 70, even with no symptoms is hypoglycemia or low blood sugar---eat 15 grams of a quick carbohydrate such as 4 oz. of juice or regular soda, or 3-4 glucose tablets. Recheck blood sugar in 15 minutes to be sure the level has increased and then follow with your next meal or some protein to keep your sugar from dropping again.

Please also let your massage therapist know if you have neuropathy, as that will affect the massage techniques used in the areas affected.

I want to thank Becky Ledford at St. Francis for working with me on these guidelines. For more information I've included a link to a longer article written by Mary Kathleen Rose

A Fable about Massage Work

2010-02-19T11:13:00.002-05:00

From the Society for Oncology Massage site:

A young man in India complained to his guru about the pain in life. The guru sent him for salt. The guru mixed a handful of salt in a glass of water and told him to drink. "How does it taste?" asked the guru. "Bitter" replied the young man. The guru then took him to a lake, mixed in a handful of salt and told him to drink. "How does it taste?" "Sweet." The guru explained, "Pain in life is like salt in water. Do not strive for less pain. Strive for more life."

People in physical or emotional pain often turn inward and experience less of life. The antidote to pain is more life - more family, more friends, more places, more sensations, more connections, more experience, more service.... massage brings more sensation, more connection, more relaxation, more peace. It produces an intense focus on the good in life.

Biking for a Cause

2009-10-29T19:30:00.003-04:00

One of the more rewarding events I've participated in this year was the MS ride. I have one aunt who died from MS (or complications from it), and have a number of clients with MS, so I'm working to learn what types of massage work best. This story from CNN was very inspiring, and the woman is a Shiatsu master, too. It's great she started after massaging a person with MS.

Biking 150 miles for a cause -- in a dress and heels
By Rachel Rodriguez, CNN
October 28, 2009 10:43 a.m. EDT
For the past 26 years, 84-year-old Lan Yin "Eiko" Tsai has worn a dress and high heels to bike 150 miles for MS research.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

* 72 percent of Americans are spending less time volunteering since the recession
* But Lan Yin "Eiko" Tsai is continuing the 150-mile bike ride she's done for 26 years
* Tsai rides in a dress and high heels on a one-speed bike
* The "City to Shore" bike ride benefits multiple sclerosis research

(CNN) -- Amidst the sea of jerseys and bike shorts at New Jersey's City to Shore -- a 150-mile bike ride to benefit multiple sclerosis research -- one unlikely rider stands out.

A tiny 84-year-old woman wears a neat, green turtleneck dress and an embroidered jacket. On her feet is a pair of high-heeled pumps. Her salt-and-pepper hair peeks out from the helmet that indicates she is, in fact, a participant in the bike ride. Her old-fashioned one-speed bicycle is purple, with a large wire basket on the front that carries her belongings and her number for the ride.

Lan Yin Tsai doesn't give the impression that she could go five miles on that bike, let alone 150. But that's what she's done -- for the past 26 years. Eiko, as she's known to friends and family, is an institution at the annual City to Shore event. And over the years, she has become a symbol of hope and determination for City to Shore participants and MS patients.

Her unwavering determination makes her an unusual person in the days of this recession. According to the National Conference on Citizenship, 72 percent of Americans said they were spending less time volunteering since the economy hit rock bottom a year ago. It's a double blow to nonprofits, which are relying increasingly on volunteers as their revenues sink. But Tsai is persisting with the service she's done for 26 years.

"I always try to tell people, whatever you can do, keep doing it, keep doing it," she says. "And that's why I do MS. When I start something, I don't want to just quit."

It all started when Tsai began to work in a hospital many years ago. A native of Taiwan, she was trained in Japan in the art of shiatsu massage. So while working at the hospital, "I started to put my hands where they hurt," she says. Tsai began regularly giving massages to cancer patients, until one day, about 26 years ago, she massaged a patient with MS. It was then and there that she first heard about the bike ride and decided to participate.

"In Taiwan, riding a bike is very common," explains Tsai's grandson, Alan Sim, who also participates in City to Shore -- 2009 was his sixth year. "So she grabbed her little one-speed bike and was doing the ride."

And why the nice dress and high heels? Tsai says that's just her normal biking outfit.

"I went to church, so I always dressed up and would ride my bicycle," she says. "So that's why I do it that way -- I do it that way naturally. That's the way I ride my bike."

Tsai is well-known in the local chapter of the National MS Society and among MS patients.

"She's like the superstar of the ride," says Jeff Pickens, a volunteer at this year's event and a CNN iReporter. "When she shows up, the whole place applauds."

"When the last rider comes in, [the MS society] usually has like a police car or fire truck with sirens going off. And usually my grandmother is the last person," says Sim with a laugh. "So the people who know about her, they just sit around waiting for multiple hours after most people have finished. And she'll just ride in, and people are cheering, taking pictures, asking for autographs. It's like being with a celebrity."

"I have the most pressure out of anyone on the tour," Sim adds jokingly. "I know I can't quit, because my grandmother's behind me somewhere!"

Tsai's determination runs beyond her annual participation in the bike ride. She's still practicing shiatsu, running her own massage business out of her basement. It keeps her busy -- Tsai usually spends about two hours with each patient, she says. But just like the MS ride, it's a commitment that she won't soon give up. She plans to continue with both for as long as she can.

In 2008, Tsai's family honored her commitment by creating a team in the bike ride called "Team Eiko." Sim says17 riders, all family and friends "from all over the place," joined the team to participate in the ride, and returned this year. The 2009 City to Shore ride raised more than $5 million for MS research and care, and Team Eiko was responsible for more than $6,000 of that. Sim says his grandmother's determination is inspirational for both the other riders and the MS patients themselves.

"I think because of her personality and her demeanor, it really gives people hope. It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from, as long as you're persistent, you'll be able to come up with a cure," he says. "She's a pretty remarkable woman. And I'm just hoping the genes pass down."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/28/eiko.irpt/index.html

Massage Therapy and Cold Feet

2009-08-23T17:12:00.002-04:00

Great article from Braxton Dutton in Virginia Beach [other related articles if you follow the link below]

Massage therapy & cold feet
August 7, 6:36 PM Virginia Beach Healthy Living Examiner Braxton Dutton

Full body massage encourages blood flow throughout the body

Do you have cold hands & or cold feet. Do you experience numbness or pain in your extremities. This could be related to poor blood circulation. One of the major benefits of massage therapy is improved blood circulation.

The heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. The hands & feet are farthest from the heart & the last to get nourished. Lack of nourished, warm blood causes the cold &/or numbing sensations.

Cyclists quite often suffer from these sensations during & after long rides. This is due to the amount of nourished blood diminishes over time as the body is exerted leaving the extremities neglected of proper blood flow. The ongoing pressure on the feet are contributing factors as well.

Age, injury, illness, obesity, & a sedentary lifestyle are factors that lead to poor circulation. Roadblocks known as myofascial adhesions are created over time that inhibit proper blood flow. The areas most affected are extremities of the body.

A full body massage can work immediate wonders for improved blood circulation & eventually alleviate the circulation issues completely. Techniques such as effluerage, pettrisage, tapotement, vibrations, acupressure, & stretching can make rapid improvements in blood circulation to the extremities. By massaging throughout the body, blood flow is encouraged. You can visually see this during massage therapy. Hyperemia, blood flow to the surface of the skin causing redness, is quite often present during & after massage.

Reflexology in the hands & feet can alleviate euric & lactic acid buildup relieving chronic pain in the extremities. Lactic & euric acid buildup in the feet can also be a precursor to Gout. Many diabetics get relief with a focus on foot reflexology during a full body massage.

Often clients request an hour with work on one area of the body such as the back. The overall benefits are greater by doing a full body massage with focus on the area of concern. Blood flow is a major rationale for this line of thinking. Remember, invest in your health & the returns are bountiful.

For more info: Healthworks Wellness Training - The heart, the only emotional muscle - Massage therapy, the lost art - Hydration 101, the body's conductor

Spas and taking the concept too far

2009-08-05T21:21:00.004-04:00

I'm not a spa therapist. When I first looked at places to work, I went to a recruiting event at the Grove Park Inn. If I wanted to work in a really nice spa environment, that surely would be it! They pay pretty well, have benefits, pay for continuing ed. And you work every weekend and holiday which was a serious put-off for the musician in me.

Nonetheless, I'm not anti-spa. I think spending an hour or a day pampering with massage and facials and pedicures and such is a fabulous idea. I just like doing therapeutic massage.

So, spas are good. I'm not quite so sure about "spa dentistry" however. Quoted below is from a letter I received last week from my former dentist office.

...As you enter our office, you will experience a relaxing spa atmosphere with the aroma of lavender in the air and the soothing sounds of spa music in the background. While in the dental chair you can relax with a complimentary paraffin hand waxing, rest your head on a pillow while you wrap up in a blanket waiting to see the doctor....

Now, I do think the lavender is a good idea; I've used a few drops myself when I knew the drill was coming out. Maybe the paraffin wax is so you're less likely to yank on the armrest, but I don't know any soothing music that will overcome the sound of that drill in your mouth.

I plan to go to my regular dentist, and I'll take my Ipod and my own lavender, thanks!

Language and Variations

2009-07-21T23:04:00.004-04:00

I'm starting to set up a new massage office with Bon Secours St. Francis Health System. When I first saw the brochure for massage at the new location, it was listed in the HealThy Self Suite. On arriving, I noticed the sign says Healthy Self. Kinda changes the meaning. Or does it? In massage, my main goal frequently is to release enough tension so my client can get healthy faster. The physical therapists working with cardiac patients are teaching them how to get stronger and heal themselves. So it is both for folks to be healthy and to help them learn to heal themselves.

Language is so important. I've been attending Weight Watchers and bumping up the intensity of my exercises so that I can be healthier. I tell people I am working on improving my power to weight ratio (thanks, Jim!), not that I am trying to lose weight. When I lose something, it is unintentional, and I try to find it again as soon as possible (car keys, sunglasses are the most frequent losses). I am consciously and intentionally working on a healthier weight, lowering cholesterol (through better food choices). I am releasing it, letting go, ridding myself of the excess, but certainly not planning on finding it again, so "losing" weight is clearly a misnomer. If the Industry that is making a gazillion dollars a year on "weight loss" changed the wording, perhaps the profits would be smaller but the results better.

As I improve my power to weight ratio, and become a healthy self, it is helping my massage, too. I tire less easily, less knee pain. The core workouts have made everything easier. And the positive language I use makes a huge difference, too!

Massage for MS

2009-06-30T22:59:00.003-04:00

My friend (and client) Marcia, who has MS, checked with her doctor about getting massage to help with MS, and he said, "by all means, please do." I hope the health care reforms will provide insurance coverage for prevention, including receiving beneficial massage to help with pain, anxiety, flexibility, and lots of other benefits. Marcia is one of the people I'll be riding for in the MSBike ride in October.

She shared with me the following article from MS Perspectives (Spring issue, p. 13)

Focus On ... Massage Therapy for MS

There are few things in this world that are more relaxing than a massage. But beyond the spa-like aspect, massage therapy can offer relief from symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

According to Leigh Broschat, a licensed Atlanta, Georgia massage and neuromuscular therapist, studies have shown that massage therapy can improve mood, lower anxiety, ease the pins-and-needles sensation known as paresthesias, reduce muscle spasms, and lessen pain in people with MS. "Bodywork helps to relax the mind and body," she notes, "so it can improve a person's quality of life."

Broschat begins sessions by asking her clients to rate that day's pain level on a scale of 1 (no pain) to 10 (severe pain) and indicate the most painful areas. As she works on the body, she checks in with clients to find out if the bodywork is increasing or decreasing their pain. "This is why I do this work," she says. "If I can reduce pain from a 10 to a 5, that makes a client's day better."

Broschat strongly advises signing on with bodywork specialists who are familiar with MS. "Pain levels can change quickly in MS· patients, they can become overheated, and they typically require shorter sessions than other people because they get tired more easily, so you need a therapist who can watch for those things and alter the bodywork to suit your individual needs," she says .

Finding a massage therapist ...
· Ask an MS practitioner for a referral
· Visit the websites of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (www.abmp.com)
and the American Massage Therapy Association (www.amtamassage.org)
o find the names of licensed professionals near you
• Contact a local certified school of massage

Questions to ask ...
· Do you know what MS is?
· Have you worked with people with MS before?

Massage in Hospitals

2009-06-07T18:21:00.005-04:00

A few weeks ago I was filling in for the regular massage therapist at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital in downtown Greenville while she and her family were on vacation. In part because I'm certified in oncology massage, I was called to fill in.

Over four days, I saw a number of patients who were being cared for with heart problems, pneumonia, bone marrow transplants or complications thereof, dementia, and a number of other conditions. I first went to the rooms where the patient or family member requested the massage therapist, either through a chaplain or a nurse, and then went through a list that the spiritual care team puts together for folks who might benefit. I checked in with each nurse before going in. Sometimes the patients were sleeping or just didn't want a massage. Most of the massages were around 10-15 minutes, either gently massaging shoulders and neck or feet and lower legs.

A couple notable patients--one was an older gentleman who had played bluegrass all of his life. When I arrived in his room, the physical therapist was trying to get him to walk, but he was afraid of falling so he refused. When I asked if he'd like a massage, he quickly said "yes!" This became an opportunity to work with the p/t to come back after the massage and hopefully his legs feeling better to get him to walk. I played some bluegrass music from my IPOD player while working on him and that cheered him up.

Another patient who was in for some followup from a bone marrow transplant enjoyed the foot and leg massage I gave her the first day that her friend later told me it was all she had talked about. Now think about that--you're in the hospital, and your main focus is on the nice massage you received. Kinda makes you think every hospital should incorporate it in their care program. Maybe someday...

Healing Touch

2009-06-03T08:39:00.001-04:00

a powerful article about the benefits of massage for recovery from injury. I pulled this from the AMTA website:

By Diana Lund

You can’t fully imagine how bad it was. After I was in a car crash, my continual pulse of thoughts stopped dead. The only time I could generate an idea was in reaction to an event, such as when a person asked me a question, or when I tripped and fell. Otherwise, I lived in internal silence. But one day while getting a massage, in my fifth year of recovery, fluidity of thought returned! Now, in my tenth year of massage treatments, I recall my introduction to therapeutic massage and its role in my revitalization.

In a makeshift room of curtain walls, a month after the four-car collision had taken away my mental and physical prowess, a physical therapist evaluated my body. After moving my arms, legs, and head every which way, as much as tension and pain would allow, she told me, “I can’t work with you.”

“I’m permanently damaged?” I wondered.

“Your body is so stiff, my only choice is to send you to massage. For about a month.”

I’d been in a neck brace the first three days after the accident, and when it came off, I’d lost several degrees of neck rotation. The only way I could back up a car was by using mirrors. My right leg was a little shorter than my left leg, and my right arm couldn’t reach a glass on a shelf at eye level. In the third week, as my body shock began to wear off, an all-consuming, muscle-wrenching, eye-watering pain commenced.

At the rehabilitation clinic, the physical therapist handed me off to Cathy, an amiable, relaxed massage therapist. Soon, I was lying on my back, Cathy’s hands kneading my neck, shoulder, and upper back.

While she worked, Cathy reported, “Neck muscles—tight. Shoulder blades—tight. Trapezius—very tight.” Unlike other massages I’d had over the years—I’d been a recreational soccer forward who’d occasionally had massages to soothe overworked muscles—this one didn’t approach nirvana.

Instead, my soft tissue responded like a giant knot in an evenly-matched tug of war. It didn’t have much give. It fought manipulation. Even though Cathy touched me carefully, I winced from the contact and yipped repeatedly. Sweat soaked the underlying sheet. Experiencing more pain than pleasure, I willed the session to end.

I didn’t want to skip the massage. I just wanted its end results faster. When the half-hour was up, my body seemed a little looser.

That day, my physical therapist recorded: “Goals: pain-free cervical range of motion . . . [and] pain-free . . . shoulders, neck, lower back . . . at rest. Was involved in an MVA [motor vehicle accident]. Had concussion. Communication is strained due to cognitive/memory difficulty.”

I must have arrived late to my next appointment because I could no longer track time, and instead depended on chance that I would glance at my schedule around the time I was supposed to leave. Having lost the ability to spontaneously think about the future, I didn’t feel any apprehension upon arrival at the clinic. When Cathy greeted me, I didn’t recognize her, but I probably pretended to know her. The manipulation mirrored my previous one—painful.

Each session repeated until I eventually remembered Cathy, the pain, the relief from pain. Soon, physical therapy began in conjunction with massage. Over months of appointments, I saw many physiotherapists. Like an opening flower, my body’s tension unwound and my brain’s functioning improved.
© 2006 JupiterImages Corporation
Craniosacral massage involves finding and correcting cerebral and spinal imbalances or blockages that may cause sensory, motor or intellectual dysfunction.

After two years, my home exercise regimen was sufficient and I didn’t need to go to physical therapy anymore. But I continued on with another massage therapist, Wes, an amazing rejuvenator. He introduced me to craniosacral therapy, a rhythmic scalp massage and gentle pulling of the hair. Afterward, I sensed a freeness to my brain, like it had been lubed and my neurons’ signals flowed better.

It was in the middle of one of Wes’s sessions that fluidity of thought returned to me. On another breakthrough day, after an hour’s session, my night vision suddenly improved and I could drive during darkness again! And Wes also finished what my physical therapist had started. He got my right arm to extend above my head—something a doctor initially told me I would never regain.

Massage brings pleasure again and I owe the massage therapy community a debt of gratitude for their part in my condition’s improvement, and for accelerating the return of keen thought required to write. Thank you for staying with me for a decade, performing miracles I’d not dreamt possible.

Diana Lund is a freelance writer living in the Chicago area. She is author of the memoir Remind Me Why I'm Here: Sifting through Sudden Loss of Memory and Judgment. To read more about her work, visit www.dianalundwriter.com.

Great Escape Blog

2009-03-15T21:13:00.002-04:00

It was nice to see a mention of my chair massages at the Women's winter cycling clinic at the Great Escape in February. Ric wrote a good review:

Women's Winter Cycling Clinic, The Great Escape Blog

There is another seminar this Thursday if you missed the first one.

Acupuncture and Massage

2009-03-02T11:07:00.007-05:00

Sometimes when a client comes in I get a question about other alternative therapies such as acupuncture or chiropractic care. I found over the years that there is frequently more than one way to help a person heal him or herself, so unless I know a practice is dangerous, I usually encourage folks to try all avenues for healing. I’ll talk about some of the other modalities at some point, but want to share some thoughts today about acupuncture.

Although some people are skeptical about acupuncture, and say we don’t have enough research, I think that’s bunk. There is ample research on the effectiveness of acupuncture. The problem, at least here in the US, is that most of the research for the past 1000 years or so was published in Chinese, and has not been translated into English. And not many western doctors have studied Chinese, so they are unaware of the research. I decided to trust the acupuncturist that the scientific enquiry backs up the use of this therapy.

Here’s a quote about acupuncture:
The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture stimulates the body's own natural healing ability. The ultimate result yields significant increases in a patients physical and emotional well-being. http://keyacupuncture.com/acupuncture.php

Like massage, the goal is to help you heal yourself. We all have that innate ability, but sometimes we let ourselves get so out of balance that outside intervention is necessary to set us back on track.

I’ve been going for regular acupuncture treatments for about 3 years now. It has helped me with pain relief, especially when I severely injured my shoulder, along with helping clear up sinus problems, menopause symptoms, and digestive disorders. I’ve sent clients there when I thought it might help, and one person came back with immediate relief and satisfaction, when other therapies had not helped at all.

In addition, my acupuncturist has referred people for massage when she felt that would benefit them instead of, or in addition to her treatment.

One of my clients being treated for breast cancer reported that if she received acupuncture a few days after chemotherapy, it greatly reduced the side effects of the drugs. Some preliminary research has shown that a combination of acupuncture and massage for relief from the effects of chemo is cumulatively greater than the benefits of either alone. Here's a reference to one study:

Collins KB, Thomas DJ. Acupuncture and acupressure for the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Feb 2004;16(2):76-80.

Remember that some therapies work better for certain situations than others, so please keep an open mind and if one doesn't work for one condition, it may work for another.

Massage and Wellness

2009-02-11T16:31:00.003-05:00

I was browsing in one of the massage groups on LinkedIn and found a massage blog site I like. Pia Poulsen is a massage therapist in France, and her blog gives good advice on massage and self-care for a number of different conditions. Her most recent post is on wry neck (or torticollis). Check it out!

http://www.starkeys.com/blog/

Abs

2009-02-05T08:16:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, two of my clients requested abdominal massage as part of the overall massage. I was surprised, because most people never ask about it. I don't include ab massage usually, mainly because it is an area people tend to be more sensitive about (both exposing it, and having it touched). However, I love receiving ab massage, and the one client with nausea reported an immediate benefit from the massage. So perhaps it needs to be included more often.

It helps with nausea and cramps, digestive issues, and just plain feels good. For women, just to reassure you, the breasts are covered with a pillowcase or towel first before the sheet is lowered to uncover the ab region.

After the massages, I attended a core class, again focusing on abs. Doing massage (or many other occupations and sports), core strength helps tremendously. So I started this class once a week in November. By the end of December my waist was 4" smaller (hooray) and I have been having fewer problems with indigestion, so my digestive system is working better. And it has helped in my work, too. I can feel my body mechanics improving, which will lead to a longer massage career.

I love the little synchronicities of life. Anyway, if you enjoy or need abdominal massage, and come to see me (or your regular therapist) and we don't normally do that, please ask!

Transitions

2009-01-19T09:34:00.003-05:00

Between the holidays and learning I will be working some for St. Francis Hospital, I've been at a loss for things to write about. Or really, not inspired to sit and write about anything.

Transitions are always tough. My transition is minor compared to that of our new President. I don't have to move, create an entire cabinet, or deal with the domestic and international issues that Obama is now facing. I am comforted that he has picked what seems to be a great team of advisors, and he is intelligent and articulate. A realist who also inspires hope. Perhaps more of us can aspire to do as well.

So, back to my transition--I'll be starting mostly working with the residents at the Cascades, a new retirement community in ICAR. St. Francis is providing health and wellness services for them. This will be a wonderful opportunity to see people with a range of health issues, and a good intro to what I may face in the hospital enviroment. I'll also be the back-up for massage in Rehab Services and downtown in the oncology floor. The oncology massage is where I would like to be moving eventually. The main challenge is how to make that an affordable service to help alleiviate anxiety, pain, depression, etc for folks going through fairly aggressive medical protocols.

I'm also in transition personally, having gotten engaged just before Christmas, then my fiance was laid off. We're in no hurry on the wedding, just nice to know we have a new level of commitment. So, we're moving in a new direction in our relationship, and he is in his career.

A time of change and hope in lots of ways!

It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hands

2008-12-05T07:31:00.004-05:00

Hands are frequently a symbol used by massage therapists, and recently by the Society for Oncology Massage to indicate what we do. For most therapists, hands are the key to practice, as they ARE our tools, rather than many professions (musicians, auto mechanics, administrative assistants) who use their hands to manage the tools of their trades.

Joyce Sequichie Hifler wrote this as her meditation for Dec 5 in Cherokee Feast of Days:

Our hands tell who we are. They are believed to be perfect subjects of the mind. As physical labor shows in the callouses on our palms, so does gentleness or greediness or strength. Nothing else expresses human behavior in so many ways. With our hands, tsu no ye ni, we work, play love, threaten, show joy or grief. Sensitive symbols of faith and friendship, our hands draw to us everything and everyone we love. Marvelously made and directed by the minds' eye, the mind's ear, and the heart's desire, our hands continually express our lives. An abusive hand is from an abusive mind. But the gentle touch does exist--even for those who have yet to experience it. What words cannot say, the hands can express with all tenderness and love.

Last spring I attended a life-changing workshop on Caring for Clients with Cancer, and then joined the Society for Oncology Massage, a new professional organization promoting the benefits of massage for people recently diagnosed, undergoing treatment, or survivors of cancer. It is the direction my massage is moving toward, and it is the tenderness and love that I think is one of the essential components needed to add to the terrific medical care given to people with cancer.

I'm looking forward to the new challenge

Women's Retreat

2008-11-11T10:14:00.004-05:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure of being one of the massage therapists at a retreat for some of the women from my church. 9 women, some of whom I knew, and some I now know, signed up for a 30-minute massage, either on Friday or Saturday afternoon.

Our theme for the weekend (paraphrasing) was finding the child within and learning how to play again. So some of the activities including blowing up balloons and doing quite silly things with them, making construction paper masks, and blowing bubbles.

The women who had their massages on Friday, before any other activity, all had tight necks and shoulders. Stressed from the week (or probably the last few months) with worries about the economy, jobs, personal losses, etc, all contributed to holding it in their upper bodies. My guess is that the ones who received a massage on Friday were probably able to enter into the spirit of the retreat more quickly.

On Saturday, the massages were during a "free-time" period which included options for hikes, yoga, drawing a mandala, reiki, or just going off and doing your own thing. The women on Saturday had a greater range of issues. Still, the 30 minutes listening to soothing music and feeling healing hands gave at least a temporary respite.

It would have been nice to offer more of the 50 women the opportunity for massage. On the other hand, I was happy that I got some retreat time, too. I, like the others, enjoyed the beautiful fall colors (the retreat was in the NC mountains), the cool, crisp air, and all of the beautiful yin energy from a lot of wild, wonderful women. I thank them for the opportunity to share.

When I want to reward myself I get a relaxing massage.

Eva Longoria

My First Experiences with Massage

2008-11-03T20:32:00.003-05:00

When I was in my adolescence, I attended a co-ed summer camp in the Adirondacks. One of the counselors was a fellow named "Bear"--a large, bearded, and very hirsute fellow, who was as gentle as they come. Bear liked to line folks up on a bench and we would all rub each others backs. He was also the instigator for the "Blueberry Raiders," a group of boys who would pick blueberries, and come over to the girls side in the morning, waking us with fresh blueberries and backrubs.

I had completely forgotten about that experience until I decided to attend massage school, though looking back, I'm sure it is one of the reasons why I see it as such as positive, healing experience. Even though we were all at the beginning or in the midst of raging hormones, the experience was a safe one.

I started receiving regular, monthly massages in the mid-90s when I was going through a divorce and finishing up a graduate degree and working fulltime. My massage therapists (I tried three, all excellent) were absolute godsends, helping me release tension, pent-up emotions, and eventually building up my immune system and releasing the strain on my forearms that was causing carpal tunnel.

Having felt the healing later in life, and recalling the earlier experience, I am grateful to have found my passion and the ability to now work with others to help them find the healing within themselves.

"Our hands are marvelous transmitters for loving-kindness." --Irene Smith, Founder, Service through Touch

Working with Cyclists

2008-10-20T22:31:00.004-04:00

I recently went to the "last race of the season," the Greenville Cycling Classic, to offer massage and active isolated stretching to the cyclists. Since I like to ride bikes and am a sponsor for the local woman's team (next year there will be 2 women's teams, but this year it is singular), I've developed a pretty good sense of where cyclists are likely to need work. It was a great day to be outside and watching the races; a series of "crits" or criteriums where the different categories of cyclists (based on gender, skill, and age) raced a one kilometer loop from 15 to 40 times in their race. Some folks, such as Sean, had two races in the same day, so a good stretch and light rub in-between helps a lot with recovery. I worked on Sean a lot last year, and he was kind enough to share how he benefitted from that work:

"I have been working with Lucy Allen for approximately one year. During this time she has not only been directly associated with the best performances of my cycling career but has become a true friend as well. My 2007 season was the best I have ever experienced with numerous top 5 placings and culminating with an USCF upgrade to a category 1 racer, the pinnacle of amateur racing. Lucy's expertise benefited my in many ways most most importantly my recovery time was cut tremendously. She listens but also intuitively knows where and why. Often I did not need to speak any words at all and she was working on the exact spot. I feel she also has a very nurturing personality and really wants to make a difference.

I would HIGHLY recommend Lucy Allen to anyone and if this does not convince you...well go see her...you will be BACK."

Sean Weddell
CTM elite cycling team member
USCF Category 1 racer
USCF Certified Level 3 Coach
10 year NCAA D1 swim coach

Sean did feel better in the 2nd race of the day. And in addition to helping out some of the racers, I was able to finally meet one of my favorite cyclists, George Hincapie, and get his autograph (now located in my massage office).

Thanks to Team BI-LO for the opportunity to work at this race (and to Melissa Weddell for the photo).

Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling. ~James E. Starrs

Integrated Massage

2008-10-12T20:30:00.002-04:00

I belong to a networking group that requires a 30-second blurb about our business every time we meet. Mine is something like, "Hi, I'm Lucy Allen with Hawthorne Massage. I specialize in integrated massage therapy based on the need of the client. Modalities include Swedish, deep tissue, and Active Isolated Stretching."

But what does that really mean? How do I change each massage?

The term "integrated massage" comes from a book we used when learning about deep tissue massage, The Balanced Body: A Guide to Deep Tissue and Neuromuscular Therapy, by Donald W. Scheumann. He details an "integrated deep tissue therapy system" incorporating polarity, shiatsu, Swedish massage, cross-fiber techniques, connective and deep tissue, neuromuscular, and stretching. Scheumann specifies exercises that use all of these techniques. Learning this approach gave me a sense of how to mix up various skills to give the best massage to my clients. Everyone is different, so I choose the techniques that work best for each person's situation.

If someone comes in with a frozen shoulder, I'll probably start with some stretches, and then follow it with massage. During an hour session, we'll probably only work with the arms, neck, chest and back.

* For a cyclist, they might get some stretching, but more likely I'll give an hour massage with a longer period of time and more deep work on the legs and hips.

* For an elderly client with arthritis, I'll only use light pressure.

* When I worked on a cancer survivor who couldn't lie on her stomach, she started on her back then went to her side, supported by lots of pillows; I massaged her back and legs from that position. She reported later that it was the most comfortable she had been in a long
time.

Because everyone is different, I don't give a cookie-cutter massage. That's why I like to know a bit about you before I start my work. Once I know what you need, I can give you the best massage therapy for your situation. It makes it more rewarding for me that way, too, knowing that we're taking care of problems and bringing relief together.

"The true voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new landscapes but in seeing with new eyes."--Marcel Proust

Guest Blog

2008-09-28T18:14:00.003-04:00

Following my post of September 14th, one of my clients (who is a regular contributor to other blogs) sent me one for here.

My experience finding the right massage therapist

by Christy Brewer

The first time I had a massage therapy session, I had a specific condition: carpal tunnel syndrome. After talking with medical doctors who preferred surgery, I began sharing my situation with some of my mom's friends.

At the time, I was a secretary. Yes, back in the day when executives had people to type their correspondence and reports for them. So, hand surgery, even one at a time, would take me out of commission for way too long.

I got lucky. One of my mom's friends knew a massage therapist that was formerly a physical therapist. That mattered to me, since I had heard a lot more about exotic massage than massage therapy, and, frankly, I was more afraid of finding myself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But, the pain drove me to take a chance and just make the appointment. I had no previous experience to compare, so I was afraid of settling for a mediocre therapist. However, as soon as I arrived at my first massage therapy appointment, I was completely relieved.

I entered the back of this person's house, which seemed uncomfortable at first, but walked right into a professional setup for massage. Fran greeted me and explained everything that would happen, making me immediately comfortable with the process. She asked questions about what was bothering me, and took a brief but detailed medical history.

During the massage, she continually asked questions about my carpal tunnel, my job, and any other measures I had taken to relieve the pain. She also asked for feedback on the massage itself. "Is this painful?" "Do you feel pain radiating, or is it staying stationary?" "If I move your arm like this, does the pain get worse, better, or the same?"

After my first massage, I felt immediate relief. I knew I had made the right choice to go, and had managed to find a great massage therapist on my first try. After I moved too far away from Fran, I had to find another, and that's where having the previous experience helped me compare and know when I found a therapist I like.

Here are my tips:

* Look for a professional environment. It doesn't have to be elaborate, but definitely an established practice should have adequate facilities to allow you to maintain your privacy and make you comfortable.

* A good therapist will ask you for a detailed medical history, and ask you what your goals are for massage therapy. Don't begin work before you have a chance to talk through all your concerns.

* Look for a therapist who is willing to listen. I used to feel too "chatty" before and during my sessions, but this is vital information. If the therapist seems disinterested in what you have to say, find a new one.

* During the massage, you should feel comfortable asking questions or giving feedback. If something is painful, you must be confident that your therapist is listening and will respond.

* This may just be my personal opinion, but I've always done best with a therapist that I get along with outside the massage room as well as inside. Fran is still great friends with my mom, and she participated in my wedding. Now, in South Carolina, I'm glad to have found a friend in Lucy. Yeah, it's that important to me.

The best way to find a massage therapist that you like is to try a session. You can eliminate a few by talking to them or visiting the facility, but ultimately you won't know for sure until you engage in the real work of a massage. You won't be wasting time by trying a few therapists, because any licensed therapist will give you a good massage. Just remember, you deserve a _great_ massage, and that's your goal in finding _your_ massage therapist.

1000 and counting

2008-09-21T20:54:00.002-04:00

When I first became licensed and started working professionally as a massage therapist (instead of giving them to my friends), one of my mentors told me that my palpation skills [what you can feel and sense with your hands] would go to a new level after the first 1000 massages. And a new level again after another 1000.

The 1000-mark is significant because a lot of what happens in a good massage, and always in a great massage, is based on intuition and what the hands notice. After a while you have a sense of what to feel for.

Earlier this month I was giving a massage to a person I don't work on very often, maybe once a year. She commented that my touch was different and better; I told her what this more experienced massage therapist had shared with me. Of course, she asked me how many I had done, and I really didn't know. Later, I looked through my records and found that this month I had passed the 1000 mark.

I sometimes forget that it's a reasonable question for a client to ask: "Can you feel this tight muscle?" That's a lot of what massage therapists do, feel for trouble spots and address them. The skin is a covering, but I was taught to envision the muscles underneath instead of focusing on the skin.

One of the beautiful aspects of this profession is that I learn all the time. Since every client is unique, I learn from each one of them. I learn new techniques when I receive massages from other therapists. And, I attend continuing education classes. The most recent class, "Caring for Clients with Cancer," was another reason (besides the 1000 massages) that my touch is now different. Tracy Walton, the instructor, gave each of us the tools to be more connected with our clients through our hands.

Experience and the wisdom of others helps me grow as a massage therapist. I send a big Thank You to her and all the other wonderful teachers and mentors in massage.

"Massage is the study of anatomy in braille."--Jack Meagher

Finding the right massage therapist

2008-09-14T17:58:00.002-04:00

I love it when someone tells me I'm their favorite massage therapist, and, yet, I also recognize that I'm not the right massage therapist for everyone. That's a good thing, because I would never be able to keep up with the demand!

When someone apologizes for not using me because they found that right person, I encourage them to be loyal. It's much easier to work with a person after you know where the normal aches and pains are, and you can sense the new ones. It all adds up to a better massage. I love all my clients, but there is a real value in ones who are regular.

That said, I have my favorite therapist. I also go to other massage therapists if I want or need a different type of massage (or if my favorite one isn't available). My goal is to get a massage once a week; given time and money, that's what I'd recommend for everyone, but especially people who are really active.

When I had a bicycle accident, I immediately called a massage therapist who I know is great with injuries and does very specific deep tissue work. Thank goodness he was available, and through his early intervention (along with acupuncture to help with pain control and assist in healing), I was back to work fairly quickly.

Sometimes deep work is inappropriate, so I'll find someone who does reiki or polarity or craniosacral work that has no pressure associated with it. One of my former instructors does a fabulous job with a recovery massage after a triathlon or other athletic event, so I always schedule a long session with him when I know I'm going to be doing some endurance event.

So overall, find a therapist you like and stay with 'em, and if you don't like something, tell that therapist (if it's a little thing). If you don't like the massage, find someone new. And if you have a specific need, find a specialist.

"Touch was never meant to be a luxury. It is a basic human need. It is an action that validates life and gives hope to both the receiver and the giver. The healing of touch is reciprocal." -- Irene Smith

Stress Relief: What's Really Causing Stress

2008-09-07T20:35:00.001-04:00

One of the most frequently listed benefits of massage is “stress relief.” That sounds awfully like applying Valium topically instead of ingesting it. I dropped that vague term from my latest business card since most people know it’s a benefit anyway.

But, I got to thinking about it when I took my massage chair to a music festival recently. One of my clients, a spouse of a musician, had a neck and shoulders about as tight as any I’ve worked on in quite a while. That’s saying a lot considering some of the musicians play about 8-10 hours a day and they're pretty wrenched. After our 20-minute session, he thanked me and said it was the first time he had been able to turn his neck to the left in a few weeks. Okay, that makes me feel good about my job, but what about his?

He’s been a crime investigator for about 20 years. He works on cold cases, especially homicides. Of course this job carries a lot of stress. But, he was more focused on the stress endured by the people he meets during the course of his job. Stress is everywhere, but I learned in listening to him that all homicides are caused by one or a combination of only three things: 1) drugs and/or alcohol, 2) money, 3) a woman.

Even more telling is that all domestic disturbances involve #1, drugs and/or alcohol.

His tight neck and shoulders made a lot more sense after that. I am yet again grateful to find a calling where I can provide at least some temporary stress relief.

“The true voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new landscapes but in seeing with new eyes.” Marcel Proust

Favorite Music for Massage

2008-08-31T22:33:00.004-04:00

One of the reasons I wanted to become a massage therapist was to allow flexibility in my schedule to play music. Music is another of my passions. But the music I play (mostly singer-songwriter and old-time string band music) is not good for massage. It’s better in coffee houses, listening rooms and dance floors.

But one of the offshoots of this passion is that I love supporting other independent musicians, so I seek out music that will be good in the massage room. I prefer music I can buy directly from the musician. One good source for CDs is CDBaby since they also make many of the selections available for individual purchase through iTunes. But, I digress... Buying independent music is important to me, so I'll share with you some of my favorites.

1. The Amazing Jellies: Council of Sea Beings by Ruth Mendelson. Mendelson is a professor at Berklee School of Music and composed this work for an exhibit at the Boston Aquarium on jellyfish. It’s very “floaty.” There are two versions on the CD and a third cut called, “Cochiti,” which predictably has a Native American theme with no-so-soothing drumming. I skip that cut.

2. Since I play guitar, I started out by looking for cool guitar CDs. In three years I have not yet tired of either Counting the Ways or Luna by Ed Gerhardt, a blissful guitarist who used to record with Windham Hill.

3. For a celtic flavor, I prefer Celtic Guitar Summit with Steve Baughman and Robin Bullock.

4. Another therapist (and musician) introduced me to Arthurian Dream Suite by Roger Davis, a Wilmington, NC, jazz guitarist.

5. Which led me to having a few jazz selections around... Some folks don’t like vocals, and some don’t mind. So for the latter, I’ll sometimes play Rebecca Martin’s People Behaving Like Ballads. She is a talented singer and songwriter from New York,

6. I also like Alison Brown, banjo player extraordinaire, and owner of Compass Records, a great label for independent artists. Most of her albums work, though my top pick is Alison Brown Quartet, Out of the Blue.

7. I recently discovered a few local artists. Richard Shulman plays piano and synthesizer and is based in Asheville, NC. I picked up a copy of 11:11, a series of meditations on piano which is now in a regular rotation.

8. Benjamin Jobst is a body-worker based in Saluda, NC. He created Seven Metals Singing Bowls using Tibetan singing bowls, gongs and chimes for his recordings. He intentionally created a recording with no discernible tempo or rhythm to help the brain shut off while receiving therapy (or meditating). Most of my clients love it. One of my clients, a musician, hates it, and so I always change it out before that session and chuckle.

I do my best to stay away from recordings I think are overused in massages like Pachelbel Canon in D (the “Margaritaville of classical music”) or Enya unless a client specifically requests it. Tell me what music you like to enjoy while you're in the massage room. I'd love to know!

“A friend is someone who knows the song of your soul and sings it back to you when you have forgotten the words.” Anonymous

Why I love my work - #1 in a long series

2008-08-24T22:07:00.006-04:00

I have to tell you a story that starts with the first time I worked with a particular client. He is a double-amputee, missing both his left arm and leg lost in an accident. It was my first time working with a double-amputee, and it was his first time to get a massage. We were at an outdoor event, so he was clothed and in his wheelchair. He was very sensitive to touch on the area where he had lost his arm, so I worked really slowly and gently. While I worked, he told me some of the horrific details of the accident, and how his life was saved. A few days later, I emailed him to follow up after the massage. This is part of his reply (quoted with permission):

“Your massage was a first for me, and I'm now convinced that I should have tried massage therapy sooner. It definitely helped!

Since my accident I've suffered from phantom pain in my left arm, every evening in some form. To keep the pain at a manageable level I take oxycodone + Percocet, twice a day. After 4 years of taking these narcotics I've reached the point that I get withdrawal symptoms if I miss a dosage. The medical theory is that it's better to stay on the pain medication to keep the pain at a manageable level. Kind of like taking an aspirin just in case you get a head ache!"

While I was working on him, he said that he felt his left (phantom) hand unclench and relax. It's common for amputees to feel a part of the amputated limb long after it's gone. His experience with this pain didn't surprise me, but I am thrilled that he finally felt some relief from the pain. He continued:

"I'm presently seeing a new doctor … who's been encouraging me to try alternatives, and has suggested trying massage therapy. If this helps, as it appears it has, I plan on slowly weaning off the prescribed narcotics. After our session I was amazed at how much better my left shoulder felt! Friday night was a rare night, as I actually got 8 hours of sleep. I normally get 3 to 4 hours of total sleep, due to problems with my left shoulder + phantom arm pain."

Because of this closure, he plans to continue with massage therapy back home. I'm glad we had the chance to have this exchange and that I had the opportunity to introduce him to the relief he felt.

"No single therapeutic agent can be compared in efficiency with this familiar but perfect tool...the human hand. If half as much research had been expended on the principles governing manual treatment as upon pharmacology, the hand would be esteemed today on a par with drugs in acceptability and power." --J. Madison Taylor, M.D. 1908

Preparing to see a massage therapist

2008-08-17T22:56:00.006-04:00

“Do I have to take all of my clothes off?”

This wasn’t really going to be my first topic, but when I mentioned creating a blog and some of the topics, the unanimous choice of my colleagues was that this should be first. It's the first question people want to ask, but they don't. Even the fear of asking the question keeps a lot of folks away from every trying massage because they are afraid the answer will be, “Yes, of course you have to.”

But you don’t. Think about the purpose of getting a massage. If it’s for relaxation, and you’re totally stressed about being undressed, how successful can I (or any therapist) be in getting you to be relaxed? Won’t happen.

That’s why we’re taught the lovely phrase, “Please undress to your level of comfort.”

I think some people are also afraid they have to undress in the presence of the therapist. That doesn’t happen. After greeting a new client, explaining what will happen, I leave the room while my client gets ready. They know what to expect before I leave the room.

Now, there are folks who have had lots of massages or spent a lot of time in medical facilities who put me in a position where I had to leave rather quickly to avoid seeing them getting undressed. (No, really, I don’t want to see you undress. Let me leave and wash my hands.) But that is a totally different matter.

Related to the clothing issue is “draping,” or being covered during the massage. I like flannel sheets and a light blanket on top. The law in both South and North Carolina requires least a sheet or towel covering genitals and breasts. Legal talk gets so specific.

There are only two parts of you uncovered at any given time: your head, of course, and the part I'm working on. I don't work on those legally spelled-out areas, so genital areas and female breasts always remain draped. Heck, this only makes sense, and it's required by South Carolina law. The only exception to this rule is breast massage. It may be performed as part of breast cancer rehabilitation, but only with prior written permission of the client, and only by a therapist with specific training in breast cancer massage.

So, if you leave your clothes on, what’s typical? Usually underwear. Now, guys... briefs or boxer briefs are fine. Regular boxers, um, could be a problem when the therapist works on your legs. That’s just a thought for you.

Women, if you leave your bra on, which is fine, I will ask whether it is okay to unhook it while I work on your back. It’s a bit easier, and gives you better results, but if you say no, it stays hooked.

I’ve had at least three clients who left their trousers on. Mostly that is when I’m only working on the upper body. It presents a challenge when you have low back pain, and probably isn't as effective. But I work around it. It’s your choice; you’re paying me to give you the massage, and your sense of comfort and safety comes first.

It can be a bit unnerving not knowing what to expect going into your first massage. And, when you have no information, you're often worse off than knowing the truth. Now that you know what really does happen, I hope you're able to think about the clothing and draping issues a little differently. If you're thinking you can benefit from massage therapy, be sure to talk to a licensed therapist before committing to an appointment. You deserve the time it takes to ask a few questions. Make sure you're comfortable, and you'll probably see that the benefits of massage greatly outweigh the risks. You may even find that you had nothing to worry about at all!

“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” M. Kathleen Casey