My first client...

I did my first massage outside of class on Sunday! Since starting classes in July, we are strongly encouraged to do as many massages outside of class as possible so we can get used to different body types, practicing our strokes, palpating the muscles, their fiber direction, origin and insertion points, etc, all part of the learning process. Right now, for me, I can feel some of the differences in muscle bellies, their fibers…still learning their actions. Anyway, the massage I did was on a friend who completed an 80 mile bike ride on Saturday in 4:45! I did a 1-hour, full body Swedish massage with specific work on the legs, arms, upper/lower back muscles and some positional release stretches. Her hamstrings were pretty tight, so I didn’t overwork those muscles…after an 80 mile ride, I didn’t want to overwork them! I felt confident when I explained how the muscles work, and what I was doing as I went along. I’ve actually had this worked out in my head how I was going to set up my table, what supplies I would need…I even got a battery powered clock so that I could track time…it has an iPod player, however, it didn’t work (not sure why, maybe I need power for that function), which actually worked out ok because I set up the table in her living room and we had the front door open…the birds were chirping, the sun was shining…a more natural ambience than I could have created myself! When we go to someone’s home to do massage, we rely as little as possible on the client. We should be prepared and have everything with us. I did. Although I’ll have to make a checklist for appointments. I also created an intake form to get some health history so I have documentation.

As I drove home, I felt exhilarated…like this is where I am supposed to be. Truly, this whole experience, massage therapy school, has just fallen into place. I am having to work for it, don’t get me wrong…learning is hard work, however, I do believe this is my calling. I received a very nice note this afternoon from my client thanking me for taking my time to give her such a precious gift. Wow…we just never know how we affect other people…I was just practicing.

Talk soon...

Courage

There are a couple of women in my massage therapy class who are going through a divorce. R is 22 years old, was married for 3 years, has a 2 year old daughter. Turns out the ex just didn’t want to be married anymore, his family intervened on his behalf, and helped him to “escape” to another state where he filed for divorce. She traveled there this past week to finalize the process. D is 31 years old, has 4 kids, the oldest is 11, the youngest is 3. She grew up in St. David, about 50+ miles east of Tucson, small rural community. When school started in July, she was making the commute M-Thu driving 100 miles each day. She has since left her husband, but was unable to bring the kids with her because she didn’t have a job or even any money. Think: a home situation so intolerable that she was “forced” to leave her children behind. I say forced because sometimes we have to do what we have to do for our own safety. Her kids are safe, cared for…something that, for the time being, she is unable to do. She is living with one of our classmates, found a part time job here in town, commutes daily to St. David to see her kids. On Wednesday I saw her come into class with a black leather jacket on a hanger; she spoke to the instructor in hushed tones…it was about 5:58 pm. At 6, she got up in front of the class, described the jacket as being two years old, hardly worn, and it was for sale. She was asking $100. She paused, choked up, and said she needed the money for gas to go see her children the next day…she had no money. She apologized for crying. My heart just broke for her (as did everyone else’s!). I believe it took every ounce of courage, not to mention embarrassment, to stand there in front of her peers to sell an item, that I’m sure meant a lot to her. One of the guys asked permission to leave the class to go home for some money to give her for gas. I think several of us gave her what we could so she could at least make that trip one more time. It didn’t solve her problem but it gave her another day.

We continued the class discussing bone pathologies.

Veteran's Day

In honor of Veterans Day, I wanted to jot down some thoughts. My grandfather, my dad, my FIL, ex and his dad, were all military people. My grandfather served in the Korean conflict, and though my dad didn’t see combat, he was stationed in the UK and Holland in the late 50’s. All served our nation proudly, and I owe them a great debt…because of their service, I can sit and write this e-mail without fear of retribution.

Whenever we are at a sporting venue, as the Color Guard is presented, and the Star Spangled Banner is sung…always, always, I cry. Not openly, but I do choke up, and tear up. The national anthem has always affected me deeply. I know the words, and I sing, audibly. Actually, a lot of people do. Anyway, at the opening of last Saturday’s football game, as the national anthem was being sung, the American flag displayed on the jumbo-trons, way off in the distance, you can see two Blackhawk helicopters making their way toward the stadium. My heart (and eyes) just welled up. As they passed right over us, seemed to be in slow motion, the emotions stirred in me were quite powerful. I think it must have stirred everyone as the ovation was quite loud and long! I wonder if they were out of Yuma, which is what Glen thought, as he didn’t think they were based out of DMAFB here locally. They headed west and made their way back home.

HBO had a movie earlier this year, Taking Chance, with Kevin Bacon. It is actually based on a true story. If you have an opportunity to see it, I highly recommend it. I’ve watched it several times and each time I am sobbing! Whether you agree with the war, the reason we are there, or not, how can it not affect us as individuals and as a nation when our men and women, who are serving proudly, to protect the freedom we enjoy return alive (though I am sure, changed), and some return by other means. The movie is done very respectfully.

Thank you to all of our men and women who have served, are serving or will serve at some point in the future.

Its late and I should be studying...

Tonight I had my Neuromuscular Technique & Sports Massage class. We paired up and were able to do a full body massage for one whole hour. We are incorporating what we've learned thus far, last quarter and this quarter. Each instructor has their own techniques for the same stroke and as we are developing our own style, we take a lil' bit o' this and lil bit o'that and attempt to put it into practice. What I like about the Tuesday night class is the instructor basically leaves us to our own devices, uninterrupted. It allows us to use critical thinking skills when we come across a muscle that is tight or rolls, and trigger points in the body that refer pain to other areas. For example, most people have a trigger point just medial of the inferior angle of the scapula. Upon palpating it, you can feel it. Putting pressure on this trigger point by allowing your finger to sink deep, can cause pain or tingling in the hand or biceps. By applying pressure, and not moving your fingers, you can feel the point "melt". Then you can do some deep strokes to continue the massage. Not everyone's trigger points are the same, but most people have them somewhere in the body.

We "hold" tension, stress, etc. in the muscles (thus the need for massage), it is also possible to hold emotions in our muscles. It is very common to feel an emotional release while receiving a massage. Tonight was my first encounter with such an event, however, I was the one giving the massage! I had read about this phenomenom and had witnessed it in class. There is one classmate that always cries, but it hadn't happened to me. I didn't know what to do. When I finished the massage on Samantha, I saw the sheet under her face looked wet, I asked he if she was ok. She said, no she needed some tissue. I got her some tissue and she just released the tears. I went to the instructor to let her know what was happening. The instructor came over and cradled her head, and just kind of let her know it was ok, let it happen, and just take her time getting off the table. It was a good 10 minutes to regain her composure. Now it was my turn to receive massage from Sam, and I was unable to relax completely because I was afraid that her emotional state could transfer onto me, which is also a reality. I've had massages from Sam before, and she is usually really good. I could tell tonight she was "off". She had had a very stressful day at work and that could have been a factor to her emotional state when she got to class. She works with mildly mentally challenged young adults, and assists with deaf and blind popultations at her job. She is always stressed. I hope she can get some rest.

The above situation is something I need to be prepared for. While I know this is a very common occurance, I must admit it threw me for a loop! I have to understand that the person on the table is my client, and I am working as a massage therapist. I don't know their mental, emotional, spiritual state...I'm working on the physical, but its all wrapped into one package. An emotional release is the client's way of allowing pent up stressors to come to the forefront. The client is unable to control it either. It is also not up to me to "fix" it. I can be sympathetic, empathetic, and I can listen, but I cannot give advice. The relationship must remain professional. I must draw lines and adhere to them. Even when I am working on a family member, I have to maintain the professional air. I still have so much to learn!!

Work has been so busy! I've transcribed 6 meetings, 19 pages each, for the last week and a half. It is tedious having to listen to people spew their propaganda, but I do learn about the business in the process. I've also learned that some of the people on the Executive team don't do a whole lot, but they sure have titles that relate their importance...NOT!

I really should be studying! Talk soon...

Hittin' the books...

Another week has passed, another month, only two months remain in the year! I don't remember time passing so quickly when I was younger, or maybe I'm just more aware that the clock doesn't stop...it just keeps on ticking.

I had class yesterday, Introduction to Clinic. We will be doing clinicals next quarter, where we actually do massage on the public. This class is teaching critical thinking skills, visually assessing clients, interview questions, etc. to determine treatment. We will also be doing massage on special populations, elderly, amputees, HIV, many different types of people. How many of these people do not ever receive touch because they are different? I am more than a little nervous, however, I've made it this far. I need to actually do more massages outside of class time, when is the question. Between school, work, my family, chores, and, hey, I have to sleep sometime. I am feeling sleep deprived most of the time. It would probably help if I stayed off the computer, huh?? This is the biggest time waster of all!

Alisha and I went to an arts and craft fair today...just for a couple of hours because, of course, I had to study! We didn't even stop for coffee or lunch because I had to study!! We hadn't gotten together since she returned from Germany mid-September and it was good to see her. I have missed our conversations, our walks, and just hanging out. I think she will be going back to school in a couple of months too...welcome to my world! Oh, and she's going on a cruise in January, she just got back from Germany, then she went to San Francisco. Don't know if she's going home to Oregon for the holidays this year. We'll forego our annual Sedona trip in December due to...you guessed it, school!

My sister went ghost hunting this weekend, how appropriate! I haven't talked to her to find out if she saw anything, but I'm sure I'll get the low down tomorrow!

How about those Vikings!! Ok, so they lost last week, and it was a sad loss...they didn't even play that well. UofA had a bye this week, we play on Saturday at 1:30 pm, which means I'll have to hightail it over to the stadium immediately after class, which ends at 1 pm...yikes!! Hope its not too hot...it was about 90F today. Last week, Tuesday and Wednesday, it was in the lower 60's...go figure.

Talk soon...gotta study!!